This course highlights the importance of understanding and effectively managing the social or human dimension of forestry as a requisite to achieving the goal of sustainable forest management. As reflected in its title, the course is divided into three modules considered to be social pillars in promoting sustainable forest management.
The first module on forest governance presents the importance, concepts, and principles of “good forest governance”, and the realities on the ground by analyzing the dynamics that exist between the various forest governance institutions. It also showcases the different forest governance initiatives at the national and global levels and assesses their contributions in advancing sustainable forest management.
The second module on public relations provides a basic understanding of public relations as it may be applied in sustainable forest management through science communication. It describes different communication strategies and approaches which can be used in forestry, and emphasizes how to enhance the social capability of the foresters to engage and build relationships among other stakeholders and partners in achieving the goal of sustainable forest management.
Finally, the third module on community development highlights that forests serve as the storehouse that supplies basic human needs such as food, clothing, shelter, and medicine, as well as the environmental services that are keys to the survival and well-being of millions of local communities. The module examines forestry as a form of development intervention and how it can better contribute to the achieving the goal of community development.
This course seeks to introduce natural resource managers, educators, practitioners, and other agents of environmental development to the social dimensions of sustainable forest management through this intensive online course.
Course Prerequisites
Participants are expected to have a work experience related to the field of forestry, environmental science, community development or natural resources conservation, and/or related fields.