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KEY PUBLICATIONS AND ONLINE RESOURCES

FORESTS, DESERTS, LAND

This page was updated on: 12/10/10

 

 

 

Latest New Publications and Resources

Rural Poverty Report 2011

FOREST EUROPE Newsletter

 

Rural Poverty Report 2011

(IFAD, 2010)

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) released this report, which provides updated estimates on the number of rural poor people in developing countries and rural poverty rates. This 2011 edition of the report is the first since 2001. The report underscores threats to rural development posed by climate change, volatile food prices, and natural resource constraints. It also notes ecosystems and biodiversity that sustain agricultural production are changing, and highlights the challenges to boosting international agricultural productivity. In terms of opportunities, the report describes the growth of urban centers and better organized agricultural markets. It further outlines efforts to help poor rural people avoid and manage risks. [IFAD press release] [Report website]

 

FOREST EUROPE Newsletter

(FOREST EUROPE, December 2010)

The Newsletter of the Liaison Unit Oslo provides updates on preparations for upcoming meetings, including a brief on the options for a decision on a possible legally binding agreement, as well as a summary of new communications tools and publications. [The newsletter]

 

Good Practice Guidance on Sustainable Mobilisation of Wood in Europe

(FOREST EUROPE, November 2010)

This brochure outlines the potential for increased wood mobilization in Europe, noting that only two thirds of the annual growth is currently being harvested. The brochure highlights findings of the report "Good practice guidance on sustainable mobilization of wood in Europe," published in March 2010 by the European Commission, Agriculture and Rural Development, FOREST EUROPE and UNECE/FAO. It suggests that more wood can be mobilized sustainably, in part as a contribution to climate change mitigation. [The brochure]

 

Integrating FSC Certification In REDD+ Projects: Guidelines for Project Developers

(University of Padova, November 2010)

Written by Lucio Brotto and colleagues, this document outlines a set of concepts, guidelines and procedures for integrating the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) forest management certification with REDD+ projects. It provides an overview of the historical role of FSC in the forest-carbon market, outlines the timeline of REDD+ projects in relation to FSC certification, and identifies management tools to overcome the constraints encountered in organizing REDD+ projects.

 

What is a REDD+ Pilot?: A Preliminary Typology Based on Early Actions in Indonesia

(CIFOR, November 2010)

This policy brief provides an overview of the 17 REDD+ pilots under development in Indonesia by mid-2009. It examines the degree of spatial planning and heterogeneity of forest classification, strategies for long-term claims to carbon and the driver and agent of deforestation and degradation. The brief recommends that new approaches that allow participation of smallholders be explored, and calls for research to assess the success of outcomes of pilot types. [The policy brief]

 

Pathways for Implementing REDD+: Experiences from Carbon Markets and Communities

(UNEP Risø Centre, November 2010)

The latest volume of Carbon Markets Perspectives series contains articles on experiences with carbon markets, the future role of the carbon market and the private sector in scaling up investments for REDD+ (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, and the role of conservation, sustainable use of forests and enhancement of carbon stocks), and engaging communities. The authors make suggestions for a future international REDD+ regime, including on: its architecture and underlying principles; measuring, reporting and verification (MRV); private sector involvement; the rights of indigenous people and local communities; and biodiversity conservation and environmental integrity. [The document]

 

Developing Effective Forest Policy

(FAO, October 2010)

This document aims to support countries in planning and conducting forest policy development processes. It highlights lessons learned from country experiences since the publication of FAO's Guidelines for Forest Policy Formulation in 1987. It reviews steps in creating, adopting and implementing national forest policy. [The document]

 

Enriching Forest Biodiversity: Forest Europe is Implementing Convention on Biological Diversity Provisions

(FOREST EUROPE, October 2010)

FOREST EUROPE (the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe) has published a report on how it has implemented provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Europe. It presents results of an assessment undertaken by FOREST EUROPE, outlining how FOREST EUROPE has addressed the objectives of the CBD's Extended Programme of Work on Forest Biodiversity. The report highlights activities on the ecosystem approach, cross-sectoral integration, protected areas, forest law enforcement and related trade, and sustainable use and benefit sharing. [The report]

 

National Capacity Self-Assessments: Results and Lessons Learned for Global Environmental Sustainability

(UNDP, 2010)

This report by Jean-Joseph Bellamy and Kevin Hill synthesizes the results of the National Capacity Self-Assessment (NCSA) programme, launched in January 2000, to deepen knowledge on countries' foundational capacities to meet global environmental objectives. The programme focused on assessing the key individual, organizational and systemic capacities needed to sustain achievements that satisfy the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), collectively known as the Rio Conventions, and other multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs). The exercise also sought to develop an understanding of the key drivers of, and barriers to, sustained environmental protection and conservation, with particular reference to meeting and sustaining objectives codified within the Rio Conventions. [The report]

 

Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Woodfuels

(FAO, September 2010)

This guide presents a selection of criteria and indicators (C&I) for sustainable woodfuel use and sustainable charcoal production. The C&I were derived from existing C&I systems and certification schemes and reviews of social, cultural, environmental and economic considerations of woodfuel usage. They are based on four principles: policies, laws, institutional frameworks and capacity exist and are clear and consistent; human and labor rights are respected, and social and cultural values are maintained or enhanced; economic sustainability is ensured; and landscape and site productivity and environmental values are sustained. [The guide]

 

Forests and Society – Responding to Global Drivers of Change

(IUFRO, September 2010)

This publication of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations – Special Project on World Forests, Society and Environment (IUFRO-WFSE), written by Gerardo Mery and others, focuses on identifying the main global drivers of change and their direct and indirect effects on forests, forestry and forest-dependent people. It proposes ways to reduce the adverse effects of these drivers and to take advantage of the benefits and opportunities they might bring. [The publication]

 

The Forgotten Billion: MDG Achievement in the Drylands

(UNCCD and UNDP, 2010)

The UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) released this report during the 2010 MDG Summit. The report maps the 'forgotten billion' drylands inhabitants from a natural endowments perspective. It suggests that, to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set for 2015, a strong coalition pursing five drylands-focused policy approaches will be required. These approaches are: country-led development and effective governance addressing the specific needs and conditions of drylands populations; inclusive and pro-poor economic growth policies that improve farming systems and soil productivity; climate adaptation to help small holder farmers manage risk and reduce climate-driven shocks; tailored and targeted interventions for social assistance; and investment in education, health and basic services. [The report]

 

National Capacity Self-Assessments: Results and Lessons Learned for Global Environmental Sustainability

(UNDP, 2010)

This report by Jean-Joseph Bellamy and Kevin Hill synthesizes the results of the National Capacity Self-Assessment (NCSA) programme, launched in January 2000, to deepen knowledge on countries' foundational capacities to meet global environmental objectives. The programme focused on assessing the key individual, organizational and systemic capacities needed to sustain achievements that satisfy the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), collectively known as the Rio Conventions, and other multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs). The exercise also sought to develop an understanding of the key drivers of, and barriers to, sustained environmental protection and conservation, with particular reference to meeting and sustaining objectives codified within the Rio Conventions. [The report]

 

European Atlas of Soil Biodiversity

(EC Joint Research Centre, September 2010)

This Atlas encompasses the first-ever threat map for soil biodiversity covering the majority of EU Member States. It does not present the actual level of soil biodiversity; rather it points to the potential risk of a decline in biodiversity. The atlas aims to: support policies at the EU level; promote the activities related to soil protection and soil biodiversity; and bring soil biodiversity into policy focus by identifying needs for policy and research strategies aimed at soil protection and enhancement of biodiversity. Key contributions came from various departments of the European Commission as well as partners from industry, academia and international organizations, including the Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. [The atlas]

 

ETFRN News 51: Biodiversity Conservation in Certified Forests

(European Tropical Forest Research Network, September 2010)

Edited by Douglas Sheil, Francis Putz and Roderick Zagt, this volume includes 33 articles by a wide variety of authors involved in certification and/or the conservation of tropical forest biodiversity. Providing their views on whether certification is a good conservation strategy for tropical forests, the authors report on practical experiences from concessions and community forests, on the challenges of monitoring biodiversity, high conservation value forests and other topics. The evidence indicates that certification has helped to conserve tropical forest biodiversity but the extent of both the evidence and the implied conservation benefits remain limited. In spite of these uncertainties, certification, and therefore regulated timber harvest, remains a viable strategy in the fight against biodiversity loss in tropical forests. [The publication]

 

Land and Natural Disasters: Guidance for Practitioners

(UNHABITAT, the Global Land Tool Network (GLTN), FAO, August 2010)

These guidelines provide a holistic approach to addressing land issues from the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster through early recovery and reconstruction phases. It is targeted at humanitarians and land professionals, as well as government officials. It takes an inter-disciplinary approach to land, to link humanitarian emergency relief and early recovery perspectives. The guidelines provide short cases on bringing land issues into the post-disaster recovery process, tools and other references relevant to support rapid yet sustainable recovery of human settlements following a natural disaster.  [The guidelines]

 

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD): A Casebook of On-The-Ground Experience

(The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International and Wildlife Conservation Society, 2010)

This casebook draws on four experiences in Bolivia, Madagascar and Indonesia that examine the principal aspects of demonstrating REDD credibility, such as baselines and additionality, measuring and monitoring, leakage and impermanence. It states that the projects reviewed demonstrate that REDD can produce credible carbon benefits, often with positive effects on local people and biodiversity. [The casebook]

 

Climate Change Impacts on African Forests and People

(IUFRO, August 2010)

In this IUFRO Occasional Paper, lead author Chris Eastaugh and others review the impacts of climate change on the livelihoods of millions of forest-dependent people in Africa. They conclude that the development and implementation of adaptation measures as part of sustainable forest management need to be underpinned by new modes of governance that are sensitive to context, take a broad view of community needs, and respond quickly to policy learning, in order to improve the adaptive capacity of communities and reduce their vulnerability to climate change impacts. [The paper]

 

Making the Most of Agricultural Investment: A Survey of Business Models that Provide Opportunities for Smallholders

(IFAD, FAO, Swiss Agency for Development, July 2010)

This report is based on a joint survey by the International Fund for Agricultural Development, (IFAD), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Swiss Agency for Development (SDC) on business models that provide opportunities for smallholders. It examines a range of business models that can be used to structure agricultural investments in lower and middle-income countries, and that provide an alternative to large-scale land acquisitions. The report focuses on models for structuring agricultural investments. [The report]

 

Count Me In: Surveying for Tenure Security and Urban Land Management

(UN-HABITAT, July 2010)

This report focuses on participatory planning and on engaging urban poor communities in upgrading initiatives. The report describes how participatory enumerations, a surveying method used to gain better knowledge of the needs and priorities of the community, can be applied. It presents and analyzes existing and novel applications of participatory enumerations to enhance tenure security and improve urban land management in various country cases such as Brazil, East Timor, Ethiopia, Kenya, Namibia, Philippines, Somalia and Thailand. [The report]

 

Land Inventory in Botswana: Processes and Lessons

(UN-HABITAT, July 2010)

This report on the Botswana Tribal Land Information and Management Systems focuses on the use of modern digital technology. It notes that the decentralization of land administration can bring benefits for the poor. The report documents challenges, opportunities, processes and lessons learned for implementing a successful land inventory. It recommends that countries planning to embark on a land inventory process should adapt to their respective jurisdictions, while taking into account the political, economic, technological, socio-cultural and institutional arrangements. [The report]

 

Planted Forests in Sustainable Forest Management: A Statement of Principles

(FAO, 2010)

This report takes stock of the prominent role planted forests play in the global supply of wood, environmental protection and livelihood support in rural areas. It summarizes principles for responsible management of planted forests that have been developed through a two-year multi-stakeholder process. [The report]

 

Does the Opportunity Cost Approach Indicate the Real Cost of REDD+?

(Rights and Resources Initiative, 2010)

This paper focuses on the contextual issues influencing the adequacy and appropriateness of opportunity cost as a proxy for payments required to get successful REDD+, and notes that resolving them can be expensive and time consuming. [The paper]

 

REDD+ in Dryland Forests: Issues and Prospects for Pro-poor REDD in the Miombo Woodlands of Southern Africa

(IIED, 2010)

Three country case studies covering Zambia, Mozambique and Namibia were used to draw lessons from community-based natural resources management that could inform pro-poor REDD as well as provide the likely opportunity costs of REDD+. [The report]

 

UN-REDD June Newsletter

(UN-REDD, June 2010)

This issue of the UN-REDD Newsletter highlights, among other stories, the UN-REDD Programme's participation in the climate talks which took place in Bonn, Germany, in early June, including the hosting of a side-event on measuring, reporting and verification (MRV) and monitoring systems. The Newsletter reports on a two-day workshop to set up a common understanding and framework for monitoring governance safeguards for REDD+, which was co-hosted with Chatham House. UN-REDD also participated at a conference in Kigali, Rwanda, which had a strong focus on REDD+ and moving towards a green economy. [UN-REDD June newsletter]

 

SMALLWOOD 2010: BRIDGES, BUSINESS, AND BIOMASS

(IUFRO, June 2010)

The latest in the series of Scientific Summaries from the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) highlights the potential utilization options for small-diameter and underutilized trees, addressed in a recent conference, "Smallwood 2010." It includes a focus on timber bridges and potential opportunities for using small-diameter material in bridge applications. An evening session was dedicated to networking. The scientific summary.

 

REALIZING RIGHTS, PROTECTING FORESTS: AN ALTERNATIVE VISION FOR REDUCING DEFORESTATION

(Accra Caucus on Forests and Climate Change, June 2010)
In this report, from the Accra Caucus on Forests and Climate Change, draws from case studies to propose an alternative vision for achieving the objective of reducing deforestation, arguing for policies and actions that would tackle the drivers of deforestation, rather than focusing exclusively on carbon. The report.

 

UN-REDD MAY 2010 NEWSLETTER

(UN-REDD, May 2010)

The UN-REDD Programme has released its May 2010 Newsletter, which highlights many recent activities and publications on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, conservation, sustainable forest management and enhancement of carbon stocks (REDD+). The newsletter.

 

MAKING AFRICAN FORESTS FIT FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

(IUFRO, May 2010)

This policy brief from the Global Forest Expert Panel and the International Union of Forest Research Organization (IUFRO) Special Programme for Developing Countries aims to contribute to the development of effective adaptation strategies in Africa and facilitate related international efforts. The brief.

 

MCPFE-FOREST EUROPE NEWSLETTER

(FOREST EUROPE, May 2010)

The Newsletter of the Liaison Unit Oslo includes: information on the preparations for the next FOREST EUROPE Ministerial Conference; updates on the development of a non-paper on options for a legally binding agreement on European forests; the reason for changing the brand name from MCPFE to FOREST EUROPE; and other FOREST EUROPE activities, including those contributing to the International Year of Biodiversity 2010. The newsletter.

 

WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT: HANDBOOK FOR TRAINERS

(FAO, Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, May 2010)

This handbook, which targets field trainers and instructors including at the community level, stresses new holistic approaches to fire management that incorporate local ecology and communities. The handbook.

 

HIDDEN FORESTRY REVEALED: CHARACTERISTICS, CONSTRAINTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM FOREST ENTERPRISES IN GHANA

(IIED, March 2010)

This report reviews the status of small and medium forest enterprises (SMFEs) in Ghana, providing information on the various issues confronting the sub-sector and identifying mechanisms for harnessing the potential of SMFEs to effectively contribute to poverty reduction and sustainable forest management in Ghana. The report.

 

WATER AND CEREALS IN DRYLANDS

(FAO, 2010)

This volume discusses drylands and their uses, with an emphasis on cereal production. It considers the roles of livestock, placing the various technologies and practices that enhance water availability to crops in drylands in their technical, agro-ecological and socioeconomic perspective. The volume.

 

REDD, FOREST GOVERNANCE AND RURAL LIVELIHOODS: THE EMERGING AGENDA

(CIFOR, April 2010)

Edited by Oliver Springate-Baginski and Eva Wollenbergon, this report addresses how reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) initiatives are likely to interact with the interests of local communities and indigenous groups. Chapters examine the UNFCCC REDD negotiations and lessons from past experiences with forest management and land tenure, payments for environmental services, the Clean Development Mechanism and voluntary carbon projects. Experiences are also presented based on pilot REDD projects and REDD readiness in Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Tanzania, Madagascar and Nepal. The report.

 

THE PROS AND CONS OF PROCUREMENT

(ITTO, April 2010)

Written by Markku Simula and others, this volume of ITTO's technical series reviews developments and progress in timber-procurement policies as tools for promoting the sustainable management of tropical forests. It also includes recommendations on how to enhance the positive impacts of timber procurement policies and mitigate their adverse effects on tropical timber producing countries. The report.

 

REDD-PLUS & BIODIVERSITY E-NEWSLETTER

(CBD, April 2010)

The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has published its ninth volume of the "REDD-plus & Biodiversity e-Newsletter." Aiming to inform CBD national focal points and partners about biodiversity aspects related to reducing emission from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, conservation, sustainable forest management and enhancement of forest carbon stocks (REDD+), this volume highlights a new collaboration between the CBD and the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), and several projects and publications related to REDD+. The e-Newsletter.

 

FOREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AND GOVERNANCE AND FOREST PRACTICES IN GUYANA

(CIFOR, 2009)

Stemming from the significance of effective and legitimate governance of forest resources to achieving REDD, this study assesses forests law enforcement and governance and forest practices in Guyana. The report concludes that Guyana has developed a legal system for forest management, and identifies weaknesses in the areas of governance, monitoring, land tenure and maximizing the traditional uses of forest resources. The study.

 

REVIEW OF REDD READINESS-PREPARATION PROPOSALS AND JOINT PROGRAMME DOCUMENTS

(Global Witness, March 2010)

This assessment of the World Bank's Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) Readiness-Preparation Proposals (R-PPs) and Joint Program Documents (JPDs) of the UN-REDD Programme, was written by Global Witness, the civil society representative to the UN-REDD Policy Board. A key finding of the assessment is the need for more guidance on non-carbon monitoring from the FCPF, the UN-REDD Programme, and the international community. Thehttp://iisdrs.org/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gifassessment.

 

THIRD SILVA MEDITERRANEA NEWSLETTER

(FAO, April 2010)

Silva Mediterranea, a statutory body of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization covering the Mediterranean region, released its third Newsletter, which presents activities, studies and projects on adaptation of forests to climate change across the Mediterranean. http://iisdrs.org/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gifThis Newsletter describes current projects on: a regional analysis of climate change impacts and possible mitigation and adaptation actions in the forestry sector of the Near East; strengthening conservation and management of forest genetic resources for adaptation of Mediterranean forests to environmental changes; and adapting forest policy conditions to climate change in the Mediterranean Middle East and North Africa. April 2010 newsletter.

 

FOREST LAW COMPLIANCE AND GOVERNANCE IN TROPICAL COUNTRIES

(ITTO and FAO, March 2010)

Written by Jurgen Blaser, this report summarizes the main outcomes and lessons learned from five regional workshops on forest law compliance and governance conducted jointly by FAO and ITTO throughout the tropics. Based on the outputs of the workshops, the report makes a number of region-by-region recommendations and draws some general conclusions. The report.

 

WATER, WETLANDS AND FORESTS: A REVIEW OF ECOLOGICAL, ECONOMIC AND POLICY LINKAGES

(CBD Technical Series No. 47, March 2010)

This report of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was produced in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and other partners. It aims to foster better awareness of the crucial role that forests and wetlands play in sustaining the availability and quality of water critical for human well-being. Some of the key messages of the report include: about a third of the world's largest cities obtain a significant portion of their drinking-water supply directly from forested protected areas; water, wetlands and forests interact to produce healthy and productive ecosystems; forest and wetland mismanagement can adversely impact water quality and biodiversity; and forests regulate soil erosion and pollution, preventing desertification and salinization. The report.

 

IMPLICATIONS OF THE REDD NEGOTIATIONS FOR FOREST RESTORATION

(UNEP-WCMC, January 2010)

This briefing provides an update on negotiations under the UNFCCC and the implications of reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD) for forest restoration. It calls for conservation professionals to provide strong feedback if national negotiating positions and REDD+ policy frameworks prove prejudicial to biodiversity conservation, and provides guidance on assessing the viability of forest restoration proposals under REDD+. The briefing.

 

INCENTIVE AND MARKET-BASED MECHANISMS TO PREVENT LAND DEGRADATION: FRAMEWORK AND METHODOLOGY FOR APPLICABILITY

(Global Mechanism (GM) and Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE), 2010)
This paper is part of the GM's response to the Ten-year Strategy (2008-2018) of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, in which country Parties request the GM to identify and explore innovative finance, including market-based mechanisms. The paper identifies 14 incentive and market-based mechanisms that encourage land users to adopt sustainable land management (SLM) practices. It also describes the factors that influence the applicability of each of the mechanisms in a country context and provides a methodology to assist countries in identifying the most appropriate mechanisms. The paper.

 

REDD-PLUS & BIODIVERSITY E-NEWSLETTER, VOL. 8

(CBD Secretariat, February 2010)

This e-newsletter reviews recent publications of relevance to reduced emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) and biodiversity, and includes a call for posters to the fourteenth meeting of the CBD Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA), to be held from 10-21 May 2010, in Nairobi, Kenya. The e-newsletter.

 

EU FLEGT NEWSLETTER

(European Forest Institute, March 2010)

This newsletter provides updates on common efforts of the European Union (EU) and its partner countries and institutions to combat illegal logging and to implement the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan. It also reviews achievements in Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) negotiations between the EU and different timber exporting countries, and addresses FLEGT in the context of policy debates. The newsletter.

 

LEGAL FRAMEWORKS FOR REDD: DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL

(IUCN, December 2009)

The IUCN Environmental Law Centre has completed a comprehensive study on national legal frameworks for REDD. Using case studies from Brazil, Cameroon, Guyana and Papua New Guinea, the report identifies main themes for ensuring successful REDD legal regimes and elaborates relevant legal and policy considerations with regard to each. The study.

 

DESIGN OF A REDD COMPLIANT BENEFIT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR VIET NAM

(UN-REDD Programme, January 2010)

The UN-REDD Programme and the Viet Nam Department of Forestry have produced a study on the requirements for a REDD+- compliant benefit distribution system in Viet Nam. The study identifies constraints that need to be addressed in order to create such a system and outlines policy recommendations to address them. The study.

 

BRIDGING THE INFORMATION GAP: COMBATING ILLEGAL LOGGING IN INDONESIA

(World Resources Institute, February 2010)

Written by David W. Brown and Fred Stolle, this "Forest Note" from the World Resources Institute puts forward a systematic approach to analyzing the Indonesian forestry sector to identify which forest laws and regulations are being disobeyed and where. This note seeks to provide information for a more informed dialogue on the sources of threats to Indonesia's forests and what can be done to remove them. The note.

 

TROPICAL FOREST UPDATE: OWNING AFRICA'S FORESTS

(ITTO, February 2010)

The International Tropical Timber Organization has published a special edition of its newsletter, Tropical Forest Update, reporting on the International Conference on Forest Tenure, Governance and Enterprise: New Opportunities for Central and West Africa, held in May 2009, in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The newsletter.

 

UK GOVERNMENT TIMBER PROCUREMENT POLICY: DEFINITION OF LEGAL AND SUSTAINABLE

(Central Point of Expertise on Timber, January 2010)

The Fourth Edition of the UK Government timber procurement policy sets out the new social criteria defining legal and sustainable timber. All Government procurement contracts for timber products from 1 April 2010, will require that the management of the forest must have full regard for the interests of indigenous peoples, local communities and forest workers, specifically referring to tenure and use rights, means of resolving grievances and disputes, safeguarding the basic labor, and health and safety rights of forest workers as an integral part of the sustainability definition. The document.

 

IUFRO NEWS

(IUFRO, January 2010)

This newsletter of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) reports on: the Asia and the Pacific Forest Products Workshop on Green Technologies and Products for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation; the activities of IUFRO at the UNFCCC COP15 in Copenhagen; and the first meeting of the newly established IUFRO-led Expert Panel on the International Forest. The newsletter.

 

THE END OF THE HINTERLAND: FORESTS, CONFLICT AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(Rights and Resources, January 2010)

This report takes stock of the current status of forest rights and tenure globally in light of the increased attention and investment in forests as they are integrated into global carbon markets and politics. The report.

 

UN-REDD PROGRAMME NEWSLETTER

(UN-REDD, January 2010)

The fifth issue of the UN-REDD Programme Newsletter provides an overview of events surrounding the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference related to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD), and includes articles on Forests Day 3, moving forward on monitoring, verification and reporting (MRV), and high school education programmes on REDD. Also featured in the Newsletter is a commentary by Markku Simula on the lack of attention paid to forest degradation in REDD+. The newsletter.

 

CHAINSAW MILLING IN GHANA - CONTEXT, DRIVERS AND IMPACTS

(Tropenbos International, 2010)

This synthesis report examines the evolution of the policy, legal and institutional framework of chainsaw milling in Ghana. It provides insights into the social, political, legal and economic factors that drive chainsaw milling, a practice banned in Ghana since 1998 but continuing to supply Ghana's domestic lumber needs. Discussions on chainsaw milling have become an important part of the EU-Ghana Voluntary Partnership Agreement. The publication.

 

REDD REALITIES: HOW STRATEGIES TO REDUCE EMISSIONS FROM DEFORESTATION AND FOREST DEGRADATION COULD IMPACT ON BIODIVERSITY AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

(Global Forest Coalition, December 2009)

Written by Ronnie Hall and Simone Lovera, this report addresses the question: how does the theoretical success of REDD work out on the ground, in places where legislation on biodiversity is weak, and where safeguards to protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples hardly exist? The report.

 

EFFECTS OF FOREST CERTIFICATION ON BIODIVERSITY

(Tropenbos International, January 2010)

Written by Marijke van Kuijk, Francis E. Putz and Roderick Zagt, this literature review evaluates the effects of forest certification on the biodiversity of temperate, boreal and tropical forests, by comparing forest management on biodiversity in certified and non-certified, conventionally managed forests worldwide. It states that good forest management practices associated with forest certification appear to benefit biodiversity, but notes the limited amount of direct and quantitative evidence available. The review.

 

MADAGASCAR CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT

(Madagascar Wildlife Conservation, December 2009)

The latest issue of the Madagascar Conservation and Development Journal includes articles on illegal logging of rosewood in Madagascar, alternative business models for forest-dependent communities in Africa, and recent developments in reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) globally and in Madagascar. The issue.


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recently published documents and online resources,
send a message to
Diego Noguera, IISD

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