POINT 1 'forest rangers = storm troopers' Donald Mansius wrote the following in response to Michael Painter's request for information on tree-planting incentives ........ "The current system in many (most?) developing countries vests property rights to trees (and land) in the (almighty) state. Forest codes are enforced by armed, paramilitary forest rangers who terrorize villagers. Storm troopers is not too strong a term to apply to some of them. What incentive do individuals have to care for something that belongs to the state? Providing incentives or handouts or whatever you want to call them can increase planting and short-term survival rates, but I agree with the development agencies that consider them unsustainable". What Donald describes is partly true - but Forest Authorities in developing countries are usually underfunded and demoralised. Forestry professionals in these counties know what is required to manage their forests sustainably, but are often denied resources (which may go to their NGO counterparts), and operate in a system where professional probity is not always encouraged. Indigenous Forest Authorities and Professional Forestry Associations need support from foresters elsewhere, not blanket condemnation. Community forest management initiatives, and reform of land tenure and tree ownership regulations are clearly needed, but what is also needed is respect for forestry professionals in developing countries who are often doing their best to protect areas of forest aganist overwhelming difficulties imposed both by their political masters and by the need for farmland. POINT 2. 'The Northern View of Sustainability' Another symptom of the lack of respect for foresters in 'developing' countries is the tendency to promote certification schemes which originate amongst environmental groups in North America or Europe and involve direct certification by private consultancy firms on behalf of large international concerns. This can easily bypass the laws and regulations of the host country, and leave the local foresters even more disillusioned. (The concept of 'International Registration of Forests' - administered through an organisation like ITTA by LOCAL Forest Authorities has a lot to commend it in this regard - see http://www.infobahnos.com/~kiekens/). POINT 3. 'Farmers in developed countries seldom plant trees without financial or fiscal inducements, but proposing the same for farmers in developing countries is not 'sustainable'. Is this not another example of double standards? European farmers are eligible for very large planting grants (UK up to 1300 ECU/ha, Denmark up to 4100 ECU/ha, Germany 3180 ECU/ha, Ireland 2540 ECU/ha etc...), and many countries give huge tax breaks. So why are tropical farmers any different? As Michael Painter's original question points out - farmers everywhere face real shortages of land, money and labour. A tiny fraction of the European subsidies would cause private tree planting to spread like wildfire throughout the tropics. This was recognised in an innovative scheme proposed by the World Bank for Nigeria, which would have reimbursed farmers 75% of the notional planting costs. Sadly the World Bank was persuaded that this idea was not 'sustainable'. Of course there are real problems with financial incentives: a) sustaining the grants, b) ensuring farmers don't abuse the system, c) stopping officials siphoning the money, d) planning where the trees should go, e) providing land-tenure and tree-ownership certificates, and d) ensuring that a market infrastructure exists for timber from small woodlots. None of these problems seem insuperable, however: a) many countries divert a certain percentage of timber taxes to state regeneration organisations, and this could often be better spent as a planting incentive to farmers; b) payments can be made in installments depending on sucessful establishment and growth, c) spot checks and performance incentives for forest officials can work wonders against corruption, d) mini farm-forest management plans could be introduced as part of the incentive scheme, and linked to the issue of tree-ownership certificates (e) for participating farmers who demonstrate accredited traditional land titles. Michael Painter has asked an interesting question and I'm sure he'll be very grateful if a few more of us take the time to reply, or pass his query on those funding agencies who may have 1st hand knowledge. __________________________________________________________ G.Lawson@ite.ac.uk Institute of Terrestrial Ecology ITE Tropical Forestry Section Bush Estate Tel: +44-131-445-4343 Edinburgh EH26 OQB Fax: +44-131-445-3943 Scotland, UK __________________________________________________________
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