Dates:

19^th – 21^st July 2006

Venue:

Commonwealth of Dominica

Workshop overview:

The need:

It is widely perceived that participatory forest management more delivers greater socioeconomic and environmental benefits to all stakeholders.  However, forestry management in the Caribbean does not yet effectively and equitably involve stakeholders in planning and management of forest resources.  The policy environment provides some opportunities for PFM but at the same time there are many constraints to the implementation of PFM, both through gaps in the policy environment and in the capacity of key stakeholders to effectively participate. 

The Project:

This three-day regional training workshop in participatory forest management (PFM) is a component of a three-year CANARI project entitled “Participatory Forest Management: improving policy and institutional capacity” which is sponsored under the FAO National Forest Programme Facility (NFPF).  CANARI is implementing this project in 7 countries of the insular Caribbean - Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, and Trinidad & Tobago. 

The NFPF project aims to support the improvement of socioeconomic and environmental benefits that can be derived from forest management by analysing, promoting and building capacity for participatory planning and management of forest resources at the regional, national and local levels.

This regional workshop will draw on research conducted in the project countries that:

·    Assessed opportunities and constraints for equitable stakeholder participation in forest management in the national policies;

·    Identified national capacity building strategies to address gaps identified; and

·    Examined the linkages between participation, improved livelihoods and improved forest management.

It is expected that regional workshop will also be used as a mechanism to solicit wider stakeholder input into the development of other activities under the NFPF project, including the identification of potential case studies for research and developing criteria and processes for implementation of a small grant scheme for civil society partners.

Objectives:

By the end of the workshop participants will be able to:

• Facilitate processes of institutional development for increased stakeholder participation in forest management to improve the socioeconomic and environmental benefits gained from forests
• Secure wide stakeholder input into the development of guidelines and strategies for future activities under the NFPF project

Outline of topics:

This workshop draws on the results of the policy reviews and capacity assessment studies conducted in the seven countries participating in the NFPF project. The workshop will also draw on other CANARI research and case studies, including the tools and methods developed by CANARI and disseminated via its Guidelines series and training workshops (e.g. stakeholder identification and analysis, participatory planning, institutional arrangements).

.

Key topics to be covered in the workshop may therefore include:

• Definition of key terms in PFM – stakeholder, institution, participation, livelihood, forest
• Review of national policy reviews, capacity assessments and capacity-building strategies
• Analysing institutional arrangements
• Facilitating processes of institutional change
• Regional initiatives
• Identification of potential research case studies in participatory forest management
• Development of guidelines for implementation of a small grant scheme for civil society partners for participatory forest management

Approach:

The workshop will be participatory and interactive and use a combination of facilitation techniques, including small group work, individual exercises, panel discussion and plenary discussions. It will include case study material from the host countries and CANARI’s work in the region and practical exercises which apply learning to participants’ own situations.

Who should participate?

The workshop targets forest managers and resource users, from government and civil society, including the non-profit, community-based and private sectors, who shape or implement policies in forest management and who are able to influence and catalyse processes of institutional development for participatory forest management.

Participants would be expected to have a basic understanding of the current institutional framework for forest management in their own country.

How will participants benefit?

This three-day workshop will provide participants with an introduction to essential skills and methods needed to facilitate a process of institutional development for participatory forest management in their home country.

Costs & funding:

The costs of participation in US dollars are as follows:

Local participants:
Tuition, field trips, lunches, group dinner, materials -  $1,200.00

Overseas participants:
Tuition, field trips, lunches, materials, three nights accommodation, airport transfers, and evening meals – US $1475.00

The cost of airfare is not included; however CANARI can make flight reservations.

Facilitator:

This workshop is being coordinated and facilitated by the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI). 

Click here for an Application form

For more information contact Polin Sankar-Persad at: 

Administration Building
Fernandes Industrial Centre
Eastern Main Road
Laventille
Trinidad and Tobago
Telephone: 868 626 6062
Fax: 868 626 1788
E-mail:info@canari.org
Website: http://www.canari.org/