Rationale and Approach

During FORENET start-up workshop it was decided that two major research domains should be considered: “Tropical forests and climate change” and “Sustainable use of forest goods and services” (see chart below). The forests and climate change domain is new by reference to the original list of potential research issues developed after the feasibility study of the project but it was deemed of utmost importance by all participants in the current international context.

Two research programmes are proposed for each domain. The two programmes of the tropical forests and climate change address two of the main current issues (mitigation and the reduced emissions from deforestation and degradation; adaptation and the livelihoods of local people) and are of direct relevance for all the project countries. The two programmes of the sustainable use domain were originally identified by the project feasibility study and are also of direct relevance to all project countries.