ABSTRACT
Multifunctional forested landscapes of the tropics contain rich biodiversity and sustain rural livelihoods. The use of different land types is determined by their historical, natural and cultural significance, in addition to their future potential. Different people and organizations, ranging from the village to the global level, recognize different values of these landscape mosaics (cf Boissière et al, 2010). The management objectives and processes of multifunctional landscapes are shaped by these competing values and power imbalances among people and organizations. The people who live in these landscapes are often the most dependent on them for their livelihoods, yet also the poorest and the least powerful among the different levels of governance. Landscape governance, it is proposed, should identify and reconcile the competing values of multiple levels of governance in a way that contributes to the realization of the visions of villagers and sustainable management of the landscape.
