Evaluate your current planning document for forests. Does it contain the following elements? Use check marks, and then discuss with others in the planning team.
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Executive Summary
 Opens with introduction by the minister, director, or other high-level executive
Gives brief statements of goals and expected benefits.
Highlights (very briefly) new or modified policies, institutions, programs, projects, and budgets to reach the goals.
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Background and Scope
Defines the planning period, and states when and how the planning was done.
Describes relationships with other planning and plans (past, present, future).
Describes composition of planning team(s), and acknowledges all sources of collaboration and support. |
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Contributions of Forests in National Development: Present Situation and Future Possibilities
Summarizes the situation (problems, trends, opportunities) in forest resources (but puts most details into appendices)
Highlights the importance of forests in national policy according to functional areas such as:
(1) economic contributions, (2) social and cultural contributions, and (3) environmental contributions. Note: Keep this brief by using tables, graphs, and charts to summarize.
For each of the functional areas, discusses (i) current issues and problems, and (ii) future possibilities. Strongly emphasizes inter-sectoral support (forests in relation to agriculture, energy, parks and protected areas, industry and commerce, tourism, education, and so on). Note: Keep this focused and brief. |
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Strategic Directions
Recommends strategic directions (actions and policies) to break constraints, fill gaps, and make progress towards the selected goals. Discusses how the priority goals for forests contribute to priorities at top national levels. Describes and quantifies (when possible) benefits and costs of the recommended strategic directions. Note: This is the core of the plan, and it deserves corresponding attention.
Specifies objectives to be attained according to a time schedule (often presented as a matrix). |
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Implementation Plan
Presents requirements for re-organization, budget, personnel, and training to implement the initiatives (often presented as tables or matrices).
Proposes when and how the plan will be reviewed and evaluated.
Note: This part of the document usually does not circulate widely. Sometimes, it is included in the appendices. |
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Appendices
Includes supporting materials (forest statistics, maps, consultants' reports, budget projections, and so on). |
