Collectively, the chapters in this exploratory study constitute a review of community economic development as a response in the Pacific Northwest to the globalization of the timber industry. The history of federal policies concerning forest communities & timber production is discussed, & recent social & economic changes that are profoundly affecting forest communities are examined. Case studies of new approaches to creating jobs & wealth in forest communities are presented as well as research into the link between economic development & social & political development. Charts & tables.

This assessment framework provides a basis for understanding the impact of community-based forestry (CBF) on forests and local livelihoods at the country level (e.g. improved forest governance, participatory conservation, joint forest management). It also presents indicators that may be used across countries, focusing on formal CBF initiatives recognized by statutory law. The study reports that there has been a substantial increase in forest land under various types of CBF regimes over the past two decades. The associated transfer of power to local people inherent in these regimes involves various combinations of user rights, responsibilities and decision-making. However, there has not been a systematic assessment of the extent and effectiveness of the various types of CBF regimes around the world. The report concludes that well-performing CBF has the potential to rapidly restore forests in ecological terms and scale up sustainable forest management to the national level, while improving the livelihoods of billions of the most marginalised people around the world. In doing so, CBF has the potential to contribute significantly to a range of Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 15, supporting the sustainable management of natural resources, and SDG 1, reducing poverty.

A sustainable community, as understood by this research, is one that strives to maintain a health & thriving economy, society, & environment; adapts & responds to external & internal stresses & opportunities; provides a high quality of life for residents; and persists through time. This report describes five recent research projects identifying indicators of community sustainability in rural British Columbia. It develops a synthesis approach that combines elements from all five projects into an overarching framework for indicators research. More specifically, the framework organizes indicators derived from the projects into four basic types of capital: natural, economic, social, & human. It also identifies five specific outcomes: ecological integrity, economic vitality, civic vitality, physical & mental health, and recreational opportunities.

This handbook is designed for staff in protected areas around the world who encounter conflicts of all kinds. It presents a framework and strategies for responding to different types of conflicts, along with case studies that describe a variety of approaches for dealing with conflict.

A global assessment of potential and anticipated impacts of efforts to achieve the SDGs on forests and related socio-economic systems. This title is available as Open Access via Cambridge Core.

This site also contains other information about sustainable resource management.