Th is paper is a first step in a process to create enabling environments for forest producer organizations (FPOs) worldwide. It focuses on what governments should and should not do to enable FPOs to form, thrive and create benefi ts for their members and the resources they manage. Further work is needed, including to increase understanding and knowledge sharing, build capacity, and stimulate dialogue, for example on the linkages between FPOs and major value-chains and on the explicit learnings and synergies that FPOs can fi nd in the agricultural and other sectors. Our hope is that this paper will stimulate discussions and refl ections that ultimately will engage policymakers to eff ectively support FPOs and enable FPO leaders to reach out more systematically to policymakers as part of their advocacy eff orts.