Linking Forest Restoration to Sustainable Value Chains with se.plan

Abstract

Stumpage prices for timber can be low due to lack of demand for wood products, which threatens the sustainability of tree-growing projects. Prices can increase with more investment in local wood processing facilities and related infrastructure – the links in the value chain that would increase timber demand. se.plan, a geospatial tool built by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Forestry Division, helps investors find suitable locations for reforestation projects in emerging markets, but it does not have the capability to help find locations for wood processing facilities. Using Uganda as a case study, we augment the capabilities of se.plan and provide geospatial data to build a wood processing facility siting capability into the tool. To determine decision-making factors relevant to investments in reforestation and wood processing, we conducted a literature review and focus groups, and then we found and modified geospatial datasets relevant to those factors. We made recommendations on how FAO can incorporate the datasets into se.plan.