The content, scope and conflicting goals of Latin America’s decentralization initiatives in forest management vary to a significant extent upon the context prevailing in each country. The decentralization efforts are spreading across the region and the municipalities may now play a greater role in the management of their natural resources and seize the resulting benefits.

The book was written for three different purposes: (i) better understand the types of powers assigned to municipalities to this day, (ii) better understand the increasingly important role played by municipalities in forest management, (iii) analyze the opportunities that were created and the challenges faced by the decentralization processes in the region.

The book compiles findings from in-depth studies conducted in 6 countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala. It uncovers some significant forest management schemes initiated by municipalities on the regional, national and local levels. The book’s authors hope that their research findings appeal to departmental and municipal public servants, decision-makers, project technicians, researchers, international cooperation agencies professionals, municipal technicians, and organization workers and that they help them better understand municipal forest management.  less