Workshop on participatory forest management and community livelihoods
for Community-Based Organisations

Photo 1: Regional CBO participants on a guided tour of the Fondes Amandes Reforestation Project site

3 May 2010, Trinidad- The Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) recently hosted a one day regional workshop for community based organisations (CBOs) engaged in using and managing forest resources. The workshop, titled “Participatory forest management and community livelihoods for Community-Based Organisations” was hosted at the Fondes Amandes Community Reforestation Programme (FACRP) project site in St. Ann’s, Trinidad and was funded by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. It was one of several activities under CANARI’s Forests and Livelihoods programme which engages in research and capacity building activities designed to maximise the contribution of forests to improving the quality of lives and livelihoods of poor people in rural communities in Caribbean islands.

The workshop provided a unique opportunity for forest users to share their lessons and experiences on participatory forest management and learn about methods they can use to measure livelihood impacts from their activities. They looked at methods of collecting information on how their work contributes to: providing economic benefits to people in their CBO and their wider community; building relationships between and among people; improving physical infrastructure in the community; conserving the natural ecosystems and biodiversity; and improving people’s skills and knowledge.

Participants also toured the FACRP project site, where they were exposed to the forest management activities of the group such as soil conservation, plant propagation, organic gardening, composting and reforestation. A significant lesson learnt by participants was how the FACRP used sustainable activities to earn income through the establishment of several small businesses.

Participants developed key messages they wanted to communicate to other stakeholders, which they shared at the regional conference, “Forests for People, People for Forests: Forest-based livelihoods in the Caribbean” held by CANARI in May 2010 in Trinidad. These messages emphasised the important role that communities can play and are playing in forest management and how other stakeholders need to support them in their efforts so that forests can be conserved while communities can benefit.

The workshop report is available electronically at click here and more information on the regional conference and other aspects of CANARI’s Forests and Livelihoods programme is at click here. We would welcome your feedback, which can be sent to info@canari.org.

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