The Politics of Decentralization Forests, People and Power

* Examines the huge, global and local impacts of decentralization on forests, biodiversity, conservation and the livelihoods of people * In-depth case studies covering Europe/UK, North and South America, Asia, Australia and Africa * Research supported by the major international forestry and conservation organizations including CIFOR, IUCN, WWF, UNFF, ITTO, FAO, USFS, World Bank and ProForest Decentralization is sweeping the world and having dramatic and far-reaching impacts on resource management and livelihoods, particularly in forestry. This book is the most up-to-date examination of the themes, experiences and lessons learned from decentralization worldwide. Drawing on research and support from all of the major international forestry and conservation organizations, the book provides a balanced account that covers the impact of decentralization on resource management worldwide and provides comparative global insights with wide implications for policy, management, conservation and resource use and planning. This is state-of-the-art coverage of the critical issue of decentralization, vital for practitioners, academics and policy-makers across forestry and the full spectrum of natural resource management.