Community Forestry International Programs

Community Forestry International (CFI) operates on a global level to support the role of forest dependent peoples as reliable natural resource stewards. CFI’s operational assumption is that good policy and law can only be formulated through extensive field learning and experience. At a time when national forest management systems around the world are going through a historic period of change, community forest management represents a cost-effective approach to conserve threatened forest ecosystems while responding to rural livelihood needs in a socially just manner. CFI aspires not only to contribute to forest restoration and conservation; it strives to encourage the protection of indigenous, forest-oriented cultures and societies. CFI’s strategy is based on a belief that “Strong community institutions lead to good forest management.”

With limited resources, CFI attempts to partner with other organizations that share its concerns and goals. This not only allows for a pooling of resources, but accelerates the sharing of knowledge and learning. Program strategies are designed to explore exciting new modes of facilitating adaptive changes in policy and practice that can help transform the forestry sector, allowing financial and technical resources to address management problems in a cost-effective manner and one that is empowering for forest communities.

CFI is also committed to sharing its learning on community forestry by producing numerous publications, videos, and brochures in local languages that can be easily downloaded from its website for free.