Participatory decision-making in forest management: A case study of the Lin'an Model Forest

The model forest concept combines ecosystem management and social forestry practices with participatory decision-making and institutional capacity building. A case study of the Lin'an Model Forest was conducted to compare current practices with the normative model of model forest management,

A forest-use survey of 354 rural households was conducted and eighteen model forest stakeholders were interviewed. Almost all of the surveyed households earn income from forestry activities, but the number of income-earning activities varies between townships.

Currently social forestry is more prevalent than ecosystem management in Lin'an. The decision-making process is hampered by the exclusion of some groups, power imbalances between stakeholders and avoidance of major forest issues. Involvement of international funders and the Beijing Model Forest Secretariat diminishes local institutional capacity and ownership. Despite these challenges, the Lin'an Model Forest is a significant step towards sustainable forest management in the People's Republic of China.