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Cirad

Forests as local and global livelihoods support systems

Roda J.M., Campbell B.M., Kowero G., Mutamba M., Vanhanen H.. 2005. International Forestry Review, 7 (5) : p. 266-266. IUFRO World Congress. 22, 2005-08-08/2005-08-13, Brisbane (Australie).

The central role of forests in rural livelihoods, especially for the poor and the marginalized suggest that these resources could actively support pathways out of poverty if their full potential is captured. However, most forest-based poverty alleviation pathways are not necessarily accessible to the poor, who are often constrained by low levels of education, low levels of asset holding, poor health, weak local institutions, unfavourable institutional frameworks and lack power and opportunities to be heard. In some areas, forests clearly have potential to lift rural people out of poverty by enabling significant income generation, mobilization of savings, capital accumulation and asset-building. This paper explores the opportunities for forest-based poverty alleviation and current approaches aimed at helping poor people to capture the full benefits of their forest resources. The discussion highlights the need for identifying and developing promising opportunities for forest-based poverty alleviation and circumstances under which these are applicable. Despite the potential of forest based poverty alleviation, much of the evidence presented suggest that sustained welfare gains for the great majority of forest dependent people in many areas will require broader macro-level investments beyond forests and natural resources. Multi-scale, integrated and holistic development approaches, which take advantage of the positive links between rural livelihoods and other sectors, will be the key for achieving poverty alleviation at the scale of Millennium Development Goals. (Texte intégral)
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