Scenario building is a powerful tool for decision making process which brings together participants from all levels.  By stimulating creative ways of thinking, scenarios help everyone from local farmers to national policy makers in making decisions based on different possible futures. During consultations in Peru, Brazil, Indonesia, and Cameroon, ASB partners expressed a need to learn about decision-making tools that could help them assess future uncertainties and workable responses to these plausible futures.

As a result ASB, The World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), and the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) designed a project that includes: 

• A global training for scenarios facilitators (Chiang Mai, Thailand, 17-24 November 2004).
• Small grants program to conduct scenarios exercises in: Brazil, Peru, Indonesia and Thailand.  
• Field Guide to the Future, in collaboration with CIFOR scenarios project.
• Synthesis of lessons learned (2007) 

The scenario building exercises are a flexible tool that can also be used in a myriad of situations in the tropical forests margins such as: 

• To set the priorities for action for ongoing development programs in their respective regions.
• To explore and raise awareness on the environmental, social and economic implications of the new transoceanic road that connects the Amazon of Brazil and Peru crossing biodiversity hotspots areas.  
• To think about the implications of adopting community forest management, in Jacy Parana, Rondonia, Brazil.

ASB is excited about ensuring that its Scenarios Project has long-lasting benefits for the many national, local, and international partners working with ASB. ASB partners are requesting regional training activities as a result of this initiative.