PEACE CORPS MASTER’S INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM IN INTERNATIONAL FORESTRY

Why Consider the PCMI in International Forestry at the UW?

Forests represent an important resource in many developing countries where they provide a broad range of benefits ranging from providing reserves for biodiversity to preventing soil erosion in sensitive sites to providing habitat for a wide range of plant, insect and animal species to providing resources for poor forest-dependent communities. This is particularly true for forests in developing countries where some of the most biologically diverse forests exist. However, international forestry statistics indicate that the forests located in developing countries are experiencing the highest levels of deforestation as a result of timber harvesting for fuelwood and charcoal. For example, in Africa and Asia, over 75% of the timber harvested is used to provide fuel for local communities. Today, international forestry organizations are working more closely than ever with national forestry agencies in an effort to provide forest dependent communities with sustainable sources of fuelwood and charcoal. They are also working with communities in these countries to promote reforestation efforts. However, the scale and scope of the problem greatly exceeds the resources of the international forestry community. Helping forest dependent communities protect their forests while sustainably meeting their needs for fuelwood and other forest-related resources is an important mission of Peace Corps forestry volunteers.