1.
IMPLEMENTING TENURE REFORMS IN
FORESTRY IN LIGHT OF THE VGGT: SUCCESS,
CHALLENGES, AND THE WAY FORWARD
FAO
06.10.2017 – 09.30-11.00

2.
Key issues, challenges and opportunities
1. Public ownership of forest lands remain high. Communities and IPs face
limitation in the recognition of their ownership or management rights over
forests.
2. Governments have been reluctant in devolving management responsibilities
and allocating rights to communities.
3. Where rights are recognised they are not formalised. The state remains the
defactor manager. Protection of rights is weak. There are barriers in
benefitting from rights. For IPs the first step is to be recognised as IPs.
4. Investments can have negative impacts on communities dependent of
forests. Negative impacts, including deforestation, are accelerated by high
commodity prices.

3.
Main lessons learned/recommendations
1. Many countries have policies and laws in place. Implementation is
lacking behind.
2. The recognition of individual and community rights requires strong
institutions and policy support. Clarify and recognize the role and
functions of forest tenure institutions.
3. There is an evidence between clear tenure and CC mitigation and
adaptation.
4. It is crucial to monitor and analyse evolution of forest tenure in
countries.

4.
Next steps – the way forward
1. Support the implementation of existing and proposed laws and regulations that
relate to IPs and local communities’ forest tenure. This is to prevent the rollback of
existing rights, and to empower local communities and IP’s to adopt or revitalise
agricultural, tree and forest-based food systems and sustainable farming practices
that are central for attaining food security.
2. Enhance the exchange of experiences and expertise between countries. Focus on
positive examples and bring those forward.
3. Support the building of and strengthen the capacities of local organisations in
order to advocate, defend and enforce their rights.
4. Dialogue with the private sector at global - including within the CFS - and country
level should be promoted in line with the principles of the VGGTs and CFS RAI.