Environment

FOrest projects supported

The Global Canopy Programme (GCP) established in 2001, is a UK registered Charity which co-ordinates, develops and funds the world’s largest network of canopy scientists and organizations, (38 institutions in 19 countries), with a focus on biodiversity, ecosystem research and sustainable use of forest canopies.

Forests have recently been thrust to the fore of Climate Change debate because of the huge contribution that burning forests makes to the global atmospheric carbon budget. As a response to this in 2007 GCP, with support from TWF launched its Forests Now Declaration, which has so far received the endorsement of 300 forest leaders, scientists, conservationists, NGOs and business leaders including 3 heads of state and 2 Nobel Laureates. The Declaration calls on the World’s governments to take action on deforestation in the tropics and sub-tropics, which causes around 20% of global carbon emissions, and was successful in influencing negotiations at the United Nations Climate Change conference in Bali (Dec. 2007) to include forests in future climate change mitigation efforts.

Whilst GCP policy work is very important and influential it still maintains roots in science and has a range of practical projects on the ground. Here are GCP’s recent achievements in other fields;

Developed a global project to define, measure and economically value the ecosystem services provided by forests;
Created and begun implementing a mechanism that will facilitate and encourage private investment in forests;
World’s First photographs and video footage of the rarest cats in Borneo

To learn more about the work of the Global Canopy Programme please visit their website at www.globalcanopy.org

The Forest Trust (TFT)

The Forest Trust (formerly Tropical Forest Trust) helps ensure that tropical forests are managed for their long-term future and to maximise their value to people, wildlife and the environment. TFT supports forest projects with expert advice, and by linking them to responsible buyers committed to sourcing sustainable timber. They seek to make trade in sustainable timber standard practice by raising awareness of the importance of endangered tropical forests, demonstrating the benefits of responsible trade, and sharing their practical experience.

To date TWF has supported TFT in a number of projects:

Community Mahogany Project in Java

The project helps local farmers manage their forest gardens sustainably. The farmers collectively organise and formally commit to their own Community Cooperative, which successfully achieved Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification in June 2009. This project helps protect the natural environment whist helping poor communities to better support themselves and their families and shows that community management is not only possible and financially viable but can be achieved to the highest globally recognised forest management standards.

Community Forest Certification Handbook

Since 2003, TFT have been working on community-led forestry initiatives in SE Asia, training communities in sustainable forest management techniques, teaching them how to obtain FSC certification and linking them directly to international markets seeking FSC certified wood.

NGOs around the world have been contacting TFT to learn how they might replicate these programs in their regions. In response to this TFT is developing a handbook with comprehensive training and resource materials for organisations wanting to assist communities to sustainably manage their agroforests and to obtain Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification for their products.

The Centre of Social Excellence for the Forests of the Congo Basin (CSE)

TFT has established an educational institution, the Centre for Social Excellence (CSE) based in Congo Brazzaville which will build regional capacity to include the concept of Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) in forestry operations across the Congo Basin. The aim is to train and equip young central African graduates and professional foresters in implementing FPIC principles in order to give communities a voice in the use of local forest resources and fulfill forest management companies’ social obligations for FSC certification.

For more information please visit their website at www.tropicalforesttrust.com

THE SIZE OF WALES PROJECT

So often the size of Wales is used as a reference point to describe forest loss, this project aims to turn this on its head and engage Welsh civic society in sustaining an area of tropical forest, equivalent to the size of Wales (2.06m hectares). The aim of the ‘Size of Wales’ Project aims to establish a network of project partners who are working to sustain forests in the tropical regions of Africa, in working to deliver a combined area equivalent to the size of Wales.

The Project Manager has now been appointed and the website is under development, as at Feb 2010.