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Comparison between Private Forest Landowners in Nicaragua and the

Pacific Northwest

By Ivania Andrea CornejoInternational Fellow from Nicaragua

October 13th 2016 Portland, OR Email: iandreacornejo@gmail.com Skype: iandrea09

NicaraguaPopulation and size: 6.5 million people in 50,000 sq. miles

Social development: 2nd lowest human development index in Latin America

Rich in BD: Biodiversity hotspot, 64 types of forest ecosystems

Clockwise: • Turquoise-browed motmot (Eumomota superciliosa)• Margay (Margay Leopardus)• Pacific ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys oliveacea)

Nicaragua’s forests

Broadleaf forest cover 87%Coniferous forest cover 12%

Forests cover 25% of the country

Deforestation rate 170K acres/year, mainly driven by conversion of forestland to pastures and croplands

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Why this topic?

Don Chico, forest landowner (29 acres)Location: San Fernando, Nueva Segovia. Nicaragua

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Forestland ownership distribution

Nicaragua: • 8 million acres • Private owners hold 35%

of the forestland (Instituto Nacional Forestal 2008)

Oregon: • 30 million acres• Private owners hold 34%

of the forestland(Oregon Forest Resources Institute 2015)

Washington: • 22 million acres• Private owners hold 37%

of the forestland(Washington Department of Natural Resources 2006)

64%

34%

2%

Public landPrivate ownerwshipNative American Tribal

11%

35%49%

5%

Public land Private ownership

Indigenous communities Others

44%

37%

5% 14%

Public landPrivate ownershipNative American TribalOthers

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What I wanted to know

• Are their organizations helping them to improve forest management for environmental, social, and economic benefits?

• How?

• What type of relationships do they have with other stakeholders (i.e. government, NGOs, universities)

• Who are the private forest landowners?• What are their challenges and opportunities?• Do they organize?

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How did I accomplish my projectParticipants in the study

Who Nicaragua Pacific Northwest (OR

and WA)Private

individual owners

• 7 (29-3,300 acres) • 16 (5- 1,000 acres)

Organizations of private

forest owners

• ADEPROFOCA• FEDUBONIC• CONFOR• Indigenous People

of Mozonte

• Oregon Small Woodland Association (OSWA)

• Oregon Woodland Cooperative (OWC)

• Washington Farm Forestry Association (WFFA)

Government, NGOs and

others

• Wood Value Chain Project (CAVAMA)

• Nicaraguan Council for Voluntary Forest Certification (CONICEFV)

• Oregon State University (OSU)

• Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI)

Study sites: • Nueva Segovia (Nicaragua)• Oregon and Washington states (USA)

Findings: Forest Landowners

Differences

Biodiversity: Higher priority in OR and WA

Economic returns: Higher priority in Nicaragua

CommonalitiesNo formal education in forestry

Personal funds for forest improvement and/or maintenance

Perception: Forestry regulation much more stringent versus Agriculture

Perception: Negative public opinion towards timber harvesting

Findings: Organizations of Forest Landowners

Commonalities

Benefits: - Education/Training- Market opportunities- Political voice- Sustainable forest management

Small number of members vs. number of private individual owners

Leader roles are voluntary

DifferencesFunding: Membership fees in PNW vs.

small contributions in Nicaragua

Activities per year: more for PNW organizations

Increasing membership? Not for Nicaraguan organizations

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Take home lessons

Group participating in a session of OSU Mini-College in Corvallis, OregonAugust 2016

Partnerships, partnerships, partnerships

Leadership succession

University extension

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Back in Nicaragua…• Sharing results to promote

dialogue among forest stakeholders and inspire solutions

• Evaluate feasibility and development of non-timber forest products (NTFP)

Group discussing forestry issues at CONICEFV Annual meeting in Managua, Nicaragua April 2016

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Thank you!!!!