This book contains a number of commissioned background papers presented at the workshop on ‘Research on Non-timber Forest Products’ (Hot Springs, Zimbabwe, 28 August - 2 September 1995). Bringing together experiences from different regions and professional backgrounds, the book attempts to analyse the complexity of multiple use of forests from a multidimensional perspective that incorporates environmental, social, economic, technological, political, historical and cultural factors. Current topics of discussion are reviewed.

Projects implemented as part of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol will have the dual mandate of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to sustainable development. It is not yet clear what, if any, forestry activities will be eligible for CDM. Nor is it known what rules will guide the implementation of CDM projects. These decisions have important implications for poor people who live in and around forests in developing countries.

Agriculture is the main sector of the Ethiopian economy, as is the case in many sub-Saharan African countries. In this region, rainfall distribution is extremely uneven both spatially and temporally. Drought frequently results in crop failure, while high rainfall intensities result in low infiltration and high runoff, causing soil erosion and land degradation, which contribute to low agricultural productivity and high levels of food insecurity.

Based on the best available remote sensing data from before 1990, the total area of formally eligible lands in Indonesia for the aff orestation and reforestation (A/R) Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) activities under the Kyoto protocol is about 46 M ha.

Developing community-based forest enterprises (CBFEs) is an ideal development intervention in poor forest communities as they have the potential to generate income and employment for the poor while supporting sustainable management of forest resources. This potential is limited by various constraints, many of which are unique to forestbased enterprises.

With around half of its land area still forested, Meghalaya – one of the eight states of Northeastern India - has high potential for the development of forest-based enterprises. There are, however, various constraints to the development of forest-based enterprises as demonstrated by the noticeable underdevelopment of industries in the state and the dearth of information regarding the status of existing forest-based industries - an important element to guiding targeted interventions.