Guide to Participatory Tools for Forest Communities

Participatory methods have gained popularity in recent years as researchers, field practitioners and development professionals have sought more effective ways to involve local people in decision making and research. The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) has developed various participatory tools specifically for use with forest communities and other natural resource dependent groups. Some of these tools are adaptations of existing methods; others were created specifically for work with forest dependent communities. The tools have diverse applications: stakeholder identification, decision making, planning, conflict management, information collection, and other uses.

This guide is directed toward environment and development practitioners, researchers, and local government leaders. It provides information on several tools in order to help readers grasp the tools’ basic capabilities, identify the most appropriate tool for their needs and find resources for additional information. The guide does not provide an exhaustive description of how to use each tool but rather an introduction and comparative overview. Much like a map, this guide sends readers in the right direction.