Regional

As a regional knowledge hub, RECOFTC shares lessons and experiences from throughout Asia and the Pacific.

Today, around a quarter of forestland in the Asia-Pacific region is under some form of community management. Increasingly, the region's governments are recognizing that community forestry can help strengthen local livelihoods and ensure healthier forests.

Of course, no single model of community forestry will work in a region with 73 countries ranging from China, the world's most populous nation, to small island nations. Each country must tailor community forestry programs and policies to its unique situation.

However, there are key commonalities that cut across national borders, and these make opening a dialogue about community forestry in the region particularly valuable. Many countries face similar challenges — among them entrenched rural poverty, increasing water scarcity, and climate change. Several also share similar histories of colonization, cultural traditions, government systems, and practices of forest exploitation.

Sharing lessons and tools from advanced community forestry programs, such as those in Nepal, the Philippines, and India, can assist those less familiar with engaging local forest managers.

More on:

Background on Forestry in the Asia-Pacific Region

Our Regional Work

RECOFTC is the only international organization in the Asia-Pacific region solely committed to strengthening local people's engagement in forestry. As such, we have emerged as a hub for community forestry knowledge in the region.

To improve understanding and practical applications of community forestry, we analyze lessons learned at local, national, and regional levels, and share these with people throughout Asia and the Pacific. Access to clear information about the strengths and weaknesses of the systems in the region can provide vital lessons and models for community forestry at the local and national levels.

In addition to sharing information through research and communications, RECOFTC helps people from different backgrounds share their own community forestry experiences. We bring together active stakeholders from different countries in training programs, workshops, networks, and forums, where they can learn from each other's knowledge and experience in community-based forest management.

A major advantage of working regionally is ensuring a stronger voice for local and indigenous people in regional and international forums. We facilitate their representatives' participation in regional and international debates, and we regularly use communications tools such as films, publications, and presentations to promote their interests.

We also support the collaboration and advocacy efforts of regional and global networks, such as the ASEAN Social Forestry Network and Global Alliance of Community Forestry. Forming partnerships across borders builds influence and credibility from the local to global levels.

More on our regional activities:

ASEAN Social Forestry NetworkConflict Learning NetworkForest Governance Learning GroupGrassroots Capacity Building for REDD+REDD Learning NetworkRights and Resources InitiativeStudy of Forest Conflict in AsiaVoices of the Forest Video Series