According to "The Value of Investing in Locally-controlled Forestry," better evaluation of what forests are worth will generate direct benefits for poor forest dwellers, open up new markets and affect global economic growth.
1 February 2011: According to IUCN’s latest report, titled “The Value of Investing in Locally-controlled Forestry: The economic impacts of scaling up LLS experiences in Africa, Asia & Latin America,” better evaluation of what forests are worth will generate direct benefits for poor forest dwellers, open up new markets and affect global economic growth.
The aim of the report, which was launched at the celebration to open the International Year of Forests (IYF), is to demonstrate the global economic impact that forests can have if they are managed and controlled by the people who live in and around them. Stewart Maginnis, IUCN’s Director of Environment and Development, noted that “Locally-controlled forest management is a highly profitable public investment and development assistance option.” According to the report, the direct livelihood values, such as food, medicines, fuel, energy, income and employment, are estimated at US$130 billion a year. [IUCN Press Release] [Read: The Value of Investing in Locally-controlled Forestry: The economic impacts of scaling up LLS experiences in Africa, Asia & Latin America]