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[Anual Report 96 :
Table of Contents]

Priorities for Forestry Research in Latin America

The significant and varied challenges confronting forestry research in Latin America can best be faced by collaborative efforts. CIFOR's focus on strategic research can complement the essential applied and adaptive work conducted by national institutions and the basic research of universities. In March 1996, a regional consultation on collaborative forestry research priorities in Latin America brought together scientists from throughout Latin America to identify key areas for co-operative work.

Major areas of interest to the national research institutions were identified as:

  • extra-sectoral policy influences on forests;
  • forest ecosystem management (landscape-level forest conservation and management);
  • management of forests for the sustainable production of multiple goods and services;
  • improved forestry options on degraded and low-potential sites;
  • management and conservation of biodiversity;
  • forest valuation;
  • household livelihoods, the potential for increased benefits from harvesting non-timber forest products (NTFPs); and
  • assessing the sustainability of forest management: developing criteria and indicators.

The meeting emphasised CIFOR's role in adding value to national/regional initiatives, especially in conducting regional synthesis studies, validation and standardisation of methodologies, and information management. Support for strategic planning and impact assessment is particularly needed in identifying criteria for priority setting for research, implementation of effective co-operative mechanisms, and overcoming barriers to the adoption of research results.

CIFOR will endeavour to build on the work of national research institutions and use those effective networks that are already in place. CIFOR expects to be an effective partner to the regional and national institutes, such as EMBRAPA and CATIE, in addressing issues most relevant to the region.

Cesar Sabogal & David Kaimowitz