Reforms for China's Collective Forests: Analytical Support on Tenure, Rural Institutions and Forest Policy and Regulation

China is committed to reforming its collective forest areas, with the State Forestry Administration (SFA) leading the process. The reform is in part spurred by China's "New Countryside Strategy" which calls for delivery of more assistance to rural areas and a more favorable policy environment for the rural poor, and in part motivated by recognition of the stagnation of the forest sector in the major forest areas under collective management. To enable the forest sector to contribute to the New Countryside Strategy, the current institutional setting and policy framework must be reformed to improve tenure rights for rural farmers and enhance forest-based livelihoods.

In support of the reform process, PROFOR is helping to develop guidelines that respond to the following questions:

1. What would be the ideal forest tenure system to achieve the objective of sustainable forest management and improved livelihoods?
2. What are the supportive policies and regulations needed to implement the tenure reform?
3. What kind of support services are needed by forest farmers, and what kind of farmer organization(s) should be developed to manage and use the forests?
4. What would be the most appropriate business models in a more decentralized forest management arrangement;

To answer these questions, surveys at the household and village levels are being carried out in ten provinces to learn about existing forest land tenure and management practices, and identify areas where change is needed to promote better forest management linked to rural livelihoods. Subsequently, an analysis will: 1) assess the process, driving forces, outcomes and performance of tenure reform in collective forest areas; 2) identify policy needs of existing farmers' institutions and self-organized associations; 3) compare forest business models to identify best practices for rural community welfare and efficient use of forest resources; and 4) clarify policy and regulatory reforms needed in order to remove constraints from rural forest communities and raise performance of forest producers in terms of resource development and rural economic growth. Thematic reports on each issue and a synthesis report with findings and recommendations will be produced and then disseminated through workshops and dialogue at the national and international level. Additionally, background/technical documents will be developed to inform the drafting of reform guidelines by SFA and policy briefs will be drafted and circulated among leaders of forest authority and the State Council.