What is the Knowledge Tree?

The Knowledge Tree 

The Knowledge Tree is a rich source of information about social forestry practices in Southeast Asia. 

It is a compilation of intelligence gathered by the ASEAN Working Group on Social Forestry since 2005. The work of partners under the ASEAN Swiss Partnership on Social Forestry and Climate Change has enriched this body of knowledge. 

The Knowledge Tree supports decision-making processes during the design and implementation phases of effective, efficient and equitable (3E) social forestry. 

It also contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by achieving multidimensional social, economic and environmental outcomes in an effective, efficient and equitable way.  

Who developed the Knowledge Tree?

This Knowledge Tree is developed as part of the ASEAN-Swiss Partnership on Social Forestry and Climate Change (ASFCC) project. It is funded by the Swiss agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). 

It is supported and implemented by ASEAN Working Group on Social Forestry (AWG-SF) in collaboration with the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), the Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange Programme (NTFP-EP), RECOFTC and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA).

Who will find it useful?

The Knowledge Tree will help practitioners design, implement and evaluate social forestry. Users include:

• Government technical officials who want to design more effective, efficient and equitable social forestry programs 
• Civil society and non-government organizations facilitating, developing and implementing social forestry programs
• Researchers interested in case studies and lessons learned on social forestry in Southeast Asia
• Funding agencies assessing feasibility and evaluating effectiveness, efficiency and equality of social forestry programs

How the Knowledge Tree is organized

The Knowledge Tree is an online platform that allows practitioners to navigate easily based on the context, interests and needs. It provides ideas, concepts, evidence and tools to help users better understand the context in which social forestry operates and tailor the 3E criteria to a specific context. It consists of three parts: an introduction, six contexts and a toolbox.

Introduction

The introduction describes the core ideas of social forestry, the 3E criteria and the Sustainable Development Goals. It also illustrates how all three are linked. 

Contexts

Six contexts discuss the conditions that need to be considered during the design and implementation phases of social forestry.

Each includes a set of questions as a checklist to help users tailor the 3E criteria to the specific context. 

Each also provides lessons learned, how-to tools and examples of approaches that can be used to set up the building blocks for effective, efficient and equitable social forestry. It is based on published materials, practitioner’s experiences and lessons learned from local practices. 

Toolbox

The toolbox reconciles relevant approaches and tools developed or promoted by partners. It is a toolbox from which users can pick appropriate tools and adopt and adapt them as needed.  

Important note: This Knowledge Tree is a work in progress. Additions, comments and contributions are always welcome.