Logo image
Forests, Livelihoods and the MDGs in Tanzania and Lao PDR
Journal article

Forests, Livelihoods and the MDGs in Tanzania and Lao PDR

Edmund Barrow, Robert J Fisher, Lucy Emerton and Andrew Ingles
ETFRN News: Forests and the Millennium Development Goals-Special Issue, (47-48), pp.17-20
2007
url
http://www.etfrn.org/publications?publicationYear=2006/2007View
Webpage

Abstract

Forestry Sciences
The value of forests as a means of addressing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is often underestimated. This paper presents evidence from Tanzania and Lao PDR, which demonstrates the significant contribution of forests to poverty reduction, improved health, education and gender equity. The MDGs are a major international challenge, but also a basis for re-affirming our linkages with the environment and natural resources as key assets for our livelihoods. Biodiversity and tree-based assets are undervalued in national statistics and accounting, and are grossly underinvested in development decision making. Based on evidence from Tanzania and Lao PDR, we show that forests have been making a significant contribution to the MDG indicators. The evidence calls for greater recognition of the value of sustainably managed forests for poverty reduction. Our case studies show that forests can contribute to meeting several of the MDGs.

Details

Metrics

6 File views/ downloads
683 Record Views
Logo image