Forest Law and Sustainable Development : Addressing Contemporary Challenges Through Legal Reform

This study is intended to be a
systematic and practical guide to the basic features of
modern forestry legislation. It identifies a range of issues
that should be considered in assessing the adequacy of
forest laws and presents options for addressing those issues
in ways that may improve the effectiveness of law as a
foundation for sustainable forest management. Part One
locates forestry law within the wider legal framework,
exploring its complex interrelations with other sectoral and
general laws. Land issues are given special treatment
because the relationship between forest access and use and
land tenure is so important. Part Two explores in detail the
legal treatment of core forest management issues, such as
forest classification, planning, concessions, licensing, and
private forest management. Part Three focuses on the role of
national and sub-national institutions in the sustainable
management of forest resources. As decentralization of
forestry responsibilities and devolution of powers are
growing, local actors are given more prominent roles in
forest planning, use, and management, through such means as
community-based arrangements. Part Four explores a range of
environmental and trade issues. Part Five examines financial
and enforcement measures, emphasizing that compliance and
enforcement of forest law should be reinforced by financial
and administrative sanctions. The study concludes with some
reflections on how the effectiveness of forest law can be
enhanced by attention to the principles that guide the
process of drafting.