The excessive use of centralized command and control policies that specify inputs 

and reporting requirements and increase the cost of operating reduce the incentive 

and value of improving management.  These policies have excluded community 

ownership and reduced or stifled innovative management approaches.  The lower 

returns from forestry also result in reduced ability to compete with alternative land 

uses, such as large scale conversion to pulp wood and oil palm plantations. 

If the quality of residual stand management is to be improved, pre harvest treatments 

and improved harvest techniques need greater attention, rather than the current set 

of post harvest planning and damage control activities.  Improvements include 

longer term management and planning beyond annual work plans, improved 

infrastructure, 100% cruising identification of trees, and lower impact logging.  There 

is also a greater need for more creative development of rapid assessment of key 

ecological, economic and social indicators of good management, and for devising a 

reporting and evaluation procedure that rewards outcomes rather than only 

compliance with prescriptions.   

The necessary debate to initiate these and other changes has begun in the MoFr and other  

governmental and non governmental agencies.  Effective change will depend upon the 

underlying interests in forestry.  Improved understanding of stakeholder involvement has been 

identified to develop a more adaptive and cost effective management framework.  NRMP 

identified the need for improved policies that encourage more internationally competitive pricing 

and greater decision making responsibility with clear objectives for forest managers.  However, 

the next chapter stresses the need to consider and protect conservation values that fall outside 

of existing markets and many of the current development decision making processes. 

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