The goal of the project is to assist forestry agencies in strategic planning and developing means to reduce poverty through sustainable forest management and forest rehabilitation.

To draw together methods and means by which poverty has been effectively reduced in South and Southeast Asian developing economies.

To build capacity within forestry agencies and local NGOs through engagement in assessment of past efforts to reduce poverty through forestry.

To distribute findings to an Asia Pacific audience and increase awareness of effective means to adapt forest policies to poverty alleviation strategies

Document methods and means by which poverty has been effectively reduced in the Asia Pacific region.

Strengthen capacity within forestry agencies and local NGOs for strategic planning and for integrating poverty alleviation measures in forestry policy

Increase awareness of effective means to adapt forest policies to poverty alleviation strategies

The project contributed to poverty reduction in targeted developing economies by leveraging forestry. While forestry alone cannot eliminate poverty, it provides essential resources like firewood, fodder, and NTFPs, serving as a safety net for rural communities.

1. Regional Workshop on Forestry and Poverty Alleviation: A workshop, co-organized with FAO and AFN, brought together 29 participants, including consultants and Forest Department representatives. It facilitated knowledge exchange on forestry’s role in poverty reduction and discussed methodologies for case studies and dissemination.

2. Forest Policy Short Courses: Three training courses enhanced policymaking in forestry. The Third Course (Thailand) focused on the Greater Mekong Subregion, the Fourth Course (Bangkok) tailored content for Vietnam, and the Fifth Course (Beijing) trained Chinese forestry officers in policy analysis.

3. Development of Forest Policy Briefs: Eight policy briefs were created to highlight forestry’s role in poverty alleviation. Policy Brief-7, funded by the project, analyzed community forestry, commercial forestry, and environmental service payments as pathways to poverty reduction.

4. Key Policy Recommendations: To maximize forestry’s impact on poverty alleviation, four priorities were identified: securing land tenure, building local capacity, supporting community enterprises, and ensuring equitable benefit-sharing in forestry initiatives.

These outcomes strengthened forestry’s role in poverty alleviation by fostering knowledge-sharing, capacity-building, and policy development across the region.