Dear Readers, Happy New Year to all! 2010 has begun, and while we’re hoping that the International Year of Biodiversity will also become the international year of global climate treaties, it seems individual countries and organizations will be heeding the call to action themselves in combating climate change. One key highlight at COP 15 was the recognition of forest communities as fundamental to REDD’s success, as evidenced in several keynote speeches at Forest Day 3. In this month's commentary, RECOFTC staff reflect on the increasing relevance of community forestry in international discussion. Also in the news this month, recent Hollywood blockbuster Avatar has re-ignited discussions over indigenous peoples and natural resource conflict, as many note that this fictional and visually sensational film reflects reality more than we care to admit. We’d also like to make 2010 a year of useful news and updates to our readers. Please send items you would like featured via email to erica.pohnan@recoftc.org. Erica Pohnan, Editor
TABLE OF CONTENTS
COMMENTARY OF THE MONTH Interest in Community Forestry - Stronger Than Ever? NEWS FROM THE PRESS 1. Bhutan: Climatic Cracks of Doom Surface in Green Bhutan 2. Cambodia: Locals Want More Say in Resource Development 3. China: Forestland Use Right Reforms are Benefiting Forest Farmers 4. India: Tribal Village First to Get Rights Over its Forests 5. Indonesia: Village’s Environmental Dilemma Weighs on the World 6. International: Forest Communities Key to Climate Fight 7. International: The Real Avatar Story – Indigenous People Fight to Save Forest Homes from Corporate Exploitation 8. Malaysia: Damming Borneo’s Tribal Lands 9. Nepalese Delegate Says REDD Not Enough 10. Vietnam: Poverty Fight Starts to Work UPDATES FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY 1. After COP 15: What Happens Next? 2. Forest Day 3 Calls for Action on REDD and Forest Communities 3. New Information System to Help Vietnam Better Manage Forests 4. UNFF and CBD Partner on Sustainable Forest Management 5. Videos on Carbon Trading in Papua New Guinea 6. World Bank Team Blogs on Conflict and Development PUBLICATIONS 1. Challenges of Environmental Mainstreaming: Experience of Integrating Environment into Development Institutions and Decisions 2. Community-based Adaptation to Climate Change 3. Ethno-political Ecology of Social Exclusion: A Discourse in Community Forestry of Nepal 4. Incentives+: How can REDD Improve Well-being in Forest Communities? 5. From Needs to Rights: Lessons Learned from Rights Based Approaches 6. The Little Climate Finance Book 7. Perceptions on Fairness and Efficiency of the REDD Value Chain 8. Red Books for Greener Trees: Strengthening Community Forestry in Vietnam EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES 1. International Training Event: Third Executive Forest Policy Short Course – Enhancing Forest Policy in the Greater Mekong Sub-region 2. Call for Papers: Taking Stock of Smallholder and Community Forestry 3. Call for Abstracts: International Workshop on Collective Action, Property Rights, and Conflict in Natural Resources Management 4. Call for Proposals: Research on Culture and Rights in Thailand 5. International Conference: Forest-People Interaction 6. Call for Proposals: Ecosystem Services for Poverty Alleviation Research 7. Training Course: Low-cost Soil and Water Conservation Techniques and Watershed Management Activities JOB OPPORTUNITIES 1. Researcher – Forest Partnerships, IIED 2. Forestry Officers – Global Forest Resources Assessment, FAO 3. Director of Social Development, Conservation International 4. Research Grants, Center for Tropical Forest Science 5. Grants, Community-based Adaptation Activities NETWORK OF THE MONTH The Indigenous Portal FROM RECOFTC 1. Training: First REDD ToT Training Held in Nepal 2. Publications: Unlocking Climate Change Mitigation in Regional Languages
COMMENTARY OF THE MONTH
Interest in Community Forestry - Stronger Than Ever? Provided by RECOFTC Staff From a forestry perspective, the last decade ended with two big bangs, COP 15 in Copenhagen and the 13th World Forestry Congress (WFC) in Buenos Aires. Both events gave us all reason to pause and contemplate the global state of forestry. In a recently released reflection: World Forestry at the Crossroads: Going it Alone, or Joining with Others? Herman Savenije and Kees van Dijk did an excellent job of distilling the WFC's myriad discussions into10 key forestry themes and trends. The authors touched upon many key issues, but in visiting community forestry they posed the following question: "What has happened to the interest in community forestry and social forestry?" Somewhat provocatively they concluded: For many years now, participation by local populations in forest management in the form of community forestry and social forestry was strongly promoted as the way to sustainable forest management. Although that interest has not actually disappeared, it no longer has an important place in discussion. Why such a negative conclusion? For those of us working to further community forestry, our optimism has never been higher. There is interest, and plenty of it! So, exactly what discussions do the authors consider important? Whose interest do they mean? We acknowledge that the views of forest-dependent people, those with the greatest stake in the future of their local forests, are those least likely to be heard at international summits such as the WFC. That's why RECOFTC brought Voices from the Forest to a WFC side session in Argentina. This compelling series of short films certainly shows no lack of interest from the local foresters whose experience and views are so powerfully presented. 450 million forest-dependent people live in the Asia-Pacific region. Every day, local newspapers feature their stories and calls for help to recognize, realize and retain their rights to live in, use and manage forests. Interest is not declining. If anything, it has increased steeply, along with the forest area under their control. Likewise, there is no shortage of interest from international organizations, NGOs, research institutes, conservation-focused bodies, and global coalitions. Have a look at the work of organizations such as IIED, WWF, IUCN, RRI, and CIFOR who continue to work actively on engaging local people in forest management. The lack of interest cannot be from regional governments either as they work together to improve and expand community forestry through the recently established ASEAN Social Forestry Network. Many countries in Asia-Pacific have formulated and are implementing policies to support a variety of forms of community forestry on the ground. Nepal remains the prime example, where over 30 years of community forestry has restored the health of degraded forests. Today 33% of the population manages 1.25 million hectares, or 35% of Nepal's forest resources. Recent examples also exist, and demonstrate the modern relevance of community forestry. The Cambodian Government's guidelines on community forestry or Prakas are only three years old, yet have already helped more than 280 communities bring over 220,000 hectares under community control. In Vietnam, the Government's Forest Protection and Development Law of 2004 created Vietnam's first legal framework for community forest management. Just last year, a national community forestry pilot project was successfully completed, transferring 17,000 hectares of natural forests to community management. And how about the private sector? Socially responsible forestry increasingly offers marketing advantages to the private sector, and we see their interest in purchasing wood, carbon and NTFP's from locally-owned cooperatives and individuals. They also have a stake in the promotion of community forestry, and often work closely with individual farmers to produce the raw materials that are in such high demand. Visit some provinces in eastern Thailand and central Vietnam and you will be amazed by the number of smallholder plantations dotting the landscape. Finally, what about funding agencies? The authors may have been referring to fashions in the international aid agenda when they wondered "What led to community forestry giving way to climate, energy, and the legality of chains?" Although the donor community was the great champion of community forestry in the past, some might say they have since shifted their priorities to the climate change arena.   But has community forestry really "given way" to climate change? Not at all. In fact, the fates of both are now inexorably linked. In this most populous of regions, the engagement of forest-dependent people is vital for the success of REDD and other such mechanisms. Indeed, RECOFTC believes that local people hold the key to successful climate change mitigation and adaptation interventions. Others recognize this also. Community forestry is central to the design of PACT-Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey REDD pilot project. The Kyoto - Think Global Act Local Project has proven the cost-effectiveness of mobilizing communities to collect accurate forestry data that will be needed for monitoring purposes for REDD. Community forestry is rapidly gaining recognition in international fora as a key ingredient for successful climate change mitigation and adaptation measures. Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland even echoed this point during her opening plenary address at Forest Day 3: "Respecting rights and involving affected stakeholders is a moral and formal obligation, and is in fact also the ONLY WAY TO MAKE REDD+ WORK." Elinor Ostrom, who only last year won the Nobel prize in economics, also spoke out against the dangers of a top-down approach to REDD: "Far more effective are approaches that gain the trust of forest communities, respect their rights, and involve them in forest use and monitoring, practices that are positively associated with maintenance of forest density." Only one year ago, the critical contribution local people can make in reducing deforestation and degradation through their knowledge and skills in sustainable forest management was completely overlooked in the global REDD negotiations. Today, the picture is completely different. So, to answer the authors’ question from an Asia-Pacific perspective, the interest in community forestry is strong, healthy and continues to grow. Not only does it have an important place in the discussion, it is now a completely mainstream message. ***Disclaimer*** These Viewpoints represent the opinions of the writers and do not necessarily reflect opinions of RECOFTC.
NEWS FROM THE PRESS
1. Bhutan: Climatic Cracks of Doom Surface in Green Bhutan Reuters, 17 December 2009 Melting glaciers from the Himalayas threaten to flood the Punakha valley in Bhutan, potentially displacing up to 10% of Bhutan’s population and damaging ancient Buddhist relics and scriptures. Bhutan will be heavily impacted by climate change, yet has little claim to adaptation funds or compensation due to its own successful policies that have increased forest cover from 60 to 72 percent and put the country on the way to being carbon neutral. Full text Back to TOC 2. Cambodia: Locals Want More Say in Resource Development VoA News, 23 December 2009 Local communities, civic groups, media, and even law enforcement often have little opportunity to get involved in the management of timber, oil, minerals, and other natural resources. This article is based on a number of VoA interviews with civil society representatives in Cambodia about their struggle to make their voices heard in decision-making. Full text Back to TOC 3. China: Forestland Use Right Reforms are Benefiting Forest Farmers Beijing Review, 21 December 2009 In November 2009, the China Forest Exchange was established as a platform through which farmers can sell or exchange forest land use-rights. Signs indicate this system is allowing farmers to profit while encouraging greater efficiency, as contractors place more emphasis on tree planting and nurseries in order to obtain maximum value from their land. Full text Back to TOC 4. India: Tribal Village First to Get Rights Over its Forests OneWorld South Asia, 24 December 2009 The Menha Lekha village in western India has been granted the right to cultivate and manage its nearby forest. They are the first community to be awarded these rights under the 2006 Forest Rights Act, following nearly a decade of effort to protect their forest from commercial logging. Villagers are now considering how to use their new rights to produce non-timber forest products for income generation. Full text Indian Express coverage Back to TOC 5. Indonesia: Village’s Environmental Dilemma Weighs on the World Los Angeles Times, 13 December 2009 The forests of Teluk Meranti, a village in Sumatra, are at the center of a battle between logging companies, environmental activists, and foreign diplomats. The villagers will soon vote on whether to accept a land-use deal with a Singapore-based firm that wants to convert 1.7 million acres of forest into an acacia tree plantation. They are torn between the promises of the company and warnings from environmental organizations, trying to sway their final decision. Full text Back to TOC 6. International: Forest Communities Key to Climate Fight Reuters, 14 December 2009 Officials and academics agree that safeguards to protect and compensate local communities are key for halting deforestation and forest degradation. Nobel Laureate Elinor Ostrom echoed this point, warning that, “If local people and indigenous people in the developing world are not recognized and assigned clear rights, we could end up with more deforestation.” Full text Ostrom Interview: Sounding Good is Not Enough Back to TOC 7. International: The Real Avatar Story – Indigenous People Fight to Save Forest Homes from Corporate Exploitation Mongabay, 22 December 2009 Although recent blockbuster Avatar may take place on a distant planet, its story of struggle between corporations and indigenous peoples is far from fiction. Unlike the movie, in reality, indigenous tribes often lose these struggles, resulting in the destruction of forests, and indigenous culture and tradition. This article compares Avatar with experiences in Peru, Malaysia, and Ecuador to the point of quoting a head of state referring to indigenous people as “confused savages” – showing how closely Avatar reflects reality. Full text Back to TOC 8. Malaysia: Damming Borneo’s Tribal Lands Jakarta Globe, 27 December 2009 70,000 hectares of jungle in Borneo will disappear under the waters of the Bakun dam in Sarawak state, which will soon be completed. The dam, which has displaced an estimated 15,000 indigenous people from their homes, is not the only one of its kind. Despite the uproar over violation of indigenous rights, 12 more mega-dams are being planned for Malaysian Borneo. Full text Video: Forest loss hits Borneo Communities Back to TOC 9. Nepalese Delegate Says REDD Not Enough CNN, 17 December 2009 In this interview, General Secretary of the Federation of Community Forestry Users Nepal (FECOFUN) Bhola Bhattarai, explains that forest conservation means little without commitment by developed countries to cut emissions. Despite the efforts of Nepalese citizens to address climate change by conserving and managing forests, they will still suffer from its impacts of climate change unless forceful global action is taken. Full text Back to TOC 10. Vietnam: Poverty Fight Starts to Work LookatVietnam, 18 December 2009 The Vietnamese Government’s efforts to combat poverty have helped nearly 100,000 of Vietnam’s poorest people to escape from poverty during the past year. This stems from a Government resolution to reduce poverty in 62 of Vietnam’s poorest districts. Initiated in December 2008, this resolution supported poor people in several ways, such as offering them forest land to grow timber trees, providing guidance to restructure farming practices, and building new houses. Full text Back to TOC
UPDATES FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
1. After COP 15: What Happens Next? Sources: Jakarta Post, Ecosystem Marketplace, Indigenous Portal, December 2009 Was the world being realistic in expecting a substantive outcome at COP 15? As the dust settles, analyses and commentaries on the global climate summit are emerging. They try to explain why Copenhagen happened the way it did, and look forward to speculate what may happen in 2010 as the global community settles the unfinished business of creating a global climate change treaty. Jakarta Post: New Year, New Climate (Re)solutions? Bernarditas Muller: The Copenhagen Discord IDDRI – The Copenhagen Accord: What Happened? World Bank – Forgetting Copenhagen: Poll Results on COP 15’s Outcomes Back to TOC 2. Forest Day 3 Calls for Action on REDD and Forest Communities Sources: CIFOR, Climate-L, December 2009 Close to 1,500 forestry experts, policy makers, and activists attended the CIFOR-organized Forest Day 3 at COP 15. They issued a near-unanimous call for action on REDD and the inclusion of forests in the new climate change regime. Keynote speakers included recent Nobel Laureate Elinor Ostrom and former US President Bill Clinton. The role of communities was stressed strongly, including the importance of integrating communities into the process of developing and implementing REDD+. Full text Forest Day 3 Summary Report Climate-L coverage Back to TOC 3. New Information System to Help Vietnam Better Manage Forests Sources: Vietnam News, December 2009 The Government of Vietnam is establishing a forestry information network with support from the Government of Finland and the Trust Fund for Forests. This USD $6.3 million project will contribute to the sustainable management of Vietnam’s forests by designing regulations and procedures for managing, updating, and sharing information between forestry units. It will also establish comprehensive forest databases and conduct data collection and ICT training courses for Government staff. Full text Back to TOC 4. UNFF and CBD Partner on Sustainable Forest Management Sources: Climate-L, December 2009 The respective secretariats of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and UN Forum on Forests (UNFF) have jointly pledged to strengthen collaborative actions to ensure forests are sustainably managed. This two-year partnership came at the requests of national governments party to both CBD and the UNFF, and will result in a program of activities to address biodiversity in forests. Full announcement Back to TOC 5. Videos on Carbon Trading in Papua New Guinea Sources: Aljazeera, SBS News, December 2009 A series of Australian news broadcasts have aired recently which explore the challenges awaiting REDD through the lens of recent events in Papua New Guinea. The videos outline Papua New Guinea’s situation regarding deforestation and efforts to address it through implementing REDD. The second video below contains interviews with local people about their awareness of REDD and carbon trading. Aljazeera: People & Power – Carbon Cowboys SBS News – PNG Climate Woes Continue SBS News – Climate Controversy in PNG Back to TOC 6. World Bank Team Blogs on Conflict and Development Sources: World Bank, December 2009 The World Bank team working on the upcoming World Development Report 2011 Conflict, Security, and Development has developed a blog to debate practical suggestions on how to address conflict and fragility at the local, national, regional, and global levels. Launched in October 2009, the blog has recently featured commentaries and analysis on key issues related to conflict and peace-building in developing countries. Conflict and Development Blog The World Bank maintains a series of blogs, including an East Asia & Pacific forum which focuses on development challenges in the Asia-Pacific region. East Asia & Pacific on the Rise Back to TOC
PUBLICATIONS
1. Challenges of Environmental Mainstreaming: Experience of Integrating Environment into Development Institutions and Decisions Authors: Barry Dalal-Clayton and Steve Bass, IIED, November 2009 This report discusses the challenges of effectively mainstreaming environmental concerns into the decision-making process of institutions responsible for developing and implementing policies. Based on IIED’s experience working with partners in 13 developing countries, it outlines good practices for environmental mainstreaming and highlights crucial factors such as strong leadership, integration, and dialogue. Full PDF Back to TOC 2. Community-based Adaptation to Climate Change Publisher: IIED, December 2009 Community-based adaptation is emerging as a bottom-up alternative to top-down adaptation initiatives. This special edition of Participatory Learning and Action focuses on recent approaches to community-based adaptation, and highlights innovative participatory methods that help communities analyze the causes and effects of climate change, integrate scientific and community knowledge, and plan adaptation measures. Full PDF Back to TOC 3. Ethno-political Ecology of Social Exclusion: A Discourse in Community Forestry of Nepal Authors: Nirmal Kumar BK and Nanda Raj Gywali, 2009 One of the big challenges for community forestry initiatives is to ensure they support the livelihoods of socially marginalized groups, such as women and certain castes. This report examines a case-study from Parbat district in Nepal, and finds that socially excluded groups are also excluded from the management of community forests. It recommends the development of empowerment programs, and clear rules and regulations to ensure improved participation. Full PDF Back to TOC 4. Incentives+: How Can REDD Improve Well-being in Forest Communities? Publisher: CIFOR, December 2009 CIFOR released a number of new publications before and during the COP 15 negotiations, including a briefing that expands on messages from Forest Day 3. The briefing argues that REDD initiatives are more likely to succeed if they address the interests of forest communities and indigenous peoples. It recommends that efforts build on existing instruments, standards, and processes to establish principles for local people’s involvement and well-being. It also advises that incentives to reduce deforestation be balanced across multiple parties other than local communities. Full PDF Other REDD publications from CIFOR: Realizing REDD: National Strategy and Policy Options Emerging REDD+: A Preliminary Survey of Demonstration and Readiness Activities Back to TOC 5. From Needs to Rights: Lessons Learned from Rights Based Approaches Publisher: Rights and Resources Initiative, November 2009 This paper shares lessons learned from a new, rights-based approach to natural resource governance applied in Uganda, Ghana, and Nepal. By drawing from CARE-International field activities, it presents case-studies illustrating how the application and pursuit of procedural rights can provide an important entry point for addressing substantive human rights. Full PDF Back to TOC 6. The Little Climate Finance Book Publisher: Global Canopy Programme, December 2009 The scale of financing needed to tackle climate change is far greater than the current level of commitment from developed countries. As a companion to the Little REDD+ Book, this guide helps stakeholders to understand and compare different proposals for financing climate change mitigation efforts. It compares existing and proposed mechanisms according to three categories: revenue generation, delivery, and institutional arrangements. Read the book Back to TOC 7. Perceptions on Fairness and Efficiency of the REDD Value Chain Publisher: ASB Partnership for Tropical Forest Margins, December 2009 This policy brief examines the application of the Fair and Efficient REDD Value Chain Allocation (FERVA) method in Indonesia and Peru. The value chain refers to the sequence of actions that link global beneficiaries to local actions (i.e. from reducing deforestation to making a verifiable claim for credits). The case-studies demonstrate significant divergence in perceptions of REDD between stakeholders, and a need to balance ‘fairness’ and ‘efficiency.’ Full PDF Back to TOC 8. Red Books for Greener Trees: Strengthening Community Forestry in Vietnam Publisher: RECOFTC, IIED, August 2009 This briefing presents findings from a 2008 Forest Governance Learning Group study on the extent that legal forest rights contribute to the management and protection of local forest resources. It notes that legal title does not automatically guarantee effective forest protection. However, legal title enables communities to protect their rights to forests and entitles them to benefits they would not otherwise have. Full PDF Back to TOC
EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
1. International Training Event: Third Executive Forest Policy Short Course – Enhancing Forest Policy in the Greater Mekong Sub-region RECOFTC, Bangkok, Thailand: 8-19 March 2010 Registration deadline (extended): 31 January 2010 This course has been designed to address current shortcomings in policy analysis, formulation, and review for the Greater Mekong Sub-region. It will focus on strengthening the expertise and skills of people concerned with forest policy processes through: · Analyzing problems and identifying solutions · Identifying current cross-sectoral developments that impact people and forests · Evaluating economic, environmental, and social aspects of forest policy options · Practicing effective communication of solutions, decisions, and opportunities to a wide range of stakeholders  The course is organized under the Asia-Pacific Forest Policy Think Tank by RECOFTC, the FAO-RAP, APFNet, the National Forest Programme Facility, and the USDA Forest Service. For more information, read the course brochure. Download the nomination form. Back to TOC 2. Call for Papers: Taking Stock of Smallholder and Community Forestry Montpellier, France, 24-26 March 2010 Submission deadline: 10 January 2010 While smallholders and communities are recognized for successfully managing forest resources, new global trends such as climate change are affecting local forest management. This international conference will take stock of community forestry options in a rapidly changing world. The conference is jointly organized by CIFOR, the French Research Institute for Development and the French Agricultural Research Center for International Development. For guidelines on presenting papers or posters, click here. For more information about the conference, click here. Back to TOC 3. Call for Abstracts: International Workshop on Collective Action, Property Rights, and Conflict in Natural Resources Management Siem Reap, Cambodia, 28 June – 1 July 2010 Abstract submission deadline: 15 January 2010 The vast majority of victims in violent conflicts over natural resources are civilians who depend directly on natural resources for their livelihoods. This workshop will focus on how resolving problems of allocation and access to natural resources can help to manage or prevent social conflict. Papers submitted should address one or both of the workshop’s themes: · Collective action, property rights, and conflict management · Rebuilding after violent conflict: The role of natural resources management institutions in community building To view the call for abstracts, click here. To learn more about the workshop, click here. Back to TOC 4. Call for Proposals: Research on Culture and Rights in Thailand Submission deadline: 31 January 2010 The Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre is calling for research proposals on the topic of culture and rights in Thailand. Research may address the following issues: · Indigenous rights and issues of management and ownership of natural and cultural resources · Contested claims to “heritage” · Rights to ethnic and cultural identity within the Thai nation-state Proposals are welcome from junior and senior scholars and researchers in all social science disciplines. Priority will be given to Thai nationals, although non-Thai nationals based in Thailand are also welcome to apply. To view the call for proposals, click here. Back to TOC 5. International Conference: Forest-People Interaction Pokhara, Nepal, 7–8 June 2010 Abstract submission deadline: 15 January 2010 This international event aims to disseminate outputs of forestry-based research and share knowledge and ideas around four themes: community-based forest management, biodiversity and environmental services, forest and tree management practices, and forest policy management and governance. This conference is organized by the Institute of Forestry at Tribhuvan University in Nepal, and co-sponsored by DANIDA and the Livelihoods and Forestry Programme. For more information, click here. Back to TOC 6. Call for Proposals: Ecosystems Services for Poverty Alleviation Programme Pokhara, Nepal, 7–8 June 2010 Abstract submission deadline: 15 January 2010 A new research program with funding of £40.5 million is now accepting proposals for research projects that improve understanding of ecosystems in terms of the services they provide for poverty reduction and inclusive growth processes. The program is a collaboration between the Department for International Development (DFID), the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC) For more information, view the call for proposals. Back to TOC 7. Training Course: Low-cost Soil and Water Conservation Techniques and Watershed Management Activities Godavari, Kathmandu, Nepal, 15 Mar – 6 Apr 2010 Registration deadline: 15 February 2010 Mountain watersheds are being damaged by deforestation, land degradation, and infrastructure development. This course will teach participants how to identify conditions of land degradation, and simple, low-cost soil and water conservation measures to address it. Participants should be field-level technicians and extension workers working in the area of natural resource management. This training course is organized by ICIMOD, and will feature field training at sites close to their Demonstration and Training Centre. For more information and to register, click here. Back to TOC
JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES
1. Researcher – Forest Partnerships, IIED Location: London, UK Closing Date: 13 January 2010 IIED is seeking a versatile researcher with significant experience in research, communications, facilitation, and project management. S/he will work on IIED’s Growing Forest Partnerships Initiative to develop a range of outputs, produce publications, organize events, and manage work plans. This position will require extensive travel to work with partners in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Essential qualifications include a relevant postgraduate degree and research or practical work experience in forest and land use practice in developing countries. View the full job announcement. Back to TOC 2. Forestry Officers – Global Forest Resources Assessment, FAO Location: Rome, Italy Closing Date: 10 January 2010 FAO is seeking a Forestry Officer and Senior Forestry Officer to coordinate the production of FAO’s Global Forest Resources Assessment. Responsibilities include coordinating and supervising the collection, processing, and analysis of information on forest resources, their management and uses at national, regional, and global levels. Essential qualifications include advanced degrees in forestry, significant experience with forest resources assessments, and working level knowledge of English, French, or Spanish with limited knowledge of one of the other two. View the full job announcements: Forestry Officer, Senior Forestry Officer. Back to TOC 3. Director of Social Development, Conservation International Location: USA Closing Date: Until filled Conservation International is seeking a conservation and human development professional who will help develop guidance for its Conservation Stewards Program, which promotes conservation agreements for community-driven conservation. S/he will develop a simple and systematic way to evaluate social interventions, and design and develop community approaches that reinforce conservation agreements. Essential qualifications include a master’s degree, 10 years experience in developing countries, and flexibility to travel 40-60% of the time. View the full job announcement. Back to TOC 4. Research Grants, Center for Tropical Forest Science Location: Global Closing Date: 4 April 2010 The Center for Tropical Forest Science (CTFS) provides grant opportunities for senior researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students to use existing CTFS plots to conduct research projects. CTFS has established sites throughout the world, and within Asia in China, India, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. Grants range from $US3,000-$US30,000 for projects ranging from three months to three years in length. For details on how to submit proposals, click here. Back to TOC 5. Community-based Adaptation Activity Grants, International Climate Change Adaptation Initiative Location: Global Closing Date: 26 February 2010 The Australian Government’s International Climate Change Adaptation Initiative is sponsoring activities in community-based adaptation in the Pacific region. Applications will be accepted from Australian and international NGOs proposing work to scale up current successful community-based adaptation activities, or to build adaptation components into existing community-based activities. Applications will be considered in the range of $500,000–1,000,000 Australian dollars, and are due by 26 February 2010. For details on selection criteria and how to submit proposals, click here. Back to TOC
NETWORK OF THE MONTH
The Indigenous Portal This online platform was designed with the vision of strengthening the global indigenous community by bridging the digital divide between Indigenous Peoples. It creates an indigenous owned and operated portal that disseminates reliable information via articles, videos, audio, and news across the world’s regions. It also includes a special section on Indigenous Rights and REDD+. For more information, visit the Indigenous Portal online. Back to TOC
FROM RECOFTC
1. Training: First REDD Awareness Training Held in Nepal RECOFTC and FECOFUN recently organized the first training event under RECOFTC’s newly launched REDD Grassroots Capacity Building project, funded by Norad. This Training of Trainers (ToT) event was held in Kathmandu, Nepal from 25-28 December 2009, and attended by over 45 participants representing more than twenty different government and non-government institutions. The training raised awareness on REDD among national-level stakeholders, equipping them with knowledge and skills to address the challenges of developing and implementing REDD in Nepal. The training also included a one-day field visit for participants to interact with community forestry users groups in Lamatar, Lalitpur, where discussion explored: · REDD’s relevance and potential to benefit community forestry initiatives · Methods for raising awareness among forest user groups on REDD · Respecting socio-cultural and traditional values · Addressing free, prior and informed consent as a REDD requirement The participants are expected to facilitate further trainings on REDD at the sub-national level in six districts in February 2010. For more information, please contact the project coordinator, Dr Chandra Silori at chandra.silori@recoftc.org. Back to TOC 2. Publications: Unlocking Climate Change Mitigation in Regional Languages Local people hold the key for healthy forests. RECOFTC’s briefing note that outlines this message, Unlocking Climate Change Mitigation, will soon be available in regional languages. Please check our publications page to download regional language versions. Back to TOC
ABOUT RECOFTC
RECOFTC holds a unique and important place in the world of forestry. It is the only international not-for-profit organization that specializes in capacity building for community forestry and devolved forest management. RECOFTC engages in strategic networks and effective partnerships with governments, nongovernment organizations, civil society, the private sector, local people, and research and educational institutes throughout the Asia–Pacific region and beyond. With over 20 years of international experience and a dynamic approach to capacity building—involving research and analysis, demonstration sites, and training products—RECOFTC delivers innovative solutions for forests and people. To learn more about our work, please visit the RECOFTC website. P.O. Box 1111, Kasetsart Post Office, Bangkok 10903, Thailand Tel: 66-2-9405700; Fax: 66-2-5614880 E-mail: info@recoftc.org Web-site: http://www.recoftc.org/
ABOUT CF E-NEWS
The Community Forestry E-News is an email released at the end of each month to update readers on community forestry related activities and issues throughout Asia and the Pacific. To provide you with the latest news, we welcome any information from different sources on people's participation in forest management. Please send your information, comments and suggestions to info@recoftc.org by the 20th of the month. We encourage you to forward this message to others who might be interested. If you would like to subscribe to or unsubscribe from the list, please send a message to info@recoftc.org or subscribe online. To find back issues of the E-News, please go to RECOFTC's E-News webpage. The views expressed in articles published by the Community Forestry E-News do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of RECOFTC. Information from CF E-News may not be sold. Please respect copyright and acknowledge authorship and institutions when referencing or redistributing any information from this newsletter.
For more information contact: Erica Pohnan Editor Communications, Marketing and Fundraising E-mail: erica.pohnan@recoftc.org	With editing support by: Duncan McLeod Communications, Marketing and Fundraising E-mail:duncan@recoftc.org Lynsey Enters Communications, Marketing and Fundraising E-mail: lynsey.enters@recoftc.org

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[1] ‘Community forestry in Nepal as a means of empowering people living in poverty’ by Dr. Bharat Pokharel