Communities and Forest Management in Western Europe

Book excerpt: Fourth in the series, this profile explores the diverse and changing nature of Community Involvement in Forest Management (CIFM) in Western Europe. It provides some comparative European-level data on important social institutions which shape patterns of community involvement in forestry, and it briefly examines different national contexts. Through 12 case studies, this publication discusses some of the main economic, social, ecological and policy opportunities and challenges of CIFM in Europe, and outlines the principal lessons learned according to three key groups of actors: governments, NGOs and local communities. The profile also proposes some recommendations for policy and action in Europe.