Initiative on the Forest Economy (IoFE)

Initiative on Forest Economy (IoFE) envisions forests as a place of opportunity for wealth creation. We seek to formalise the existing forest value chains with multistakeholder partnerships between local communities as custodians of forests, industries as the users of Seasonal Forest Products, and government agencies as the facilitators of job and wealth creation. India's 21.5% of the land area is designated as forest lands, and nearly 250 million people rely entirely or partially on forests for their livelihoods. Forests play a vital role in biodiversity, environmental stability, and the sustainability of human livelihoods. Still, informal value chains and unrecognized legal rights contribute to the congruence of forests and poverty. IoFE focuses on upscaling the recognition of Community Forest Resource Rights (CFRR) and community-led governance for the protection and management of forests in India. The framework ensures the creation of wealth at a local level and not hundreds of miles away from the forest. Our institutional design prioritises secure livelihoods while safeguarding against market risks. We foster a framework of community forest ownership anchored around women-led enterprises. Let’s build together a sustainable and robust forest economy for people, planet and profits.