Changing perspectives on forests: ecology, people and science/policy processes in West Africa and the Caribbean, held at the Institute of Development Studies, Sussex, UK, on 26-27 March 2001

摘要

This bulletin contains 13 articles presented at the workshop, and divided into two sets of issues, viz., how scientific perspectives on forest ecology and dynamics change and how these alter the ways that forest landscapes and societies might be understood, and the nature of contemporary science/policy processes in the forestry and conservation field. The changing relationships between science, policy and society in the context of internationalization and public challenges to formal expertise are discussed. On the other hand, the issues around the rural landscape and livelihoods in low-income countries particularly in West Africa and the Caribbean are also pointed out. This bulletin also reviews important advances in the science of forest dynamicswhich in turn suggest ways that forest policies could become more pro-poor. It also analyses the science/policy processes and power/knowledge relations which must be addressed if such changes are to come about.