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CIFOR’s Research Programmes in Latin America

Forests and Livelihoods

CIFOR’s Forests and Livelihoods programme examines deforestation, local forest management and non-timber forest products. CIFOR uses this research as the basis for recommending policies and practices that can increase the benefits sustainable forestry provides to local smallholders.

Research themes and key projects

Non-timber forest products

  • Valuable and vulnerable: promoting local innovations and sustainable trade of forest goods in the Brazilian Amazon (Tinker)

Payments for environmental services

  • Making Nature count (MacArthur)

Practices, policies and models of local forest management


Forests and Governance

Forestry management in Latin America has changed dramatically in the past 20 years. Most national governments have begun devolving power and responsibilities to provincial and district level governments. The outcomes have been both positive and negative. As a result, decentralization and community forest management are now significant research areas. CIFOR’s research includes studying how forests and local livelihoods are affected by policy processes, forest laws, regulations and finance, among others.

Research themes and key projects

Legal framework of smallholder and community forest management

  • ForLive (EU)
  • Bridging the Divide: enhancing forest tenure, management and marketing in the Brazilian Amazon (EU)

Decentralization reforms and property rights

  • Decentralization Reforms and Property Rights: Potentials and Puzzles for Forest Sustainability and Livelihoods (SANREM)

Institutional and governance relations in forestry

  • Informal institutions and forest governance in Bolivia, Nicaragua, Brazil and Honduras (PROFOR)
  • Forest resource access and local livelihoods in Bolivia, Brazil, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua (PROFOR)


Environmental Services and the Sustainable Use of Forests


Forestry management in Latin America has changed dramatically in the past 20 years. Most national governments have begun devolving power and responsibilities to provincial and district level governments. The outcomes have been both positive and negative. As a result, decentralization and community forest management are now significant research areas. CIFOR’s research includes studying how forests and local livelihoods are affected by policy processes, forest laws, regulations and finance, among others.

Research themes and key projects 

Sustainable use of forests

Climate change adaptation