CHALLENGE

Kazakhstan is a forest-scarce country, with forests covering only 4.6 percent of the total area. Nearly 90 percent of the land is made up of steppe, desert and semi-desert. 26 million hectares are designated as forest estate (i.e. the forest fund), but less than half of this is actually covered with forest (12.5 million hectares).

The national state agency in charge of forests manages 5.78 million hectares, or 20 percent of the forest fund. Regional governments manage 79 percent of the forest fund, while privately owned forest area is minimal. The 2003 Forest Code makes special provision for the establishment of timber plantations in the forest fund through a variety of mechanisms, including through partnership with the private sector. However, despite these provisions and the availability of suitable land, the private sector has not been heavily involved in establishing plantations in the forest fund lands.

The recently completed Forest Protection Reforestation Project (FPRP) demonstrated significant demand for Participatory Forest Management, meaning where local communities participate in the management of forest resources in and around their communities. Results from the FPRP were influential in making changes to the Forest Code in 2012, including specific provisions for participatory/community forest management in the 2003 Forest Code.

APPROACH

This activity builds on the FPRP and will contribute to the analysis and research required for the preparation of the proposed Forestry Development Project, which includes expanded components on participatory forest management and the establishment of plantations in collaboration with the private sector.

Specifically, this activity will:

1. Analyze how land under the forest fund is currently being used, in order to determine to which areas are suitable for afforestation in partnership with the private sector and/or local communities.

2. Analyze the legal, regulatory, institutional and fiscal framework with respect to establishing plantations in collaboration with the private sector and local communities. This task will identify the reasons why there has been no uptake of the relevant provisions in the 2003 Forest Code, look into possible tenure models, and propose policy options.

3. Review attitudes held by private sector entities and local communities towards establishing plantations. A limited survey will interview potential investors and local communities.

4. Analyze market conditions and estimate demand for plantation products such as fuel wood; wood chips; pulp/chipboard; timber; and - in the case of local community forests -potentially fruits and nuts. This task will help ascertain local market prices for possible plantation products, and estimate the need for establishing local processing plants and the likelihood of there being sufficient local investors.

5. Assess the overall economic viability of different plantations and tenure models.

Based on these outputs, economic models will be developed to investigate the economic viability of establishing large-scale plantations in collaboration with the private sector and local communities.

RESULTS

This activity concluded in September 2018. The economic analysis showed that from the private sector perspective, the most viable plantation models are forest nurseries (pine, birch, spruce) to raise seedlings for the sale for ornamental and landscaping purposes, and fruit, nut and berry plantations. For energy plantations (poplar, saxaul, pine), once carbon values are factored in, the economic returns and thus the benefits for the economy as a whole are quite high. This provides good justification for the government to support the private sector in developing forest plantations, e.g. in the form of taking on the initial costs and risks of establishing fast growing plantations or providing payments for the global carbon benefits generated by plantations. In addition, this activity revealed that a much larger potential for suitable plantation areas seems to lie outside of the State Forest Fund altogether, on bare lands and naturally afforested lands within the agricultural land category (under pasture or straw-cutting lands).

This activity has equipped decision makers by contributing to a better understanding of the legal, regulatory and financial obstacles and challenges facing Kazakhstan in developing private plantations. The knowledge generated further underlines the importance of engaging private investors and communities in the establishment of plantations, particularly in view of the global benefits provided by afforestation (e.g. carbon sequestration) and Kazakhstan’s international commitments to combat climate change. As such, the activity offers recommendations to leverage the carbon benefits provided by forest plantations (e.g. provision of carbon neutral sustainable goods and services) and better recognize and integrate them in national policy and forest management considerations.

For more information, refer to the activity's synthesis paper on Kazakhstan Community-Private Plantations: Analysis to Better Understand the Potential for Developing Forest Plantations.

CHALLENGE

Kazakhstan is a forest-scarce country, with forests covering only 4.6 percent of the total area. Nearly 90 percent of the land is made up of steppe, desert and semi-desert. 26 million hectares are designated as forest estate (i.e. the forest fund), but less than half of this is actually covered with forest (12.5 million hectares).

The national state agency in charge of forests manages 5.78 million hectares, or 20 percent of the forest fund. Regional governments manage 79 percent of the forest fund, while privately owned forest area is minimal. The 2003 Forest Code makes special provision for the establishment of timber plantations in the forest fund through a variety of mechanisms, including through partnership with the private sector. However, despite these provisions and the availability of suitable land, the private sector has not been heavily involved in establishing plantations in the forest fund lands.

The recently completed Forest Protection Reforestation Project (FPRP) demonstrated significant demand for Participatory Forest Management, meaning where local communities participate in the management of forest resources in and around their communities. Results from the FPRP were influential in making changes to the Forest Code in 2012, including specific provisions for participatory/community forest management in the 2003 Forest Code.

APPROACH

This activity builds on the FPRP and will contribute to the analysis and research required for the preparation of the proposed Forestry Development Project, which includes expanded components on participatory forest management and the establishment of plantations in collaboration with the private sector.

Specifically, this activity will:

1. Analyze how land under the forest fund is currently being used, in order to determine to which areas are suitable for afforestation in partnership with the private sector and/or local communities.

2. Analyze the legal, regulatory, institutional and fiscal framework with respect to establishing plantations in collaboration with the private sector and local communities. This task will identify the reasons why there has been no uptake of the relevant provisions in the 2003 Forest Code, look into possible tenure models, and propose policy options.

3. Review attitudes held by private sector entities and local communities towards establishing plantations. A limited survey will interview potential investors and local communities.

4. Analyze market conditions and estimate demand for plantation products such as fuel wood; wood chips; pulp/chipboard; timber; and - in the case of local community forests -potentially fruits and nuts. This task will help ascertain local market prices for possible plantation products, and estimate the need for establishing local processing plants and the likelihood of there being sufficient local investors.

5. Assess the overall economic viability of different plantations and tenure models.

Based on these outputs, economic models will be developed to investigate the economic viability of establishing large-scale plantations in collaboration with the private sector and local communities.

RESULTS

This activity concluded in September 2018. The economic analysis showed that from the private sector perspective, the most viable plantation models are forest nurseries (pine, birch, spruce) to raise seedlings for the sale for ornamental and landscaping purposes, and fruit, nut and berry plantations. For energy plantations (poplar, saxaul, pine), once carbon values are factored in, the economic returns and thus the benefits for the economy as a whole are quite high. This provides good justification for the government to support the private sector in developing forest plantations, e.g. in the form of taking on the initial costs and risks of establishing fast growing plantations or providing payments for the global carbon benefits generated by plantations. In addition, this activity revealed that a much larger potential for suitable plantation areas seems to lie outside of the State Forest Fund altogether, on bare lands and naturally afforested lands within the agricultural land category (under pasture or straw-cutting lands).

This activity has equipped decision makers by contributing to a better understanding of the legal, regulatory and financial obstacles and challenges facing Kazakhstan in developing private plantations. The knowledge generated further underlines the importance of engaging private investors and communities in the establishment of plantations, particularly in view of the global benefits provided by afforestation (e.g. carbon sequestration) and Kazakhstan’s international commitments to combat climate change. As such, the activity offers recommendations to leverage the carbon benefits provided by forest plantations (e.g. provision of carbon neutral sustainable goods and services) and better recognize and integrate them in national policy and forest management considerations.

For more information, refer to the activity's synthesis paper on Kazakhstan Community-Private Plantations: Analysis to Better Understand the Potential for Developing Forest Plantations.

Although in the last 10 years, the forest area owned or controlled by indigenous peoples and communities has increased from 21% to 31%. However, in many cases the penetration and enforcement of reforms transferring forest rights to communities is still problematic. In Latin America, where forest ecosystems cover as much as 21% of the land (940 M ha), and include more than 50% of the world’s tropical forests, rates of land use change are also the highest. Even in those countries that are beginning to control deforestation (e.g., Brazil), forestlands continue to be significantly threatened by rapidly expanding agribusiness, oil and gas infrastructure, mining, illegal drug cultivation and logging. There is growing evidence that local communities managing forest ecosystems significantly contribute to the economy, conservation of biodiversity, low carbon emissions growth and other environmental services. Nelson and Chomitz (2011) found that multiple-use protected areas in Asia and Latin America limited fires more effectively than strictly protected areas, and indigenous territories were much more effective, with remoteness and environmental factors held constant. Viable tenure reforms that clarify and secure access of local communities to an array of forest rights will be vital in reducing deforestation and degradation of rural landscapes: in particular, the rights to access forest resources and exclude outsiders from their property, the authority to define or plan land use patterns and manage natural resources, and the duration and permanence of these rights over time are important elements of the land tenure systems of countries interested in designing and implementing green rural development policies and programs (e.g.  REDD+). Governments interested in combating forest ecosystem destruction and degradation will need to incorporate detailed legal analyses and include plans to address gaps and extend recognition of tenure rights and other reforms necessary to enable communities to manage and benefit from their lands, forests, and carbon.

APPROACH

This activity, based on a systematic comparative analysis of forest tenure regimes in six countries of Latin America, seeks to contribute to the discussion and analysis currently under way in many countries in Latin America regarding the key policy, legal, institutional and technical elements needed to strengthen, expand and enforce their forest tenure regimes. The six proposed countries (Argentina, Colombia, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Peru) are currently designing or implementing REDD+ strategies with support from the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) or Forest Investment Program (FIP) funds, or work with the World Bank on land policy and administration issues.

RESULTS

Climate Focus International produced an Inception and Methodological Framework Report, which was the basis for initiating the forest tenure analysis at the desk level from five of the six participating countries (Honduras is still in preparation) that was completed in December 2013.

Land regularization and forestry experts from the Bank and other external partners — the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) and the Salvadoran Research Program on Development and Environment (PRISMA) — met in December 2013 and developed a set of detailed comments and recommendations, both general and country specific, on how to strengthen the expected project outputs, and to orient Climate Focus International on better ways to conduct the field phase of the project.

In-country field visits were carried out to interview key local technical experts, government agencies and primary stakeholders. The comparative analysis report was completed in July 2014, and the final draft of the strategic analytical report has been completed and is under revision by several bank teams. The final product will be published and disseminated before the end of FY15 Q4. 

Findings will continue to be shared on this page as they become available. Follow us on twitter or join our mailing list for regular updates.

Although in the last 10 years, the forest area owned or controlled by indigenous peoples and communities has increased from 21% to 31%. However, in many cases the penetration and enforcement of reforms transferring forest rights to communities is still problematic. In Latin America, where forest ecosystems cover as much as 21% of the land (940 M ha), and include more than 50% of the world’s tropical forests, rates of land use change are also the highest. Even in those countries that are beginning to control deforestation (e.g., Brazil), forestlands continue to be significantly threatened by rapidly expanding agribusiness, oil and gas infrastructure, mining, illegal drug cultivation and logging. There is growing evidence that local communities managing forest ecosystems significantly contribute to the economy, conservation of biodiversity, low carbon emissions growth and other environmental services. Nelson and Chomitz (2011) found that multiple-use protected areas in Asia and Latin America limited fires more effectively than strictly protected areas, and indigenous territories were much more effective, with remoteness and environmental factors held constant. Viable tenure reforms that clarify and secure access of local communities to an array of forest rights will be vital in reducing deforestation and degradation of rural landscapes: in particular, the rights to access forest resources and exclude outsiders from their property, the authority to define or plan land use patterns and manage natural resources, and the duration and permanence of these rights over time are important elements of the land tenure systems of countries interested in designing and implementing green rural development policies and programs (e.g.  REDD+). Governments interested in combating forest ecosystem destruction and degradation will need to incorporate detailed legal analyses and include plans to address gaps and extend recognition of tenure rights and other reforms necessary to enable communities to manage and benefit from their lands, forests, and carbon.

APPROACH

This activity, based on a systematic comparative analysis of forest tenure regimes in six countries of Latin America, seeks to contribute to the discussion and analysis currently under way in many countries in Latin America regarding the key policy, legal, institutional and technical elements needed to strengthen, expand and enforce their forest tenure regimes. The six proposed countries (Argentina, Colombia, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Peru) are currently designing or implementing REDD+ strategies with support from the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) or Forest Investment Program (FIP) funds, or work with the World Bank on land policy and administration issues.

RESULTS

Climate Focus International produced an Inception and Methodological Framework Report, which was the basis for initiating the forest tenure analysis at the desk level from five of the six participating countries (Honduras is still in preparation) that was completed in December 2013.

Land regularization and forestry experts from the Bank and other external partners — the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) and the Salvadoran Research Program on Development and Environment (PRISMA) — met in December 2013 and developed a set of detailed comments and recommendations, both general and country specific, on how to strengthen the expected project outputs, and to orient Climate Focus International on better ways to conduct the field phase of the project.

In-country field visits were carried out to interview key local technical experts, government agencies and primary stakeholders. The comparative analysis report was completed in July 2014, and the final draft of the strategic analytical report has been completed and is under revision by several bank teams. The final product will be published and disseminated before the end of FY15 Q4. 

Findings will continue to be shared on this page as they become available. Follow us on twitter or join our mailing list for regular updates.

CHALLENGE

The forestry sector in Asia and the Pacific is undergoing sweeping and rapid change. Recent years have seen an increase in demand for both wood products and forest-related environmental services. This demand is anticipated to intensify in coming years, bringing with it the potential for greater revenue for forest goods and services. To successfully capture these emerging opportunities, countries will need to demonstrate effective forest law enforcement and governance (FLEG) and instill confidence among buyers that progress is being made in efforts to manage forests sustainably.

APPROACH

The East Asia FLEG process has focused on building up collaboration with ASEAN, a key regional institution. These efforts have met with significant success and ASEAN has issued a Statement on Strengthening Forest Law Enforcement and Governance, at its 29^th Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (29^th AMAF) on Nov. 1, 2007. This statement reaffirmed the region’s commitment to improve forest law enforcement and governance, and paved the way to take action on illegal logging issues in ASEAN in collaboration with regional partners and international organizations.

A work plan for strengthening FLEG in ASEAN is under development and finalization. ASEAN has established a technical ASEAN Regional Knowledge Network for FLEG (ARKN-FLEG) to develop methodologies and exchange knowledge. The World Bank’s FLEG program supported this (in collaboration with GTZ) via technical inputs.

RESULTS

Work with the ASEAN Regional Knowledge Network has consisted of support for preparation of technical papers, a regional workshop on fleg reporting held in Kuala Lumpur November 2009 and the publication of a guide for country assessment and reporting on FLEG in partnership with FAO. The country reports were published in June 2010: they provide an overview of FLEG-related initiatives for 16 of the most forest-rich nations in Asia and the Pacific.

CHALLENGE

The forestry sector in Asia and the Pacific is undergoing sweeping and rapid change. Recent years have seen an increase in demand for both wood products and forest-related environmental services. This demand is anticipated to intensify in coming years, bringing with it the potential for greater revenue for forest goods and services. To successfully capture these emerging opportunities, countries will need to demonstrate effective forest law enforcement and governance (FLEG) and instill confidence among buyers that progress is being made in efforts to manage forests sustainably.

APPROACH

The East Asia FLEG process has focused on building up collaboration with ASEAN, a key regional institution. These efforts have met with significant success and ASEAN has issued a Statement on Strengthening Forest Law Enforcement and Governance, at its 29^th Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (29^th AMAF) on Nov. 1, 2007. This statement reaffirmed the region’s commitment to improve forest law enforcement and governance, and paved the way to take action on illegal logging issues in ASEAN in collaboration with regional partners and international organizations.

A work plan for strengthening FLEG in ASEAN is under development and finalization. ASEAN has established a technical ASEAN Regional Knowledge Network for FLEG (ARKN-FLEG) to develop methodologies and exchange knowledge. The World Bank’s FLEG program supported this (in collaboration with GTZ) via technical inputs.

RESULTS

Work with the ASEAN Regional Knowledge Network has consisted of support for preparation of technical papers, a regional workshop on fleg reporting held in Kuala Lumpur November 2009 and the publication of a guide for country assessment and reporting on FLEG in partnership with FAO. The country reports were published in June 2010: they provide an overview of FLEG-related initiatives for 16 of the most forest-rich nations in Asia and the Pacific.

CHALLENGE

Despite efforts to establish protected areas and improve the planning and management of these areas, Benin’s forests are being degraded through slash-and-burn agriculture, demand for wood-based fuel, uncontrolled bush fires, and intensive animal grazing continues. Such activities undermine the essential ecological services that forests provide to populations. In a country where the forest sector contributes over six percent to GDP (2009 estimate) and employs more than 200,000 people in the wood-energy sector alone, the direct and indirect impacts of forest degradation are significant.

To address these trends, the Beninese Government has prioritized the conservation and sustainable management of its forest resources. The World Bank is providing support by financing a background study on the state of forestry and biodiversity in Benin. To complement this IDA study, PROFOR is supporting a supplemental analysis into to the potential for productive forests in Benin, which will also recommend targeted investments for developing the sector in a sustainable manner and contributing to job creation. 

APPROACH

This activity will undertake an assessment of the productive forest sector in Benin, and opportunities for long-term investments in the areas of timber and fuel wood. The study will review the main stakeholders, including the timber industries; assess national timber production needs and capacity; and identify the relevant obstacles to developing the sector. Concrete recommendations will be made with a view toward reducing the country's dependence on imports to meet its domestic demand for timber and firewood.

RESULTS

This activity concluded in December 2018. The activities of this ASA integrated and reinforced several processes initiated by the Government of Benin: increasing knowledge of forest sector stakeholders, strengthening national information management systems, making a concrete contribution to the planning of the Government Action Program for 2016-2021, and defining interventions that could be carried out with the support of the World Bank.

The analysis recommended that the development strategy for timber should be based on the establishment of plantations, preferably in areas favourable to the growth of teak and Gmelina (southern and central areas) and in certain climatic enclaves. The management plans of these zones dedicate on average 40% of the forests surface to wood production, half of which can be devoted to timber plantations. The development of timber plantations will contribute to achieving the Government's goal of increasing the volume of timber annually to 250,000 m3 through large-scale plantations to generate forest-related jobs and increase public revenues. 

The activity helped to influence the way in which Benin’s DGEFC plans to secure its Gazetted Forests, including ways in which to promote forest resources as a valuable source of income for adjacent communities and their members, especially women and youth, to ensure sustainable development and exploitation. Benin is in the process of using this study’s findings to help shape a project that will lend support to productive forests, specifically for fuelwood, to supply its energy needs.  

CHALLENGE

Despite efforts to establish protected areas and improve the planning and management of these areas, Benin’s forests are being degraded through slash-and-burn agriculture, demand for wood-based fuel, uncontrolled bush fires, and intensive animal grazing continues. Such activities undermine the essential ecological services that forests provide to populations. In a country where the forest sector contributes over six percent to GDP (2009 estimate) and employs more than 200,000 people in the wood-energy sector alone, the direct and indirect impacts of forest degradation are significant.

To address these trends, the Beninese Government has prioritized the conservation and sustainable management of its forest resources. The World Bank is providing support by financing a background study on the state of forestry and biodiversity in Benin. To complement this IDA study, PROFOR is supporting a supplemental analysis into to the potential for productive forests in Benin, which will also recommend targeted investments for developing the sector in a sustainable manner and contributing to job creation. 

APPROACH

This activity will undertake an assessment of the productive forest sector in Benin, and opportunities for long-term investments in the areas of timber and fuel wood. The study will review the main stakeholders, including the timber industries; assess national timber production needs and capacity; and identify the relevant obstacles to developing the sector. Concrete recommendations will be made with a view toward reducing the country's dependence on imports to meet its domestic demand for timber and firewood.

RESULTS

This activity concluded in December 2018. The activities of this ASA integrated and reinforced several processes initiated by the Government of Benin: increasing knowledge of forest sector stakeholders, strengthening national information management systems, making a concrete contribution to the planning of the Government Action Program for 2016-2021, and defining interventions that could be carried out with the support of the World Bank.

The analysis recommended that the development strategy for timber should be based on the establishment of plantations, preferably in areas favourable to the growth of teak and Gmelina (southern and central areas) and in certain climatic enclaves. The management plans of these zones dedicate on average 40% of the forests surface to wood production, half of which can be devoted to timber plantations. The development of timber plantations will contribute to achieving the Government's goal of increasing the volume of timber annually to 250,000 m3 through large-scale plantations to generate forest-related jobs and increase public revenues. 

The activity helped to influence the way in which Benin’s DGEFC plans to secure its Gazetted Forests, including ways in which to promote forest resources as a valuable source of income for adjacent communities and their members, especially women and youth, to ensure sustainable development and exploitation. Benin is in the process of using this study’s findings to help shape a project that will lend support to productive forests, specifically for fuelwood, to supply its energy needs.  

CHALLENGE

Despite efforts to establish protected areas and improve the planning and management of these areas, Benin’s forests are being degraded through slash-and-burn agriculture, demand for wood-based fuel, uncontrolled bush fires, and intensive animal grazing continues. Such activities undermine the essential ecological services that forests provide to populations. In a country where the forest sector contributes over six percent to GDP (2009 estimate) and employs more than 200,000 people in the wood-energy sector alone, the direct and indirect impacts of forest degradation are significant.

To address these trends, the Beninese Government has prioritized the conservation and sustainable management of its forest resources. The World Bank is providing support by financing a background study on the state of forestry and biodiversity in Benin. To complement this IDA study, PROFOR is supporting a supplemental analysis into to the potential for productive forests in Benin, which will also recommend targeted investments for developing the sector in a sustainable manner and contributing to job creation. 

APPROACH

This activity will undertake an assessment of the productive forest sector in Benin, and opportunities for long-term investments in the areas of timber and fuel wood. The study will review the main stakeholders, including the timber industries; assess national timber production needs and capacity; and identify the relevant obstacles to developing the sector. Concrete recommendations will be made with a view toward reducing the country's dependence on imports to meet its domestic demand for timber and firewood.

RESULTS

This activity concluded in December 2018. The activities of this ASA integrated and reinforced several processes initiated by the Government of Benin: increasing knowledge of forest sector stakeholders, strengthening national information management systems, making a concrete contribution to the planning of the Government Action Program for 2016-2021, and defining interventions that could be carried out with the support of the World Bank.

The analysis recommended that the development strategy for timber should be based on the establishment of plantations, preferably in areas favourable to the growth of teak and Gmelina (southern and central areas) and in certain climatic enclaves. The management plans of these zones dedicate on average 40% of the forests surface to wood production, half of which can be devoted to timber plantations. The development of timber plantations will contribute to achieving the Government's goal of increasing the volume of timber annually to 250,000 m3 through large-scale plantations to generate forest-related jobs and increase public revenues. 

The activity helped to influence the way in which Benin’s DGEFC plans to secure its Gazetted Forests, including ways in which to promote forest resources as a valuable source of income for adjacent communities and their members, especially women and youth, to ensure sustainable development and exploitation. Benin is in the process of using this study’s findings to help shape a project that will lend support to productive forests, specifically for fuelwood, to supply its energy needs.  

CHALLENGE

Despite efforts to establish protected areas and improve the planning and management of these areas, Benin’s forests are being degraded through slash-and-burn agriculture, demand for wood-based fuel, uncontrolled bush fires, and intensive animal grazing continues. Such activities undermine the essential ecological services that forests provide to populations. In a country where the forest sector contributes over six percent to GDP (2009 estimate) and employs more than 200,000 people in the wood-energy sector alone, the direct and indirect impacts of forest degradation are significant.

To address these trends, the Beninese Government has prioritized the conservation and sustainable management of its forest resources. The World Bank is providing support by financing a background study on the state of forestry and biodiversity in Benin. To complement this IDA study, PROFOR is supporting a supplemental analysis into to the potential for productive forests in Benin, which will also recommend targeted investments for developing the sector in a sustainable manner and contributing to job creation. 

APPROACH

This activity will undertake an assessment of the productive forest sector in Benin, and opportunities for long-term investments in the areas of timber and fuel wood. The study will review the main stakeholders, including the timber industries; assess national timber production needs and capacity; and identify the relevant obstacles to developing the sector. Concrete recommendations will be made with a view toward reducing the country's dependence on imports to meet its domestic demand for timber and firewood.

RESULTS

This activity concluded in December 2018. The activities of this ASA integrated and reinforced several processes initiated by the Government of Benin: increasing knowledge of forest sector stakeholders, strengthening national information management systems, making a concrete contribution to the planning of the Government Action Program for 2016-2021, and defining interventions that could be carried out with the support of the World Bank.

The analysis recommended that the development strategy for timber should be based on the establishment of plantations, preferably in areas favourable to the growth of teak and Gmelina (southern and central areas) and in certain climatic enclaves. The management plans of these zones dedicate on average 40% of the forests surface to wood production, half of which can be devoted to timber plantations. The development of timber plantations will contribute to achieving the Government's goal of increasing the volume of timber annually to 250,000 m3 through large-scale plantations to generate forest-related jobs and increase public revenues. 

The activity helped to influence the way in which Benin’s DGEFC plans to secure its Gazetted Forests, including ways in which to promote forest resources as a valuable source of income for adjacent communities and their members, especially women and youth, to ensure sustainable development and exploitation. Benin is in the process of using this study’s findings to help shape a project that will lend support to productive forests, specifically for fuelwood, to supply its energy needs.