Dear Readers,

This month, the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) released Seeing People Through The Trees, a report that argues that scaling up efforts to recognize and strengthen forest communities’ property and access rights is essential for social and economic development in rural areas, to reduce deforestation and poverty, and to mitigate conflict. In the Commentaries of the Month, we feature two perspectives on this important document. RECOFTC is a founding member and the Asia focal point for RRI.

July also saw the launch of two other important reports that similarly argue that securing local people’s rights and reforming governance are essential steps if global goals for poverty reduction and sustainable forest management are to be met. On a related note, a number of initiatives that also have significant implications for community forestry were also put into action over the last month. All of these are highlighted in Updates From the International Community and Publications.

We appreciate the opportunity to share with you news related to community forestry, and certainly welcome feedback and exchange. Please send your updates and areas of interest to julian@recoftc.org.

The Editor

TABLE OF CONTENTS

COMMENTARIES OF THE MONTH

Poverty, Conflict, and Climate Change in the Forest: Scaling Up Rights Recognition is Part of the Solution

Beyond Forests and Forestry: Accounting for Alternative Rural Aspirations

WHAT WE ARE READING

Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Take Hold and Others Come Unstuck

NEWS FROM THE PRESS

1. Armenia: Planting a Future: ATP Builds Foundation for Self-Sustaining Forests

2. Bangladesh: Indigenous People Should Get to Manage Forest

3. China: China to Push Forward Household Contract System for Collective Forest Land

4. India: Indian Court Reserves Judgement on Vedanta Mining

(Related) India: Indian Mountain Tribe Battles British Mining Giant

5. Indonesia: Taking a New Look at Our Forests (opinion)

6. Pakistan: Federal Government to Provide 3 Billion Rupees for North-West Frontier Province Forestry Projects

7. The Philippines: DENR to Launch Program for Forest Dwellers

UPDATES FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

1. First Countries Named to Benefit From Forest Carbon Partnership Facility

2. IIED Publish Report on Proposed Global Forest Partnership

3. Macquarie Group and FFI Form Carbon Forest Task Force

PUBLICATIONS

1. Nepal’s Community Forestry Funds: Do They Benefit the Poor?

2. Participatory Monitoring in Tropical Forest Management: A Review of Tools, Concepts, and Lessons Learned