ABSTRACT
Successful FLR requires supportive local and national policy frameworks and a strong constituency of local-level support for the restoration activities. FLR therefore needs to include the identification of stakeholders and their forest-related interests and a consensus-building process on the range of possible restoration options. To achieve this, practitioners need to openly communicate and engage with a range of stakeholder groups. This chapter focuses on how FLR can help forest managers respond to local livelihood needs, build trust with local communities and demonstrate the importance of forests to decision-makers within a broader land-use and economic development context. The chapter also looks at how practitioners can make a strong case for the benefits of FLR based on its contribution to poverty reduction, economic growth, environmental security and biodiversity conservation.
