Science and forest concessions

Abstract

¿Can forest concessions be a means to conserve natural state forests? Bolivia has 10 years of experience with forest concessions while Guatemala ventured into its first community concession in 1994. Peru is following these examples and Brazil is going in a similar direction. In spite of these promising initiatives, the processes of forest management in concessions still need to be consolidated.

The paper presents a preliminary analysis of the contribution of concessions to good forest management, discussing how these may contribute to improve enabling conditions on state forest land. Of the four conditions discussed (1) secure tenure over the forest resources, 2) control over the forest operations, 3) an adequate financial environment and 4) access to sufficient information) concessions may positively influence secure tenure, control over the forest operations and, to a lesser extent, secure financial environment. To improve availability of information, however, outside assistance has been necessary.