Planning self-help forestry projects in Asia

The purpose of the Workshop was to introduce participants to concepts and methods of self-help forestry planning. The Workshop content was primarily developed through the process of participatory learning, relying heavily on direct inputs and involvement by the participants and less on formal papers. A great deal of time was spent on field trips and group discussions, covering both the field exercises and the participants' analyses of their own countries' conditions. This report is designed both to review theoretical concepts and to provide practical guidelines to facilitate self-help forestry planning. The report reflects the stated emphasis of the Self-Help Workshop, which covers three main points: 1) the role of trees in farming systems, with particular emphasis on indigenous knowledge and traditional resource management in Asia; 2) the importance of local participation; factors affecting participation, and means of facilitating participation; and 3) the integrated approach to project planning which addresses the needs, attitudes and constraints of the local population.