Layperson"s guide to the forest codes of Mali, Niger, and Senegal

Forest codes provide the legal and administrative framework for forest policies, which rely heavily upon direct state regulation of public and private use of forests and forest products. Codes also regulate crop and livestock production in areas under their jurisdiction. Forest codes define the distribution of rights to forests and forest products between the state and individual users. In most cases, the balance of use and management rights is held by the state and fall under the administrative authority of forestry and water departments. Sahelian governments and donor agencies are attempting to promote greater public participation in forestry activities and greater private investment in trees on farms. For these policies to succeed, communities and farmers may require assurance that the benefits of their investments in trees will accrue to themselves and will not be subject to controls that contribute to uncertainty and insecurity. This report provides a guide to the forest codes of Senegal, Mali, and Niger, and discusses the relationships between tree and forest tenure rules, as defined by forest codes, and farmer and community investments in forestry and agroforestry. (Author abstract)