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What is a community forest? A community forest is an area with the
communal lands for which a local community has obtained forest resource
management rights from the Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry.
A local community comprises all residents in a given area who are
represented by a traditional leader (headman/-woman) and who have
obtained rights from a traditional authority to use that area for
farming, settlement or other purposes.
With a focus on the management of natural vegetation, a community
forest can include a variety of land use types such as forests,
woodlands, grazing areas, farms, settlements, roads and rivers.
The term ‘Forest Resources’ also includes a variety
of natural resources such as trees, fruits, shrubs, herbs, grasses
and animals.
Communities decide which areas should fall under community forest
management regulations and elect community members to form Forest
Management Bodies that represent the interests of local residents.
Forest management bodies develop management plans, supervise and
control forest management activities and ensure the proper use
and distribution of generated revenue.
The transfer of management rights to local communities and additional
income opportunities from forest resources are expected to motivate
local people for sustainable resource management and improved
resource protection.
How communities benefit from community forestry.
Community forests can provide benefits such as:
- Empowerment of local communities and traditional authorities
with rights for improved area and resource control
- Income generation through commercial use of wood and non-wood
resources
- Improved land use
- Improved availability of resources for subsistence needs
- Improvement of management capacities and technical skills
- Job opportunities
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