Reaching consensus. Multi-stakeholder processes in forestry: experiences from the Asia-Pacific region
Since the Earth Summit at Rio in 1992, there has been a significant change in the institutional settings for forest management dialogue and decision-making. Prior to Rio, the most common paradigm could be characterized as a top down one of “government knows best.†However, in many countries this led to considerable conflict over many aspects of the way that forests were managed, not least being agreement on the social objectives of forest management. Progress became mired in uncertaint y and dissension. Since 1992, there has been a universally accepted focus on the goal of sustainable forest management, with its emphasis on integrating economic, social and environmental outcomes. Considering the broad range of people and sectors impacted by forests, decision-making in forestry can no longer be the exclusive domain of governments and the privileged groups of people. For forest management to be successful in today’s world, mechanisms must be established to ensure effective participation of diverse stakeholders in decision-making processes. The purpose of such multi-stakeholder processes is to balance the perspectives and priorities of all affected and interested individuals and groups, leading to forest management approaches that better serve the needs and priorities of all. Such processes also serve to foster wider support and a sense of ownership for the decisions that are taken, so that their implementation will be more effective. This publication is intended t o further increase the knowledge and understanding of multi-stakeholder processes in forestry in the Asia-Pacific region, leading to more rapid adoption of multi-stakeholder processes that are truly effective in delivering the diverse benefits of forests to society in a balanced and equitable manner.
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| Format: | Book (stand-alone) biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2007
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| Online Access: | https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/AI390E http://www.fao.org/3/a-ai390e.pdf |
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| Summary: | Since the Earth Summit at Rio in 1992, there has been a significant change in the institutional settings for forest management dialogue and decision-making. Prior to Rio, the most common paradigm could be characterized as a top down one of “government knows best.†However, in many countries this led to considerable conflict over many aspects of the way that forests were managed, not least being agreement on the social objectives of forest management. Progress became mired in uncertaint y and dissension. Since 1992, there has been a universally accepted focus on the goal of sustainable forest management, with its emphasis on integrating economic, social and environmental outcomes. Considering the broad range of people and sectors impacted by forests, decision-making in forestry can no longer be the exclusive domain of governments and the privileged groups of people. For forest management to be successful in today’s world, mechanisms must be established to ensure effective participation of diverse stakeholders in decision-making processes. The purpose of such multi-stakeholder processes is to balance the perspectives and priorities of all affected and interested individuals and groups, leading to forest management approaches that better serve the needs and priorities of all. Such processes also serve to foster wider support and a sense of ownership for the decisions that are taken, so that their implementation will be more effective. This publication is intended t o further increase the knowledge and understanding of multi-stakeholder processes in forestry in the Asia-Pacific region, leading to more rapid adoption of multi-stakeholder processes that are truly effective in delivering the diverse benefits of forests to society in a balanced and equitable manner. |
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