Decisions about what happens in the forest often ignore the values of forest-dependent people. We have written this lobbying tool for such marginalized forest-dependent people. Its aim is to broaden and critically examine the values that shape what happens in the forest. We want to give greater weight to the voice of the poor. The tool gives a structured approach to framing and making a complaint within a
process of ethical dialogue. It does this by providing a framework for understanding: (i) what a forest ethic is; (ii) how an appeal to forest ethics might be made within a process of dialogue; (iii) and when such appeals might be particularly legitimate and useful for marginalized forest dependent people.

A summary card of this tool is available to download in four languages in PDF format:

English (41K) | French (44K) | Spanish (43K ) | Portuguese (43K)

The complete tool is also available (PDF format):

English (187K, 25pp) | French (207K, 29pp) | Spanish (201K, 29pp) | Portuguese (195K, 28pp)

Please cite this tool as:

Macqueen, D. 2005. Ethical appeal. Power tools series. International Institute for Environment and Development, London, UK.

Related Work:

A supplementary report outlines the main international agreements that frame forest related law. Tables provide a guide to the main articles within these laws that relate to key ethical principles ecological integrity, social and economic justice and democracy.
Lesniewska, F. (2005) Law for forests. An introductory guide to international forest and forest related legal materials that shape forest ethics and practice.
View PDF (456K)

A case study paper explores how traditional resource use ethics, such as those of the Oromo in Ethiopia, might be articulated to shape the policies that govern resource use. It argues for an open and ethical process of dialogue in designing development interventions.
Kelbessa, W. (2005) The utility of ethical dialogue for marginalized voices in Africa. IIED, Edinburgh, UK.
View PDF (327K)

A related discussion paper argues for change in forest ethics and decision-making, to realign our practice with our beliefs. Presented at the international workshop on "European forests in ethical discourse" 18-19 January 2005, Berlin, Germany. IIED, Edinburgh, UK.
Macqueen, D.J. (2005) Reverence and responsibility in forest ethics: inserting the meaning of life back into the culture of possession.
View PDF (248K)

A further paper by the Chair of the International Development Ethics Association (IDEA) explores why dialogue, and especially ethical dialogue, can be a useful tool in overcoming marginalisation, for example at the global level leading to the Earth Charter.
Dower, N. (2005) How currently marginalised voices might best use ethical dialogue to shape the local, national and international development agendas. IIED, Edinburgh, UK.
View PDF (247K)

A related paper looks at the Earth Charter’s role in bringing together a collective ethic for environmental management. Presented at the international conference on “Global ethics, development, environment and the Earth Charter”, 14-17 April 2004, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland. IIED, Edinburgh, UK.
Macqueen, D.J. (2004) Forest Ethics: the role of ethical dialogue in the fate of the forests. Comparing and contrasting the international forest policy dialogue with the Earth Charter Initiative.
View PDF (128K)

For further information:

Contact: Duncan Macqueen, duncan.macqueen@iied.org