multidisciplinary landscape assessment

Objectives

Studying "what really matters" for communities living in the tropical forest landscapes.Working with several partners, the project uses a set of various methods.Known as the name "Multidisciplinary Landscape Assessment" or MLA, this method improves understanding among development actors, policy-makers and forest communities. The goal is to help better informed decision-making  about forest policies, management of lands and payments for environmental services which will improve the conservation of the forest, protect the needs and rights of local populations and allow more sustainable management of tropical forests.

Communities living in or near tropical forests often suffer from the same decisions that damage forest biodiversity. These local communities are the principal beneficiaries of many forest goods and services. Outside interventions that affect forest landscapes and their biodiversity are seldom well anticipated.

To address conservation issues, it is useful to ask "What needs to be saved and how ?". But answers will depend on interests and actors. Current global conservation priorities tend to reflect Northern norms rather than the interests of local forest dependent communities. But, it is possible to find shared agendas and negotiate compromises among disparate interests, and identifying new conservation opportunities.

This project is based on research and development of tools to study the importance of biodiversity according to the perspectives of forest communities. Recognize local perceptions of tropical forest landscapes is an encouraging first step for better informed choices about the management of these last-mentioned.