COMESA’s interest in developing a forestry strategy comes at a strategic time. Africa’s economic growth is projected to grow at its best rate since the 1970’s. Due to the important role of forests to rural livelihoods, the value of forest products trade and critical ecosystem services provided by forests need to be more fully appreciated. As the joint CIFOR-COMESA report, Sustainable Trade and Management of Forest Products and Services in the COMESA Region: An Issue Paper shows, forest product trade policies and management strategies are an important part of COMESA’s sustainable economic development agenda. Expanded trade in forestry and other sectors often carries significant social and environmental costs which need to be managed, however. Anticipating and monitoring the impacts of economic policies, trade deals and strategic investments in forestry and other sectors can help policy-makers better plan for economic development in ways that are profitable, socially just and environmentally sustainable
Publication year
2007
Authors
Cunningham T; German L A; Chikakula M; Paumgarten F; Bar R C; Obidzinski K; Yatich T T B; Koning R D; Purnomo H; Puntodewo A; Van Noordwijk M
Language
English
Keywords
climate change, economic growth, ecosystems, environmental impact, formulations, sustainable economic
