The Forest Trust has published a guide to working with smallholder agroforestry system managers on developing sustainable businesses.

It is estimated that 558 million people manage 1 billion hectares of agroforests worldwide. This new guide, titled Sustainable Community Forest Management: A Practical Guide to FSC Group Certification for Smallholder Agroforestry Systems, provides recommendations on how to develop programs that are based on collaboration and active participation of local communities and partners.

The guide covers many of the common challenges faced by smallholders in developing a wood business and becoming certified. There are case studies, templates and simple tools and techniques that will be useful to those just beginning, or in the early stages of, a community agroforestry program. It includes a list of key questions to ask and best practices for building long-term programs. A list of additional resources is provided and a glossary of common technical forestry terms.

The handbook draws on The Forest Trust’s on-ground experience over seven years with smallholder communities in Southeast Asia.

Download the handbook: Sustainable Community Forest Management: A Practical Guide to FSC Group Certification for Smallholder Agroforests