IUCN The World Conservation Union Forest Partnerships Enhancing local livelihoods and protecting the environment in and the Pacific

Edited by Maria Osbeck and Marisha Wojciechowska-Shibuya IUCN The World Conservation Union

The designation of geographical entities in this report, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of IUCN.

Published by: The World Conservation Union (IUCN), Asia Regional Office

Copyright: © 2007 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder.

Citation: Osbeck, M., Wojciechowska-Shibuya, M. (Eds) (2007). Forest Partnerships. Enhancing local livelihoods and protecting the environment in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. IUCN, Bangkok, Thailand. 48pp.

ISBN: 978-2-8317-1011-2

Cover design by: IUCN Asia Regional Office

Cover photos: Local people, . A woman transports a basketful of baked sago from a pit oven back to Rhoku village. Sago is a common subsistence crop in . Western Province, Papua New Guinea. December 2004 CREDIT: © Brent Stirton / Getty Images / WWF-UK

Layout by: Michael Dougherty

Produced by: IUCN Asia Regional Office

Printed by: Clung Wicha Press Co., Ltd.

Available from: The World Conservation Union (IUCN) Asia Regional Office 63, Soi Prompong, Sukhumvit 39 Wattana, Bangkok 10110 Thailand Tel: +662 662 4029 Fax: +662 662 4388 Email: [email protected] http://iucn.org/asia Forest Partnerships Enhancing local livelihoods and protecting the environment in Southeast Asia and the Pacific

Edited By Maria Osbeck and Marisha Wojciechowska-Shibuya Contents

List of Acronyms and Abbreviations 5

Acknowledgements 6

Foreword 7

Executive Summary 8

Nature and Poverty: How to Make the World a Better Place 11

Indonesia 18 Case Study: Promoting Sustainable Livelihoods in Danau Sentarum National Park, West Kalimantan — the Case of Wild Honey Bees 20 Best Practice: Major Indonesian NGOs Join Forces to Contribute to an International Standard of Sustainability for Palm Oil Plantations 23 Malaysia 24 Case Study: The Story of Ubra and the People of Uma Bawang 26 Best Practice: Influencing Palm Oil Trade Policy in the 28

Papua New Guinea 30 Case Study: The Kiunga-Aiambak Road Project, Lake Murray, Papua New Guinea 32 Best Practice: Managalas Organic Project in Papua New Guinea 35

Synergy in Action 36

Afterword 41

Annex 1. Profiles 42 Annex 2. The Official Dutch Motion for Parliament 46 Annex 3. Code of Conduct for Members of The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil 47 Annex 4. Facts 49 List of Acronyms and Abbreviations

ASEAN: Association of Southeast Asian Nations CAP: Consumers' Association of Penang CELCOR: Center for Environmental Law and Community Rights, Inc., Papua New Guinea CIA: Central Intelligence Agency CIFOR: Centre for International Forestry Research DFID: Department for International Development (UK) DGIS: Directoraat-Generaal Internationale Samenwerking DNSP: Danau Sentarum National Park, ELC: Environmental Law Center EU: European Union FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FLEG: Forest Law Enforcement and Governance in East Asia and the Pacific FORCERT: ' Forest Management & Product Certification Service FPCD: Foundation for People and Community Development FWI: Forest Watch Indonesia GFW: Global Forest Watch ICS: Internal Control System IIED: International Institute for Environment and Development INGO: International NGO ITTO: International Tropical Timber Organization IUCN: The World Conservation Union LMROA: Lake Murray Resource Owners Association, Papua New Guinea MDG: Millennium Development Goal MOCP: Managalas Organic Coffee Project NGO: Non-Governmental Organization NTFP: Non-Timber Forest Product NTFP-EP: Non-Timber Forest Product - Exchange Programme PPP: Population below US$1.00 Per Day Consumption Percentage PNGFA: Papua New Guinea Forest Authority PRF: Permanent Reserved Forest PRSP: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper PwM: Partners with Melanasians Inc., Papua New Guinea RSPO: Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil SAM: Sahabat Alam Malaysia SLA: Sustainable Livelihoods Approach UBRA: Uma Bawang Residents' Association UNDP: United Nations Development Programme UNEP: United Nations Environment Programme WAHLI: Indonesian Forum for the Environment WPCC: Western Province Conservation Coalition WRI: World Resources Institute WWF: World Wide Fund for Nature

5 Acknowledgements

This publication would not have been Other collaborators whose inputs have possible without the assistance of been instrumental in producing the pub- numerous individuals and organizations. lication are Guido Broekhoven, Peter The authors and the organizations van Sluijs, Maria Cristina Guerrero, involved would like to thank the commu- Rully Syumanda, Fitrian Ardiansyah, nities and individuals who shared their Abet Nego Tarigan, Damien Ase, experiences and told their stories. Kenn Mondiai, Joanna de Rozario, Theiva Lingam, Ronald Gigmai, Heri The work underpinning this publication Valentinus and Jennifer Allan. is based on a collaborative effort be- tween several organizations including, This publication is an output of the Consumers' Association of Penang Natureandpoverty* Programme a joint (CAP), Center for Environmental Law effort between the IUCN Netherlands and Community Rights Inc. (CELCOR), Committee, WWF-Netherlands and Friends of the Earth Netherlands, Friends of the Earth Netherlands. IUCN (the World Conservation Union), the IUCN National Committee of the Special thanks to Robin Leslie for edit- Netherlands (IUCN-NL), the Non-Timber ing this report. Forest Products Exchange Programme (NTFP-EP), Partners with The project and this publication were Inc. (PwM, Sahabat Alam Malaysia made possible through support from the (SAM), the Riak Bumi Foundation, Natureandpoverty* Programme funded Sawit Watch, WALHI, WWF-lndonesia by Directoraat-Generaal Internationale and WWF-Netherlands. Samenwerking (DGIS).

6 Foreword

The importance of a healthy environ- To meet the challenges of reducing addressing legal ownership, access to ment for development is evidenced by poverty and safeguarding natural ecosystems and exclusion from deci- the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, resources simultaneously, three or- sion-making processes that affect how a comprehensive assessment of the ganizations have joined forces: Friends these ecosystems are managed. This state of the planet's ecosystems carried of the Earth Netherlands, the IUCN publication draws on lessons learned in out by nearly 1,300 leading experts National Committee of the Netherlands forest management, community develop- from 95 countries. The study concludes and the World Wide Fund for Nature ment, indigenous knowledge and access that 60% of the world's ecosystems are Netherlands. Together they launched to resources and social networks within degraded or unsustainably used. This the Natureandpoverty* Programme in the broad framework of the sustainable has a direct impact on the livelihoods of 2003. livelihoods approach. the poor. "The loss of services derived from ecosystems is a significant barrier Partner organizations based in The contents reveal how building worka- to the achievement of the Millennium Southeast Asia and the Pacific joined ble partnerships among the considerable Development Goals to reduce poverty, the programme to create an unprec- diversity of stakeholders is fundamental hunger, and disease", summarizes the edented network of social, development in contributing to sustainable develop- assessment. and conservation organizations working ment. The Millenium Development Goals together for forest protection and cannot be achieved in isolation but In the Southeast Asia and the Pacific poverty reduction in Southeast Asia require collaboration among institutions region numerous people live in rural and the Pacific. By collaborating across jointly contributing towards a similar goal. areas and depend for their daily lives targeted cross-cutting initiatives, the on products and services provided by synergy created allows the partners to As the remaining forests rely on dynamic forests, wetlands and coastal ecosys- extend their reach and enhance impact. interconnections, so to must govern- tems, which also function as a fall-back ments, NGOs and the international when other sources of employment The Natureandpoverty* Programme community to meet the challenges of our falter. in Asia has shown the importance of generation.

7 Malaysia. Dawn over tropical rainforest in Northern Malaysia. Executive Summary local, national, regional and global CREDIT: © Edward PARKER levels can contribute to sustainable IMAGE Vision solutions. As time passes, the world will have more extensive, more diverse and By bringing together different groups higher quality forest landscapes. with different skills, partnerships can These forests will meet human help to combine resources and pool needs adequately, while conserving technical skills to develop broad- and biological diversity and fulfilling the long-term ideas and strategies neces- ecosystem functions necessary for all sary for change. This publication will life on earth. share some of the experiences of working in partnerships and describe a Challenge number of outcomes. How can governments, communities, NGOs, and the private sector more Context effectivly collaborate to improve forest Southeast Asia and the Pacific house governance in South East Asia and the diverse natural resources and human Pacific. populations. The forests have abundant biodiversity and are home to many for- Opportunity est-dependent indigenous people and This publication provides examples other forest-dependent local communi- of efforts that are contributing to ties. For the inhabitants of Indonesia, the achievement of the Millennium Malaysia and Papua New Guinea, Development Goals (MDGs). By access to and use of natural resources emphasizing how partners in the are fundamental in sustaining and Natureandpoverty* Programme have improving their livelihoods. worked collaboratively, it reveals the benefits of building partnerships and Human development activities in how effective partnerships between Southeast Asia and the Pacific have

8 resulted in large-scale forest loss. Key Resource Owners Association in Papua drivers behind forest loss are logging New Guinea hired CELCOR in 2001 (both legal and illegal), plantation devel- and won their court battle against a opment (namely, palm oil) and mining. Malaysian-based logging company — halting all logging in the Lake Murray This threatens the livelihoods of forest District. Wildlife has since returned to the communities, which face dwindling region and the landowners are currently incomes and reduced access to and piloting an ecoforestry initiative. control over natural resources. Indigenous people protect their an- Building Partnerships cestral forests in Sarawak, Malaysia: To meet the challenges of reducing The Uma Bawang Residents' Association "...implementation should involve poverty and safeguarding natural (UBRA) in Sarawak, Malaysia, a group of all relevant actors, through resources simultaneously, three or- indigenous forest people, has proceeded partnerships, especially between ganizations have joined forces: Friends from staging protests against loggers to Governments of the North and of the Earth Netherlands, the IUCN establishing dominion over their ancestral South... and between Governments National Committee of the Netherlands land and experimenting with sustainable and major groups to achieve the and the World Wide Fund for Nature livelihood options. Winners of the 2002 widely shared goals of sustainable Netherlands. Together they launched the Equator Prize, their initiatives have en- development... such partnerships Natureandpoverty* Programme in 2003. sured a steady supply of forest resources are key to pursuing sustainable de- for future generations in the village. velopment in a globalising world."* Partner organizations based in Southeast Asia and the Pacific joined the pro- Indigenous honey harvesters seek * United Nations Division for Sustainable Development. gramme to create an unprecedented organic certification: With assistance (2003). Plan of implementation of the world summit on network of social, development and from Riak Bumi and the NTFP-EP, sustainable development, p 1. conservation organizations working traditional honey harvesting in West together for forest protection and poverty Kalimantan has been chosen as a pilot reduction in the region. By developing project for the Indonesian organic seal partnerships across targeted cross-cut- from BlOCert, which could eventually ting initiatives, the synergy thus created open up possibilities for organic honey allows them to extend their reach and export to international markets, thus enhance their impact. generating a diversified income stream.

In Southeast Asia and the Pacific nine Dutch Parliament agrees to develop organizations — Sahabat Alam Malaysia legislation to ban unsustainably (SAM), Consumer Association Penang produced palm oil: Following the (CAP), WAHLI Indonesia, Sawit Watch, the Center for Environmental Law and Community Rights (CELCOR), WWF Indonesia, the World Conservation Union (IUCN), the Non-Timber Forest Product Exchange Programme (NTFP- EP) and Partners with Melanesians (PwM) — have launched the Forests, Plantations and Poverty Alleviation Sub Programme in recognition that natural resources directly sustain the livelihoods of many of the poor in rural areas. The subprogramme, which enables a syner- gistic alliance between NGOs of diverse perspectives, is a unique and promising avenue towards poverty reduction through the sustainable management of natural resources.

Successful Initiatives A group of communities in Papua

New Guinea evict a logging company Sabah (), Malaysia. Truck bringing logs to clumping ground. Kimanis log clumping ground. Sabah, through the courts: The Lake Murray Malaysia. CREDIT: © WWF / Sylvia Jane YORATH

9 Sungai Pelaik village woman demonstrating traditional weav- ing technique to Genevieve Labadan, NTFP Exchange Program. CREDIT: © Abet Nego Tarigan

field visit of three Dutch MPs to the auctioned off 15 tonnes in the first year Research is needed to increase knowl- jungles of West Kalimantan, Indonesia of operation on the local coffee market, edge and enhance analytical capacity — guided by Sawit Watch, WALHI, the business plan calls for expansion to assess the social-cultural, economic WWF Indonesia, Friends of the Earth and possibly international exports in the and ecological impacts of large-scale oil Netherlands (Milieudefensie), IUCN- next coffee season. The target for 2007 palm plantation development. Netherlands and WWF-Netherlands is to produce 30 tonnes. — one of the MPs proposed a motion More marketing research is needed for to develop legislation and instruments To support dialogues between gov- the viable development of other NTFPs to ban unsustainably produced palm oil. ernments, NGOs and the private sector because poor communities cannot afford It was upheld by the Dutch Parliament for planning, monitoring and evaluation the costs of feasibility studies. Marketing two weeks after the trip. Resulting of forest management in Southeast research should be incorporated into from the motion, the government has Asia and the Pacific. PRSPs. requested the development of instru- ments based on the Roundtable on Policy Recommendations There is a need to increase awareness Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) criteria; The successful ventures presented in programmes to educate communi- this should be done in collaboration this book need to be expanded and ties on their basic rights so they can with the private sector and NGOs. The replicated. Moreover: defend their land and themselves from result should be a comprehensive ap- encroachment; also to educate them on proach leading to the exclusion of palm Nature conservation NGOs need to en- alternative uses for their land. oil that does not follow RSPO criteria. compass social advocacy approaches and support local communities in their The need for long-term involvement Sustainability criteria adopted by forest-related undertakings. is rarely reflected in aid policies and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm subsequently, NGOs and INGOs work Oil (RSPO): WWF Indonesia and the Organizations experienced in providing on a short-term basis. Donor agencies Sawit Watch league, with a number of or implementing alternative livelihood need to increase support to national and NGOs and business entities, developed programmes ought to document their local NGOs. sustainability criteria that were ratified experiences and disseminate them to by the RSPO and voluntarily adopted diffuse the information and possibly Enable collaboration between organiza- by corporate members of the RSPO. replicate the programmes elsewhere. tions with different mandates so they can contribute more effectively to Organic coffee enterprise in Papua To promote strategic and systematic achieving positive change by building on New Guinea: The people of the thinking on livelihood alternatives to their respective institutional strengths. Managalas Plateau in Oro Province plantations, a good sustainable of Papua New Guinea, assisted by livelihood analysis is needed. Activities Critical analysis of aid efficiency and its PwM, are building an organic coffee related to capacity building for such an contribution to achieving the MDGs is business to provide income. Having analysis need to be supported. needed.

10 Nature and Poverty: How to Make the World a Better Place

Decades of international develop- commodity markets. While these large- ment work have yielded a deeper scale development schemes do gener- understanding of the sustainable ate income and employment for local management of natural resources and communities, the main benefits accrue poverty, interlocking dimensions and largely to outsiders, large corporations, the drivers of human development. the central government and the actors However, despite the considerable in international trade and investment; Excerpt from the Ecosystem achievements in poverty reduction and local people are left to reap the costs of Assessment Report: environmental conservation, formidable environmental degradation. imbalances have transpired through "The burning of 10 million hectares massive development — costing the Whilst globalization is a major driver of of Indonesia's forests in 1997/98 world immeasurable losses in biodiver- the rampant destruction of the forests in cost an estimated $9.3 billion in sity and livelihoods. Natural resources Southeast Asia and the Pacific, it also increased health care, lost produc- and the relative abundance of rural offers opportunities for positive change tion, and lost tourism revenues and and forest-dependent communities with benefits for both forest ecosystems affected some 20 million people in particular have come under great — through reduced pressure and better across the region." strain in recent decades, primarily from management — and for local communi- externally driven development. ties — through development options. However, as the issues are becoming The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment increasingly complex, no single NGO was commissioned by the United can address such challenges on its Nations' Secretary-General and pub- own anymore. By reaching out, work- lished in 2005. It reported that humans ing across traditional alliances and have significantly altered ecosystems, complementing environmental expertise particularly in the last 50 years, as with social advocacy or business devel- we have been requiring more energy opment expertise, NGOs can become and other inputs to sustain welfare stronger. and economic development. This has imposed increasing costs on ecosystem This publication draws attention to services, exacerbated the risk of abrupt the dedicated groups hard at work in changes and locked some groups Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New of people into increased poverty. Guinea; they are supporting forest The 1,300 contributors to the report communities in their efforts to defend concluded by calling for substantial themselves against external forces and changes in policies, institutions and find innovative ways to reap benefits practices if we are going to reverse from the globalized economy. ecosystem damage. They warned that efforts will need to be stepped up on a Linking nature conservation with much larger scale than is currently the poverty reduction and developing case. synergy between a network of NGOs is a relatively novel concept. By bringing The forest resources of Indonesia, together different groups with different Malaysia and Papua New Guinea are skills, partnerships can help to combine particularly rich in biodiversity as well resources and pool technical skills to as providing homes to forest-dependent develop broad- and long-term ideas indigenous people. Yet the pristine and strategies necessary for change. forests are vanishing rapidly, millions This publication shares some of the of hectares have already been cleared experiences of working in partnerships in aggressive large-scale operations. and highlight some of the outcomes. The key industries that drive forest loss are logging (both legal and illegal), The reality is that poverty reduction and plantation development (namely, the environment are often inadequately palm oil) and mining; they all have integrated in development programmes. strong international links to capital and Sincere efforts are needed to integrate

11 social and environmental consid- in 2000. While progress is admittedly erations in development efforts. This slow on meeting our commitments, publication raises the understanding of dedicated groups and communities in the linkages between poverty reduction Southeast Asia and the Pacific have and natural resource management been hard at work experimenting with by building on concrete examples the combination of nature and poverty from Southeast Asia and the Pacific goals — shining examples of how — encapsulated in a series of case integrated efforts to address MDG studies and examples of best practices. 7 (ensuring environmental sustain- The Millennium The aim is to reach decision-makers ability) will concomitantly contribute to Development Goals at national and international levels, achieving the other MDGs. The key 1. Eradicate extreme poverty as well as international and national finding is that an integrated approach and hunger. NGOs and donors. It is hoped that the is critical — not only for ensuring 2. Achieve universal primary information contained in this volume environmental sustainability as an education. on combining nature and poverty underlying driver for poverty reduction 3. Promote gender equality objectives as a tactic to bridge the — but also through sharing assets and and empower women. gap between sustainable ecosystem resources via expertly crafted partner- 4. Reduce child mortality. management and poverty reduction will ships between cross-cutting social and 5. Improve maternal health. alert decision-makers to initiate such environmental actors. Creating synergy 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, programmes elsewhere and continue to between North-South, South-South and other diseases. support existing ones. as well as between grassroots civil 7. Ensure environmental society organizations by employing stability. mutual capacities and networks in a Combining nature and poverty objec- 8. Develop a global partner- complementary fashion has resulted in tives provides a promising avenue ship for development. cross-regional collaborations and joint for meeting the much discussed project implementation. MDGs, which world leaders adopted Source: UNDP website: www.undp.org/mdg/

12 The Natureandpoverty* Programme networks in a complementary fashion. Kayan Mentarang National Park, East Kalimantan (K. The programme's overall objective has Through the programme, partners are Timur), Kalimantan (Indonesian been: able to operate more effectively than Borneo), Indonesia. Kenyah as individual organizations. Together, . Women col- lecting medicinal plants Kayan To protect forests, local communities, they are seeking solutions for improving Mentarang National Park Eastern plantation workers and smallholders natural resource management and Kalimantan (Borneo), Indonesia. in Southeast Asia and the Pacific reducing poverty. CREDIT: © WWF-Canon / Alain COMPOST from unsustainable and irresponsible development pressures generated by Nature and Poverty: How? logging, plantation development and The vision for combining nature and resettlement and to promote sustain- poverty objectives is resolving and able forest and plantation management. improving environmental and poverty issues by addressing both simultane- Recognizing that pure conservation ously — thus poverty can be alleviated work alone no longer suffices to and natural livelihood resources re- protect forests, the programme has stored through sustainable ecosystem aimed to combine conservation and management. social approaches; it assists the rural poor in their struggle for land, (forest) Stemming from the premise that forest resources and fair treatment and is conservation and the standard of living juxtaposed by pure conservation work of poor rural and forest-dependent — through community organization, communities are closely related, if policy influence and poverty reduction such communities have access to activities. land and forest resources, they are comparatively well-off. They may still A novel feature of the programme has be considered poor in terms of cash been the highly intensive interactions income and formal employment and between North-South, South-South, as they may lack access to basic social well as between grassroots civil society services, but access to agricultural organizations. Natureandpoverty* pro- land and forests has generally kept vides a framework for synergy by com- them free from hunger and poor health. bining the organizations' capacities and In order to make their livelihoods

13 14 sustainable — so they can manage economic sustainability is achieved if a and recover from stresses and trauma baseline level of economic welfare can — their capabilities and assets must be achieved and sustained. be maintained or enhanced both now and in the future, without undermining Social sustainability is achieved when the natural resource base. For local social imbalances are minimized and people, the sustainability of the forest social equity maximized. is also determined by how the forest and water resources are managed on Institutional sustainability is achieved a larger scale: if overall the forests are when prevailing structures and proc- not managed in a sustainable manner, esses continue to perform over the smaller site specific initiatives will have long term. diminished success, ultimately increas- ing the vulnerability of the local people The reality is often that development who depend on the natural resources. projects rarely put equal emphasis on all three aspects; they focus either on Institutional arrangements are instru- social or environmental sustainability mental in achieving sustainability as or both, but less on integrating the they directly influence environmental, economic dimension with environmen- economic and social outcomes: tal and social counterparts.

Environmental sustainability is Forces at Play in the Forests achieved when the productivity of The Southeast Asia and the Pacific life-supporting natural resources is teems with cultural diversity and conserved or enhanced for use by natural ecosystems. The region is future generations. also home to some of the few vast expanses of undisturbed forests in the Economic sustainability is achieved world. when a given level of expenditure can be maintained overtime. In the Over the past five years the Asia- context of the livelihoods of the poor, Pacific region recorded the highest

- Local people -, Indonesia. Kayan Mentarang National Park, East Kalimantan (K. Timur), Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo), Indonesia. Old man going to the forest to gather , Apauping, Kayan Mentarang National Park, East Kalimantan (Borneo), Indonesia. CREDIT: © WWF- Canon / Tantyo BANGUN

15 Friends of the Earth logging campaign in the Netherlands. CREDIT: © Peter van Sluijs

rate of forest plantation in the world.' of income, access to and control over the legally permitted — log supply From 2000 to 2005, the region lost natural resources (natural assets). many times over. Indonesia is facing more than six million hectares of particularly pressing issues, especially natural forests, mainly converted to Development vis-a-vis Sustainability so in the pulp and paper industry that agricultural crops, including oil palm The forest resources of Indonesia, largely relies on tropical forests for its (see best practice page 23). Patrick Malaysia and Papua New Guinea are fibre supply. Since the downgrading Durst, FAO's senior forestry officer rapidly depleting. According to FAO processing and regulating export for Asia and the Pacific, indicated during 1990 to 2005, Indonesia lost volumes are linked to dollar revenue that this loss of more than one million 28 million hectares of forest, Malaysia and employment, Malaysia resorts hectares of natural forests each year cleared around 1.5 million hectares increasingly to log imports — mostly was alarming.2 and in Papua New Guinea two million from Indonesia — while Indonesia has hectares were deforested. The area of clamped down on production forests Despite marked differences and spe- primary forests differs greatly within the rather than mill facilities, hence creating cificities, the region's countries present region. In Malaysia the primary forest huge log shortages, which gives rise to common significant trends: covers 18% of total forest area and illegal log trade within Indonesia and in PNG the primary forest amounts to with Malaysia. 3 The region's forests hold a remarkable 86% of total forest area. richness in biodiversity and are home to Transparency and Accountability a host of forest-dependent indigenous Large-scale development activities Human rights violations, mistreat- peoples and other local communities. are typically developed and managed ment of workers and environmental in a top down manner — they do not destruction have been recorded as the Pressures on forest resources largely stem from locally-derived development consequences of large-scale industrial stem from government policies, corrup- needs but from national level initiatives operations in the remote forests of the tion and weak law enforcement, com- for economic growth. Industries driving region, with little support afforded to the bined with development trends driven forest degradation have strong interna- affected local communities, workers, by regional and international commodity tional linkages to capital and commodity women, farmers and smallholders. and capital markets. markets, such that the development of Southeast Asian and Pacific forest Market actors, such as financial Forest-dependent communities are lands is also heavily driven by interna- institutions and buyers, have yet to disadvantaged by such development tional demand for investment targets demonstrate increased transparency. pressures and face impoverishment, and cheap commodities. As a case in point, banks can decline human rights violations and internal to inform account holders about the conflicts. The development has been exces- practices of their clients, based on the sive, especially in Indonesia and "investor-client confidentiality" clause, As a result, forest communities face Malaysia. Both countries have built all the while stating that they operate serious decline in quality of life in terms timber-processing capacities that in a corporate socially responsible exceed the sustainable — and at times, fashion. In consumer countries, such as the Netherlands, companies also do not 1 FAO. (2005). Global forest resources assessment. 2 www.fao.org 3 FAO. (2007), State of the Forest 2007

16 provide such information, which results plantation companies to open up forest involvement of Dutch traders and finan- in lack of transparency and prevents lands) were calculated to be US$2.3 cial -institutions in the timber and edible consumers from assessing the impacts to 3.5 billion, in addition to the carbon oils trade in Malaysia and Indonesia is of their consumer behaviour. releases of an estimated US$2.8 bil- a major opportunity to translate intent lion, according to the latest study by into action. Undervaluation CIFOR.4 Southeast Asia and the Pacific's rapid Halting forest destruction is not exploitation of forest resources results These costs are largely borne by the solely a Western agenda: Throughout in enormous losses (biodiversity, general public, mainly in terms of the Southeast Asia and the Pacific, local cultural diversity and indigenous knowl- health impacts suffered by millions communities are affected by deforesta- edge, sustainable livelihoods, health of people in Malaysia, Indonesia and tion and logging even though some- and natural resources). None of these Singapore. Even in cases where the times they have themselves become losses are measured in real monetary costs have been calculated, they are involved actors. Some have come to terms and, hence, are not deducted not accounted for in loans and com- regret having allowed their forests to from the turnover and profits gener- modity prices. be converted to oil palm or pulpwood ated by forest development. The local plantations, and many have not been communities however bear the brunt of Corporate Social Responsibility able to influence the decision-making such losses, with studies and peoples' Within the Netherlands, the private sec- process. testimonies suggesting that they were tor is strongly inclined to communicate better off without logging, oil palm and to its clients (consumers) that it oper- Forest-dependent people are key pulpwood plantations. ates responsibly, including outside the allies in conserving forest landscapes. country's borders. This applies to both Community-based forest management The costs of large-scale development the timber and pulp and paper trade systems are win-win alternatives to the are rarely accounted for when and and the financial sector. The significant existing system of forest exploitation where they take place, although the that best ensure sustainability and costs of the 1997/1998 forest fires in equity. Indonesia (which were largely set by 4 Colchester et al. (2006). Justice in the forest: Rural liveli- hoods and forest law enforcement. Indonesia. CIFOR.

17 Indonesia

East Kalimantan (K. Timur), Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo), Indonesia. Dyak indigenous people living in forest close to area of pre-FSC certified commercial forest. Near Berau, East Kalimantan. Indonesia. CREDIT: © Edward PARKER

National environmental policy Indonesia is the world's largest Country Facts "Clear commitment to protect archipelago; spread across a chain Population: 234.7 million the environment and natural of thousands of between the Capital: Jakarta resources, while simultaneously and the Pacific Ocean. Government type: Republic providing for continued economic It achieved independence from the Independence: 17 August 1945 (de- development." Statement of Netherlands in 1949. It is a diverse clared); 27 December 1949 (recognized environmental policies is provided ethnic nation, with more than 300 local by the Netherlands) in the Law of the Republic of languages. Life expectancy at birth: 70.2 years Indonesia No. 23 of 1997. Adult literacy rate: 90.4% 2 Indonesia is a heavily forested country, Area: 1.9 million km with almost 60% forest cover (105 Source: World factbook. CIA, 2007 million hectares). According to the World Resources Institute (WRI), Human development index rank: 108 Global Forest Watch (GFW), and Forest Source: UNDP. (2006). Human development report Watch Indonesia (FWI), the rate at which Indonesia is losing its forests has doubled since the 1980s. The lowland forests, the richest in the country, will not survive for long on some of the big- gest islands.5

5 Barber et al. (2002). Slate of the forest Indonesia. WRI.

18 Millenium Development Goals Indicator 25. Proportion of land area use mounted in the 1990s. The main covered by forest (Table 2). drivers behind conversion are oil palm Goal 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and plantations, pulpwood plantations and hunger. Table 2 mining.

Target 1. Halve, between 1990 and Based on Indonesia's recent poverty re- 2015, the proportion of people whose duction trends, the projections are such income is less than one US dollar a Source: United Nations, Millennium Development Goals that the country is on track to achieving day. Indicators. http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/Data.aspx its MDG target on poverty reduction viewed 29 January 2006. of 7.5%, or half its 1990 levels for the Indicator 1. Proportion of population country as a whole7. below US$1 (1993 PPP) per day (Table Ten percent of the remaining 1). tropical forests in the world are found in Indonesia. This forest hosts vast biodi- Table 1 versity resources: 10% of all plant, 12% of all mammal, 16% of all reptile and 17% of all bird species. These forests also provide livelihoods for approxi- mately 40 million indigenous peoples. However, at present less than 55% of Indonesia's primary forest remains and deforestation continues6. Goal 7. Ensure environmental sustainability. As most remaining production forests have already been logged at least Target 9. Integrate the principles of once, pressure on these forests to be sustainable development into country released for conversion into other land policies and programmes and reverse 7 United Nations Country Team Indonesia. (2004). the loss of environmental resources. 6 FAO (2007) Stale of the World's Forests 2007 Millennium Development Goals: Indonesia final report, p. 1.

Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo), Indonesia. Forest along the Ella Ullu river. West Kalimantan, Indonesia. CREDIT: © WWF-Canon / Alain COMPOST

19 Case Study: Promoting Sustainable Livelihoods in Danau Sentarum National Park, West Kalimantan — the Case of Wild Honey Bees

West Kalimantan (K. Barat), Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo). Indonesia. Danau (Lake) Sentarum National Park, West Kalimantan (Borneo), Indonesia. October 2004 Danau (Lake) Sentarum is one the most unique wetlands in Asia, marked by outstanding biodiversity. This area was declared as a National Park in 1999, covering 132,000 hectares. The park is located in the Kapuas Hulu District, which declared itself a Conservation District in 2003. CREDIT: © WWF-Canon / Rob BUITER

By Fitrian Ardiansyah, WWF- protected reserve of 132,000 hectares Despite abundant rich natural Indonesia, Abetnego Tarigan, Sawit of lakes and of seasonally inundated resources and biodiversity, threats Watch, Maria Cristina Guerrero & forest ecosystems. to the forests stemming from logging Aloisa Zamora-Santos, NTFP-EP, and agricultural expansion have made Heri Valentinus, Riak Bumi and The Lake Sentarum area plays an life increasingly more difficult for the Maria Osbeck, IUCN important role as a natural reservoir majority of people living in the area for the mid- and downstreams of the who remain below the poverty line. West Kalimantan is one of four prov- Kapuas River and watershed8. Of inces in Kalimantan, the Indonesian particular importance is the annual Local NGOs have collaborated to portion of the of Borneo. The flooding regime (flood pulse), which tackle the threats to Danau Sentarum province has a population of about ensures biological abundance that is and to provide assistance to local 3.74 million people (2000 Census) extensively utilized by local people people in support of their livelihoods. and major ethnic groups include the and forms a vital part of the local They have played a role in providing Dayak, Malay and Chinese, who economy. In addition to fishing, lo- critical services in areas such as: constitute about 90% of the total cal people depend on harvesting a Indonesian natural resource law; population. variety of other terrestrial and aquatic regulations on international invest- organisms for their livelihoods, many ment and relations; ways to register The borders of West Kalimantan of which are thought to be closely as- community land; and negotiation roughly trace the mountain ranges sociated with the energy and nutrient tactics and strategies. Recent efforts surrounding the watershed of the cycles dependent on the annual flood by WAHLI, WWF-lndonesia, Sawit Kapuas River, the longest river in pulse phenomenon. Watch and Riak Bumi have focused Indonesia, which drains much of on facilitating a dialogue between the province, namely the extensive communities, other local NGOs and 8 The Kapuas River is 1,143 km long and the watershed is government officials to find workable Lake Sentarum area — an extensive 85,200 km2 in area.

20 solutions for the future management as gatherers can obtain a high price. set up a wild honey bee network to of the Kapuas Watershed. For local forest communities, wild facilitate support facilities and informa- honey (an NTFP) can be an alterna- tion exchange and dissemination. As sustainable management regimes tive income source to help cover their The network's goals are to improve in the upland areas impact the honey daily needs. Sustainable harvesting the quality of wild honey, to enhance harvesting activity downstream, in of wild honey and management of its marketing value and to generate December 2006, Riak Bumi, WAHLI, Apis dorsata habitats are essential to increases in volume and price. Such Sawit Watch and WWF co-organized a protect the forest and the environment. aims will provide incentives to encour- multi-stakeholder dialogue with govern- Honey harvesting is also an alterna- age more gatherers to harvest honey ment and non-government actors, tive solution to mitigate de-forestation judiciously and maintain natural bee resulting in a declaration that commits problems that have surfaced in recent habitats in the forest. Riak Bumi plans communities upstream to end electro- years in Indonesia, resulting in the to select locations for extension in fishing by 1 January 2007 and prohibits degradation of natural resources and , , , possibly the use of small size nylon nets as of the environment. (later) West Papua and Mentawai January 2008.' archipelago. In this context, Riak Bumi initiated the Wild Honey Harvesting and Indonesia National Workshop on the Honey and beeswax is sold in local Marketing Wild Honey Bee Network in Danau and regional markets; Riak Bumi has Nests of Apis dorsata, the giant honey Sentarum National Park in January worked to link communities and mar- bee, have traditionally been exploited 2005 with participants from Kalimantan kets directly to close the gap between to produce large volumes of honey and and . This forum facilitated the the producer and the final consumer. wax for trade. The tikung system of exchange and sharing of experiences This has helped to channel increased honey collection is still practised by a on the management and practical economic benefit to the local produc- relatively large group of the local popu- utilization of wild honey bees by local ers that would have otherwise been lation in the DNSP region. The honey is gatherers; information dissemination diverted at various levels of the mar- collected via three different techniques: and communication between areas keting chain. lalau (climbing up tall trees to harvest emerged as a strategy for addressing honey), tikung (traditional honeyboard forestry problems in Indonesia. During the 2003 harvest season, Riak system) and repak (a place where Bumi helped package and market over bees produce no more than one comb At the forum, participants raised con- 1.5 tonnes of honey from participating on any kind of any tree branch — the cerns about the difficulty of marketing villages and double the financial return first person to find the comb becomes wild honey bee products. Discussion to the producers. With an additional 20 its owner). Although the tikung system revealed that harvesting practices tonnes of honey harvested annually is the most typical honey harvesting and postharvest processes result in throughout the DSNP area, this initiative approach practised in the park, honey low quality wild honey; moreover local could potentially contribute to significant gathering from tall trees that have been conditions, namely forest fire smoke poverty reduction for many communities. colonized by bees is also popular in this and logging, exacerbate the problem. By helping new communities to improve region. The participants agreed to work to- the quality and marketing of their honey, wards standardization to ensure good Riak Bumi will augment socio-economic Apis dorsata wild honey has good quality wild honey in order to meet benefits to more villages. economic potential as a food product market demand. They also agreed to

Community meeting in Denau Sentarum, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. CREDIT: © Riak Bumi

21 The production cycle of organically certified As honey gatherers increasingly and forest regeneration. As a result, honey produced in Denau Sentarum, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. CREDIT © Riak Bumi recognize the enhanced financial value permanent monitoring plots to gauge of their honey, there is a correspond- their achievements have recently been ing marked shift in people's attitudes established in the DSNP. towards local forest protection, conser- vation and enhancement. This includes Furthermore, in June 2002, Riak growing recognition among communities Bumi co-organized a workshop on for the need to work cooperatively to "Anthropogenic Impacts on DSNP" that reduce the risk of fires; to adopt self- convened local communities, NGOs, imposed rules to guide the community government agencies and academic in the use of forest resources; and to institutions. This resulted in a community re-plant to enhance bee habitats and declaration committing them to partici- ensure future wood-supplies. In 2000 pate in the conservation and manage- and 2001, four local villages in the ment of the park through specific clauses park worked together to reforest 120 on customary laws, forest protection and hectares. apiculture development. The continu- ation and expansion of these activities Furthermore, while many bee-keeping reflect the park communities' recognition Fitrian Ardiansyah, World Wide projects throughout the developing world of the critical link between livelihood Fund for Nature WWF-lndonesia: have focused on the introduction of frame sustainability and the need for their active hive bee-keeping systems, which require participation in biodiversity conservation. "It is difficult for NGOs to determine the importation of exotic bee species (i.e. what to prioritize because the com- Apis mellifera or A. cerana), the DSNP Organic Certification panies are moving so fast." project has emphasized the need to In 2006, BlOCert an organic certifying improve upon the traditional honeyboard body in Indonesia, announced that it "We need an integrated approach hunting system {tikung harvesting had selected the Forest Honey Network to the problems. Partnering with a system), which works with the indigenous Indonesia as its pilot project for organic network of NGOs made us expand A. dorsata bee and is compatible with the certification. Guided by BlOCert, Riak our horizons, and build mutual ecological conditions of the DSNP. Bumi, the national secretariat of the understanding and relationships on network, and the NTFP-EP (headquar- regional issues to strategize and With Riak Bumi facilitating the training tered in the Philippines) joined forces to seek the optimal solutions." of six villages in improved harvest and develop Local Standards and an Internal postharvest processing techniques, Control System (ICS) for the Honey "NGOs from the South have built a marketing of forest honey, as well as par- Producer Groups of the Wild Honey good working and sharing network ticipatory reforestation of fire-damaged Harvesters in West Kalimantan. on rain-forest issues through this sites in seven villages, the communities programme; but what about the have heightened awareness about the While various aspects of the manage- NGOs from the North?" need for baseline data to monitor honey ment system need to be analysed to production, bee population ecology determine whether the honey produced

22 by the network qualifies for organic certi- — both RSPO Board Members — saw phasing out the use of agrochemicals. fication, the network seems to be well on the opportunity to promote and call for Communities impacted are in agreement its way to setting up its ICS and eventu- high social standards and environmental with this standard and preliminary field ally becoming certified. With a number of criteria for stakeholders in the oil palm studies suggest that the draft standard factors already working in its favour — a industry. Mutually supporting each will offer significant protection. Looking sustainable management system and others' experience and expertise, they to the future, these measures — along strong established institutions that can developed "Sustainability Criteria", with commitment from actors on the manage the certification process — the which elaborate voluntary standards to global supply chains — should prove Forest Honey Network Indonesia's madu be adopted by the industry to ensure instrumental for the advance of environ- (honey) may soon bear the organic seal that palm oil production is socially and mentally acceptable practices in the palm and break into worldwide markets. environmentally acceptable. oil industry.

Best Practice: Major Indonesian In November 2005, the principles and NGOs Join Forces to Contribute criteria (P&C) for "sustainable palm oil" Abet Nego Tarigan, Sawit Watch: to an International Standard were adopted by the RSPO General "Partnership between NGOs of Sustainability for Palm Oil Assembly. The standard is being tested increases our access to information Plantations through a two-year trial implementation and enriches our work." phase wherein 17 large companies have By Fitrian Ardiansyah, WWF-lndonesia voluntarily committed to participate. Joanna de Rozario, NTFP-EP: & Abetnego Tarigan, Sawit Watch Combined advocacy ensured that the "A community that increases qual- P&C eventually included provisions on ity, increases its profit margin for The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil customary rights to land; free, prior and the same volume of honey." (RSPO) was established by businesses informed consent; respect for ratified involved in the production, processing international law; workers' rights; non- Community Member and retail of palm oil — key members discrimination; minimized and safe use "A key to ensure economic benefit include Malaysian and Indonesian palm of pesticides; fair pricing for smallholder and overall well-being for rain-forest oil companies and European processing products; recognition of high conserva- communities lies in the ability to and retailing companies. The RSPO was tion value areas; and other important organize." established to counter the concerns of environmental aspects. environmental organizations that palm oil plantations were a major cause of This partnership presents a concrete deforestation and were being imposed example of effective synergy between on local communities without concern social and environmental groups and rep- for their rights, livelihoods or welfare and resents an effort to bring the government, managed with insufficient concern for the NGOs and the private sector to the table. rights and welfare of plantation workers The RSPO's sustainability criteria have and smallholders. established a good basis for developing best practices in the industry, halting The influential Indonesia NGO consor- conversion of high conservation value tium Sawit Watch and WWF-lndonesia forests, promoting zero burning, and

23 Malaysia

Sabah (Borneo), Malaysia. Dense Malaysia was formed in 1963 through a Since the 1960s, Malaysia has pro- forest landscape of the northeast federation of the former British colonies moted the establishment of commercial tip of Borneo, in the Malaysian state of Sabah, the habitat of the of Malaya and Singapore, including forest plantations. Malaysia has set a endemic Bornean Pygmy elephant the East Malaysian states of Sabah target to establish 2.2 million hectares (Elephas maximus borneensis). and Sarawak on the northern coast of planted forests, especially in the Sabah, North Borneo, Malaysia. 10 CREDIT: © WWF-Canon / A. of Borneo. The first several years of states of Sabah and Sarawak. Christy WILLIAMS the country's history were marred by Indonesian efforts to control Malaysia, Philippine claims to Sabah and Country Facts Singapore's secession from the federa- Population: 24.8 million tion in 1965. Malaysia is a multi-ethnic Capital: Kuala Lumpur federation of 13 states and three federal Government type: Constitutional territories. monarchy Independence: 31 August 1957 At the end of 2005, forest land in Life expectancy at birth: 72.7 years Malaysia amounted to about 20 million Area: 329,750 km2 hectares or 60% of its land area, follow- Adult literacy rate: 88.7% ing the definitions and methodology as Source: World factbook. CIA, 2007 adopted and used by FAO in its Global forest resources assessment 2005. Of Human development index rank: 61" this, an area of. Approximately 17 million hectares of the PRFs are semi natural and production forests with the remaining four million hectares being primary for- ests. Hence, at the end of 2005, the total area under primary forests in Malaysia was around 18% of its total land area.9

10 www.fao.org/forestry 9 FAO. Global Forest Resource Assessment 2005. 11 UNDP. 2006. Human development report.

24 Millennium Development Goals Indicator 25. Proportion of land area reductions have been due to various covered by forest (Table 2). poverty reduction programmes includ- Goal 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and ing, the "new land development" — a hunger. Table 2 successful attempt to provide land to the landless and land-poor. Based on Target 1. Halve, between 1990 and rubber, and subsequently oil palm, these 2015, the proportion of people whose schemes accomplished the deforesta- income is less than one US dollar a Source: United Nations. Millennium Development Goals tion of the bulk of the remaining acces- day. Indicators, http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/Data.aspx, viewed sible forest areas. In the mid-1970s, 29 January 2006. commercial logging was introduced to Indicator 1. Proportion of population generate national revenue. Following below US$1.00 (1993 PPP) per day In the past 40 years, environmental national regulations in the late 1990s, (Table 1). problems have been a major source some of the larger and more success- of poverty and suffering in Malaysia. ful Malaysian commercial companies Table 1 Peninsular Malaysia lost some 1.35 have moved abroad to new areas in 12 million hectares of forest between 1966 Southeast Asia and the Pacific . and 1985, while Sabah lost about 1.35 million hectares between 1970 and Malaysia has already achieved its 1990; Sarawak is likely to be logged out poverty target, following substantive very soon according to ITTO. Serious poverty reduction policies launched in efforts are needed to plan resource use the 1970s, and aims to eradicate abso- from a long-term perspective. lute poverty by 201513.

The government's commitment to pov- Goal 7. Ensure environmental erty reduction has provided an important sustainability. rationale for deforestation, whether for government revenue generation or Target 9. Integrate the principles of for agricultural expansion, and recent 12 Jomo et al. (2004). Deforesting Malaysia - the political economy and social ecology of agricultural expansion and sustainable development into country national figures indicate overall progress commercial logging. Zed Books Ltd. policies and programmes and reverse in meeting the poverty reduction targets. 13 United Nations Country Team Malaysia. 2005. Malaysia: the loss of environmental resources. According to government claims, such Achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

Sabah (Borneo), Malaysia.Heavy logging activities in Sabah, North Borneo, Malaysia. Caterpillar loading logs on a truck. This is the habitat of the rare Bornean pygmy elephant, which is found only in the northeast tip of Borneo, in the Malaysian state of Sabah. CREDIT: © WWF-Canon / A. Christy WILLIAMS

25 Case Study: The Story of Ubra and the People of Uma Bawang

UMBRA Project memebrs. Quotes listed below. CREDIT: © Abet Nego Tarigan

By Jok Jau Evong & Theivanai tainable communities' movement in the UBRA project members: Amarthalingam, Sahabat Alam tropics. Chosen from a field of 27 final- Malaysia ists, seven communities received their "Every day and every moment awards at a ceremony in Johannesburg when I sit in the main village the Introduction on 30 August 2002. elders keep saying to me: Are you Sarawak is known to have one of the doing the right thing? All I can say oldest rain forests in the world. This The Uma Bawang Keluan Community is that despite the long struggle I ancient forest has been an abode for was rewarded for its outstanding efforts never felt like giving up. For me it its various indigenous people and its to reduce poverty and conserve biodi- was worth every minute fighting to prolific biodiversity. The Uma Bawang versity. The community was applauded keep our forest." - Uloi Gao Residents' Association (UBRA) is an for using GIS mapping technology to inspirational effort by one indigenous defend customary land and forest rights "Each and every time we attended community to overcome the threats against illegal logging and subsequently the court we never gave up." of resource destruction and cultural managing the area responsibly via cash - Maring Saging erosion in today's Sarawak. In recent income projects that include communal years, the UBRA example has spread to rice farming and milling, handicraft "I am worried about who will lead other communities, thanks to the work marketing and developing sustainable the struggle when we old people of Sahabat Alam Malaysia and other teakwood plantations. It is also involved are no longer here." - Anyi Saging community development organizations. in the reforestation of degraded forest lands. UBRA's struggle is ongoing. It is vital for this venture to succeed, in order to A Community Fighting to Preserve provide hope and a potential future for its Forest other longhouse communities facing the The people of Uma Bawang belong same, all too common problems. The to the Kayan ethnic group, which first members of UBRA are determined to migrated from West Borneo, in what is succeed. now Kalimantan, Indonesia. The family group co-habits in a longhouse — its Equator Prize14 farms and gardens as well as water- The seven recipients of the Equator courses and the surrounding forest at Prize 2002 embody the spirit of the sus- the site extend for half a day's journey by foot. Thus it is within this territory that 14 The Equator Prize is a prestigious international each longhouse community has access award that recognizes outstanding local efforts to reduce to land for farming, to rivers for fishing poverty through the conservation and sustainable use of and to jungles for hunting. biodiversity.

26 The 1980s brought disaster to Uma ning, programmes and decisions are Bawang. Conflict began when the made by consensus among members. Sarawak State Government started Board members are elected every two issuing timber licenses over areas years. Rules have been drawn up to where the community already had serve law, order and justice. There is native customary rights that were a disciplinary board with elder Kayans recognized and protected by state land acting as advisors since they are well law. The relationships among people in versed in customary law. the longhouse started to break down. Fortunately, in 1987, some people in UBRA Development Projects the longhouse looked for a solution UBRA has since worked to initiate by organizing themselves into a group community projects to benefit its that would protect what remained. In members such as a communal rice Jok Jau Evong, UBRA, Malaysia: 1988, UBRA was formed to assist in the farm and bank, the purchasing of a struggle. In 1990, UBRA was registered communal rice miller that has helped to by the Registrar of Society and legally cut the cost of rice milling for members, "We feel safer because we are recognized. free-range pig rearing and fish pond more organized. Now, the compa- schemes, a crafts cooperative for the nies feel that they have to come and ask permission from us to While UBRA was still being formed, women as well as reforestation and operate in our territory." forest destruction was proceeding agroforestry projects on communal very rapidly and it was felt something plots needed to be done immediately. "We need to be patient, straightfor- Uma Bawang blockaded the logging Village Mapping, 1995 ward, disciplined and firm." road into their area. It was one of In mid-July 1995, UBRA started to the first blockades in Sarawak, and study and develop basic survey/map- "If we have the knowledge, we helped bring international attention ping techniques at a mapping workshop can make income from the forest. to Sarawak's logging problem. The held in Keluan, assisted by some map- However, we still lack knowledge headman and others who received ping experts from the Borneo Project. on how to manage our resources." gratuities, failed to participate. This This programme was jointly organized blockade was eventually broken up by by UBRA and SAM. Many people from the government. other villages also attended. This was Theiva Lingam, SAM, Malaysia: the first community mapping workshop In 1987, another blockade ended when in Sarawak. "The poor indigenous communities 42 villagers were arrested and held are those that have lost their lands to logging or that have rivers too without charge for two weeks. Uma Later in May 1996, a full-scale land- polluted — from palm oil plantations Bawang continued to protest for the use map of the Keluan project area — to fish in." next several years, but the blockade was successfully produced by UBRA strategy was not a good long-term solu- members. This map is a very useful tion as people could not be kept away document for resource management, from their farms and other economic and for regaining control over reserved activities forever. The blockade eventu- areas of communal forest. It has also ally ended and so logging resumed. been used to identify the boundaries A long-term approach to development between different individual land lots. In was needed. The customary land this way, disputes between landowners claims needed to be legally recognized. have been reduced. Some of the map- Logging and the problems it gener- pers trained in these original workshops ated would not disappear after a year have moved on to become experienced or two. These realizations led to the mappers in local NGOs. fragmentation of Uma Bawang and the formation of UBRA. A new, anti-logging Protesting Oil Palm Development community was formed and in March After years of protesting against 1989, the community moved to Sungai logging, UBRA is now faced with the Keluan and built its own longhouse new threat of large-scale oil palm with 20 family units (pintu). UBRA was plantations. In many ways oil palm officially led by Jok Jau Evong. UBRA is even worse than logging, because is open to any interested members of loggers come and go, while an oil palm the longhouse. Its main objective is to plantation results in the forest being promote the rights and interests of the completely cleared and converted into a individuals and the community. All plan- plantation with 60-year leases or more.

27 Indonesia. Palm oil In 1998, the Sarawak State and vigilance in defending its forests. (Sawi palm) fruit and derived products. Government gazetted a huge parcel of Keluan has allowed some logging Indonesia. Project num- land for the proposed Long Lama NCL recently, but only selected logging ber: 9Z0379 CREDIT: Oil Palm Project. All of Keluan's lands in limited areas chosen by the entire © WWF-Canon / Alain COMPOST were included in this project. However, village. In return, people feel they were after continuous protests and letters fairly compensated. As part of this deal, to the government that objected to the logging company provided the wood the policy and the process of project to build the new Keluan longhouse. implementation, in December 2001, a response was finally received from Their journey to ascertain their rights the Ministry of Resource Planning in persists. Only through education and a letter stating that the area identified awareness on the importance of their as Block C, including the Keluan area, existence will legislature give them the would be excluded. recognition that they deserve.

Conclusion Best Practice: Influencing Palm Oil The Uma Bawang Keluan Community Trade Policy in the Netherlands has come a long way in asserting its property rights. Although judi- The Netherlands, an important importer cially it was defeated, politically it has and trader of palm oil is also promoting achieved marked success. It is one palm oil as an option for biofuel — with of the foremost tribes in the country EU regulations driving countries to ex- to have organized its resources and pand their biofuel resources. Since palm access to them and subsequently oil plantations require the clearing of large managed them sustainably in harmony areas of rain forests in Southeast Asia with nature. and the Pacific, the opening of another market for palm oil in the form of biofuel This is evidenced by the fact that much may dramatically increase pressures of Keluan's land was gazetted to be on rain forests in Southeast Asia and logged by the KTS Timber Company the Pacific. In 2005, WWF-Netherlands, — however when the company recently IUCN-Netherlands and Friends of the returned, rather than log straight away, Earth Netherlands crafted a series it sought permission. This is proof that of events aimed to inform, convince they recognize the community's efforts and mobilize a select group of Dutch

28 members of parliament (MPs) to push An official governmental visit that had The Dutch MPs: for policy reforms on the issue of already been planned will most prob- "The Netherlands should establish sustainable palm oil within the Dutch ably include time to follow up on the good criteria and conditions for oil Government. Following a roundtable informal visit and provide opportunities palm. People think oil palm can be for information disclosure, a group of to push for reforms on the Indonesian used as biofuel for energy; although three MPs travelled to West Kalimantan side. oil palm sounds like a natural prod- to conduct meetings at the national uct, the reality is that it is harvested ministerial level, provincial level and Unsustainable palm oil and illegal wood at the expense of Borneo." - Boris with local communities as well as with issues are back on the agendas of par- Dittrich, Member of Parliament D'66 business people in Indonesia. liament, NGOs and the private sector in the Netherlands. "We have had an impressive meet- Although it may be too early to deter- ing with people living in the tropical mine the full extent, the field trip did Resulting from the motion, the govern- rain forest. People living inside have a direct and significant effect: ment has requested the development the forest are actually suffering of instruments based on the RSPO hardship. It is not without reason A motion to develop legislation and criteria, to be done in collaboration that there is a programme like instruments to ban unsustainably pro- with the private sector and NGOs. This Natureandpoverty*. If these people duced palm oil from the Dutch market should yield a comprehensive approach are offered chances for survival w.as proposed by one of the MPs upon leading to the exclusion of palm oil pro- (e.g. alternative livelihood options) return to the Netherlands and adopted duction that does not follow the RSPO than we can also ask them to by a majority in parliament two weeks criteria. sustainably manage their forests." later. - Henk-Jan Ormel, MP CDA

For the first time in 12 years a "General "If you want to preserve and protect Meeting on Forests and Wood" will be the tropical rain forest you should held in parliament to review the effec- not forget that there are actually tiveness of Dutch policies on this topic people living inside the forest and over the past decade. that these people should have the means to make a living and sustain Formal questions were raised in themselves." - Tineke Huizinga, MP parliament to the minister asking Christenunie for increased budget support for programmes that work on the relation "If one speaks about people, planet between nature conservation and and profit one should also address poverty alleviation. these issues in this order." - Boris Dittrich, MP D'66

29 Papua New Guinea

- Local people -, Papua Papua New Guinea is situated on the Country Facts New Guinea. A woman world's second largest island and is Population: 5.8 million transports a basketful of baked sago from a prey to volcanic activity, earthquakes Capital: Port Moresby pit oven back to Rhoku and tidal waves. The eastern half of Government type: constitutional village. Sago is a common the island of New Guinea was divided parliamentary democracy subsistence crop in Papua New Guinea. Western between Germany (north) and the Independence: 16 September 1975 Province, Papua New United Kingdom (south) in 1885. The (from the Australian-administered UN Guinea. December 2004 latter area was transferred to Australia trusteeship) CREDIT: © Brent Stirton / Getty Images / WWF-UK in 1902, which occupied the northern Life expectancy at birth: 65.6 years portion during World War I and contin- Area: 462,840 km2 ued to administer the combined areas Adult literacy rate: 57% until independence in 1975. A nine-year Source: World factbook. CIA, 2007 secessionist revolt on the island of Bougainville ended in 1997 with a Human development index rank: 13916 peace deal, after claiming some 20,000 lives, but Bougainville still aspires to nationhood.

Papua New Guinea contains the largest intact tropical rain forest in the Pacific region and the third largest on the planet, at 9.4 hectares per capita (compare with 5.9 hectares per person in the rest of the region).15

16 UNDP. (2006). Human development report.

15 FAO (2007) Stale of the Forest 2007

30 Millennium Development Goals Table 2 little progress in alleviation having been achieved in the past 20 years — a situ- Goal 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and ation compounded by the fact that the hunger. country's population has doubled during 18 Source: United Nations Millennium Development Goals this time. Target 1. Halve, between 1990 and Indicators. http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/Data.aspx, viewed 2015, the proportion of people whose 29 January 2006. Although government rhetoric disputes income is less than one US dollar a the fact, industrial logging presents day. Strong cultural customary land tenure a great threat to the ecology and supported by the national constitution people in Papua New Guinea.19 The Indicator 1. Proportion of population is a unique feature of forest manage- customary tenure has not guaranteed below US$1.00 (1993 PPP) per day ment and policy in Papua New Guinea. sustainable use, due to difficulties in (Table 1). About 97% of all land is held under identifying traditional landowners, poor customary title by resource owners.17 enforcement of the terms of land leases Table 1 The country's rural population of over and concessions to private operators, four million (85%) depend on the forest and disputes over the distribution of the for its daily subsistence (providing food, benefits accrued from logging.20 medicine, building materials, clean drinking water) and income generation. Many communities revert to stripping 18 Government of Papua New Guinea and United Nations their forests to generate income. Aside in Papua New Guinea. (2004). Millennium Development from poverty, the lack of sustainable Goals: progress report for Papua New Guinea 2004, p. 9. Goal 7. Ensure environmental natural resource-use alternatives 19 Greenpeace Pacific, WWF South Pacific Program. (1998). Sustaining Papua New Guinea's natural heritage. sustainability. perpetuates the problem. Degradation of natural resources is leading to Port Moresby. 20 Hunt, C. (2002). Production, privatisation and preserva- declining rural welfare and increased Target 9. Integrate the principles of tion in Papua New Guinea forestry. IIED. sustainable development into country poverty - clear illustration of how loss policies and programmes and reverse of natural resources and poverty are intricately linked. The poverty rate in the loss of environmental resources. Papua New Guinea remains high, with Indicator 25. Proportion of land area covered by forest (Table 2). 17 Filer, C. and Sekhran, N. (1998). Loggers, donors and resource owners. London, MED,

Papua New Guinea. Aerial view of tropical rainforest with meander river. Papua New Guinea. CREDIT: © WWF-Canon / Paul CHATTERTON

31 Case Study: The Kiunga-Aiambak Road Project, Lake Murray, Papua New Guinea

By Damien Ase, CELCOR & Kenn Mondiai, PwM

Introduction Lake Murray is situated between the Fly River and Strictland River in the Middle Fly area of the Western Province in Papua New Guinea. It is situated in one of the largest wetlands and watershed areas of Papua New Guinea, home to the last remnants of monsoon forest and part of the country's large expanse of tropical rain forest. As such it is very rich in flora and fauna, mineral oil and habitats for High Conservation Value Forest sites and species.

There are seven tribes in the Lake Murray area whose lives have been historically enriched with food, clothing and medicine from the lake (Lake Murray) and the forests. They lead a largely subsistence life, surviving on the abundance of food (from hunting) and medicine provided by their "forest supermarket".

However in April 1994 the government gave approval for the construction of the Trans-Highlands Highway that would link the Western Province and Komo in the Southern Highlands Province. A one-year Timber Authority (TA) was then granted to Paiso Company Limited for the road that would link Aiambak (Lake Murray) to Kiunga enabling the extraction of timber through road-line clearing only. Community members from the Paiso Company PTY LTD subsequently Managalas Plateau, Papa New 2 Guinea. CREDIT: © Kenn Mondial subcontracted with Concord Pacific ' (a subsidiary of Samling) of Malaysia to undertake the TA.

The Malaysian-owned logging company in theory has been building a road between the small township of Kiunga

21 Concord Pacific is a logging company that has been involved in illegal logging on the pretext of building the Kiunga-Aiambak road. Concord obtained an illegal extension to road alignment and the logging and so-called "road building" has continued until court orders halted the operation. The new TA is totally illegal — it was granted without the approval of the Provincial Forest Management Committee and without any attention to the detailed procedures of either the 1993 Forestry Act or the 2000 Amendment Act.

32 and the village of Aiambak in Lake This unsustainable industrial logging Murray. In practice the company has has threatened the livelihoods and illegally extracted timber from the the well-being of the communities in region's pristine rain forests. Seven the Kiunga-Aiambak area and made years since the beginning of road con- a significant contribution to poverty. struction, more than 179 km2 of forest The logging has directly and indirectly have been cleared but there is no and affected the lives of women in Kiunga- never has been a functional highway. Aiambak, who are responsible for much of the labour and daily sustenance The Kiunga-Aiambak Court Case of the families. The negative impacts The violation occurred when Concord associated with the current forest man- Ronald Gigmai, CELCOR, Papua New Guinea: Pacific started engaging in large-scale agement regime that takes men away logging which is prohibited under a TA from their home (for temporary work at "The globalization process has license (it only allows for a maximum logging camps), degrades streams and 3 to be a gradual one for poor of 5,000 m of logs to be harvested reduces the availability of NTFPs fall and remote communities to per year). disproportionately upon women. develop themselves and reap some benefits." The logging activity has disturbed These incidents and damages prompt- and degraded thousands of hectares ed the landowners to take the company of the pristine forests, leading to an to court by engaging the Center for estimated loss of more than US$60 Environmental Law and Community million of potential revenue to local Rights (CELCOR) in 2001. After almost landowners (PNGFA, 2001; PNGFA two years of working on this matter Annual timber digest, 1995-2001). — complemented by a vigorous cam- Forest disturbance resulted in a paign by Greenpeace and other NGOs scarcity of game animals tradition- — CELCOR obtained court orders ally hunted as food, loss of clean against Concord Pacific and other de- water supplies and loss of traditional fendants restraining them from further building materials and medicines. logging of the area until the substantive (Independent Review Team, 2001; trespass case was tried in court. The Individual Project Review Report No. injunctions were obtained on 7 July 31). 2003 and further orders were obtained on 14 August of that year to restrain The road project was clearly a veiled the company from exporting logs. A excuse to log the forest. The land- significant milestone was reached in owners' source of food and building the lengthy Kiunga-Aiambak case this materials was being destroyed before year (22 June 2006) whereby the court their eyes. ruled in favour of the clients (the Lake

Community meeting, Papa New Guinea. CREDIT: ©Kenn Mondiai

33 Murray landowners). It ruled that the In ecoforestry, the trees are harvested Timber Authority (08) given to Concord using portable equipment and milled Pacific to log in the area in 1994 has on the spot, before the wood is car- always been illegal. The defendants ried or floated out of the forest. A first (the company) now want to settle shipment of logs was exported this outside of court regarding the monies year. Greenpeace is spearheading the (US$500,000) held in the court trust initiative in the area with support from account (from the logs that were sold national NGOs with the intention of at the time of the court trial). CELCOR eventually handing the responsibility is liaising with the landowners and over to the LMROA. Ecoforestry will other stakeholders for the distribution of allow the communities to continue living these monies. CELCOR will persevere in their forests in the same way they until the case is satisfactorily settled have lived for a thousand years and to earn income to support their children's Kenn Mondiai, Executive and that landowners are adequately compensated for the environmental school fees, build their own homes and Director, Partners with damage as well as for payment of the provide for other needs. Melanesians: unpaid royalties to the landowners. "For the project to work, the Following the success of the court community has to be united and Following the Court Case case, people's livelihoods have been people must sacrifice their time and Whilst awaiting the trial, resource own- restored. The local landowners are resources to make things work." ers also discussed the possibilities of satisfied that the wildlife has now venturing into other sustainable projects returned, making hunting easier for the "Communities need to know how to utilize their forest and water re- local community. The animals had been the forest supports their livelihoods, sources. Currently, logging in the area scared off by the loud noise induced by so environmental education and has ceased and the logging company logging practices. raising awareness are the first point has moved out, yet CELCOR has faced of entry into a community." a bigger challenge and responsibility in With support from the NGOs, the re- pursuing the case while assisting the lo- source owners will eventually exercise "For the project to work, the cal resource owners' association (Lake their right to control development them- community has to be united and Murray Resource Owners Association selves. These people are now choosing people must sacrifice their time and [LMROA]) to build capacity and find to care for their forests sustainably and resources to make things work." alternatives to logging. to protect their way of life for future generations. Greenpeace and CELCOR "Communities need to know how A Western Province Conservation have partnered to build the capacity 22 the forest supports their livelihoods, Coalition of NGOs (both national and of the executives of the LMROA to so environmental education and international) was formed in 2004 to spearhead the development initiatives awareness is the first point of entry combine expertise and resources to that they intend to pursue. into a community." assist tribes venturing into alternative projects. The LMROA has decided to pursue ecoforestry as a sustainable way to generate income and employ- ment in the area. Greenpeace, vocal in the campaign, as well as other national NGOs with expertise in alternative sustainable livelihood projects is now facilitating an ecoforestry initiative in the area. Portable sawmills have been introduced and customary land demar- cations have been made pursuant to Papua New Guinea laws — with the assistance of a highly skilled forester from the Foundation for People and Community Development, a local NGO.

22 WPCC comprises CELCOR. Greenpeace Pacific, and WWF-PNG, Foundation for People and Community Development (FPCD). Environmental Law Center (ELC), Barefoot Community Development Services, Conservation Melanesia, FORCERT.

34 The organic coffee project in the Managalas Plateau, Papa New Guinea. CREDIT: © Kenn Mondial

Best Practice: Managalas Organic Organic Coffee Project (MOCP). In the sales on the local market by auction- Coffee Project in Papua New harvest season of 2006, PwM bought ing, according to the business plan. Guinea a vehicle and set up a collection scheme, offering a higher price for Initially it was difficult to put a new The Managalas Plateau, an area the coffee beans than that offered by business system in place, especially of 360,000 hectares, sits some 800 the independent buyers, thus creating when local communities were unused metres above sea level in a remote competition. Fifteen tonnes of the to it. Moreover there was a need to region of Papua New Guinea; it is tribes' organic coffee beans were pur- build local capacity to understand and accessible by footpaths, a five-hour chased, transported from the plateau, manage the system well according ride in a four-wheel-drive and a shipped to Lae, transported by road to the business plan, while not losing once-a-week Twin Otter flight service. to Goroka in the highlands and milled focus on the importance of safeguard- Its 16,000 inhabitants have limited and graded in a hand-picked facility, ing the local environment and forest. access to markets and basic services and finally auctioned off at the local Growing coffee on the Managalas and earn an average annual income market. Profits have been stored in Plateau is very challenging work and of K150/year (US$50/year) per family. a trust fund and will be redistributed under the leadership of Paul Konia, Income-earning initiatives are virtually according to a pre-approved formula: the Manager of MOCP, the project non-existent. Shared among an education and is progressing well, despite difficul- health trust fund and a road mainte- ties with road conditions, weather Having worked with the Managalas nance fund. problems, delays in shipping and Plateau tribes for over 15 years, landslides. But Paul confirms, "there Partners with Melanesians Inc. (PwM) PwM, in partnership with the NTFP- is light at the end of the tunnel for the was in search of an alternative income EP, always sourced the consultant Managalas organic coffee project". stream to combat depradations by who had experimented with a similar logging, oil palm and mining specula- project in the Philippines. The consult- tion. In concert with the community, ant assisted PwM in the development an eco-enterprise project was set up of a practical and viable design for which supports natural resource liveli- coffee production and drafted the hoods and poverty reduction at the MOCP's business plan. As adopted by community level. Under the leadership the community, the business plan sets of the PwM group, the people of the out the roadmap to a viable eco-enter- Managalas are experimenting with a prise, and ensures that the MOCP will new economic model. be handed over to a separate Board of Directors representing the people Previously, the 3,660 coffee growers and farmers of the Managalas Plateau on the plateau had been hindered by in 2008 — transferred from PwM's poor market access. PwM proceeded Board. to help the community secure some funding through the Doen Foundation The target for 2007 is to buy up to of the Netherlands to repair the road 30 tonnes of the Managalas organic and make it passable again, as a coffee production and then test the first step to setting up the Managalas international market and continue with

35 Synergy in Action on what causes people's vulnerability, lack of access and use of resources, in addition to identifying which structures and processes affect people's ability to achieve a sustainable livelihood, such as marketing systems (e.g. for income generation based on NTFPs), tenure reform and policy changes that are often institutional in nature.

Thus, poverty is not simply a lack of assets, or a site-specific problem, but is subjected to deeper factors, such as lack of legal access to resources, exclu- sion from decision-making in resource management, inadequate marketing systems and other limitations, including policy constraints.

Tropical forests have more important functions than providing logs to build patio furniture or being a parcel of land waiting to be converted into shorter- term lucrative gains from monoculture. Countless studies have established the wealth of services that forests provide, namely to poor communities that depend on them for their livelihoods. Not only do they offer clean water, clean air, food, shelter and medicines, but they are also major sources of environmental income: studies show that nearly 1.6 billion people worldwide depend on forests for their livelihoods, Participants in SLA workshop (see page 14) visiting Sungai Peiaik village in Danau Sentarum, West and that forest-related income provides Kalimantan. CREDIT: © Abet Nego Tarigan a significant share of total household income in many regions of the world.23 Excerpt from the Plan of The Millennium Development Goals, Implementation of the World adopted by governments worldwide The Natureandpoverty* Programme Summit on Sustainable in 2000 require us to halve the has used the Sustainable Livelihoods Development world's poor by 2015 and to ensure Approach (SLA) to link the concepts environmental sustainability — with de- of capability, equity and sustainability. "... implementation should in- forestation rates being a major indicator Each concept is seen as both a good in volve all relevant actors through against which to measure our progress itself as well as an end (cf. box on SLA, partnerships, especially between towards this goal. This publication is p 12). The precise frameworks and Governments of the North and further evidence to the fact that these tools used by the partners vary. Each South....andbetween Governments goals mutually re-inforce, or conversely, organization has identified particular and major groups... to achieve the impair each other. Nature (or the envi- entry points for the SLA, which reflect widely shared goals of sustainable ronment) and poverty are two sides of both the varying conceptual emphases development. ..such partnerships the same development equation. and the organizations' own strengths are key to pursuing sustainable and opportunities. While they are development in a globalizing world." Poverty is more than lack of income complex the following elements are and assets to meet basic human central to the approach, that need to be needs (food, shelter, clothing, primary understood, in order to find solutions education and health); being poor that do not undermine the purpose of should also be seen not just in terms of achieving sustainable livelihoods: the absence of assets and resources, but as the lack of capability to realize 23 FAO (2006) Better forestry, less poverty (FAO Forestry these assets. This involves focusing Paper No. 149)

36 Causes of vulnerability — shocks and hoods can become reality when using a harm the environment. West Kalimantan stresses in the economic, social and people-centred approach; this allows the hojieyis in the process of gaining access political context, trends, seasonality, participation of the different stakehold- to international markets following organic fragility of natural resources, etc. ers who rely on natural resources and certification. the actors involved in decision-making Assets at the individual, household and processes to determine their use and The development of an organic coffee community level, comprising human, management. The interventions exempli- enterprise on the Managalas Plateau social, economic, physical and natural fied here are re-inforced through the of Papua New Guinea: CELCOR and resource components. synergy of complementary organizations, PwM have ensured that customary law the dividends of which are to be reaped be enforced to inhibit concession com- The context within which livelihoods by the forest-dwelling communities, such panies from claiming the forest from evolve — policies at both micro and as: people in the Lake Murray area. PwM macro levels; civic, economic and and the NTFP-EP have facilitated the cultural institutions, both formal and The honey bee case study in West development of local coffee enterprises. informal; the nature of governance and Kalimantan: The aforesaid points have Upon PwM's efforts, the local com- its processes at all levels in society. been addressed through the work of munities have adopted the business a number of different organizations. plan, with clear expectations on their Livelihood strategies, including, but not WWF-lndonesia, Sawit Watch, WAHLI responsibilities for the development of a restricted to, consumption, production and Riak Bumi have jointly studied the management system; local people have and exchange activities. development plans of the area including been trained to implement the system, logging and expansion of large-scale with regard to quality coffee grading, Livelihood outcomes, assessed multi- oil palm plantations and facilitated and the community mobilised itself to dimensionally in terms of food and other dialogues between communities, gov- repair and maintain the roads, making basic needs security, greater sustainabil- ernment and the private sector to find it possible to export the harvest. The negotiations involved in the Roundtable ity of the natural resource base, reduced solutions for more sustainable develop- on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) be- vulnerability and increased income. ment and to mitigate impacts. At the same time Riak Bumi and the NTFP-EP tween the government, civil society and Building Blocks: Partnerships have been working with communities the private sector have led to the adop- to generate economic profit from local tion of a set of global guiding principles for sustainable oil palm plantations: In The onset of globalization (i.e. the free NTFPs and honey products. Local Indonesia WWF-lndonesia and Sawit flow of information, goods and people) groups oversee the business to ensure Watch are facilitating consultations has altered the playing field for all of us that it is properly managed and does not and externally driven development has become a powerful force to contend with, bringing along extraordinarily complex challenges that cannot be solved over night. Then again, these complex reali- Mapping exercise with ties offer various windows of opportuni- villagers in Nanga ties. Forest products can be harvested Leboyan village in sustainably, manufactured and delivered Danau Sentarum, West Kalimantan. CREDIT: to consumers around the globe. © Hermayani Putra

The major achievements of the Natureandpoverty* Programme have been the collaborations among the different partner organizations. This is exemplified by the strengths and capaci- ties through synergistic partnerships for forest conservation and poverty reduc- tion in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Alliances among non-naturally aligned partners help an organization to extend its reach and magnify its impact by combining skills, sharing information and pooling resources, among other benefits.

Several of the case studies and best practices presented in this publication have illustrated how sustainable liveli-

37 with the government to convert the to gain strength, ideas and skills. Deep 6. Ensuring accountability between criteria into national law and policy. in the woods of Southeast Asia and partners. WWF-lndonesia and Sawit Watch have the Pacific, social, development and 7. Changes in funding strategies also worked with PwM and CELCOR environmental conservation NGOs are among donors is a common reason in Papua New Guinea to improve the partnering, building mutual trust and why partnerships are not continued. involvement of civil society and the learning to combine their strengths for government in the RSPO process. more effective impact. The Natureandpoverty* Programme, was an experiment in developing In Sarawak communities have been Be it among the NGOs of Southeast sustainable partnerships The recurring fighting for rights to their lands for more Asia and the Pacific or between NGOs meetings among these northern NGOs than 25 years and with support from from the North and South, synergy is a and counterparts in Southeast Asia Sahabat Alam Malaysia, the case has sophisticated process that evolves in and the Pacific re-inforced each other's been brought to court. Gaining govern- steps: work and yielded valuable lessons, ment recognition of customary law is namely: a struggle for communities across the 1. Organizations have to become region, which determines what type of acquainted; this requires free flow of There is a need for forest communities livelihood strategies people adopt as information, accountability and ex- in the region to share ideas and experi- access to natural resources becomes change of viewpoints and eventually ences on forest issues relating to efforts limited. this leads to trust and respect. to halt illegal logging operations on their 2. Identification of possibilities for col- land as well as their efforts in develop- The Natureandpoverty* Programme laboration by exchange on strate- ing alternative livelihood programmes. affiliates continue to explore how gies and experiences. synergistic alliances among organiza- 3. Adoption of mutual strategies and It is crucial to develop viable alterna- tions, serve to enhance their impact by experiences (cross-visits, joint tives for unsustainable approaches matching their activities, exchanging training). (logging, mining and oil palm plantation their expertise, learning from each other 4. Identification of joint new (learning) expansion). It is imperative that civil so- and complementing their roles. Hence, activities. ciety studies alternatives to plantations allying a nature conservation approach 5. The ability and willingness to and how to facilitate decision-making with a social advocacy campaign or a adapt the (project) activities of and long-term thinking on this matter. business marketing plan in a synergistic one's organization for the benefit The challenge is to offer viable alterna- partnership is a unique and promising of the overall (Natureandpoverty*) tive livelihood options and community avenue to extend the NGOs reach and programme. forestry development opportunities and

Friends from WWF Indonesia and WALHI in Denau Sentarum, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. CREDIT: © Hermayani Putra

38 Synergy Person A as well as person B is too short to pick an apple from a tree on his own. Once person B sits on the shoulders of person A, they together are tall enough to reach the apple. In this example the result of synergy is one apple. But who will eat the apple?

NatureandPoverty Program partners meeting in Sarawak, Malaysia. CREDIT: © Abet Nego Tarigan be prepared to also provide the means also needed if we are going to make There is a need to increase aware- to implement such alternatives. progress on nature and poverty mat- ness programmes to educate commu- ters. For instance: nities on their basic rights so they can Community mapping projects are defend their land and themselves from of crucial importance to the land Nature conservation NGOs need encroachment and to educate them on rights struggle. By defining their land to encompass social advocacy alternative uses to their lands. boundaries on a map, the communi- approaches and support local com- ties can offer proof of the extent of munities in their forest-related The need for long-term involvement their communal boundaries and their undertakings. is rarely reflected in aid policies and native customary land and thus assert subsequently NGOs and INGOs work their rights to it. Participatory maps Organizations that have experience in on a short-term basis. Donor agencies and natural resource management providing or implementing alternative need to increase support to national planning developed by communities livelihood programmes ought to docu- and local NGOs. have proven to be a vital basis for an ment their experiences and dissemi- alternative regional planning process. nate them for analysis and possible Collaboration between organizations replication. with different mandates ought to be In specific cases (i.e. West Malaysia, enabled so that each can contribute Papua New Guinea [Lake Murray]), To support strategic and systematic more effectively to achieving positive supporting and empowering local/in- thinking on livelihood alternatives to change by building on their respective digenous community groups with legal plantations, a good sustainable liveli- institutional strengths. assistance and skills' development hood analysis is needed. Activities has been extremely valuable in bring- towards building capacity for such Critical analysis of aid efficiency and ing the needs of community groups to an analysis need to be supported. its contribution to achieving the MDGs governmental attention. Studies are required to increase is needed. knowledge and enhance analytical In general plantation workers' aware- capacity to assess (sociocultural, It is important to note that, while the ness of their legal rights in relation economic and ecological) the impact value of secure access rights has an to employment and social security of large-scale oil palm plantation effect at the local level, the institutional benefits is very low. development. change that supports it generally comes from policies or laws enacted at a state Inspiration for Action: Policy More marketing research is needed or national levels. Addressing poverty Recommendations for the viable development of other reduction and the environment must NTFPs because poor communities work both at the local level — facilitat- The successful ventures presented in cannot afford the costs of feasibility ing equitable decision-making and dis- this publication need to be amplified studies. Marketing research should be tribution of benefits within a community and replicated. More, much more is incorporated into PRSPs. — and at wider policy levels — using

39 policy processes to provide supportive contributed to local poverty by denying institutional mechanisms. Local action poor people control over and access can be supported by different institu- to the natural resources that underpin tions: For instance, the communities of their livelihoods. This has occurred both the Lake Murray region in Papua New in protected areas and with nationalized Guinea were able to regain control over resources, such as forest concessions, their customary lands through the help which often exclude use for local of CELCOR, a national NGO which benefits in the name of conservation or fought on their behalf in the national natural resource management. Peter van Sluijs, Friends of the courts. Earth Netherlands: Conversely, while development can- Genuinely devolved and facilitated ne- not be achieved without economic "There is clear added-value to the gotiation in decision-making is essential growth, the overemphasis on economic partnering of non-traditionally allied for empowering people to manage development has in many instances NGOs: cross-fertilization of ideas resources. This does not mean that undermined the environment in ways and strengthening of capacities." there is no role for central authorities in that affect the long-term benefits of de- setting standards or broad objectives velopment. Regardless of the benefits "If we lobby against the logging or for natural resource and land manage- reaped at a larger scale, development conversion of primary tropical for- ment. The problem is how to do this has often occurred at a cost to the ests, we have the responsibility to without undermining local decision- poorest people and the environment. provide those communities living in making and effective decentralization. Hence, the call to re-invigorate sustain- the forests with sustainable options able development presents major for their livelihoods." This publication has shown that there challenges to the development and is a need to make decision-makers conservation communities alike. "Policy dialogue is instrumental in responsible for their decisions, without engaging governments and making the constraint of too many detailed Having learned the lessons, the guiding them aware of the issues regarding guidelines. If sound local decision-mak- vision for nature and poverty interven- rain forests: Governments need to ing is to be possible, local institutions tions lies in the need for corporate and get input in terms of how issues must be developed and strengthened. governmental recognition of the com- are best addressed, and this While they need to be accountable up- munity agenda for forest conservation programme shows that sustainable wards — in such matters as safeguards and land rights; the need for informed environmental management is es- for environmental standards — they consent and fair treatment of smallhold- sential in securing any progress in also need to be accountable down- ers and plantation workers; and the poverty reduction." wards, to the people they genuinely need to build informed communities represent. Developing institutions that that make wise choices in the market- "There is no blueprint for environ- represent the poor is difficult, especially ing of their resources. mental sustainability or poverty because poverty is not a priority among reduction; we need to be very crea- local elites, but it is an essential step. The stories recounted in these pages tive and address the needs and inspire. But they seem too few and too issues as they occur." A simple example of a transforming slow. If under visionary domestic lead- structure or process might be a policy ership local indigenous communities change in a case where forest-dwelling are going to empower themselves and people are not permitted to harvest and choose to build sustainable livelihoods, sell timber. A change in laws governing they will need assistance. tenure would enable them to turn a potential asset (or capital) into some- If we are to make any substantial thing useful for livelihoods (and poverty progress on achieving the MDGs, the reduction). Another example is the lessons learnt in the plight of these development of a marketing structure communities need to be replicated to enable people to sell their products, and magnified, now. The NGOs that such as honey, to international markets. have delicately and painstakingly Institutional arrangements are often earned their trust are innovating to plan transforming structures or processes. integrated approaches, amassing a wealth of knowledge and ideas along Conservation has contributed to human the way — precious lessons on the way well-being by safeguarding global pub- forward. Their voices are echoing in the lic goods and by maintaining ecosystem forests: Shall we stop and listen? services at regional and national levels. At times, however, it has also

40 Local people, Papua New Guinea. Bensbach River, Papua New Guinea. Young boy in tradi- tional dug-out canoe, near Bensbach tourist lodge, as sun sets over the Bensbach River, Western Province, Papua New Guinea. December 2004. CREDIT: © Brent Stirton / Getty Images / WWF-UK

Afterword

During a period when all countries are tive tools to support the sustainable har- fact that development does not have to striving towards meeting their targets, as vesting of rain-forest materials. The field destroy the environment and livelihoods. set forth by the MDGs, it is particularly trip of the three Dutch MPs to the forests On the contrary, when governments, timely for this publication to highlight of Borneo in 2005 vividly highlighted the businesses and civil society collaborate the issues at play for the remaining link between consumer behaviour in our innovatively, we can produce harmoni- expanses of rain forests in Southeast countries and the destruction of tropical ous achievements for the well-being of Asia and the Pacific. Old growth rain forests in the Asia-Pacific region. While people and the global environment. forests are rich banks of biodiversity, of the Dutch Parliament has adopted a vital importance, especially to the local motion to develop legislation for encour- We congratulate the Dutch NGOs populations who have derived their liveli- aging the import of sustainable palm that have creatively engineered the hoods from them for thousands of years. oil into the Netherlands, we call upon framework for the Natureandpoverty* other consumer countries to follow this Programme, and salute the work of their Given that our Northern markets are initiative. counterparts in Southeast Asia and the large consumers of tropical rain-forest Pacific, who are relentlessly toiling on products, we have a keen responsibility The anecdotes in this book are resound- the frontlines. in refining our policies and market incen- ing accounts of hope, validating the

41 Annex 1. Profiles

Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) The Consumers' Association of Penang was established in 1970 to promote critical awareness and action among consumers in order to uphold their inherent rights and interests. CAP is a grassroots non-profit, NGO linking consumer issues with environ- ment and development issues. It fights for the rights and interests of all consumers through research, educational and representational activities. It is dedicated to helping people become more responsible consumers and to protecting them from abuse and malpractice in the marketplace.

Consumers' Association of Penang No. 10, Jalan Masjid Negeri 11600 Penang Malaysia Tel:+ 6 04 829 9 511 Fax:+ 6 04 829 8 109 Email: [email protected]

Center for Environmental Law and Community Rights Inc. (CELCOR) The Center for Environmental Law and Community Rights Inc. is a public interest NGO for law which was founded in February 2000. The main aim of CELCOR is to provide legal assistance to landowners affected by large-scale environmentally destructive projects including industrial logging, mining and oil palm plantation developments and to promote community-based natural resource management through the promotion of effective law and policies.

The Center for Environmental Law and Community Rights Inc. (CELCOR) Suite 6B, Level 2, Garden City Shopping Complex, BOROKO P O Box 4373 BOROKO National Capital District Papua New Guinea Phone: + 675 323 4509 Fax:+ 675 311 2106 Email: [email protected] www.celcor.org.pg

Friends of the Earth Netherlands Vereniging Milieudefensie/Friends of the Earth Netherlands is the Dutch branch of the international network, Friends of the Earth. The mission of Milieudefensie is to contribute to solving environmental problems and to conservation of cultural heritage, as well as to strive towards a sustainable society at global, national, regional and local levels, in its broadest sense.

As a non-profit environmental organization Milieudefensie carries out activities to: raise awareness on sustainability issues among key stakeholders in society; develop strategic concepts for sustainable development; and organize activities to promote the introduc- tion and implementation of innovative measures to achieve sustainable development.

Milieudefensie/Friends of the Earth Netherlands Nieuwe Looiersstraat 31 1017 VA Amsterdam The Netherlands Phone: + 31 (0) 20 5507 340 Fax:+ 31 (0)20 5507 310 Email: [email protected] www.foenl.org

42 IUCN — The World Conservation Union Created in 1948, IUCN brings together 79 States, 114 government agencies, > 800 NGOs and some 10,000 scientists and experts from 181 countries in a unique worldwide partnership. IUCN's mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.

IUCN is the world's largest environmental knowledge network and has helped over 75 countries to prepare and implement national conservation and biodiversity strategies. IUCN is a multicultural, multilingual organization with 1,000 staff located in 62 countries. Its headquarters are in Gland, Switzerland.

IUCN — The World Conservation Union Asia Regional Office Regional Forest Programme Maria Osbeck 63 Sukhumwit Soi 39 Wattana, Bangkok 10110 Thailand Tel: + 66 (0) 2 262 0529-31 Fax: + 66 (0) 2 262 0861 Email: [email protected] www.iucn.org

The IUCN National Committee of the Netherlands (IUCN-NL) brings together the 35 Dutch members of IUCN to increase Dutch support for the protection and conservation of nature, to reduce the Dutch ecological footprint and to support civil society organiza- tions in developing countries to undertake projects for the protection of our earth's natural resources.

IUCN Nederlands Comite Plantage Middenlaan 2K 1018 DD Amsterdam Tel:+ 31 (0)20 626 17 32 Fax: + 31 (0) 20 627 93 49 Email: [email protected] www.iucn.nl

Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange Programme (NTFP-EP) The NTFP-EP is a collaborative network of NGOs and community-based organizations in South and Southeast Asia. The shared goal is to empower forest-based communities to make use of and manage forest resources in a sustainable manner. To this end, the NTFP-EP catalyses and supports activities that build up and strengthen the capacity of partner organizations in their work with forest-dependent communities, particularly indigenous peoples. Partner organizations, while respecting the integrity of cultural tradi- tions, work together with communities in developing and implementing initiatives that meet local needs. The NTFP-EP strives to ensure that the benefits of these initiatives are equally enjoyed by young and old and by both men and women.

92-A Masikap Extension, Barangay Central, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines Tel: + 63 2 929 3665 Fax: + 63 2 426 2757 Email: [email protected] / [email protected] www.ntfp.org

43 Partners with Melanesians Inc. (PwM) PwM was conceived by staff and students of the Language and Literature Department at the University of Papua New Guinea in 1985. Initially, PwM was set up to support groups and communities who were involved in education and development initiatives in rural communities of Papua New Guinea. As time progressed, PwM started work on the Managalas Plateau of the Oro Province in what has come to be regarded as one of the best models of community mobilization and community development work for conserva- tion in the country. PwM is now embarking on a new strategy whereby it works hand in hand with the local community on capacity building, training and promoting eco-enter- prises activities for income generation as part of the larger conservation effort. Using the Managalas experience, PwM plans to expand to other new sites in Papua New Guinea starting in 2008.

Partners with Melanesians Inc. 09 Croton Street, Sect 36 Lot 3 - HOHOLA PO Box 1910, Port Moresby National Capital District (NCD) Papua New Guinea Telephone: + 675 323 6344 Fax: + 675 32 36345 Email: [email protected] www.pwmpng.org.pg

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) Sahabat Alam Malaysia was registered as a society in 1977 under the Societies Act of Malaysia. SAM is a grassroot, community-focused NGO championing environment and development issues. Its activities include educating the general public on the need for ecologically sound development; assisting communities which have been adversely affected by so-called development; and advocating for a development model that is ecologically sustainable, socially just and fulfils the human needs of the majority. SAM operates out of Penang and Marudi, in Sarawak, and works together with communities throughout Peninsula Malaysia and parts of Sarawak.

Sahabat Alam Malaysia No.21, Lintang Delima 15 11600 Penang Malaysia Tel: + 6 04 659 6 930 Fax: + 6 04 659 6 931 Email: [email protected] www.foe-malaysia.org.my

Sawit Watch The Sawit Watch Association is an Indonesian organization that aims to counterbalance the uncontrolled expansion of large-scale oil palm plantations. Since 1998, the secre- tariat has built a network of 50 local partners who work directly with around 75 affected communities (approximately 40,000 families) throughout Indonesia. The Sawit Watch Association secretariat (15 staff) in Bogor has also built up partnerships with individual representatives in Indonesia as well as in Europe.

Jl. Sempur Kaler No.28 Bogor16129 Indonesia Tel:+ 62 251 352171 Fax: + 62 251 352047 Email: [email protected] www.sawitwatch.or.id

44 WAHLI The Indonesian Forum for Environment (WALHI - Friends of the Earth Indonesia) is the largest forum of non-government and community-based organisations in Indonesia. It is represented in 25 provinces and has over 438 member organisa- tions (as of June 2004). It stands for social transformation, peoples sovereignty, and sustainability of life and livelihoods. WALHI works to defend Indonesia's natural world and local communities from injustice carried out in the name of economic development.

Indonesian Forum for Environment (WALHI) Friends of the Earth Indonesia Jl. Tegal Parang Utara No. 14 Jakarta 12790, INDONESIA Tel:+ 62 (0)21 791 93 363 Fax:+62 (0)21 794 1673 Email: [email protected]

World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) The WWF is one of the world's largest environmental conservation organizations. The organization builds concrete conservation solutions through a combination of field based projects, policy initiatives, capacity building and education work. The WWF wants to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by: • Conserving the world's biological diversity. • Ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable. • Promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

Established in 1961, the WWF operates in more than 100 countries working for a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. Currently the WWF is funding around 2,000 conservation projects and employs almost 4,000 people across the planet.

WWF-lndonesia Kantor Taman A9/Unit A1, Jl. Mega Kuningan, Jakarta 12950 INDONESIA Tel:+ 62 21 5761070 ext 506 Fax:+62 21 5761080 Email: [email protected] www.wwf.or.id

WWF-Netherlands Wereld Natuur Fonds Driebergseweg 10 3708 JB Zeist Tel: 31-900-1962 Fax:31-30-693 04 08 Email: [email protected] www.wnf.nl

45 Annex 2. The Official Dutch Motion for Parliament

Dutch Motion for Parliament

Motion nr. 20 (30305) Proposed May 18, 2006 Van der Ham, Dittrich, Hessels, Ormel en Huizinga-Heringa

Adjustment of the Electricity Law 1998 in relation to modifications in the way of promot- ing environmental quality of the energy supply.

The Second Chamber hearing the consultation,

Considering the need for a speedily transition to a more sustainable energy provision and acknowledging that certain biofuels can offer good contributions for this.

Considering the fact that palm oil as such does have good potential to be used as a bio- fuel, but recognising that productivity of palm oil decreases after 20 years, its negative effect on the direct environment and knowing that expansion often negatively impacts local populations and labour rights of plantation workers.

Observing that vast areas in the tropical forest of Borneo are severely endangered, where logging will take place to sell the timber and convert the land into palm oil planta- tions, as shown in recent plans of the Indonesian government to convert areas in and around the heart of Borneo; an area larger than that of the Netherlands.

Considering that approximately one third of palm oil producing and importing companies world-wide have joined the Round Table for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) which has developed sustainability-criteria on the basis of which unsustainable palm oil can be identified.

Observing that as a result of a growing world-wide demand for palm oil the volume needed by far exceeds the available landmass for palm oil cultivation, which results in a disproportionate pressure on the biodiversity in tropical land areas where palm oil is cultivated.

Concluding that Indonesia is one of the world's largest exporters of palm oil and the Netherlands one of the largest importers, requests the government to develop an instru- ments based on RSPO-criteria in collaboration with private sector and non-governmen- tal organisations to come to a comprehensive approach to exclude palm oil, also in the energy sector, that is not produced according to RSPO-criteria.

Requests the government, to continue to support initiatives that contribute to the preser- vation of the remaining rainforests and indigenous way of existence, amongst others by means of supporting the dialogue with the Indonesian authorities on land rights issues and viable economical alternatives for large scale palm oil production.

This motion is proposed by the members Van der Ham, Dittrich, Hessels, Ormel en Huizinga-Heringa. It has been given nr. 20 (30 305)

46 Annex 3. Code of Conduct for Members of The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil

It is fundamental to the integrity, credibility and continued progress of the RSPO that every member supports, promotes and works towards the production, procurement and use of Sustainable Palm Oil. All Ordinary and Affiliate Members must act in good faith towards this objective and commit to adhering to the principles set out in this Code. This Code applies to all Ordinary and Affiliate Members of the RSPO with respect to their activities in the palm oil sector and its derivatives.

1. Promotion and Commitment

1.1 Member organisations will acknowledge their membership of the RSPO, its objec- tives, statutes and by-laws, the Principle and Criteria (P&C) and its respective national interpretations and implementation process through informed and explicit endorsement.

1.2 Members will promote and communicate this commitment throughout its own organi- sation and to its customers, suppliers, sub-contractors and wider value chains where necessary.

1.3 Membership of the RSPO must be endorsed by a senior representative of the mem- ber organisation.

2. Transparency, reporting and claims

2.1 Members will not make any misleading or unsubstantiated claims about the produc- tion, procurement or use of sustainable palm oil.

2.2 Members are required to report annually on progress against this Code.

2.3 Members will commit to open and transparent engagement with interested parties, and actively seek resolution of conflict.

3. Implementation

3.1 Members to whom the P&C apply will work towards implementation and certification of the P&C.

3.2 Members to whom the P&C do not apply directly will implement parallel standards relevant to their own organisation, which cannot be lower than those set out in the P&C.

3.3 Members are responsible for ensuring that their commitment to the objectives of the RSPO is underpinned by adequate resources within its organisation.

3.4 Relevant personnel within member organisations will be provided appropriate infor- mation that will enable them to work towards the objectives of the RSPO in their work.

3.5 Members will share with other members experience in the design and implementa- tion of activities to support sustainable palm oil.

3.6 Members to whom the P&C do not directly apply will actively seek to promote sus- tainable palm oil and will give support to those members engaged in implementing the RSPO P&C.

47 4. Pricing and incentives

4.1 Members procuring palm oil will integrate implementation and independent verification of the P&C as a positive performance measure when assessing supplier performance.

4.2 Members will adhere strictly to the RSPO anti-trust guidelines, and refrain from any behaviour which can be construed as anti-competitive practice.

5. Breaches of this Code

5.1 Members will seek to resolve grievances directly with other member organisa- tions in a timely fashion, and will not make unsubstantiated allegations of breaches against other members.

5.2 Breaches of this Code, or the by-laws and statutes of the RSPO may lead to exclusion from the organisation.

5.3 Prior to taking public action in cases of unresolved allegations of breaches of this Code, members will report breaches to the Executive Board, which will deal with the alleged breaches in accordance with the RSPO Grievance Procedure.

5.4 Executive Board Members who are found, after due inquiry, to have breached the Code, will be replaced.

Note: We have made every effort to ensure that the translations of this Code of Conduct are as complete and accurate as possible. However, please note that it is the English language documents which should be treated as the official versions.

48 Annex 4. Facts

"A country could cut its forests and deplete its fisheries, and this would show only as a positive gain to GDP, despite the loss of capital assets. If the full economic value of ecosystems were taken into account in decision-making, their degradation could be significantly slowed down or even reversed." http://www.greenfacts.org/ecosystems/ - Point 3.2

"Levels of poverty remain high, and over one billion people have an income of less than $1 per day. Most of these people are very dependent on ecosystems, because they support themselves mainly through agriculture, grazing and hunting. The regions facing the greatest developmental challenges tend to be those having the greatest ecosystem-related problems." http://www.greenfacts.org/ecosystems/ - Point 3.3

"Changes in policy can decrease many of the negative consequences of growing pressures on ecosystems. However, the actions needed for this are much larger than those currently taken. Most ecosystem services have already suffered, but the damage would have been even greater without the conservation actions taken so far." http://www.greenfacts.org/ecosystems/ - Point 8.1

"Environmental sustainability is the foundation on which strategies for achieving all the other MDGs must be built, because environmental degradation is causally linked to problems of poverty, hunger, gender inequality and health."

UN Millennium Project, 2005 http://www.undp.org/pei/pdfs/SustainingEnvironmentFightPoverty.pdf

"The loss of services derived from ecosystems is a significant barrier to the achieve- ment of the MDGs." Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005 http://www.undp.org/pei/pdfs/SustainingEnvironmentFightPoverty.pdf

In 1990, more than 1.2 billion people - 28 per cent of the developing world's popula- tion - lived in extreme poverty. By 2002, the proportion decreased to 19 per cent. United Nations, The MDG Report 2006, p. 4 http://unstats.un.org/unsd/mdg/Resources/Static/Products/Progress2006/ MDGReport2006.pdf

Deforestation, primarily the conversion of forests to agricultural land, continues at an alarmingly high rate - about 13 million hectares per year. The current net loss is equivalent to about 200 square kilometres per day. United Nations, The MDG Report 2006, p. 16 & 17 http://unstats.un.org/unsd/mdg/Resources/Static/Products/Progress2006/ MDGReport2006.pdf

49 IUCN The World Conservation Union

The World Conservation Union (IUCN) Asia Regional Office 63, Sukhumvit Soi 39 Wattana, 10110 Bangkok Thailand Phone: +662 662 4049 Fax: +662 662 4388 E-mail: [email protected]

www.iucn.org