| European
Tropical Forest Research Network |
The second General Assembly of the Forest Research Network
of CORAF (West and Central Africa) was held in Yaounde, Cameroon, from 14 -16
December 1998, and hosted by IRAD (Agricultural Research and Development Institute
of Cameroon).
Eighteen CORAF member countries were represented, from the
Democratic Republic of Congo to Cape Verde and Mauritania. Two members representing
East and Southern African Forest Organizations, and representatives of other
regional and international institutions attended the meeting: FAO, ETFRN, CIRAD/FORET,
FORAFRI, CIFOR, IUFRO/SPDC , AAS and ICRAF.
The General Assembly made decisions which should improve the
future efficiency of the CORAF forestry Network:
-organization into three ecological zones (Sahel, Humid West
and Humid Central Africa)
-in each zone, 3 to 5 research projects/ themes were identified.
Proposals will be prepared by working groups involving international partners.
Some of the research project/thematic working groups are already well identified
with suggested coordinators or leaders, the others should set up be soon
-preparation of proposals for identified research projects/themes will be the main activity during the next two years. Project working groups and coordinators/ leaders will have a high degree of autonomy. It was agreed that external support could be provided directly to specific activities of the Working Groups, such as national and regional review of research results and activities on relevant themes, proposal preparation, formulation workshops, etc. These new working arrangements should ensure the participation and "responsibilization" of a larger number of scientists than in the past. The Network Coordinator will continue to play a very important role as a facilitator and champion of the Network within and outside CORAF. Many of the tasks he was expected to fulfil are now delegated to thematic working groups and their coordinators/ leaders.
-activities at a general level include: improvement of information
and communication: email access, databases (institutions, scientists, projects/activities).
The General Assembly elected an Executive Committee (Comité
Directeur) :
Antoine Mountanda (Congo): Coordinator of CORAF Forest Network
Sibiri Ouedraogo (Burkina Faso): Coordinator for Sahel ecological
zone
Mathurin Tchatat (Cameroon) : Coordinator for ecological zone
of Humid Central Africa
Aimé Kadio Adjoumane (Ivory Coast) : Coordinator for
Humid West Africa ecological zone
Scientific Partners :
Henri Félix Maitre (CIRAD-Forêt)
Abdousalam Ouedraogo (IPGRI/
SAFORGEN, Rome)
Other international Partners :
Oudara Souvannavong (FAO Rome)
Yapi Atse (IUFRO/SPDC)
For more detailed information, please contact:
Antoine Mountanda
Coordonnateur Reseau Forêt CORAF
c/o SNR
B.P. 839 Pointe-Noire/ Congo-Brazza
Tel: +242 940279/ 0905
Fax: +242 940905
Email: snco10@calva.com
The NTFP Biocultural Digest is an international
Internet list on non-timber forest product (NTFP) topics. NTFPs include: ferns,
mushrooms, maple syrup, palms, gums and latexes, edible nuts, fragrances, medicinals,
and more. Some definitions may even include fauna. NTFPs are harvested commercially
and non-commercially in all the world's forests but their significance is seldom
understood or considered in policy and management.
The purpose of the list is to promote
the advancement of knowledge about human dimensions of worldwide NTFP use. The
list currently has over 600 members representing more than 25 countries and
includes natural and social scientists, temperate and tropical interests, governmental
and non-governmental organizations, commercial and non-commercial sectors, policy
makers, managers, harvesters, labor groups, and many other NTFP interests. The
list is used to share research materials, event announcements, announce funding,
job and training opportunities, relevant newsletters, and be used for topical
discussions on NTFPs. The list is free, moderated, issued as a single, indexed
e-mail, generally comes out about once a week, and all postings are available
to participants through the online archives.
To subscribe send an email to majordomo@igc.org, leave the subject line blank, in the body of the message put: subscribe ntfp-biocultural-digest <your e-mail address>. If you have questions or problems please contact the list editor, Eric Jones at: etjones@igc.org
SFCW - SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY & CERTIFICATION WATCH: AN INDEPENDENT ORGANISATION TO MONITOR FOREST CERTIFICATION WORLDWIDESustainable Forestry & Certification
Watch has been established to monitor and report on forest certification worldwide.
SFCW is an independent, non-profit,
non-governmental, international organisation. Its mission is:
- to enhance the understanding of forest
certification and its implications, particularly for sustainable forest management,
international forest policy, trade in forest products and consumer choice; and
- to encourage the responsible stewardship
of global forest resources by facilitating the identification and adoption of
effective approaches to forest resource management and policy.
Forest certification is becoming an
increasingly complex topic because of the growing number of forest certification
initiatives worldwide and the intricate interplay amongst international environmental
groups, forest industries, traders and retailers of forest products, governmental
agencies and international organisations.
A key activity of SFCW is to publish
the newsletter "Forest Certification Watch" which monitors and reports
on the development of the various forest certification schemes worldwide; the
effectiveness of certification as an instrument to improve forest management;
the information provided to the general public and consumers through forest
certification claims; the costs and benefits of various forest certification
options; the impact forest certification can have on public forest policy, both
domestically and internationally; and the possible role of government in this
voluntary, market-driven, initiative.
The newsletter is intended for forest
owners, the forest product industry, traders and retailers in forest products,
governments, environmental groups, indigenous groups, workers unions, consumer
associations and any other parties interested in staying abreast of forest certification
developments world-wide.
In addition to publishing its newsletter,
SFCW conducts studies, surveys and information sessions.
For further information, please contact:
Sustainable Forestry & Certification Watch
PO Box 48122,
Montreal H2V 4S8, Qc, Canada
Tel: +1 514 273 5777, Fax: +1 514 277 4448
Email: sfcw@sfcw.org, Http://www.sfcw.org
12th COMMUNITY FORESTRY COURSE
The Community Forestry Course held at the International Agricultural
Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands, will take place this year from 19 September
- 10 December (see International Calendar). Last year's new course programme
was a great success. The focus of the programme is on the policy and practice perspectives
of community forestry. The programme looks into the reality of community forestry
at the levels of policy and practice and at the interaction between the two,
based on the evidence that one cannot work without the other. A central issue
for discussion is how to make community forestry operational, taking into account
policy formulation as well as planning and implementation practice. The course continues to be named "International Course
on Local Level Management of Trees and Forests for Sustainable Land Use",
with decision making as the 1999 theme. In a context of diverse and
conflicting interests of stakeholders, and of unequal power relations, decision-making
is often the main stumbling block. This theme will be explored in the seminars
during the first week and will receive special attention throughout the programme.
Institutional and organisational change are important topics. Participants will
prepare an action plan for their own work situation. Closing date for application
is 1 June 1999. For further information and a copy of the course brochure,
please contact:
Reinout de Hoogh/Nan van Leeuwen
International Agricultural Centre
PO Box 88
6700 AB Wageningen, The Netherlands
Tel: +31 317 490295/490661/490242
Fax: +31 317 418552
Email: r.j.de.hoogh@iac.agro.nl or
w.j.van.leeuwen@iac.agro.nl
URBAN FORESTRY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
- TREE CITY PHOTO COMPETITION
$ 150 First Prize! $100 Second Prize! $50 Third Prize! All
entries considered for publication in upcoming textbook on urban forestry in
developing countries.
DEADLINE: 1 August 1999, Prizes Awarded: 1 October 1999
Themes:
1. Decline of Urban Forests, Trees and Related Vegetation
Example of decline and causes, eg, overharvesting for fuelwood,
expending of land for housing and farming, pollution stress. Major challenges
to maintain urban forests (eg vandalism, etc). 2. Benefits of Urban Forests, Trees and Related Vegetation
Meeting direct basic needs, like food, fuel, fodder, and timber
or environmental services like climate and air quality improvement, energy savings,
reduction of global warming and carbon dioxide, noise abatement, water use,
reuse and conservation, soil conservation, solid waste and land reclamation,
and nature conservation wildlife habitat and biodiversity; or social benefits
related to health, employment, education, recreation, aesthetic and landscape
benefits, and community strengthening. Multipurpose benefits comprising more
than one benefit. 3. Urban Forestry Planning
Public participation; strategy development; action planning;
implementation, monitoring & evaluation; applying planning techniques. 4. Urban Forestry Management
Management issues and options; examples of good urban forestry
practice (windbreaks, hedges, parks and greenways, greenbelts, plantations,
trees in farming) at neighborhood and city levels.
Procedure: Airmail your photographic prints to:
Dr Guido Kuchelmeister or scan your photos and Email them as a file attachment to:
Tree City - Urban Forestry & Arboricultural Program
Graf-Kirchberg-Strasse 26
89257 Illertissen
Germany
Tel. +49 7303 43776
Fax: +49 7303 42114
Http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/G_Kuchelmeister