Building Blocks for Viable Community Forestry Enterprises

Research shows that community forestry enterprises (CFE) in community forestry (CF) sites are restricted due to a number of factors: a lack of support by governments, combined with policies that undermine CFE’s viability; misconceptions by governments that communities are unable to manage forests in a sustainable manner;  and regulatory framework that favours private sector and state forest enterprises. These restrictions prevent CF members from developing and commercializing forest products, thereby only allowing them to benefit from their forests through a subsistence approach. This is seemingly counterintuitive considering the apparent commitment by governments to developing CF in the region to combat deforestation and rural poverty, and enhance livelihoods.