The year 2016 has been an exciting time for us as some important events took place within SNRD Asia and beyond. From the first joint conference with TUEWAS (Sector Network Transport, Environment, Energy and Water in Asia) in June calling for a more concerted effort in working towards the 2030 Agenda, the setting-up of a taskforce on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the establishment of a joint secretariat to increasing synergies with TUEWAS – these are among the many new and promising developments and still counting!
This is not just a quantitative leap forward; we believe it is also qualitative. The overarching concept of sector networks is aptly noted in the SDG 17, Partnership for the Goals, which urges strong partnership “to enhance knowledge sharing, expertise, technology and financial resources”. To do so, we at SNRD Asia are committed to explore more opportunities and push the boundary for innovative cross-cutting and cross-border cooperation.
In the meantime, find out more about other interesting news below. And as always, we are looking forward to hearing from you.
In this section, you will find some focus articles contributed by our WG members. For this issue, please read on to see contribution from the WG Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+).
Leaving a Greener Legacy: Philippine REDD+ Congress approved First Joint Declaration on REDD+
The municipality of Macrohon, situated in Southern Leyte, recently witnessed the first signing that will pave way for a greener effort on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, also known as REDD+.
New publication on SIS-REDD+ operationalization in Indonesia!
To communicate the valuable experiences and lessons learned to the wider REDD+ community, both in Indonesia and internationally, a new book has been jointly developed. Titled “Safeguards Information System for REDD+ in Indonesia – Moving towards an Operational SIS-REDD+”
Myanmar determined to support and promote cooperation for REDD+ in the Himalayan Region as GIZ new initiative set to launch
With the objective of improving the conditions for implementing REDD+ measures to mitigate climate change that are socially and environmentally sound in the four Himalayan countries of Bhutan, India, Myanmar, and Nepal, the REDD+ Himalaya Initiative of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
Call for Abstracts: “125 Years of IUFRO” Anniversary Congress in Freiburg, Germany, from 19- 24 September 2017
Although the event is still a year down the road the Call for Abstracts has already been opened and will close on 30th November. The Congress provides a platform for the exchange of scientific knowledge across all scientific disciplines relevant in forest research. Two sessions of the event should be of special
New opportunities for improved forest governance in Laos
An analysis of Chinese and Vietnamese customs data shows that the timber exports to both countries increased by 70% between 2012 and 2014 and reached around 1,600,000 m3 (round timber equivalents) in 2014. For this period, customs data show that VietNam and China officially import at least five times more wood from Laos than Laos officially exported to both countries.
Read on to see where SNRD Asia currently stands with its members, Working Groups, SDG focuses and overall thematic breakdowns with this special updates.
Greater partnerships by governments, civil society and business is needed
in order to bridge gaps in policy and practice
The ASEAN Climate Resilience Network (ASEAN-CRN) participated in the 5th Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Forum with the theme “Adapting and Living under 2C: Bridging Gaps in Policy and Practice”, which was held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) on October 17-19, 2016 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
November brown-bag lunch on improved transparency, broad participation and traceability in timber supply chains
The Sector Program International Forest Policy and the Support Program to the Lao EU-FLEGT process jointly organize a brown-bag lunch on improved transparency, broad participation and traceability in timber supply chains – what other sectors and initiatives could learn from the FLEGT process. For more details of the event
Finalization of the Emission Reduction Program Document in Viet Nam
Since the submission of the ER-PIN[1] in May 2014 to the Carbon Fund, the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) has been supporting the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) in drafting the Emission Reduction Program Document (ERPD) for in the North Central Agro-Ecological Region (Fig. 1) of Viet Nam. This region covers 6 provinces comprising 2.3 million hectares of natural forests and various high-value biodiversity conservation areas.
Joint Task Force Sustainable Development Goals is on the move!
The call for members and a speaker for the new SDGs taskforce has been very successful: During the very first virtual “Kick-Off” Meeting on 13 October, Michael Timm was selected as new speaker and Felix Huebner as Co-Speaker — congratulations to both of them and good luck! But that was by means all, an interdisciplinary group of 15 members around Asia from both Sector Networks SNRD Asia and TUEWAS are motivated to investigate how to implement the integrated approaches of the Agenda 2030 into the Sector Networks, Working Groups and beyond.
Subscribe now to get news and updates on GIZ International Forest Policy.
If you would like to receive the GIZ International Forest Policy Newsletter, please send a message to
forests@giz.de
Published by SNRD Asia Secretariat
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
193/63 Lake Rajada Office Complex 16th Fl. New Rachadapisek-Rama 4 Road
Klong Toey, Bangkok, 10110 Thailand