Exemplary forest management in Asia and the Pacific
Edited by Patrick B. Durst, Chris Brown, Henrylito D. Tacio and Miyuki Ishikawa

Another week, another bad news story in the litany of irresponsibility, greed and corruption that seem to characterize forestry in Asia and the Pacific. But, is the actual situation as bad as things are usually painted?

If a new study by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Regional Community Forestry Training Center for Asia and the Pacific (RECOFTC) is correct, then predictions of the imminent demise of the region’s forests may be premature. In search of excellence: exemplary forest management in Asia and the Pacific highlights the brighter side of forestry in a much-maligned region. A widespread call for nominations identified 172 forests in 21 countries that were perceived to be “well-managed.” After careful vetting, 28 forests were selected for detailed case study analysis.
The result is a kaleidoscope of ideas, approaches, inspiration and perspiration that tell the stories of people dedicated to building sustainable livelihoods through careful management of their forests. These “Chicken Soup for the Forests” stories encompass a broad spectrum of management challenges. From the “miracle” of the Kalibo mangrove reforestation project, which describes the conversion of a bare mudflat into a mangrove ecotourism site, to the “minimal impact” helicopter logging operations of Forever Beech in New Zealand, these case studies lend hope for the future of forests.
Patrick Durst, FAO’s senior forestry officer in Asia and the Pacific and lead editor of the new study, certainly doesn’t believe the outlook for Asia-Pacific forests is all doom and gloom. “My work brings me into contact with large numbers of people doing incredible work in managing the region’s forests. The pity is that the knowledge, skill and commitment of these people are usually buried beneath the horror stories of wanton logging, purposely-set forest fires and the exchange of large envelopes stuffed with cash in dark and smoke-filled rooms.”
Durst acknowledges that the study is likely to cause controversy. “We haven’t backed away from including some contentious exemplars, and there will be plenty of people who will disagree with this. The Diamond Raya timber concession in Indonesia and Australian forests in Tasmania and Southwestern Australia are flashpoints for forest controversy.”
The management of Tasmanian forests, for example, was a major issue in the recent Australian election – there was speculation that the forests issue could decide the balance of political power. But, controversy doesn’t preclude exemplary forest management. The book argues that open debate over forest management is a healthy sign; one of its conclusions is that perceptions of excellence are usually in the eye of the beholder.
The macro-environmental statistics continue to paint a damning portrait of forestry in many Asia-Pacific countries with more than 2.5 million hectares of the region’s forests (excluding China) cleared each year. However, at local levels, positive change is occurring as some governments, forestry communities and private companies seek sustainable livelihoods and effective forest management. 
“We wanted to show that there are some good things happening in the forests,” says FAO Assistant Director-General, He Changchui. “There are many people devoting their lives to improving forest management, but they rarely receive the credit they deserve.” Nonetheless, He perceives a gradual shift in the forest debate. “People are recognizing that collaborative efforts are the most constructive – where governments, environmentalists, communities and forest industry all work together. This is an important lesson emerging from the In search of excellence study,” He concludes.
RECOFTC Executive Director Yam Malla says that the most striking thing about the new study is the emergence of common themes among well-managed forests. “Strengthening property rights, attention to the livelihoods of local people, and the development of societal consensus are specifically identified by the analysis as key components of effective forest management. These elements are at the core of RECOFTC’s mandate – it reinforces our belief that our approach is on the correct path.”
In search of excellence: exemplary forest management in Asia and the Pacific provides answers for all the people who have asked, “Why don’t they do something?” It is dedicated to the many forest managers who are making a difference.