Forestry Sub-sector Policy (2010 – 2019)

2.1 Th e N e e d fo r a P o lic y F ra m e w o rk Th e n eed a n d pu r pose of t h e policy fr a m ewor k is t o pr ovide Depa r t m en t of F or est r y cor e policies a n d a set of m in im um st a n da r ds for or ga n iza t iona l effect iven ess a n d pr ogr a m m e m a n a gem en t . Th is policy fra m ewor k est a blish es a clea r depa r t m en t a l posit ion in som e a r ea s t h a t h a ve pr eviou sly depen ded on ly on pr eceden t , in t er pr et a t ion of r u les a n d r egu la t ion s, pr ocedu r es a n d con cept s. It set s ou t a n d defin es cer t a in pr in ciples t o in for m decision s. It pr ovides a ba sis for a ccou n t a bilit y a n d gives con sist en t bench m a r ks a ga in st wh ich t o m on it or a n d a ssess pr a ct ice.

2.2 Th e S ta tu s Th is docu m en t will becom e a cor por a t e policy wh ich is bin din g on a ll pa r t s of t h e depa r t m en t . Th e pr ocess t h r ou gh wh ich t h e docu m en t a t ion goes befor e r ea ch in g a ppr ova l st a ge is im por t a n t . On ce it h a s been a ppr oved by gover n m en t , a ll oper a t ives will t h en be h eld t o a ccou n t a ga in st t h e policy fr a m ewor k. It will be bot h a m a n da t e for a ct ion a n d a t ool t o t h e st a ff a ccou n t a ble for m a n a gem en t pr a ct ice.

2.3 Th e S c o p e Th is policy fr a m ewor k will be bin din g on a ll pa r t s of Depa r t m en t of F or est r y wh er e st a ff a r e design a t ed a s em ployees of t h e depa r t m en t , or a r e wor kin g for or r epr esen t in g Depa r t m en t of F or est r y in a volu n t a r y or lega l ca pa cit y.

2.3.1 Th e goa ls of t h e F or est r y policy sh a ll in clu de t h e followin g: (i) Im pr ovem en t in t h e livin g st a n da r ds of t h e cit izen r y t h r ou gh pover t y r edu ct ion a n d for est r esou r ce en h a n cem en t in it ia t ives; (ii) In st it u t ion a l em power m en t for effect ive decen t r a lized for est r esou r ce m a n a gem en t (iii) E n cou r a gem en t of coor din a t ed effor t s a n d in flow of a ssist a n ce in t o t h e for est r y su b-sect or a s defin ed in t h e Na t iona l Developm ent F r a m ewor k. (iv) Im pr ovem en t in Depa r t m en t of F or est r y‟s a bsor pt ive ca pa cit y a n d effect ive m a n a gem en t of for est r esou r ces; 6

2.3.2 S p e c ific Obje c tiv e s Th e Depa r t m en t of F or est r y‟s policy in t en ds t o a ch ieve t h e followin g specific object ives: (i) st r en gt h en in g t h e in st it u t ion a l ca pa cit y of t h e Depa r t m en t of F or est r y a n d Non -St a t e Act or s in volved in t he m a n a gem en t a n d im plem en t a t ion of n a t u r a l r esou r ce pr ogr a m m es; (ii) fu r t h er in t egr a t ion of Depa r t m en t of F or est r y in t o t h e m ediu m and long-t er m n a t ion a l developm en t fr a m ewor k; (iii) en su r in g t h a t Depa r t m en t of F or est r y cr ea t e m u lt iplier effect s on for est r esou r ce m a n a gem en t a n d t h e dom est ic econ om y in gen er a l; (iv) t ech n ology t r a n sfer t o decen t r a lized st r u ct u r es a n d developm en t of in digen ou s t ech n ology in for est r esou r ce m a n a gem en t ; a n d (v) pr om ot in g efficien t a n d u n ified syst em s for for est r esou r ce m a n a gem ent .

2.4 P rin c ip le s o f th e F o re s try P o lic y Th e r ela t ion sh ip of Depa r t m en t of F or est r y wit h ot h er s sh a ll be gover n ed by t h e following pr in ciples:  Th e pr in ciple of qu a lity : Depa r t m en t of F or est r y will seek best pr a ct ice, defin ed a s wor k of t h e h igh est qu a lit y, bu t a lso cost - effect ive.  Th e pr in ciple of in n o v a tiv e n e s s , wh ich r equ ir es t h e cou r a ge t o be cr ea t ive a n d n ot fea r of fa ilu r e.  Th e pr in ciple of p a rtn e rs h ip an d s yn e rg y , wh ich a llot s differ en t r espon sibilit ies a n d r espect s t h e m a n da t e, r igh t s a n d obliga t ions of a ll pa r t ies.  Th e pr in ciple of d e v o lu tio n , wh ich con for m s t o loca l gover n m en t r efor m s a n d decen t r a lisa t ion . Depa r t m en t of F or est r y seeks m u t u a l t r u st a n d con fiden ce in it s r ela t ion sh ip wit h loca l a r ea cou n cils a n d ot h er civil societ y or ga n isa t ion s r ega r dless of size, fin a n cia l r esou r ces or in flu en ce. Th e pr in ciple of r ela t ion sh ip sh ou ld be list en in g t o a n d u n der st a n din g ea ch ot h er ‟s con st r a in t s, oppor t u n it ies a n d disciplin es a n d n ot im posit ion of pa r t icu la r 7 ideologies a n d specific pr a ct ice. F or Depa r t m en t of F or est r y, m u t u a lit y is a cr it ica l gu idin g pr in ciple. An y for m of colla bor a t ion sh ou ld be ba sed on t h e r ela t ion sh ip bein g of m u t u a l ben efit . P r in ciples sh ou ld be developed m u t u a lly, a pply t o a ll pa r t ies, a n d be m on it or ed join t ly. All pa r t ies sh ou ld r espect t h e a u t on om y of ot h er s a n d t h eir n eed t o r em a in a ccou n t a ble t o t h eir r espect ive con st it u en cies.

2.5 P o lic y Im p le m e n ta tio n Ap p ro ac h Depa r t m en t of F or est r y‟s a ppr oa ch t owa r ds policy im plem en t a t ion will be ba sed on it s long exper ien ce of wor kin g wit h a n d lea r n ing fr om it s en ga gem en t wit h com m u n it ies in r esou r ce m a n a gem en t pr ogr a m m in g. It will build on t h e exist in g st r en gt h s of it s exper ien ce in or der t o m obilise t h e ca pa cit y a n d t h e will t o ch a n ge. F u r t h er m or e, it sh ou ld wor k cr ea t ively a n d con st a n t ly in n ova t e a n d in t r odu ce n ew t ech n ologies a n d m et h ods in a ll a spect s of it s wor k a n d or ga n isa t ion . It will u n der t a ke policy wor k wit h a h olist ic a ppr oa ch , m ea n in g t h e depa r t m en t will seek t o u n der st a n d a n d a ct on t h e over a ll con t ext a n d ca u ses of la n d degr a da t ion , wit h ou t being dr iven by t ech n ica l specifica t ion . Th is will be it s cor e a ppr oa ch t o policy im plem en t a t ion . 8 Ch a p te r Th re e P o lic y P ro v is io n s 1. In s titu tio n a l D e v e lo p m e n t P o lic y

1.1 P o lic y S ta te m e n t: Depa r t m en t of F or est r y will en ga ge on in st r u ct ion a l developm en t a n d ca pa cit y bu ildin g in a ll pa r t s of t h e or ga n isa t ion .

1.1.1 E n h a n cin g t h e pr ofession a l a n d in st it u t ion a l a bilit y of Depa r t m en t of F or est r y for effect ive a n d efficien t r esou r ce m a n a gem en t pr ogr a m m in g t h r ou gh :  con t in u ou s developm en t a n d im pr ovem en t of qu a lit y of pr ogr a m m es a n d en su r in g t h a t t h ey h a ve su st a in a ble im pa ct in n a t u r a l r esou r ce m a n a gem en t ;  im pr ove ca pa cit y t o lea r n fr om exper ien ce of bot h su ccess a n d fa ilu r es, a n d h en ce im pr ove qu a lit y of pr ogr a m m in g;  effect ive ba la n ced pr ogr a m m es a t a ll levels, a n d t h e con sequ en t pr ogr a m m e gr owt h ;  in t egr a t ed pla n n in g;  st r en gt h en ed in st it u t ion a l fr a m ewor k a t Region a l a n d loca l com m u n it y level;  pr ovidin g t ech n ica l gu ida n ce a n d su ppor t t o Region a l for est r y offices for t h e design a n d pr ogr a m m in g of for est con ser va t ion in it ia t ives; a n d  en ga gin g on a n a t ion -wide com pr eh en sive n a t u r a l r esou r ce m a n a gem en t a wa r en ess a n d edu ca t ion ca m pa ign s.

1.1.2 To m a int a in a forest ry service wit h a n a dequa t e num ber of qua lit y st a ff a t professiona l a nd t echnica l level for pr ogra m m ing in t he coun t ry in a ccor da nce wit h t h e st a t ed forest policy goa l, t o ensu re:  adequ a t e licen sin g adm in istr at ion an d su pervision by loca l ar ea cou n cils;  ext en sion act ivities th at will pr om ote a positive pu blic at titu de t owards th e for estr y pr ofession ; an d  ext en sion activities t o en su re th e willin gn ess of th e local popu la tion to be in volved in th e prot ection an d su sta in a ble m an agem en t of th e for est r esou r ce. 9

1.2 P o lic y S ta te m e n t: Depa r t m en t of F or est r y will a dva n ce st r a t egy developm en t for effect ive pr ogr a m m e a n d policy wor k, a n d in flu en ce t h e polit ica l will for in st it u t ion a l su ppor t .

1.2.1 To pr ovide a st r a t egic fr a m ewor k for pr ogr a m m in g a n d policy wor k ba sed on t h e la r ger cou n t r y con t ext by:  pr ovidin g a n u n der st a n din g of m icr o/m a cr o lin ka ges ;  developin g lin ks wit h k ey policy m a ker s a n d ch a n ge a gen t s ;  pr ovidin g a focu s for pr ogr a m m e a n d policy wor k ;  pr ovidin g a fr a m ewor k for a ccou n t a bilit y in r ela t ion t o st r a t egy a n d over a ll depa r t m en t a l m a n da t e;  pr ovidin g a for eca st of h u m a n a n d fin a n cia l r esou r ce n eeds;  iden t ifyin g m a jor oper a t ion a l im plica t ion s in clu din g r equ ir ed ch a n ges in or ga n isa t ion a l st r u ct u r e a n d st a ff t r a in in g r equ ir em en t s ;  en h a n cin g pla n n in g, m on it or in g a n d eva lu a t ion of skills of st a ff;  fost er in g a sen se of st a ff iden t it y a n d own er sh ip of loca l level pr ogr a m m es;  developin g st a ff u n der st a n din g of m a cr o-m icr o lin ka ges, pover t y, t h e policy fu n ct ion s a n d policy issu es a n d st r a t egic opt ion s ;  Lea din g t o m or e effect ive a ct ion by Depa r t m en t of F or est r y a t a ll levels; and  en ga gin g gover n m en t t o pr ovide t h e r equ ir ed in st it u t ion a l su ppor t for a t a ll levels.

1.3 P o lic y S ta te m e n t: Depa r t m en t of F or est r y will en ga ge a ll st a keh older s (pa r t icu la r ly, t h e loca l gover n m en t cou n cils) t o m a in st r ea m N a t u r a l Resou r ce Ma n a gem en t in t o t h eir pr ogr a m m es.

1.3.1 To a dva n ce a h olist ic a ppr oa ch t h a t pr esen t s a n execu t ive‟s r ole in dea lin g wit h for est r esou r ce m a n a gem en t ; a n d t h e r ole of pr ofession a ls a n d pra ct ion er s, a n d t h e m edia in a wa r en ess r a isin g by:  design in g pr ogr a m m es ba sed on pr oven scien t ific pr in ciples;  en ga gin g on in st it u t ion a l ca pa cit y bu ildin g a t a ll levels, pa r t icu la r ly a t Region a l a n d loca l gover n m en t a r ea cou n cil levels; a n d  bu ildin g on exist in g st r en gt h s a n d ca pa cit y, a n d in t egr a t e n a t ion a l developm en t goa ls a s fa r a s possible.

1.3.2 To prom ot e, ha rm onise a n d m a inst rea m forest policy, developm ent object ives a nd st ra t egies wit h rela t ed sect ors a nd ot her a ct ors by:  en ga gin g r ela t ed sect or s for syn er gy a n d pr ogr a m m e lea r n in g ;  en su r in g a m u lt i-disciplin a r y a ppr oa ch ca llin g for kn owledge of va r iou s pr ofession a ls in or der t o a ch ieve a given set of object ives ; a n d  a dva n cin g a m u lt i-sect or a l a ppr oa ch , a n d r ecogn ise t h e n ich e com pet en ce of a ll a ct or s a n d r ela t ed sect or s. 10

1.4 P o lic y S ta te m e n t: Depa r t m en t of F or est r y t o be com m it t ed t o pa r t n er sh ip, a llia n ce bu ildin g & n et workin g, a n d en ga ge on a cooper a t ive wor kin g cu lt u r e a n d lea r n in g fr om ot h er s.

1.4.1 To en ga ge n a t ion a l a n d in t er n a t ion a l pa r t n er s a n d n et wor ks in sh a pin g n a t ion a l deliver y m ech a n ism s in n a t u r a l for est m a n a gem en t in Th e Ga m bia by:  solicit in g r egion a l cooper a t ion wit h a llied or ga n isa t ion s ;  bu ildin g solida r it y in n a t ion a l a n d in t er n a t ion a l for a ;  a dva n cin g in t er -gover n m en t a l a n d pr ofession a l in t er a ct ion in t h e a ppr oa ch ;  sh a r in g skills a n d exper ien ces ;  com bin in g r esou r ces t o develop a com m on a ppr oa ch t o for est r esou r ce m a n a gem en t ;  m obilizin g r esou r ces for n a t u r a l for est r esou r ce m a n a gem en t ;  st r en gt h en in g exist in g pa r t n er sh ips a n d n et wor ks ;  expa n din g r oles t o in clu de ca pa cit y developm en t of per son n el a n d in st it u t ion s; and  bu ildin g n ew pa r t n er sh ips a n d n et wor k s. F u n d in g P o lic y

1.5 P olic y S tate m e n t: Depa rt m ent of F orest ry will solicit m ore long t erm a nd st ra t egic en ga gem ent wit h a wider ra nge of donor s t ha n in t he pa st . This should involve developing fun ding proposa ls t o seek for don or fu nds.

1.5.1 To secure a dequa t e fun ding (from governm ent , developm ent pa rt ners, NGOs a n d priva t e sect or) t o im prove t he ca pa cit y of Depa rt m ent of F orest ry (hum a n, fa cilit ies a nd infra st ruct ur e) by:  st r en gth en in g th e for estr y fu n d adm in ist er ed by th e Depa rtm en t of F or estry; a n d  en su r in g an in cr ea se in r ecu rren t bu dget a lloca tion by Cen tr al Govern m en t.

1.5.2 To develop a fun ding m ix for expa nded Region a l level progra m m es by:  bu ildin g th e pr ofile of Depart m en t of F or estry an d in crea se u n derst an din g of level of n a tu r al degr ada tion in th e cou n try am on g r egion al a n d in tern a tion al part n er s an d don or au dien ce;  bu ildin g th e in com e ba se fr om existin g an d n ew par t n er s a n d don ors th r ou gh n ew appr oach es an d lon g t er m r ela tion sh ips;  m axim isin g in com e fr om tr u st an d privat e sect or at a ccepta ble cost r at ios ; a n d  bu ildin g in com e fr om official don or s (both m u lti- an d bi-lat er al organ isat ion s) th r ou gh pr oject pr oposals, an d exist in g an d n ew con t act s. 11

1.5.3 To im prove a n d st a bilise reven ue genera t ion from st a t e pla nt a t ions, woodlot s a n d na t u ra l forest s by:  in tr odu cin g ecologica l levy on ecot ou rism an d privat e saw m ills;  devolvin g per m it s an d r ela ted levies t o loca l govern m en t ar ea an d m u n icipal cou n cils, savin g cost on policin g an d con tr ollin g; an d  r ecou p 15% of r oya lt ies, licen ces, perm it s an d pen alties paid fr om local gover n m en t ar ea an d m u n icipa l cou n cils, an d com m u n ity for est s; 2. P ro g ra m m e D e v e lo p m e n t P o lic y

2.1 P olic y S tate m e n t: Depa rt m ent of F orest ry will enga ge on int egra t ed resour ce m a na gem ent progra m m ing

2.1.1 To reserve, m a int a in a nd develop forest la nd resour ces including m a ngroves ecosyst em covering a t lea st 30% of t ot a l la nd a r ea which is ca pa ble of envir onm ent a l prot ect ion t hrou gh:  m in im izin g soil desicca tion an d soil er osion ;  im pr ovin g, con ser vin g an d pr eservin g biodiversity;  m ain ta in in g r iver ba n k sta bility (m an gr oves); an d  pr otect in g th e swam p lan ds.

2.1.2 To ensu re t ha t 75% of for est la nds a re m a na ged a nd prot ect ed a ccording t o forest m a na gem ent prin ciples a n d pla ns in or der t o increa se forest resou rce ba se by:  en gagin g local com m u n it ies in for est resou rce m an agem en t ;  st r en gt h en in g loca l st r u ct u r es su ch a s com m u n it y for est m a n a gem en t com m it t ees, Ar ea Cou n cils;  devolvin g m or e a u t h or it y a n d m a n a gem en t r espon sibilit ies t o loca l com m u n it ies a n d a r ea cou n cils ; a n d  in t r odu cin g effect ive pa r t icipa t or y t ech n iqu es for loca l em power m en t .

2.1.3 To ensu re t ha t sufficient su pply of forest produ ce n eeded by bot h urba n a nd ru ra l popula t ion is a va ilable t hrough :  r eh abilita tion of for est lan ds; an d  est ablish m en t of fa st gr owin g plan t at ion s an d woodlot s (e.g J atr offa ca rcu s spp for bio-en er gy).

2.1.4 Develop t h e in st it u t ion a l ca pa cit y of loca l gover n m en t cou n cils, t h e pr iva t e sect or a n d com m u n it y-ba sed or ga n iza t ion s (CBOs), t o dea l wit h la n d degr a da t ion a t t h eir level by:  bu ildin g skills ba se of pa r t n er in st it u t ion s ;  pr ovidin g t ech n ica l a ssist a n ce t o pa r t n er in st it u t ion s; a n d  pr ovidin g fin a n cia l a ssist a n ce, wh ich ca n be r edu ced over t im e. 12

2.1.5 To prom ot e na t iona l t ree pla nt ing by en cou r a ging:  t r ee fa r m in g on a gr icu lt u r a l la n ds, gr a zin g la n ds, a n d a lon g r oa dsides t o im pr ove t h eir pr odu ct ivit y a n d con t r ibu t e t o soil a n d wa t er con ser va t ion ; a n d  t h e pa r t icipa t ion of for est pr odu ce-exploit a t ion loca l gover n m en t a r ea cou n cils in t r ee fa r m in g.

2.1.6 To enga ge loca l com m unit ies a nd t heir for est com m it t ees on bush fire prevent ion a nd m it iga t ion progra m m es t hrough:  ext en sion activit ies th at will pr om ot e a positive pu blic a t titu de towards forest pr otect ion ; an d  ext en sion activities t o en su re th e willin gn ess of th e local popu lat ion t o be in volved in for est pr ot ect ion .

2.1.7 To pr om ot e n a t ion a l a wa r en ess on con ser va t ion a n d r a t ion a l u t ilisa t ion of for est r esou r ces especia lly in u r ba n a r ea s t h r ou gh :  com m u n it y level t r a dit ion a l com m u n ica t or s ;  r a dio a n d t elevision slot s;  com m u n it y level m eet in gs ; a n d  com m u n it y-ba sed edu ca t ion a n d ca m pa ign pr ogr a m m es

2.1.8 E n cou r a ge u r ba n for est r y t h r ou gh :  est a blish m en t of gr een belt s a n d woodlot s in u r ba n a n d sem i -u r ba n a r ea s for la n dsca pin g a n d r ecr ea t ion a l pu r poses.

2.1.9 Encoura ge t he m ult iple use of forest a n d forest la nds which a re not in conflict wit h for est m a na gem ent especia lly in t he a rea s of:  con tr olled gr a zin g;  collect ion of m in or for est pr odu ce;  eco-t ou r ism ; an d  wildlife con ser va tion .

2.1.10 To st em t h e on -goin g for est r esou r ce degr a da t ion a n d it s over - a r ch in g en vir on m en t a l im plica t ion s t h r ou gh :  gr ea t er in volvem en t of t h e com m u n it ies;

2.1.11 To in t r odu ce pr o-poor a lt er n a t ive sou r ce of en er gy t o slow down t h e r a t e of for est dest r u ct ion a n d t h e ext in ct ion of cer t a in t r ee species t h r ou gh :  a ppr oved t ech n ologies on r a t ion a l u t ilisa t ion of wood en er gy; a n d  en ga gin g E n er gy Depa r t m en t on ch a r coa l br iqu et t e st u dy .

2.1.12 To pr om ot e t h e pr odu ct ion a n d a dopt ion of efficien t fu elwood a n d biom a ss ch a r coa l br iqu et t e en d-u se a pplia n ces wh ich im pr ove t h e efficien cy a n d r edu ce t h e qu a n t it ies of t h ese h ou seh old en er gy sou r ce by:  en cou r a gin g loca l in du st r y for t h e pr odu ct ion of ch a r coa l br iqu e tte. 3. P o lic y o n D e c e n tra liza tion a n d S y n e rg y . 13

3.1 P o lic y S ta te m e n t: Gover n m en t is com m it t ed t o a dva n ce it s loca l gover n m en t r efor m s a n d decen t r a lisa t ion pr ogr a m . H en ce, Depa r t m en t of F or est r y m u st con for m t o t h is com m it m en t .

3.1.1 Depa r t m en t of F or est r y t o devolve t h e m a n a gem en t r espon sibilit y of a ll for est r esou r ces (woodlot s, open for est s, et c.) in a ll m u n icipa lit ies a n d Region s t o loca l a r ea a nd m u n icipa l cou n cils by:  r e-a lign in g t h e or ga n isa t ion a l st r u ct u r e t o con for m t o t h e loca l gover n m en t decen t r a lisa t ion pr ogr a m ;  st r en gt h en in g Region a l for est r y ser vices;  devolvin g a ll m a n a gem en t r espon sibilit ies ;  devolvin g a ll licen ce a n d per m it a dm in ist r a t ion s t o loca l gover n m en t cou n cils ;  bu ildin g skills - ba se of loca l cou n cil for est r y ser vices ; a n d  pr ovidin g t ech n ica l a ssist a n ce t o loca l cou n cil for est r y ser vices .

3.2 P o lic y S ta te m e n t: Depa r t m en t of F or est r y t o en ga ge r ela t ed sect or s a n d n on -st a t e a ct or s in for est r esou r ce m a n a gem en t .

3.2.1 To u t ilize t h e com bine effor t s of a ll r ela t ed sect or s, loca l gover n m en t a dm in ist r a t ive m a chin er y, t ech n ica l specia list s, NGOs a n d loca l com m u n it y st r u ct u r es in con ser va t ion pr ogr a m m in g by:  fa cilit a t in g join t a ct ion by r ela t ed sect or s ;  pla yin g a colla bor a t ive, n u r t u r in g a n d cu t t in g edge r ole ;  h ar m on isin g in tr a -sect or a l r ela t ed policies for cost effective colla bora tion ; an d  m axim isin g th e lim it ed ph ysical in cen tives.

3.2.2 E n ga ge pa r t n er s t o develop new st ra t egies for t he pr event ion a nd cont rol of bush fires a s t he m ost im port a nt a gent of forest a nd ra nge la nd dest ru ct ion.

3.2.3 Encoura ge t he a ct ive pa rt icipa t ion of t h e priva t e sect or in t he produ ct ion of a n d m a r ket ing of forest produ ce in a ccorda n ce wit h t he Ga m bia Governm ent policies of priva t iza t ion a nd la n d reform following t he guidelin es set by t he Depa rt m ent of F orest ry by:  en gagin g pr iva te sect or (in dividu a ls an d fir m s) in for est r esou r ce m a n agem en t ;  in cr ea sin g t en u r e r igh t s t o an exten ded period;  im pr ovin g for est pr odu ct m ar ket s;  facilit a tin g lin kages between privat e plan t a tion s with ecot ou r ism an d fin a n cia l in stitu tion s;

3.2.4 To prom ot e priva t e sect or involvem ent in non -wood for est pr oduct s, processing a nd m a r ket ing t o boost t he econom ic va lue of Ga m bia n forest s t o ensu re a significa nt cont ribut ion of t he sect or t owa rds econom ic growt h by:  en cou r agin g loca l/cott age in du str ies in h erb (e.g com br etu m spp) processin g in t o tea ; an d  en cou r agin g pr ocessin g of for est fru its in t o bever ages. 14

3.3 P o lic y S ta te m e n t: E st a blish F a r m er s P la t for m t o a dva n ce st r a t egies in la n d a n d a gr icu lt u r a l r esou r ce m a n a gem en t a t loca l level.

3.3.1 To m obilize t h e r u r a l com m u n it ies t o a ssu m e in cr ea sin g r espon sibilit ies for su st a in a ble pr eser va t ion , con ser va t ion , exploit a t ion a n d u t iliza t ion of n a t u r a l r esou r ces by:  developin g a n d st r en gt h en in g t h e con cept of fa r m er s pla t for m ;  en cou r a gin g a n d fa cilit a t in g t h e cr ea t ion of Region a l fa r m er s pla t for m s;  fa r m er t r a in in g a n d com m u n it y-ba sed r esou r ce m a n a gem en t edu ca t ion ca m pa ign s;  fa cilit a t in g t h e cr ea t ion of n a t ion a l fa r m er s pla t for m ;  dissem in a t ion of r esou r ce m a n a gem en t t ech n ologies ; a n d  t r a n sla t in g for est policy in t o loca l la n gu a ges . 4. P o lic y o n Re s e a rc h a n d D e v e lo p m e n t

4.1 P olic y S tate m e n t: Depa rt m ent of F orest ry t o enga ge on resource m a na gem ent t echnology genera t ion a nd t ra nsfer a t loca l level.

4.1.1 To enga ge a nd colla bora t e wit h NARI a nd ot h er releva nt sub - regiona l resea rch inst it ut ions on t echnology genera t ion a nd t ra nsfer in order t o rest ore ext inct a nd enda ngered t r ee species t hrough:  silvicu ltu r al r esear ch (gr owth & yield);  agr o-silvo-pa st or al stu dies an d r esearch ; an d  for est econ om ics st u dies (e.g sh owin g con t ribu t ion of for estry on GDP, etc.).

4.1.2 To su pport resea rch in a cquiring ba se lin e da t a t h rough a pplied forest ry resea r ch a nd st udies, su ch a s:  for est pr odu ce con su m ption tr en ds stu dies;  local kn owledge a bou t tr ees an d for est ;  wood u tilizat ion r esear ch ; an d  stu dies on cr oss-boa r der tr ade.

4.1.3 To E n ga ge pr odu ct ion an d pr ocessin g com pa n ies t o add va lu e t o n on -wood pr oduct s for bot h loca l con su m pt ion a n d expor t t h r ou gh :  colla bor a t ion wit h MRC t o explor e econ om ic u se of m edicin a l pla n t s a n d gen et ic m a t er ia ls;  explor in g em er gin g m a r k et s for for est bever a ges (loca l t ea ) a n d „g r een ‟ pr odu ct s; and  en ga gin g loca l com pa n ies in t h e pr odu ct ion of m edicin a l pla n t s a n d gen et ic m a t er ia ls for t h e ph a r m a ceu t ica l in du st r y.

4.2 P olic y S tate m e n t: Depa rt m ent of F orest ry t o priorit ise progra m m e lea rning a nd developm ent 15

4.2.1 To im pr ove t h e ca pa cit y of M&E u n it t o develop a n effect ive pr ogr a m m e lea r n in g syst em by:  est a blish in g a n a ppr a isa l a n d st r a t egic pla n n in g syst em ;  en ga gin g on effect ive m on it or in g a n d eva lu a t ion ;  developin g t h e secon d a n d t h ir d level in dica t or s;  developin g a n effect ive r epor t in g syst em t o sh a r e a n d spr ea d in for m a t ion on good lesson s a n d pr a ct ices;  docu m en t in g a n d lea r n in g fr om best pr a ct ices; a n d  sh a r in g exper ien ces in t er n a lly a n d ext er n a lly.

4.2.2 To u pda t e for est resource invent ory a n d a ssess t he count ry‟s sit es of high ecologica l a nd a est het ic va les (fa una a nd flora ) bi-a nnua lly.  develop ea r ly wa r n in g syst em s for t im ely decision m a kin g ;  develop t h e ba selin e da t a a n d pr ogr a m m e lea r n in g; a n d  m on it or en vir on m en t a l ch a n ge a n d im pa ct . Ch ap te r Five P olic y Con c lu sion This policy builds m om ent um int o a pr ocess of cont in uou s cha nge, which will cont inue int o t he next t en yea rs. It seeks t o increa se orga nisa t iona l underst a n ding, a lignm ent a nd com m it m ent t owa rds t he new direct ion a nd ena ble Depa rt m ent of F orest ry t o m ove a t a n a ppropria t e pa ce of cha nge. At t he sa m e t im e it provides sufficient flexibilit y so t h a t t he depa rt m ent ca n cont inue t o cha llenge a n d ext end t he boun da ries for innova t ion a nd im provem ent . This policy pla ces em pha sis on civil societ y a n d pr iva t e sect or in volvem en t in for est r esou r ce m an a gem en t . It u nder pin s par t n er sh ip a n d adequ a t e colla bor at ion wit h r elat ed sect or s for syn er gy. Th e policy is vfor m u la t ed wit h in a na t iona l policy fr a m ewor k u nder scor in g m a cr o econ om ic pr ogr a m m es. Th e ch a llenge is t h e loca l gover n m en t ‟s decen t r a liza t ion pr ocess; dem a n d dr iven “bot t om -u p a ppr oa ch” a n d or ga n isa t ion a l ch a n ge. Th e policy is em ph a t ic a bou t Depa r t m ent of F or est r y‟s posit ion a n d dir ect ion . H owever , it r ecogn ises t h a t t h e degr ee a n d r a t e of ch a n ge will depen d u pon t h e oper a t in g en vir on m en t a n d t h e ca pa bilit ies t h a t exist in differ en t pa r t s of t h e or ga n isa t ion. F or a n effect ive ch a n ge, it m u st fr om t h e t r a dit ion a l a ppr oa ch , t o en a ble it t o dea l wit h t h e oper a t in g en vir on m ent in or der t o a ch ieve it s or ga n isa t iona l object ives. Th e policy is a ll em br a cin g for efficiency a n d effect iven ess, r equ ir in g a m u lt i-disciplin a r y a ppr oa ch , ca llin g for a m u lt i-sect or a l cooper a t ion . Th e policy a dvoca t es for t ech n ologies t h at a r e ba sed on pr oven scien t ific 16 pr in ciples, a n d is im pa ct or ient ed. It is u ser -fr ien dly a n d pr o-poor wh ile pu t t in g people befor e t r ees. 17