A group of young volunteers have discovered an inventive way to prevent deforestation in remote areas of Zambia – by encouraging women to become entrepreneurs. While Zambia is one of the most foliage rich countries on earth – with 60 per cent of its land mass covered in forest – it is also one of world’s most prolific deforesters. According to recent data from the Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), the deforestation rate in Zambia is currently around 250-300 thousand hectares a year – leaving experts concerned that Zambia’s trees could be gone completely by the year 2030. One of the main causes of deforestation in Zambia is the use of charcoal. 90 per cent of the population use charcoal related sources of energy and about 75 per cent of households rely on it, according to the Stockholm Environment Institute – making charcoal a lucrative business venture and major source of livelihood for many people.

Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiatives are imperative in promoting the importance of rainforest conservation, economic diversification and sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region. This was highlighted during the second Asia-Pacific Rainforest Summit (ASPR), which Dr. Peter Holmgren, Director General of the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), considered a success. The summit, which was held at the International Convention Centre, Berakas, was attended by delegations from seven countries in the Asia-Pacific region as well as representatives from local and foreign public and private sectors.

Community empowerment and constructive government measures are essential for successful community forestry management in Indonesia and the Philippines, a summit heard this week. Speakers from Indonesia and the Philippines shared their experiences of forging community collaboration on forestry management in their respective countries. Dede Rohadi, a representative from Indonesia’s Environment and Forestry Ministry and a scientist with the Centre for International Forestry Research, said Indonesia has had a long history establishing community forests, with the idea initiated in 1978 but officially implemented in 2003.

The second day of the 2nd Asia-Pacific Rainforest Summit (APRS) being held at the International Convention Centre in Berakas saw the participation of Mahmud bin Haji Yussof, CEO of Heart of Borneo (HoB), Brunei Darussalam in a dialogue session. The dialogue titled ‘Public Private People Partnerships: Opportunities for Combined Efforts’ was attended by Dr Putera Parthama, Director General of Sustainable Management of Production Forests, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Indonesia; Brian Williams, Regional Director of Asia, Wildlife Works Carbon; Dharsono Hartono, CEO of PT Rimba Makmur Utama; and Paul Tregidgo, Managing Director of Credit Suisse. The moderator of the session was Peter Holmgren, Director General of the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR).

Brunei needs to incorporate and integrate climate consideration in its forest management in efforts to combat climate change as part of the Paris Agreement, said the Center for International Forestry Research’s (CIFOR) director general yesterday. Holmgren shared Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Hj Ali Hj Apong’s sentiment on Wednesday that the summit also aimed to identify practical actions to reduce forest loss. Holmgren said that an example of practical action is Public-Private-People (PPP) Partnership. He moderated a session on Public Private People Partnership: Opportunities for combined efforts yesterday morning. Holmgren said the development and implementation of forest conservation projects will require partnerships between government, private sector and the people. Brunei is set to implement its own PPP partnership project- ‘Project Habitat’ under the Heart of Borneo (HoB) initiative in collaboration with the Biodiversity and Natural History Society (BruWILD) this year.

Smaller nations are already feeling the effects of climate change and are working towards more sustainable development policies by encouraging closer collaborations between government, private sector, NGOs and development partners. This was the message from leaders in the Pacific Islands as they began the second day of the 2016 Asia-Pacific Rainforest Summit in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. At the summit’s opening speech, Dr Peter Holmgren, Director General of the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), called for an integrated approach to achieve the Sustainable Development  Goals and the commitments outlined in the Paris Agreement, and to redefine ‘forestry’ to  achieve poverty alleviation, improved health and economic benefits.

Representatives from Asian and Pacific countries are gathering in Bandar Seri Begawan from Aug. 3 to 5 to find better practical solutions to balance development and environmental sustainability during the second Asia-Pacific Rainforest Summit. The Bruneian government is hosting the summit with the support of the Australian government and the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR).  There are to be some 300 participants from 11 countries, including Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Fiji, Vanuatu and Timor Leste. Participants are not only representing governments, but also NGOs and businesses. The first rainforest summit resulted in the formation of the Asia-Pacific Rainforest Partnership.

Negara-negara Asia Pasifik terus menekankan komitmen untuk mengutamakan pembangunan mapan dan menangani perubahan iklim menerusi pelbagai tindakan yang nyata. Oleh itu, Sidang Kemuncak Hutan Hujan Asia Pasifik merupakan platform unik bagi negara-negara rantau Asia Pasifik untuk meneroka bagaimana kepelbagaian ekonomi boleh menyokong agenda pembangunan dan alam sekitar. Sidang kemuncak itu mengetengahkan penceramah-penceramah dari rantau Asia Pasifik dan antara yang bakal menyampaikan ceramah termasuk Pengarah Pemuliharaan, Rantau Asia Tenggara, The Nature Conservancy, Jack Hurd; Ketua Pengarah, Pusat Penyelidikan Perhutanan Antarabangsa (CIFOR), Dr Peter Holmgren; dan Pegawai Perhutanan Kanan bagi Asia dan Pasifik, Pertubuhan Makanan dan Pertanian, Pertubuhan Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu (UN FAO), Patrick Durst.