February 2011 Archives

Strengthening Civil Society engagement in ASEAN

The Non-Timber Forest Products – Exchange Programme (NTFP-EP) in collaboration with the ASEAN Social Forestry Network (ASFN) Secretariat has provided a platform for CSOs to effectively communicate their inputs on social forestry (SF) and related issues to ASEAN member states (AMS) since 2011 under the ASEAN Swiss Partnership of Social Forestry and Climate Change (ASFCC).

Through capacity building initiatives, government-CSO multi-stakeholder processes, and research & knowledge sharing, NTFP-EP has enabled CSO participation at national and sub national policy development particularly in the formation of the national REDD+ strategy in the Philippines and the engagement of civil society and indigenous peoples (IP) inputs into the implementation of the REDD+ roadmap and governance structures in Cambodia. In Malaysia, livelihood development as a step wise approach to community involvement in forest management was initiated.

Building on its strengths within the ASFCC programme and as a whole, NTFP-EP’s priority areas in ASFCC-2 would include facilitating the participation of CSOs at local, national regional(ASEAN) levels, livelihood development and policy advocacy on social forestry and climate change (CC). NTFP EP’s priority areas will contribute to ASFCC-2 overall and specific objectives. To continue to promote and enhance civil society (IPs, community forestry groups, women, vulnerable groups) engagement in ASFN, NTFP-EP would contribute to:

1. Mainstreaming social forestry through national, state level community forestry bodies,
2. Assessing and supporting community livelihood adaptation strategies in Malaysia (Sabah & Sarawak), Philippines, Cambodia and Indonesia. Assessing impacts and presenting opportunities for Social forestry within the planned ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Integration in 2015
3. Enhancing the effective engagement of theASFN Civil Society Forum,
4. Implementing a multi-stakeholder approach of the Philippine National REDD Plus Strategy (PNRPS).
5. Facilitating exchanges on inclusive REDD+ process and other SF and CC related themes,

Further, based on recent AMS request, NTFP EP will support efforts in Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam particularly on livelihood based climate change adaptation, and NTFP development.

NTFP-EP supports NO TO MINING IN PALAWAN

Please support the campaign to raise 10 Million signatures for Palawan!

It is known as the Philippines’ Last Ecological Frontier. It has 40% of our countries remaining mangrove areas, 30% of our coral reefs, at least 17 Key Biodiversity Areas, 2 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and 8 declared protected areas. It is unmatched anywhere in the country for the variety of species of flora and fauna found here. But it is also fragile, with a thin layer of topsoil that is prone to erosion.

Yet mining has been taking place in Palawan. Both the granting of mining permits and new applications are increasing, even in identified core protection zones. Old-growth forests are being cut down, water sources are being polluted, ancestral lands are being taken over, and communities’ wishes are being ignored.

In many areas of Palawan, the communities have shown that eco-tourism, based on the protection of precious natural resources, can provide them with the livelihood they need for development. They do not need mining.

We ask the Philippine and Palawan governments to say no to mining in Palawan so we can protect one of our last remaining treasures.

Please submit your vote at http://www.no2mininginpalawan.com/index.html

NTFP-EP becomes implementing partner on ASEAN Social Forestry Initiative

The ASEAN Social Forestry Network (ASFN) is the first government driven social forestry network in Southeast Asia.

Its main goal is to promote policy and practices through an established information and communications system in strengthening the ASEAN Cooperation in Social Forestry.

In 2009, ASEAN launched the ASEAN Multisectoral Framework on Climate Change otherwise known as AFCC. The goal of the AFCC is to contribute to food security through sustainable, efficient and effective use of land, forest, water and aquatic resources by minimizing the risks and impacts of, and the contributions to climate change

AFCC is supported by the ASEAN – Swiss Partnership on Social Forestry and Climate Change. The goal of the partnership is to integrate social forestry into climate change adaptation and mitigation measures and to ensure socio-economic benefit to ASEAN peoples.

This project is to last for almost 3 years (April 2011 – Dec 2013) and focuses on policy development, knowledge sharing and networking and learning interventions. The partnership is supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and its Global Program on Climate Change.

The project has 4 implementing partners, namely Ministry of Forestry Indonesia, CIFOR, RECOFTC and NTFP-EP

The role of NTFP-EP in the project is to promote civil society (indigenous peoples, community forestry groups, women, vulnerable groups) engagement in ASFN, through sharing the bottoms-up approach of the Philippine National REDD Plus Strategy (PNRPS), establishing an ASFN Civil Society Forum, mainstreaming social forestry thru national, state level community forestry bodies, and assessing and supporting community livelihood adaptation strategies. NTFP-EP will particularly focus attention on the Philippines, Cambodia and Sarawak (Malaysia).

The implementing partners are in the final stages of proposal development.