Community Based Forest Enterprises in Latin America, Africa and Asia sustainably manage the forest

With the objective of exchanging lessons learned regarding forest experiences related to Community Based Forest Enterprises (CBFE), representatives from WWF offices, partner organizations and CBFEs in Bolivia, Panama, Papua New Guinea and Cameroon met during the last week of July in the International Meeting on CBFEs held in Concepcion, Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

Each one of these countries has tropical forests that are globally important for conservation. Furthermore, they also have large groups of indigenous rural communities that depend on forests as their sources of income, food, medicine and construction material for their homes and other buildings. These countries also have environmental policies that, in general, favor the development of Community Based Forest Enterprises (CBFE).

As a result of this meeting, organized by WWF, the global conservation organization, input was gathered for developing future strategies that continue supporting CBFEs in these regions. Also, a series of technical articles will be produced, summarizing the lessons learned regarding i) policies, legislation and regulations in relation to CBFEs; ii) organization, management and social aspects of CBFEs; iii) production systems and responsible forest management; and iv) markets and funding.

“You don’t fight poverty without creating wealth. You don’t create wealth without trade. There’s no trade without companies. And, in order to have prosperous and independent companies, you need a favorable institutional framework and solid knowledge regarding forest management and trade”, said Juan Sève, Manager of WWF’s Project Strengthening CBFEs, adding that “all our efforts are based on this perspective”.

This event was possible thanks to the generous support of WWF US / European Union.


Background

• As part of its activities, WWF Bolivia aims to generate a responsible supply of wood on behalf of indigenous and rural communities in the Amazon and Dry Chiquitano Forest that can satisfy the demand for wood from responsible sources from national and international companies participating in the WWF GFTN. Bolivia is currently seeking to develop pilot models for the management of community based forest enterprises, training in forest management for FSC certification through the Step Wise Approach and training in business management and control of productive units that guarantee the transparency of forest management. All of which are focused as strategies to promote the conservation of forests and avoid deforestation.
• Deforestation is responsible for 20% of the annual emissions of greenhouse gases – which is more emissions than those generated from the entire global transport sector – and the principal manner by which Bolivia contributes to global climate change. Forests are crucial to fight and adapt to climate change. Our strategies for climate change must include forests because if they don’t, we will be faced with a situation in which emissions from deforestation and degradation increase global warming, which in turn accelerates the loss of forests.
• About WWF
  The objective of WWF Bolivia, the conservation organization, is to contribute to the conservation of the Amazon and the Pantanal, promote and generate sustainable economic opportunities for its inhabitants and Bolivia in general.
  
  WWF works for a living planet, and its mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature by:
  • Conserving the world’s biological diversity
  • Ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable
  • Promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption