Forests Sourcebook - HCV Resource Network

Box 1.4
Poverty-Forest Linkages Toolkit
The Poverty-Forest Linkages Toolkit a is designed to
meet two objectives. First, it aims to increase knowledge
about how rural households depend on forest and
tree resources to meet their daily need, and the potential
of this resource to reduce poverty. Second, the
Toolkit assists in engaging in a process of mainstreaming
this information into national planning processes,
including PRSPs. The Toolkit provides a framework for
gathering and analyzing information to provide a clear
understanding of the current and potential role of forest
and tree products for poverty reduction. It includes
social, institutional, and environmental concerns, in
the context of local and national planning processes.
An integral part is the identification of the most forestdependent
communities, and the impact of current
and potential policies and programs.
The Poverty-Forest Linkages Toolkit may be used by
forestry departments, local governments, and nongovernmental
organization (NGO) facilitators to
deliver the following:
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■
■
■
■
Local-level “snapshot data” on forest reliance and
the livelihood and poverty reduction contribution
of forests
A documented case for the contribution of forests
to the livelihoods of the poor
Analyses of how forestry regulations promote or
hinder the livelihoods of the rural poor
Strengthened agency and institutional capacity to
identify opportunities and constraints
An assessment of issues (for example, inappropriate
regulations) that need to be resolved if poverty
reduction is to be effectively addressed by forestry
officials
The toolkit provides a complete set of tools, methods,
examples, and case studies for the task, including
the following:
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■
■
■
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An explanation of the PRSP process and identification
of the strategies needed for influencing it
(including potential entry points for forestry)
A set of rapid appraisal methods to gather information
on cash and subsistence contributions from
forests to households, particularly the poor
Methods for analyzing field data for the potential
role of forests in reducing poverty and vulnerability,
and policy options for improving the contribution
of forests to rural livelihoods
Suggestions for how to frame the results, so as to be
relevant to the planners, government agencies, and
other institutions and organizations at both local
and national levels
A series of case studies that illustrate the contribution
of forest resources to households and an analysis
of the impact of forestry policies and programs
Included are annexes on the tools, with instruction
for their use; a series of examples of all the tools, illustrating
the data they generate; an explanation of how to
analyze documents collected; and an example of a
short document that might be written for distribution
to government officials when explaining the purpose of
the toolkit.
Source: Authors’ compilation using PROFOR forthcoming a.
a. In May 2004, with PROFOR support, the World Conservation Union (IUCN), Overseas Development Institute, Centre for
International Forestry Research (CIFOR), PROFOR, and Winrock International formed a working group partnership with the
intent of consolidating and building upon the growing knowledge base from fieldwork and research efforts on the different
ways in which forests can benefit the poor. The result was the draft Poverty-Forest Linkages Toolkit, which was piloted in four
countries prior to finalization.
activities to be undertaken at the national, district, and local
levels.
Undertaking a national-level analysis. The purpose of
a national-level analysis is to find out whether the
contribution of forests to poverty reduction is already being
mainstreamed into current national policies, programs, and
laws, and whether poverty issues are being taken into
account in forest sector processes. If they are, the aim is to
understand how, and if not, to identify country-specific
pathways by which they could be.
The toolkit explains how the relevant natural resources
ministries need to be involved and how to find out what the
relevant entry points might be for more focus on the contribution
of forests to the livelihoods of the poor (box 1.5).
Tasks include identifying the main ministry hosting the PRS
26 CHAPTER 1: FORESTS FOR POVERTY REDUCTION