This study investigates the extent to which communities have been provided with economic incentives to become involved in sustainable forest management in Eastern and Southern Africa. The study has a number of clear findings. If communities are to be willing, and economically able, to involve themselves in sustainable forest management they must receive greater economic benefits from conserving forests than from degrading them. Sustainable forest management must tangibly improve local economic welfare, and generate local economic benefits to sufficient levels and in appropriate forms to counterbalance the opportunity costs incurred by sustainable forest management.
