Community-Based Forestry in the Alabama Black-Belt Region

Abstract

"The Black-Belt region of Alabama is endowed with immense forest resources. However, high poverty, unemployment, and low education levels have persisted among African-Americans who represent the majority of the population and own a significant portion of the private forest land. This paper provides the context wherein community-based forestry approach was applied, some of the challenges, how the Federation of Southern Cooperatives accepted and approached the challenge, the impact of their efforts and some of the lessons-learned."