Forests and poverty: the latest thinking

Gill Shepherd, IUCN Livelihoods and Landscapes Strategy Thematic Adviser on Poverty and Landscapes, speaks on the latest thinking on forests and poverty, drawing from lessons that have come out of IUCN's innovative 'Livelihoods and Landscapes Strategy' (LLS).

The LLS initiative represents a new way of thinking - from seeing nature as needing to be protected from threats, to promoting negotiated plans and actions for productive landscapes.

To achieve this, the development and application of LLSs by our initiative goes beyond forest management and includes positive links with other sectors such as agriculture, water, energy, health and the private sector.

The application of livelihood and landscape strategies should provide for immediate needs as well as supporting long term change to improve human wellbeing and livelihood resilience.