Policy Brief.Community Forest Governance: Supporting better outcomes for people and the planet, FLARE Policy Brief No. 2. FLARE/Keough School Policy Brief Series.

The FLARE (Forests & Livelihoods: Assessment, Research and Engagement) Network is a vibrant international community of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. Its mission is to advance knowledge at the intersection of forests and livelihoods — and to facilitate its application to policy and practice. In so doing, FLARE brings more just and sustainable futures for people and forests worldwide.

In recent years, there has been growing momentum behind forest restoration and other nature-based solutions to address climate change and biodiversity loss, yet their impacts on local livelihoods remain underexplored. 

This brief (1) analyzes three forest benefits central to global policy debates—contributions to local livelihoods, carbon storage, and biodiversity—to better understand the exchanges and synergies between human and environmental objectives in forest policymaking and (2) suggests policies for government, donors, and program implementers to maximize positive outcomes and minimize risk to both people and the planet, such as: 

• Granting legal recognition to local management authorities and empowering their participation in rule-making
• Investing in further analyses at the national and sub-national levels
• Taking a locally-responsive approach to policy and program development