Implications for the Sustainable Forest Management and Livelihoods Security

Following suggestions are made regarding the forest policy for sustainable forest management and livelihoods security of forest dependent people

• The forest policy should have foundation of carefully organized policy research studies conducted by the academia of both from forestry and social science disciplines. These studies will ensure the involvement of grass root level people and civil society organizations.
• There is need to put people at the centre of development. This focus on people is equally important at higher levels (when thinking about the achievement of objectives such as poverty reduction, economic reform or sustainable develop-ment) as it is at the micro or community level. The forest policy should ensure poverty alleviation of forest dwellers through utilization of systematic approach of development i.e. training in alternate vocations (non timber forest products), providing education, health and infrastructure development etc.
• Provision for the identification, training and involvement of volunteer forest managers, who should join hands with the government for the management of forests, may be incorporated in the future policy.
• Forestry is a provincial responsibility in Pakistan with planning, execution and implementation of forests and range management programmes vested in provincial forest departments. Yet policy is a federal responsibility. The lack of coordination between federal and provinces leads to a fragmented forestry sector, with provinces having autonomy in forestry matters, the sector as a whole lacks cohesion and unity of efforts. It is therefore suggested that the measures should be taken to improve coordination between federal and provincial governments.
• frequent change of forest policies indicates the lack of political will. The policies are framed by the government officials or some selected “government friendly” NGOs without taking care for the local population. Such policies are changed with the change of governments. If the policy is not sustainable in itself then how can it ensure sustainable forest management? It is not advisable to change horses in the midstream.
• The forest policy should be flexible enough to be adopted according to the lo local situation. It is therefore suggested that the management of state forests should be decentralized at the district level, so that the forest management can be done according to the prevailing local condition.
• Livelihood would be secured only if policies work with people in a way that is congruent with their current livelihood strategies, social environment and ability to adapt. People, rather than the resources they use or governments that serve them, are the priority concern. Adhering to this principle would not only ensure provision of sustainable livelihood but would also enhance involvement of all sections of society in sustainable natural resources management. In this it should be realized that generation of income and employment is as important as generating government revenue alone; and forestry should bean instrument of sustainable forest management policy rather than its object, otherwise, the poor will remain mired in poverty pushing us into a spiral of over exploitation in the wake of all forest policy failures.