Landscape level planning in the context of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM)

1. Landscape level planning in the context of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) Kumasi, May 2008

2. Questions What is sustainability and sustainable forest management? How does this relate to Landscape approaches or Landscape Level Planning? How can Landscape Level Planning improve on conventional forestry planning systems?

3. Sustainability (in the forest sector) Used to be.. Sustained yield – of timber Nowadays…sustainability of: Timber yield Other products (bushmeat, NTFPs etc) Services for society e.g. water supplies, soils, cultural sites, biodiversity, recreation

4. What is sustainable forest management? “The process of managing permanent forest land to achieve one or more clearly specified objectives of management with regard to the production of a continuous flow of desired forest products and services without undue reduction in its inherent values and future productivity and without undue undesirable effects on the physical and social environment” (ITTO)

5. Why has SFM become important? Government and international requirements insist on high environmental standards Market pressures require sustainably-sourced forest products (especially timber) Investors in forestry want to ensure their ‘green’ credibility Longer-term economic benefits will result (compared with the short-term gains from unsustainable practices) A wish to reduce environmental and social ‘risks’ and avoid litigation Climate change

6. This requires paying attention to… The legal and policy framework and its enforcement Sustained, optimal production of forest goods and services Environmental protection People’s well-being

7. “Proper planning at all levels is an essential component of sustainable forest management” How much forest do we need or want? What kinds of forest should there be? Where should it be situated? How should it be preserved and managed? This determines the type of planning we need for SFM

8. Two key planning principles for SFM Optimisation Negotiated process

9. Optimisation? Optimise the mix of products and services from a forest Managing for a single product or service will usually affect forests’ ability to provide other services and products Trade-offs will almost always have to be made for SFM (can’t maximise everything all the time)

10. Negotiated process? In democratic societies no single person or organisation can exert excessive controls over others To make effective trade-offs and optimise the mix of products and services from a forest, discussion is required This allows different stakeholders, (organisations and individuals) to express their values, preferences and to NEGOTIATE

11. Landscape level planning (compared with traditional forest planning) Allows us to work out what the necessary trade-offs are through a negotiated process

12. Landscape level A suitable scale for: Optimising and making trade-offs Negotiating processes (with stakeholders) Normally intermediate in size between a larger ‘eco-region’ or country and a ‘site’

13. A landscape level planning process: Involves multiple stakeholders in planning and negotiating agreed outcomes Uses multiple criteria to evaluate and agree on different options (environmental, social, economic, cultural, political etc.) Is open, transparent and free from external manipulation “Where different knowledge sources meet” Integrates the needs of different sectors Looks at external effects i.e. those outside the forest Produces a plan that is flexible enough to respond to external changes Planning as iterative process (learning is key)

14. STAGE 1 Drivers of change (problem identification) Natural and cultural dimension Geology Land use Soils Farm types Topography Settlement pattern Climate Infrastructure Vegetation Aesthetic qualities Biodiversity Distinctive features Institutional dimension Existing local organisations Institutions and stakeholders Power relations Legislation and bylaws Land planning policies Tenure arrangements Socio-cultural and economic dimension Attitudes and values Agricultural industries Local culture Farm economy Sense of placeOther industries Sense of community Historical development Goals and aspirations STAGE 2 Landscape description Institutions Stakeholder perceptions and vision STAGE 3 Developing trust and partnerships Identification of land use and management options Environmental valuation Building landscape scenarios Environmental functions and values Progressive contextualization STAGE 4 Scenario planning Negotiated landscape scenarios and trade-offs Multistakeholder discussion and negotiation Multistakeholder analysis Action planning and implementation STAGE 5 New institutional arrangements Monitoring for impact Participatory monitoring Adapt and Learn Action learning

15. A landscape level planning process: Stands or falls with good facilitation!

16. Thinking in “landscapes” and landscape level planning…… ……how does it help in achieving your project objectives? Discuss in same 2 groups and report back by preparing a statement for general discussion such as “yes, it helps because……” or “yes, but….” etc.