News

TBI members in Ghana and Indonesia studied landscape-level financial flows to understand how they can better contribute to livelihood and environmental objectives. In Indonesia, the study had an additional and unexpected positive effect.

The Green Livelihoods Alliance (GLA) in the Philippines is alarmed and dismayed by the issuance of Executive Order 130 re-allowing new mining projects in the country. On April 15, 2021 the Malacañang released Executive Order (EO) 130 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte, lifting the nine-year ban on new mineral agreements, in the guise of economic recovery amidst the pandemic.

On Monday 29^th March, over 120 participants from across the Green Livelihoods Alliance (GLA) network came together virtually to reflect on the findings of the Gender Assessment Report, which was undertaken during the programme’s first phase (GLA-1). The webinar was organised by the GLA Gender Hub and provided an opportunity for partners to hear about the achievements and recommendations emerging from GLA-1, and strategise for the coming years.

Research shows that oil palm expansion in Kalangala District, Uganda, has had severe negative effects on food security and the environment. Based on these research results, the Government of Uganda has improved the planning of oil palm expansion in other parts of the country.

The ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) have adopted the ASEAN Guidelines for Sustainable Harvest and Resource Management Protocols for Selected Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) during its 42^nd annual meeting last October 21, 2020. The guidelines serve as a primary reference for NTFP management protocols in the ASEAN region and help guarantee the sustainable management of NTFP resources for markets and relevant stakeholders.

This Sunday, 21 March, is the United Nations International Day of Forests (IDF), intended to celebrate and raise global awareness of the importance of forests. The theme is "Forest restoration: a path to recovery and well-being", a cause that Fern championed in our recent report looking at how rights-based forest restoration can empower communities, recover biodiversity, and tackle the climate crisis. It also explained that forest restoration must never be used to greenwash other sectors' lack of action towards climate objectives.

Milieudefensie worked with a team of researchers to investigate the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) stakeholder consultation processes. We report on general findings and a case study on the current certification process of Socfin, a Luxembourg-based plantation company, in West Africa. We found critical gaps in the RSPO practices and policies of consultation processes, which undermine the credibility of the certificates.

IUCN NL is proud to work with many female leaders across the world who choose to challenge their patriarchical societies and are advocates for women’s rights and social inclusion. On International Women’s Day, we are celebrating these strong women who stand up for their territories, their forests and their rights, even though faced with increasing risks and gender-based violence.

Since 2018, our partner Forest Foundation Philippines has been promoting participatory multi-stakeholder dialogues in landscapes across the Philippines. These dialogues contribute to inclusive and well-informed decision-making on land and water governance and link landscape actors to national decision-makers.