C I N T R A F O R
Special Paper Abstract
Forestry Sector Analysis for Developing Countries: Proceedings of Working Groups, Integrated Land Use and Forest Policy (S6.12-03) and Forest Sector Analysis (S6.11-00) Meetings at the 10th Forestry World Congress , Paris.
Richard Haynes, Patrice Harou, Judy Mikowski, Eds., 1992 (266pp) SP10 $20.00
The intent of the Satellite meeting of the 10th Forestry World Congress held in Paris, France in September, 1991 was to summarize methods used for forest sector analysis. Also to discuss the application of forest sector models in both developed and developing countries; and to draw some conclusions about forest sector modeling methods tat have application in developing countries.
This Satellite meeting was motivated by the growing recognition among government and non government organizations of the need for more systematic (and complete) analysis of the forest sector. Where it once was viewed in extremely local terms, long-term forestland stewardship and economic development issues increasingly involve entire forest sectors. Proposed changes in one aspect of the forest sector such as a new processing facility or changes in land management or tenure practices have effects that ripple through the entire forest sector and may impact other economic sectors. Often these indirect impacts are the most long-lasting, out lasting the immediate (direct) impacts of a specific project. By forest sector, we mean the consideration of all aspects of forestry from the basic land tenure issues, to harvesting, production and consumption decisions. Such a view is no different than similar views of various agricultural and industrial sectors in an economy.
What we propose to cover in these proceedings is nothing new, informal forest sector analysis methods have long been part of the tools available to foresters. What is new is the attempt to review a number of methodologies and applications and then propose a structure for applying forest sector analysis in developing countries. The remainder of this introduction attempts to better define the term forest sector model; traces the evolution of forest sector models in one country -- The United States; and closes by proposing two broad classifications for these models.
The various papers included in these proceedings represent an array of efforts that trace the development and application of a broad range of forest sector models. Particular efforts have been made to include papers that represent the range of applications from developed countries to developing countries and dealing with a wide range of issues.
While developed countries in North American and Europe have made much progress in analyzing and managing their forest resources, poorer countries have not benefited from analytical advances, and have not taken great steps in analyzing their forest sectors. Until recently, forest sector analysis in the developing world has rarely involved the application of a model, and has usually been limited to an inventory exercise. There is a need for improvement however, as international concern for forest resources is rising, and expanding populations and growing economies are putting increased demand on the natural resource base. For this reason, these proceedings are directing their attention toward the application of forest sector models in developing countries.
How is the forest sector in developing countries different, and why does it require special attention? Unlike in the developed countries, agricultural production occupies the majority of the Third World's rapidly growing population. Because opportunities for yield increases are limited, demand for agricultural production is often satisfied with extensive cultivation of marginal areas, which usually means the destruction of forests. Demand for fuelwood, poorly defined property rights, and extreme poverty combine to put further pressure on forests, and natural resource degradation usually results. Another characteristic of developing countries which affects analysis of the forest sector is a lack of data. This seriously limits the applicability of the more complex models (i.e. equilibrium) at a time when demand for fairly comprehensive analyses of the forest sector is rising. In developed and developing countries, increasing recognition of tropical forests as both economic and ecological resources is amplifying calls for greater recognition of non-timber products and ecological services. To be widely applicable in the developing world, forest sector models must be able to tackle these complex issues while acknowledging constraints presented by scarce data and limited resources.
A changing physical and political landscape is requiring that management and investment initiatives in the forest sector consider ecological, institutional, legal and sociological issues while reconciling concerns about efficiency, equity and conservation. For international donor institutions and governments, analysis supporting such activities must incorporate these issues and be widely applicable in a developing country context. It is hoped that these proceedings will be a building block for research aimed at developing a framework for such analysis which will satisfy the changing needs of policy makers and planners.