Dear Readers”
Indonesia filled the headlines this month” as activists and business leaders weighed in on the government’s launch of a two-year logging moratorium. But are the news stories reaching the country’s local communities?
As the global community begins to recognize the importance of local people in forest management” many are calling for the same attention to women’s involvement in forestry. New publications by REDD-Net and USAID and WOCAN explore gender roles in REDD+” and RECOFTC’s Regan Suzuki argues that using more efficient stoves can benefit both women and natural resources in this month’s commentary.
Finally” we at RECOFTC are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Tint Lwin Thuang as our new executive director. Dr. Thuang comes to the organization with 26 years of experience in forest research and management. In September 2011″ he will succeed Dr. Yam Malla” our current executive director” when Dr. Malla’s term expires.
Until next month”
Alison Rohrs
Editor” People and Forests E-News
Cambodia: Community Forestry Plan Unveiled
Phnom Penh Post” 31 May 2011
In support of its goal of establishing two million hectares of community-managed forest by 2029″ the Forestry Administration launched a US$3.8 million project on sustainable community forestry in four provinces” with special attention to market access.
Cambodia: Call to Preserve Prey Lang Forest
Phnom Penh Post” 31 May 2011
Arriving in Phnom Penh in costumes and face paint” villagers from four provinces protested recent land concessions in the Prey Lang forest. They were armed with a petition signed by more than 30″000 people. More than 40″000 hectares have been granted for rubber plantations” and 27 concessions have been handed to mining firms.
Related Article: Cambodians call for forests to be saved (MSNBC)
China: Reforestation Program Preventing Future Disasters
China's response to large-scale erosion with reforestation is paying off” according to a recent study. The 10-year Sloping Land Conversion Program is returning some 37 million acres into forest or grasslands after farming on steep slopes in the Yangtze and Yellow River basins had made them susceptible to dangerous erosion and flooding.
India: Developing Forestry Can Create Millions of Jobs
The Hindu” 5 June 2011
Investing an additional US$40 billion annually in India’s forestry sector can halve deforestation rates by 2030″ increase rates of tree planting by about 140% by the year 2050″ and catalyze the creation of millions of new jobs” according to a report by the UN Environment Programme.
Indonesia: Green Groups” Analysts Slam Logging Ban
Environmentalists said that the long-awaited moratorium on logging in Indonesia” part of a US$1 billion climate deal with Norway” will harm the country’s forests” local communities” and indigenous peoples. The logging ban covers only primary forests and peat lands and leaves room for existing concessions and ’national development’ projects.
Related Articles: Environmentalists Criticize Indonesia's Plan to Save Forests (New York Times); Indonesia Forest Moratorium Softens Blow for Planters (Reuters)
Indonesia: Local Forest Communities Oblivious to Government’s Plans
Jakarta Post” 11 May 2011
Local residents of an appointed REDD+ project pilot site in Central Kalimantan expressed confusion at the idea of the project. Advocates called for more active involvement of local communities in the planning process.
Nepal: Minister Hints at Scrapping of Forest Act
Himalayan Times” 31 May 2011
Minister for Forests and Soil Conservation” Bhanubhakta Joshi” stated that Nepal’s Forest Act can be scrapped or revised if it is not in the best interest of community forest users. For feedback and guidance” he looked to the council of Federation of Community Forest Users’ of Nepal (FECOFUN).
International: Destruction of World’s Biggest Forests Down 25%
The rate of destruction of the world's three largest forests (the Amazon” the Congo” and Borneo Mekong) fell 25% this decade compared with the previous one” but remains alarmingly high in some countries” according to a new report by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. Over the last 20 years” the rate of deforestation in South East Asia has more than halved.
Read the rest of the newsletter here.