There has been an increased awareness of the need to establish and maintain small-scale forestry in tropical countries. This is due to concerns over continued deforestation, as well as the long-term environmental and economic resources these plantations can contribute if managed successfully. This book examines the constraints that limit the development of small-scale forestry in tropical environments and how they can be overcome. The authors first explain the background to their research and demonstrate how, in contrast to industrial plantations, small-scale forestry has a wide variety of objectives, including the production of fuelwood and a wide variety of non-wood products, and the protection of degraded watersheds and wildlife habitats. They examine a broad range of socio-economic topics under the broad themes of policy development, market considerations, the evolution of small-scale forestry systems, and timber and non-wood benefits. In developing countries for example, small-scale forestry is often regarded as a means of facilitating sustainable regional development. As a result of seven years extensive research they have developed a strong policy line, examining measures such as tax provisions and the targeting of subsidy and extension programs that can help promote the growth of non-industrial forest industries. The authors present an integrated socio-economic analysis of the opportunities, impediments and challenges to small-scale forestry in the tropics. As such, this book will be required reading for scholars of environmental economics and science, land resource economists, and environmental, forestry and resource managers.

Recent years have seen a rapid growth of interest in farm, community and other small-scale forestry activities. Small-scale private forestry has social benefits which, together with the withdrawal of forest resources from the timber industry, are considered a strong imperative for government intervention to promote free tree planting. Sustainable Small-scale Forestry addresses a broad spectrum of important social, economic and policy issues associated with farm forestry which should benefit production and the environment. The volume presents extensive research in both tropical and temperate regions such as Australia, Asia, America and Europe. The importance of these countries exchanging experiences in farm forestry and assistance measures is highlighted. Edited by members of the Cooperative Research Centre for Tropical Rainforest Ecology and Management, this volume will be essential reading for those in involved with social and economic issues, forest policy, natural and land resource economics, and environmental management. Practitioners, researchers and students of forestry and vegetation management will also find the book to be an indispensable source of reference.