Resolution No. 23/2020 approving the Forestry Policy and its Implementation Strategy.

This Forestry Policy applies to all forestry heritage existing in the national territory and to all natural and legal persons, public, private, community and civil society organizations that intervene directly or indirectly in the protection, conservation, management, exploitation and use of the forest products or services. The general objective of this Policy is to guarantee the perpetuation of the national forest heritage and the generation of benefits derived from environmental goods and services through the sustainable use and aggregation of value of forest products, encouraging inclusive and participatory management, for the economic, social and environment for current and future generations. The specific objectives are: In the environmental domain: to ensure the protection, conservation, creation, enhancement and sustainable use of forest heritage by promoting payment for environmental services and the contribution of the forest in reducing the greenhouse effect and mitigating climate change. In the sociocultural domain: promote a favorable environment conducive to the active participation of all citizens and stakeholders in the sustainable management of forests, especially local communities, valuing and respecting traditional knowledge and socio-cultural relationships; In the economic domain: increase the contribution of forests to national and local economic development, fighting exploitation and use and contributing to well-being and poverty reduction. In the institutional and legal domain: strengthening and improving the legal and institutional framework for inclusive, transparent, coordinated and sustainable management of forests, contributing to the fight against corruption.
The goals of this policy are: i. Promote a holistic view of forests, as a provider of goods (timber and non-timber), valuing environmental services and the role of communities in the maintenance and preservation of forest heritage; ii. Privilege communities in payments for environmental services, recognizing their role and effort in conserving biodiversity, water, soils and the carbon cycle; iii. Promote the participation of communities in sustainable forest management of forest resources integrated in the planning of the territory and forest landscape; iv. Fight the illegal extraction of forest resources and corruption along value chains, support the forest industry to add value, create partnerships and increase the contribution of forests to the local and national economy; v. Adapt the institutional and legal framework to achieve good forest governance based on the forest information system, data, evidence and monitoring of results.
The vision of the Forestry Policy is to increase the contribution of forests within the framework of the objectives and agenda of sustainable socio-economic development of the Country, through sustainable, integrated and participatory management involving local communities, the private sector, civil society, public entities and local state authorities.
The mission of this policy is to promote the sustainable production, management, exploitation and use of forest heritage with added value, contributing to the well-being and satisfaction of the needs of current and future generations.