The FAO has released a useful new publication for small and medium forest enterprises.
This guide is intended to provide a framework for forest management planning with a focus on multiple-use and SMFEs. It leads the forest manager through the planning process in a stepwise fashion and provides advice on sources of information that are needed during the planning process. The frameworks presented can be adapted to national and local context in line with relevant regulatory requirements.
This guide has three main parts:
- Part I provides the background, including an introduction to the concept and evolution of forest management planning, multiple-use aspects and planning considerations for SMFEs. It also describes the general planning process.
- Part II guides the readers through the processes of data collection and analysis, focusing on the use of approaches and tools that are accessible, affordable and easy to use. Data collection may need to be repeated as conditions change or when forest management objectives are revised.
- Part III deals with the compilation of the forest management plan, from deciding on the format of the plan, setting forest management objective, and to developing a management plan for each forest management objective. Preparedness planning for natural disasters and accidents is also covered. Finally, guidance on developing a monitoring and evaluation system is provided.
This FAO Forestry Working Paper 39 is titled “A guide to multiple-use forest management planning for small and medium forest enterprises”, FAO, Rome, 2023. The author was Hubertus van Hensbergen. Source