Clear, secure and devolved forest tenure is a fundamental requirement for SFM and
for improving the role of forests in PA. Although most rural poor people have some
access to land and forests, they typically remain poor because their rights to the land
are weak and their tenure is insecure (Bruce, 2004). This is particularly true regarding
the three dimensions of PA: opportunity, security and empowerment (World Bank,
2000). However, most current policies and legal frameworks continue to limit access
to natural resources. The forestry sector appears to have made less progress on this
issue than other natural resource sectors, and still provides a largely inadequate
framework to address the security of tenure rights.