w.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/blogs/21-reasons-why-forests-are-important

http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/i1960e/i1960e00.pdf

The ownership/land tenure seems crucial to me. Forest ownership or use rights by 'communities' seem to be assumed. Often overlapping use rights exists, say timber, fuelwood and hunting. However, worldwide many if not most forest (use rights) are state-owned or owned by natural persons or corporations. In some cases 'communities' have legally a cooperative or corporate status that allows forest ownership. My attached research is on pastures (with short harvest cycles), but in both areas (Austria; Namibia) communal, state and private  forest ownership are existing side by side. The same applies to my research area in Central Italy. In other words, in a policy and for intervention one needs to distinguish between the various forest tenure systems.

Article The living commons of West Tyrol, Austria: Lessons for land ...

Chapter Of pastures and tourism. A comparison of Tyrolean and Namibi...

Among various complementary factors, uses of forests under changing climate conditions need to be calibrated at the local scale. Using forest resources in this context requires to reduce consumption during adverse climate periods - which may follow a periodicity through years - and concentrate it during favorable climate periods.  As these periods may cover a few years and may vary among sites at the local scale, forest resources management needs to be organized at the spatial scale in order to provide services and goods at the annual level. This can be done if a good collaboration of communities is achieved. Social and cultural issues are vital to this framework to be successful. Learning more about sustainable uses of natural resources is also a necessary step that should be implemented by both research and  involvement of local communities; people need to feel as a 'part of it' otherwise unlikely would cooperate and accept changes.

should reduce forest dependency and exploitation of natural resources.

-promote rural non-farm (RNF) activity including agri-related and/or forest-related activities (particularly community based rural tourism, one village one product, etc.)

-protect smallholders and their land (pooling of agriculture land under co-operation style management) and smallholders' transformation (i.e. venturing into green economy, agro-preneurship and niche agriculture product and market)

-practice "less is more" (small land for agriculture due to inheritance or out-migration issues, but farmers can adopt a more efficient technology, selling product in niche/organic market - offer more value)

Following our research project BIOTUBER id.277/2015 the forest policies would to offer funds ( like PAC EU.) for production of less goods and more biodiversity production. 

http://agupart.wix.com/la-nocella

Hi Nvenakeng Suzanne Awung

That is interesting topic ! I have find out some research works Related to that . I am sending details herewith 

Sunderlin, W. D., Angelsen, A., Belcher, B., Burgers, P., Nasi, R., Santoso, L., & Wunder, S. (2005). Livelihoods, forests, and conservation in developing countries: an overview. World development, 33(9), 1383-1402.

Shackleton, C. M., Shackleton, S. E., Buiten, E., & Bird, N. (2007). The importance of dry woodlands and forests in rural livelihoods and poverty alleviation in South Africa. Forest Policy and Economics, 9(5), 558-577.

Reardon, T., & Vosti, S. A. (1995). Links between rural poverty and the environment in developing countries: asset categories and investment poverty. World development, 23(9), 1495-1506.

Sunderlin, W. D., Angelsen, A., Belcher, B., Burgers, P., Nasi, R., Santoso, L., & Wunder, S. (2005). Livelihoods, forests, and conservation in developing countries: an overview. World development, 33(9), 1383-1402.

Hi Nvenakeng Suzanne Awung 

Forest policies have been changed by policy makers in time to time with considering contextual economic needs and political agendas 

Policy interventions were started from colonial period and depended on colonial rulers' political and economic needs and agenda. Hence, with changing political environment, policy interventions were subjected to change. The history of policy interventions in forest resource utilization can be divided into three main stages.

1.      The first phase of policy interventions (Colonial period)

2.      The second phase of policy interventions (Post- Colonial)

3.      The third phase of policy interventions (Comprehensive policy interventions since 1995)

1. Policy Interventions of the First Phase (Colonial   Period)

Europeans cleared a number of forest areas for their needs. For example, a large forest area was cleared   by Europeans for mono crops cultivation and for timber extraction in the southern peripheral context of the world. Therefore, forests coverage of developing countries gradually decreased during the European rule.

On the other hand, the colonial rulers focused on conservation of forests, especially at the end of the European ruling period. At the end of the ruling period, they realized the value of forest coverage.

2 . The second phase of policy interventions (Post- Colonial)

In that period, environmental tribulations or rapid increase in population was not experienced compared with present. Therefore, the peripheral communities and even outsiders had opportunity to utilize forest resource. On the other hand, the governments of developing/poor countries  also paid attention on maintaining forest in order to take highest possible economic advantages as a source of timber and other forest produce for development.

3.  The third phase of policy interventions (Comprehensive policy interventions since 1990)

At the dawn of 1980s, objectives of policy intervention in forest resource utilization subjected to change. For example, even tough the governments before 1980s considered forests were sources of resources for development, the forest resource was identified a valuable national treasure after 1980s. Thus, the government focused on “top-bottom approaches” in forest conservation and management.

The changes in policy intervention in forest resource utilization were due to national and international issues. One of the important reasons was that, by 1980s there were signs of global environmental degradation. The fact that the natural resources were limited and some of the over exploited resources could never be regenerated was recognized. In this period, awareness campaigns to protect environment were launched globally and the international agreements were made to conserve environment.

policy makers mainly considered some special objectives such as; 

1.  To conserve forests for posterity, with particular regard to biodiversity, soil, water, and historical, cultural, religious, and aesthetic values.

2.  To increase tree cover and productivity of forests to meet the needs of present and future generations for forest produce and services.

To enhance contribution of forests to the welfare of the rural population and to strengthen the national economy with special attention paid to equity in economic development

Thank you all for your wonderful responses. I have carefully read and acquired more insight from your suggested publications. However, let's keep the ball rolling. More responses and relevant publications are welcome.