Economic viability is one of the three basic tenets of sustainable forest management (SFM). SFM might be perfectly feasible technically, but it will still fail if the enterprises that are supposed to be implementing it struggle to make ends meet.
One big problem is the availability of finance. Banks are reluctant to lend to timber operators, particularly small ones. The bottom line is that small businesses stay small, with the ever-present possibility of shrinking away to nothing. Larger enterprises might be more resilient, but they might also find best forest practice elusive if they continually have to pay high rates for their capital. Who is going to invest in natural tropical forest management? Articles in this edition of the TFU explore this question.
16 No 2
How deep does your cash flow?
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Photo: G. Wetterberg
Full edition
16 No 2
The ITTO Tropical Forest Update is published quarterly in English, French and Spanish; the French and Spanish editions are usually posted about a month later than the English.
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Putting up the money
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Photo: J. Mentore, Farfan &
Mendes Ltd
ITTO and partners have initiated a round of forums aimed at encouraging new investments in tropical forest enterprises engaged in sustainable forest management
Investing in natural tropical forest industries
The low level of investment in natural tropical forest-based enterprises is a major limiting factor in the spread of sustainable forest management. Can it be raised?
Attracting institutional investors
Pension funds, endowments and foundations have trillions of dollars to invest. Can they be convinced to direct such investments towards tropical forests?
Small and medium-sized forestry enterprises
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Photo: Andhra Pradesh Forest
Department
Are they the best bet for reducing poverty and sustaining forests?
Mexico's mission
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Photo courtesy Mexican Forestry
Commission
Attention to markets and public policies is crucial to the promotion of sustainable forest management in the country's tropical forests
Forest certified in Congo
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Photo: Edward Parker/
Images Everything
ITTO has assisted a large timber concession in its successful bid for FSC certification
ITTO's recently funded projects
The projects summarized here were financed at the fortieth session of the International Tropical Timber Council, which was held in May/June 2006
Palms deserve a big hand
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Photo: Haroldo Castro/
CI
An ITTO project proposes mechanisms for the sustainable utilization of palm trees in a conservation area in Bolivia and Peru
Out on a limb
The nature of investment in natural tropical forests is changing
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On the conference circuit
Reports on the 15th Session of the African Forestry and Wildlife Commission, the ASEAN-ITTO Regional Workshop on Perspectives of Clean Development Mechanism Forestry Projects in Asia and the Pacific, and the 40th Session of the International Tropical Timber Council
Topical and tropical
News from ITTO's Tropical Timber Market Report
Courses
Short training courses for professionals in forestry and related disciplines
Meetings
A comprehensive listing of coming conferences relevant to sustainable tropical forest management