This report synthesizes findings from a situational analysis and capacity-development needs assessment to determine barriers for local communities and smallholders as well as private sector and government agencies ability to engage with sustainable and legal forest product value chains.
 
RECOFTC conducted the assessment in five Lower Mekong countries: Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam. The analysis was completed in partnership with the UN-REDD Programme under the initiative “Sustainable Forest Trade in the Lower Mekong Region (SFT-LMR)”. The European Union provided additional financial assistance through RECOFTC's Voices for Mekong Forests project.
 
The assessment identifies governance issues and gaps in six steps of the forest product value chain: tenure and sustainable forest management, harvesting, transport, processing and trade. The findings will shape capacity-development programs and action plans to increase the ability of local communities’ and smallholders’ to engage with sustainable and legal forest product value chains.