Backgrounder: International Development Research Centre

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ID: 85145

Added: 2005-07-19 16:23

Modified: 2005-07-27 12:00

Refreshed: 2007-03-23 08:22

Backgrounder

A model forest is about much more than trees. It is both a large-scale geographic site and a partnership-based approach to sustainable forest management (SFM) in which local participation is key to translating policies into practice.

A Model Forest is:

A Landscape: A large-scale geographic area representing the full range of its forest values ― including environmental, social and economic values
Based on fully inclusive partnerships in which people who have an interest in their region’s natural resources agree on a process for determining local sustainability priorities and goals, then work collaboratively to address them. These partnerships operate on the basis of transparency and consensus
About Sustainability: Focused on achieving SFM in tangible ways from the field level to the policy level, with stakeholders continually involved in developing, testing and sharing innovative approaches to SFM

What makes the model forest concept stand out from other like-minded forest-based development initiatives is the comprehensiveness and flexibility of its approach, its scale of operation, and the level of policy it can affect.

While it typically does not exercise decision-making authority over the land-base, a model forest organization will include in its partnership those with legal tenure over the land. Their participation signals a willingness to consider new and innovative approaches to forest management. As a member of the IMFN, a model forest organization is committed to sharing its experiences and innovations with other model forests, as well as with others who can benefit from this expertise — locally, nationally and internationally.

Model forests are country-driven. They are seen as being directly relevant to National Forest Programs, as demonstration areas of national significance, and as cost-effective initiatives to experiment with innovative forest management policies and practices.

A successful model forest includes the entire landscape and people of the area, as well as its environmental, socio-economic and political realities. Model forest partners typically include: industry, private landowners, farmers, community organizations, indigenous peoples, environmentalists, recreationalists, academics, and governments and institutions.

Model forest partnerships strive to harmonize economic and non-economic priorities, and to understand the nature and price of the trade-offs involved. To that end, they are active in a wide range of issues and activities, such as education, research, protecting biodiversity, or developing local indicators to monitor progress toward SFM goals within the model forest area. Model forests are also involved in identifying economic opportunities that are not based on timber alone.

There are six key attributes that define model forests:

A partnership that includes key land users and other stakeholders represented in the geographic area
A commitment to SFM: overall objectives and program of work are based on an ecosystem approach to forest management and reflect a shared vision of sustainability
Scale: model forests operate at the landscape or watershed level
Scope of activities reflecting stakeholders needs and values (local, regional and national)
A transparent and accountable governance structure
A commitment to networking: cooperation, sharing knowledge and experience, and capacity-building

The Network

With more than 35 model forests in existence or under development around the world, the IMFN is a unique global community of effort dedicated to finding working solutions to the challenges of SFM for the benefit of local communities and policy-makers alike.

Networking is a vital component of membership in the IMFN. Regular local, regional and international networking allows the program to operate successfully and facilitates the cross-fertilization of ideas among model forest sites.

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