New promises, new possibilities? Comparing community forestry in Canada and Mexico

Abstract

The popularity of community-based natural resource management has grown both within British Columbia's forests and around the world. It is often assumed that increased local control of resources will enable more ecologically sensitive forestry practices, but this is not necessarily the case. Through case study examples of "earlier" community forest models in British Columbia and Mexico, the implications of local control for better ecosystem management are investigated. Th is paper suggests that while community forestry in British Columbia has achieved laudable economic goals, it is still a diverse and emerging type of tenure. Increased institutional support for the Community Forest Agreement Program, meaningful levels of community control, lessons learned through future experience, and comparisons to other community forest programs may lead to a better understanding of the conditions for improved ecosystem management in British Columbia.