How do we get the most public goods from forest landscapes when various
publics in varying places make conflicting claims? One approach, caricatured
as ‘monotypic masses’, says big ‘single use’ corporate blocks are best. But
that brings ecological and social challenges (especially displacement) that
may eventually undermine economic viability. A better approach is ‘multifunctional mosaics’ of smallholder forest-farm enterprises that offer both local
and distant public goods. These can help ensure all publics receive a share
of all public goods. The international Forest Connect alliance has shown that
smallholders themselves generally favour multi-functional mosaics because
these balance long and short term risks and returns. But making such
mosaics viable at scale is an economic challenge that requires unprecedented
‘enabling’ investment.