Sustainable and Profitable Forestry Cooperatives

For rural communities in developing countries, participation in forestry management is essential to guarantee resource sustainability, preserve biodiversity and diversify economic activities. Supported by expertise from forestry cooperatives in Quebec, SOCODEVI contributed to strengthening agro-forestry cooperative enterprises in Honduras. The focus was on increasing the added value of forestry products with the ultimate goal of improving families’ living conditions through rational and sustainable uses of forestry resources.

Our work with the member organizations of the regional cooperative CORAMEHL, and the FEHCAFOR federation, was based on transfering management tools, increasing the means of production, developing land management plans, and commercializing wood, among other things. The resulting improvement in economic and organizational performance allowed dozens of Honduran cooperatives to earn FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification for the management of their community forests.