Bangkok” September 3″ 2007

A challenge to experts opens conference on poverty and forests.

Crippling poverty” violent conflict” insecure ownership” restricted access to basic resources – these are everyday challenges confronting 300 million rural villagers who live in and around the often dwindling forests of the Asian region.

The plight of these impoverished communities will be the focus of a four-day international conference in Bangkok this week. The conference” focused on the theme “Poverty Reduction and Forests: Tenure” Market and Policy Reforms”” will bring together researchers” practitioners and activists to study current efforts to reduce poverty through the sustainable use and management of forests.

The conference will open with a panel of experts from five Asian countries answering questions on their first-hand experiences of rural life and what they see as the answers to issues such as persistent poverty” armed social conflict” community use and control of forests” and the need for legal reform and secure property rights. The panel will include Professor Benchapun Ekasingh from Chiang Mai University; Indonesial law reformer Ms. Sandra Moniago; Laotian Government Minister Dr. Phouang Parisek Pravongviengkham; Action Aid's Mr. Johnb Samuel; and Nepal's Mr. Ghan Shyam Pandey from the Federation of Community Forest Users.

For more information on the conference visit the conference website here.