Distributive effects of biodiversity policies matter, says recently released OECD report
By the OECD Environment Directorate

Biodiversity policies promote the protection, conservation, and sustainable use of biologically diverse ecosystems and habitats. In doing so, they create significant public benefits and contribute to social well-being. However, the benefits of biodiversity policies are not always distributed equitably. Indeed, some sectors of society are benefiting to a greater extent than others. For example, through establishing property rights to facilitate the management of a biodiversity-related resource, people who previously had unrestricted use of this resource may be denied access and therefore are adversely affected by the policy. The source of these distributive effects lies in the policy’s objectives, the choice of policy instruments and the implementation of the policy. Distributive effects influence the viability of biodiversity policies as well. Significant negative impacts on powerful groups can lead to policies being derailed, even if they greatly benefit a large number of people. With sufficient planning, however, potential problems can be identified and their effect assessed. Relevant strategies can then be developed to manage the distribution of impacts and ensure buy-in from negatively affected groups. Combining technical analysis with a wealth of case studies, this book offers concepts and tools for addressing distributive issues within a biodiversity policy context. It will help policy makers put together strategies for anticipating distributive impacts across different groups and for selecting processes and instruments that manage distributive impacts without compromising conservation and use objectives.

  – Read the executive summary

Environmental refugees? West African fisheries collapse feeds immigration to Europe

The collapse of fisheries off the coast of West Africa makes immigration to Europe more attractive for coastal populations whose natural resources are rapidly disappearing, finds a New York Times report from January 2008. Many West African fisheries are currently depleted due to overexploitation by foreign fleets, including European fleets, which are supported by national governments who are unable or unwilling to protect their national waters for local fisheries. The World Resource Institute (WRI) features the story, concluding that Europe’s failure to control its own fishing fleet, combined with the degradation of fisheries resources in Africa, are provoking unintended consequences by fueling the migration of many African fisherfolks to Europe.

  – New York Times article by Sharon Lafraniere
  – World Resource Institute article by Karen Bennett

Agroforestry, carbon sinks and livelihood opportunities in Indonesia

A project exploring the economics of smallholder agroforestry to offset carbon in Indonesia estimated the amount of carbon stored in soil and in trees for 26 different agroforestry systems. The results are presently compiled in a database, which will be made publicly available for use in other regions. The project estimated that carbon offsets generated from some of these agroforestry systems could be quite profitable. They calculated that to be profitable, smallholders in most areas of Indonesia would need to sell their carbon at about 12-18$ per ton of CO2. However, pooling of resources among smallholders reduces the price of carbon to about 10$ per ton of CO2. Lack of credit, unsecure land tenure, lack of expertise and technical complexity pose problems to the effective implementation of carbon schemes in some areas. The project also suggests that focusing on degraded land rehabilitation is a promising alternative to agroforestry systems due to their relative low costs and low baseline.

  – Read the article by Robin Taylor

Nicaraguan indigenous groups learn about the potential for non-timber forest products extraction from indigenous partners in Guatemala

The quest for alternative economic resources from non-timber forest products (NTFP) led Nicaraguan indigenous community members from the North Atlantic Autonomous Region to visit Guatemalan indigenous partners in Uaxactún, with the support of the German social technical association (DED, acronym in German). Uaxactún, part of the Mayan Biosphere Reserve, was concessioned for 25 years (renewable) to indigenous communities in the 1990s. These communities now provide an example on the sustainable and commercially viable use of NTFPs. Gum production constitutes a key economic activity in the region of Petén, Guatemala, providing livelihood opportunities to 23 cooperatives which are part of the Association of Forest Cooperatives of Petén whose gum is exported to international markets. Other NFTPs include palm (xate) and chili extraction, as well as wild turkey hunting. The latter provides a new alternative source of income. Indeed, community members in Uaxactún, Guatemala, decided to refrain from hunting wild turkey to reserve the hunt for a communally organized outfitting operation, which brings higher revenues to the community as a whole. The Nicaraguan delegates returned home with a variety of lessons learned to apply to their communities.

– Read the article (in Spanish) by Maria Haydee Brenes from the Nuevo Diario
  – Learn more about the German Social Technical Association’s (DED) work in Central America (in Spanish)

Experiencia indígena guatemalteca sobre el uso de productos forestales non maderable ayuda a grupos indígenas nicaragüense

Fue en busca de un ejemplo del uso sostenible del bosque que llegaron hasta Uaxactún líderes y representantes de las comunidades indígenas de la Región Autónoma del Atlántico Norte (RAAN) de Nicaragua, que participaron en el intercambio de forestaría comunitaria organizado por el servicio alemán de cooperación social-técnica (DED, su sigla en alemán). Uaxactún en Guatemala forma parte de la Reserva de Biosfera Maya y fue concesionada por 25 anos prorrogables a comunidades indígenas, las cuales ahora dan un ejemplo del uso sostenible y económicamente racional del bosque. La producción de chicle es un recurso clave en la región de Peten dando oportunidades a 23 cooperativas organizadas en una Asociación de Cooperativas Forestales de Peten cuyos productos son exportados internacionalmente. Además, la extracción de palma (xate), pimiento, ramón y la cacería de pavos constituyen otras alternativas de vida. En el caso de la cacería de pavos, la comunidad de Uaxactún decidió regular esta cacería, y permitir solamente casería deportiva de turistas que trae recursos más importantes a la comunidad con menos presión ecológica. El grupo de Nicaragua regresó a su pueblo con una variedad de ideas nuevas para usar en sus comunidades.

– Lea el articulo de Maria Haydee Brenes del Nuevo Diario para más detalles
  – Para más información sobre el servicio alemán de cooperación social-técnica (DED), haga clic aquí

Indigenous peoples must be part of global climate policy, shows IUCN report

A report from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released in March 2008 highlights the need to involve indigenous peoples in climate policy. Indeed, indigenous peoples are particularly vulnerable to climate change related stresses, due to their occupation of usually marginal and remote areas such as small islands, coastal plains, mountain areas and drylands. Despite these existing challenges, indigenous peoples have shown great resilience in the face of change, which is of great relevance to a better understanding of adaptive strategies in the context of present global climate change. The report presents a series of case studies from each continent and ecosystem illustrating indigenous peoples’ climate related vulnerabilities as well as evolving adaptive strategies that have emerged from the bottom-up. Opportunities to learn from and with indigenous communities are essential to tackle the challenges posed by climate change. Consequently, indigenous peoples should not be overlooked by policymakers, especially in respect to climate change related decisions; a fact that is unfortunately too often true.

– Read the SciDev.net article by Catarina Chagas
– Download the full report

Las comunidades indígenas deben formar parte de las políticas del clima, muestra un reporte de IUCN

Un informe de la Unión Mundial para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (IUCN, su sigla en inglés) publicado en Marzo del 2008 muestra que es esencial involucrar poblaciones indígenas en políticas del clima. Muchas comunidades indígenas están especialmente vulnerables a cambios climáticos debido a su ubicación en áreas marginalizadas como pequeñas islas, áreas montañosas o lugares áridos. Aunque están enfrentadas con estas retas, las comunidades indígenas a través del mundo han demostrado una capacidad de adaptación tremenda que puede ayudar al mejor entendimiento de estrategias exitosas para adaptaciones a cambios climáticos en el mundo. El reporte presenta una serie de estudios de casos de cada continente y ecosistema que describe las vulnerabilidades y las estrategias adaptativas de varios pueblos indígenas. La oportunidad de aprender con y de las experiencias indígenas es muy importante para enfrentar las retas posadas por el cambio climático. Pueblos indígenas, entonces, no deberían estar ignorados por la gente que toma las decisiones, especialmente con respeto a las decisiones relacionadas a cambios climáticos; una realidad que desafortunadamente ocurre demasiado frecuentemente.

– Lea un artículo de Catarina Chagas en SciDev.net
– Descargue el informe completo del IUCN, 2008

Payments for Ecosystem services: an alternative for indigenous communities in Peru
By Wrays Pérez Ramírez

Peruvian indigenous communities have existed in harmony with their forests for generations but are now confronted with a rapid loss of their traditional resources due to external pressures (illegal hunting, timber extraction, etc.) supported by government policies, which ignore local indigenous institutions. Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES), especially those focusing on carbon capture or avoided deforestation, could provide incentives to conserve forests, support reforestation efforts, and bring resources to invest in infrastructure (roads, water reservoirs, etc.) and services (such as health and education centers) which are essential to local communities residing in the forest.

Wrays Perez Ramirez is the coordinator of the Inter-Ethnic Association for the Development of the Peruvian Amazon (AIDESEP), a federation of indigenous ethnicities in the Peruvian Amazon and a member of Forest Trends Communities Advisory Group, a network of community experts and leaders of traditional forest and rural communities engaged in creating opportunities for communities to effectively participate in and benefit from ecosystem service markets. Currently Wrays is writing a thesis about indigenous rights, human rights, governability and international cooperation in the Universidad Carlos II in Madrid, Spain.

  – Read the article by Wrays Pérez Ramírez

Pagos por servicios ambientales una alternativa para los pueblos y comunidades indígenas
Por Wrays Pérez Ramirez

Los pueblos indígenas peruanos han existido en armonía con la selva de generación a generación pero están enfrentados hoy con una pérdida rápida de sus recursos tradicionales debido a una comercialización intensiva de sus materias primas (madera, cuero, y la caza indiscriminada), la cual es apoyada por políticas del gobierno peruano que se superponen y ignoran las instituciones de los pueblos indígenas. Pagos por servicios ambientales, especialmente por captura de carbono o deforestación evitada, pueden dar incentivos para evitar la tala ilegal de árboles en la región, apoyar proyectos de reforestación y traer recursos para invertir en infraestructura (caminos, reservorios de agua, etc.) y servicios (puestos de salud y escuelas, por ejemplo) esenciales para las comunidades que viven en la selva.

Wrays Perez Ramirez es el coordinador de la Asociación Interétnica de Desarrollo de la Selva Peruana (AIDESEP), una federación de comunidades indígenas en la Amazonía Peruana. Es también un dirigente del Pueblo Wampis, y un miembro del Consejo de Asesoramiento sobre Comunidades de Forest Trends, una red de expertos y líderes comunitarios involucrados en la creación de oportunidades para una participación efectiva y la creación de beneficios para comunidades rurales en los mercados y esquemas de compensación por servicios ambientales. Ahora, Wrays esta haciendo un postgrado sobre derechos indígenas, derechos humanos, gobernabilidad y cooperación internacional en la Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, en España.

  – Lea el artículo de Wray Pérez Ramirez

Communities, Conservation and Markets project

The Communities, Conservation and Markets project’s (CCM) mission is to provide strategies, tools and knowledge networks that integrate sustainable agriculture and land management with conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services that contribute to rural productivity and livelihoods. The focus is on supporting rural resource managers to sustainably manage their landscapes using ecoagriculture approaches and payments for ecosystem services (PES). The overall goal is to enhance investments in rural areas and improve local and regional policies to benefit both communities and environmental conservation efforts. The website has various thematic groups including ecosystem service payments & markets, ecosystem service tools, learning networks, landscape indicators, and policies for integrating land use & ecosystems.

  – CCM brochure

Toolkit to assess and minimize negative impacts multi-sectoral policies on forests and their biodiversity released by the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD)

Forests and their biodiversity exist in a multi-sectoral context. As such, forest conservation cannot be successful without examining and reducing potential negative effects of other sectors on forests. The toolkit released by the CBD is based on experiences from many partners including the Centre for International Forest Research (CIFOR), the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) as well as the results of projects funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF). The report summarizes information on policy approaches based on various case studies in Africa, Asia and Latin America that aim to minimize the negative impacts of other sectoral policies on forests and their biodiversity. The case studies showcased include examples where property rights were modified (Uganda), where ecotourism was introduced (Indonesia) or where payments for ecosystem services (PES) schemes were implemented (Costa Rica). Compensation schemes, including PES, are identified- without being detailed further- as great potentials to reduce natural habitats degradation if properly implemented, The report concludes with a list of potential policies that could help protect forest biodiversity, most of which are related to reducing agricultural impacts on the forest sector.

  – CBD Toolkit

Agriculture and Climate Change: FAO web portal provides tools to make the link

The FAO website Climpag aims at linking together the various aspects and interactions of weather, climate and agriculture in the context of food security. The website contains methodologies and tools to understand and analyze the effects of climate variability and climate on agriculture as well as data and maps to spatially ground specific projects. The website is separated in six sections including Advice and Warnings, Climatic Indicators, Data and Maps, Hotspots and Natural Disasters. Of particular interest to Community Forum readers are the climate maps at the global and regional levels, a climate estimator for locations lacking nearby climate observing stations, links to farm radio stations and know-how in early climate warning for agriculture as well as links to a variety of reports and tools linking agriculture and climate change.

  – Link to the Climpag

New journal for research on climate and development for researchers, NGOs and community leaders from the South

Richard Klein from the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) has established a new academic journal entitled Climate and Development. The journal attempts to incorporate research undertaken in developing countries by NGOs, local academics, and others which is usually unavailable to the broader science and development community. To address barriers to publication by these groups, Climate and Development is holding "Writeshops" in developing countries on how to prepare papers that meet present scientific standards. The first of these writeshops was held last month in Bangkok. Publishers hope to hold 4 or 5 such writeshops per year over the next 4 years. The program is also establishing a mentoring program between developing country authors and established academics to help them in the development of the full paper. The journal will also feature "case studies" which will be shorter than full papers and subject to a simpler, although still rigorous, peer review. The journal is currently looking for an editor, look at our opportunities section for more details. Look for more news on the subject in future editions of the Community Forum. 

Women for Climate Justice launches a new platform for information, knowledge and networking on gender and climate change

Women for Climate Justice (gendercc) is a global network of women, gender activists and experts from around the world working for gender and climate justice. The website makes available knowledge acquired by the gendercc network and provides information on gender issues and climate change in a variety of fields including biodiversity, water, energy, agriculture, and disaster reduction among others. The platform is welcoming contributions from interested individuals and organizations. Contributions related to gender and payments from ecosystem services would be quite innovative!

  – Visit the gendercc website

Climate ChangeS: New website on the economics of climate change

The literature on the Economics of Climate Change is growing at an unprecedented rate and it is becoming increasingly harder for researchers to keep the pace with new advancements of their discipline. Climate ChangeS is a website created to bridge this knowledge gap by providing researchers with a timely and accurate update of new research papers. On a weekly basis, links to the most recent and interesting working papers on the Economics of Climate Change are aggregated from a variety of sources for easy and convenient reference.

  – Visit the Climate ChangeS website

New e-newsletter on effects of land use and landscape management on livelihoods and environmental services in tropical forest margins

The ASB Partnership for the Tropical Forest Margins, a consortium of Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) centers, national-level research institutes and other partners, is proud to announce a new e-newsletter. The monthly ASB e-news covers the latest research and events related to the effects of land-use and landscape management on livelihoods, carbon stocks and other environmental services in the tropical forest margins. It also covers the latest methods, empirical results, and implications of research for policy and program design. ASB’s comparative research in South America, Africa and Southeast Asia provides robust analyses of the opportunity costs of deforestation, tradeoffs associated with different land uses, and alternative policy solutions. For REDD to work, it must take account of these human dimensions of deforestation and land use in the tropics.

  –E-mail your name and organization to asb@cgiar.org to subscribe to ASB e-news

Plant trees while Ecoogling

Search the internet while also helping reforest trees and safeguard water resources in the Amazon region, one of the main freshwater and forest reserves of our planet. Using Ecoogler provides you with identical results as a regular Yahoo! search and supports the non-profit Swiss association Aquaverde founded in 2002. For every search, one leaf is symbolically reforested, and with 10,000 searches, a tree is planted in the Amazon. Ecoogler and Aquaverde have so far planted 1,570 trees.

  – Visit Aquaverde
  – Use Ecoogler

Planta árboles mientras Ecoogling

Utiliza el Internet y ayuda a reforestar el Amazonas y a preservar recursos naturales de agua dulce. Usando Ecoogler obtiene los mismos resultados que una búsqueda utilizando Yahoo! y ayuda a la asociación benéfica Suiza, Aquaverde, fundada en 2002. Para cada búsqueda se compra una hoja simbólica y con 10,000 hojas,plantan un árbol. En el presente, Aquaverde y Ecoogler han plantado 1570 árboles en el Amazonas.

  – Para más información sobre Aquaverde
  – Para acceder a Ecoogler

Plantons des arbres en Ecooglant

En utilisant l’engin de recherche Ecoogler, vous aidez a la reforestation de l’Amazonie. Ecoogler donne les mêmes résultats que Yahoo et aide l’association bénévole suisse Aquaverde, fondée en 2002. Pour chaque recherche, vous achetez une feuille symbolique; 10,000 feuilles étant nécessaires afin de planter un arbre. Présentement, Aquaverde et Ecoogler ont planté 1570 arbres en Amazonie.

  – Pour plus d’informations sur l’association Aquaverde
  – Pour acceder a Ecoogler

Call for submission: The European Tropical Forest Research Network (ETFRN) is preparing special issue on Forest Financing
Deadline: Publication scheduled in July/August 2008

Worldwide, the question of how to broaden and diversify the financial basis for the sustainable management of forests has emerged as a key theme in policymaking, research and implementation. Tropenbos International (TBI), the European Tropical Forest Research Network (ETFRN) and Indufor Oy are jointly preparing a special ETFRN Newsletter on Forest Financing. The objectives of this special newsletter, coordinated by Indufor, is to give an overview of the major initiatives, developments, activities and lessons on forest financing, at the international, regional, national and local levels. The newsletter is scheduled for publication in July/August 2008. The newsletter may be an excellent opportunity to showcase your work and to contribute to the discussions on forest financing. We are therefore kindly inviting colleagues and organizations involved in the theme to submit a short article (2-3 pages) on their work and experiences. The article could include, amongst others, a brief description of your activities, your vision on forest financing, lessons learned and recommendations.

- If interested in contributing, please contact Mr. Jani Holopainen (jani.holopainen@indufor.fi), specifying your organization and the topic of your article. Upon reception of your e-mail, we will provide further information, which includes a short instruction and general guidance on the process and any further information you may need.

Call for applications: Micro-projects and partnerships grants for indigenous communities and collaborating organizations
Organization: IFAD | Deadline: June 20, 2008

The International Fund for Agricultural Development is inviting indigenous peoples' organizations and communities, and organizations that work with them, to apply for grants that fund microprojects and partnerships to promote the development of indigenous peoples and their unique cultural identity. Grants ranging from US$10,000 to US$30,000 will be awarded to applicants from IFAD's developing Member States through the Indigenous Peoples Assistance Facility.

  – For information about the application process
  –Apply to: indigenouspeoples@ifad.org

Convocatoria a solicitudes: Subvenciones para micro-proyectos organizados por comunidades indígenas y organizaciones que colaboran con ellas
Organización: FIDA | Fecha limite: 20 junio 2008

El Fondo Internacional de Desarrollo Agrícola invita a las organizaciones y comunidades de pueblos indígenas y a las organizaciones que colaboran con ellas a solicitar subvenciones para financiar micro-proyectos y asociaciones que promuevan el desarrollo de los pueblos indígenas y su excepcional identidad cultural. Concederán subvenciones por una cantidad de 10 000 a 30 000 dólares de los Estados Unidos, a solicitantes de países en desarrollo Miembros del FIDA con cargo al Fondo de Apoyo a los Pueblos Indígenas.

  – Para más información sobre el proceso de solicitud
  – Mande su aplicación de forma digital a: indigenouspeoples@ifad.org

Appel à propositions pour l'obtention de dons en faveur des organisations et communautés autochtones
Organisation: FIDA | Date limite: le 20 Juin 2008

Le Fond International pour le Développement Agricole invite les organisations et communautés autochtones, ainsi que les organisations qui collaborent avec elles, à solliciter un don pour financer un projet, une approche innovante ou un partenariat visant à promouvoir le développement des peuples autochtones et à les aider à satisfaire leurs aspirations. Des dons compris entre 10 000 USD et 30 000 USD seront attribués. Les candidats doivent correspondre à des critères précis et leurs propositions doivent répondre aux besoins des peuples autochtones dans l'un des États membres du FIDA en développement.

  – Pour plus d’information concernant ces dons cliquez ici
  – Envoyez votre application électronique au indigenouspeoples@ifad.org

Call for proposals: Research Partnerships with Developing Countries
Organization: SNSF and SDC | Deadline: July 11, 2008

The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and the Swiss Agency for Development have opened a new call for research partnerships between researchers from Switzerland and developing countries to conduct joint research projects. These partnerships are designed to promote the urgently needed development of North/South scientific relationships and thus strengthen scientific competence and achievement of researchers and research institutions in the South.

  – For forms, regulations and directives

Call for nominations: World Challenge 08
Organization: BBC World News and Newsweek | Deadline: May 31, 2008

World Challenge 08 is a global competition aimed at finding projects or small businesses from around the world that have shown enterprise and innovation at a grass roots level. We would love to hear from our audience about social entrepreneurs who are making a difference without costing the earth. It could be you or someone you know. World Challenge 08 is brought to you by BBC World News and Newsweek, in association with Shell, and is about championing and rewarding projects and businesses which really make a difference. The winner will receive a grant of 20 000 USD to put back into their project/business, and two runners up will each receive USD 10 000. One representative from each of the three finalists will be flown to The Hague, The Netherlands to attend the award ceremony in December 2008. The 12 best nominees will be featured in a 7-part series on BBC world.

  – For more details
  – For examples of past series featured
  – Nominate an initiative

Convocatoria a nominaciones: World Challenge 08
Organización: BBC World News y Newsweek | Fecha límite: 31 de Mayo de 2008

El World Challenge 08 es una competición global que apoya a proyectos y pequeñas empresas en todo el mundo que han mostrado innovación y iniciativa al nivel local. Queremos oír de nuestra audiencia sobre empresarios sociales que hacen una diferencia sin dañar el medio ambiente. Podría ser usted o alguien que conoce. World Challenge 2008 es organizado por BBC World News y Newsweek, en asociación con Shell. El ganador obtendrá una donación de 20,000 USD para invertir en su proyecto o empresa y las dos nominaciones en segunda y tercera posición ganaran una donación de 10,000 USD cada uno. Un representante de cada finalista irá a la Hagues in Neterlandia para asistir la ceremonia de donación en diciembre 2008. Las 12 mejores nominaciones aparecerán en una serie de 7 partes de BBC World.

  – Para más detalles
  – Para ejemplos de finalistas de previos años
  – Para nominar una iniciativa que está haciendo una diferencia

Call for Submissions — International Ecohealth Forum 2008, December 1-5, 2008
Location: Merida, Mexico | Deadline: June 1, 2008

From December 1st through 5th, 2008, researchers, policy makers and practitioners from around the globe will gather in Mérida, México for the International EcoHealth Forum entitled “EcoHealth: Healthy Environments, Healthy People”. To help make this a milestone event, Forum delegates are encouraged to think “outside the box”, taking on transdisciplinary approaches and bridging methodological gaps. Researchers, policy-makers and practitioners are invited to share evidence and ideas about EcoHealth approaches. The objective is to learn about improvements in environmental/ecosystem management and community health through concrete experiences on how projects were implemented and outcomes used by policy-makers, other stakeholders, and community representatives. The Forum will provide opportunities for scientists and non-scientists alike to engage with one another about research findings, methodological advances and theoretical developments. Oral communications, poster, video, and other media presentations, as well as complete symposia or training workshops/short courses are encouraged for submission.

  – For more information

Convocatoria a presentaciones de artículos- Foro Internacional de Ecosalud 2008, 1-5 de Diciembre 2008
Lugar: Mérida, México | Fecha límite: 1 de Junio de 2008

Del 1-5 de diciembre del 2008, investigadores, responsables de la formulación de políticas y profesionales de todo el mundo se reunirán en el Foro Internacional de EcoSalud titulado “EcoSalud: Ambientes Saludables, Comunidades Saludables”, que se llevará a cabo en Mérida, México. Para lograr que éste sea un gran evento, se invita a los delegados del Foro a pensar “fuera de la caja”, por medio de enfoques interdisciplinarios y crear puentes para cerrar las brechas metodológicas. Se invita a investigadores, responsables de la formulación de políticas y profesionales a compartir evidencia e ideas sobre los enfoques de EcoSalud. El objetivo es aprender sobre las mejoramientos en el área de gestión ambiental / ecosistemas y en términos de salud de la comunidad por medio de experiencias concretas relativas a la forma en que se pusieron proyectos en marcha y a la forma en que los formuladores de políticas, otros interesados y representantes de la comunidad utilizaron los resultados. El Foro dará la oportunidad, a científicos y no-científicos, de participar y compartir juntos los hallazgos de la investigación, los avances metodológicos y los desarrollos teóricos. Les invita mandar presentaciones orales, presentar pósters, videos y utilizar otros medios, realizar simposios o talleres de capacitación / cursos cortos para consideración para presentar en el foro.

  – Para más información

Appel pour des applications- Forum International d’Ecosante 2008, 1-5 Décembre 2008
Lieu: Merida, Mexico | Date limite: 1er Juin 2008

Du 1er au 5 décembre 2008, des chercheurs, des décideurs et des praticiens du monde entier se réuniront à Mérida, à l’occasion du Forum international écosanté (FIÉ) ayant pour thème Écosanté : environnements sains, individus sains. Afin que ce forum soit un événement marquant, les participants sont encouragés à sortir des sentiers battus, tout en adoptant des démarches transdisciplinaires et en cherchant des solutions aux problèmes d’ordre méthodologique. Les participants sont invités à échanger idées et données probantes en matière d'écosanté. Le Forum est une occasion unique pour les professionnels de divers domaines d’échanger entre eux sur les façons d’améliorer la santé humaine par une meilleure gestion de l’environnement et des écosystèmes et de faire part d’expériences concrètes. On y examinera entre autres comment les responsables des politiques, les parties prenantes et les collectivités peuvent tirer parti des résultats des projets de recherche. Les participants sont invités à faire parvenir un abrégé de leur communication, présentation par affiches, vidéo, ainsi que la description des ateliers de formation et cours de brève durée.

  – Pour plus d’information

International Development in the Face of Climate Change: Beyond Mainstreaming?
Location: London | June 2, 2008

You are warmly invited to join us for the DFID-DSA policy forum, "International Development in the Face of Climate Change: Beyond Mainstreaming?" to be held on Monday, June 2, 2008. The event has been organized by the Natural Resources Institute (University of Greenwich), Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research. The forum will be held in London at the Maritime Greenwich Campus, University of Greenwich. As is well known, climate change has many implications for development and global futures: for sustainability, equity and growth. Much current debate and policy action focuses on resolving future problems through the 'mainstreaming' of climate change into development initiatives. However, does our global future and international development planning and practice need to be restructured in more fundamental ways? What alternative pathways for development need to be identified for different regions of the world? And crucially, what is realistic and achievable given the current political environment? This policy-focused forum will promote discussion between policy-makers and researchers in order to generate new thinking about how international development could be re-oriented and restructured, seeking synergies of understanding and constructive elaboration of differences. Participants will include UK government advisers and program managers and climate change experts from international agencies, NGOs and academia. The day will begin with keynote speakers and case studies, followed by a series of focused working groups. Documentation will be available before the session for the working groups to stimulate discussion.

  – For more information, including how to make reservations

Global Katoomba Meeting XII: Developing an Infrastructure Fund for the Planet
Location: Washington, D.C. | June 8-9, 2008

We'd like to invite you to Global Katoomba Meeting XII (http://katoombagroup.org/chesapeake), June 9-10, 2008, at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. This leading forum brings together leading policy makers, major financial institutions, business leaders, the environmental community and local indigenous groups to discuss the current scope and potential of ecosystem markets – carbon, water, biodiversity – to address environmental problems. Climate change, water pollution, and biodiversity loss threatens the natural infrastructure of our planet and human well-being, but the time is ripe for a major event to drive action and bring together these different sectors to develop strategies that will match the scale and urgency of the environmental issues we face today. The meeting's schedule includes keynote speeches by leading public and private figure (see the working agenda) and moderated discussions among a panel of environmental and market experts. During the moderated discussions, panelists will update us on the current state of the ecosystem markets, identify the challenges that must be overcome, and share proven approaches that can be built upon in the future. On behalf of Katoomba and our co-sponsors, including World Resources Institute, the Smithsonian Institute, the Packard Foundation, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, EPRI, the U.S. Forest Service, USAID, the Natural Resource Conservation Service, we hope you will be able to join us for this timely and important event. Every effort is being made to accommodate all participants, but pre-registration can only be assured through May 31. Please contact Christina Swan (cswan@forest-trends.org), Forest Trends, with any questions.

Provoking Change: Strategies to promote forest users in the Amazon International Congress
Location: Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia | November 10-14th, 2008

We are pleased to announce the organization of the International Congress: “Provoking Change: Strategies to promote forest users in the Amazon”, which will take place in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, from the 10th to the 14th of November, 2008. The purpose of the event is to create a platform for dialogue between scientists, politicians, development agencies and representatives from civil society to catalyze a process of reflection on the options and requirements of a broader operational framework for sustainable development based on the use, management and conservation of the forests of the Amazon region.

  – Please send your expressions of interest to the Congress Secretary, Inka Montero
  – Details of the procedure for the presentation of abstracts

Provocando el Cambio: Estrategias de promoción de usuarios forestales en la Amazonía Congreso Internacional
Lugar: Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia | 10 al 14 de Noviembre, 2008

Somos complacidos para anunciar la organización del Congreso Internacional “Provocando el Cambio: Estrategias de promoción de usuarios forestales en la Amazonía” que se llevará a cabo en Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, del 10 al 14 de noviembre 2008. El propósito del evento es crear una plataforma de diálogo entre científicos, políticos, agencias de desarrollo y representantes de la sociedad civil para catalizar un proceso de reflexión sobre las opciones y requerimientos de un marco operacional más amplio para el desarrollo sostenible con base en el uso, manejo y conservación de los bosques en la región Amazónica. En este momento queremos invitar a miembros del público de expresar su interés en participar en el Congreso y, al mismo tiempo, invitamos a los interesados a presentar propuestas de presentaciones para el evento.

  – Por favor, envíen sus expresiones de interés a la secretaría del Congreso: Inka Montero
  – Detalles sobre el proceso

Managing editor position for the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)
OLocation: Stockholm, Sweden | Deadline: July 20th, 2008

SEI (http://www.sei.se) is currently looking for a Managing Editor to work with the Climate and Energy Programme on the launch of a new academic journal, as well as on several other publications aimed at both researchers and policymakers. The Climate and Energy Programme engages in research, communication and capacity-building in the fields of energy access, bio-resources and climate policy to support decision-making at all levels.

  – Click here to learn more about the position and to apply

Coordinator of the CGIAR System wide Program on Participatory Research and Gender Analysis (PRGA)
Location: CIAT headquarters, Cali, Colombia | Deadline: May 31st, 2008

The PRGA Program is now seeking applications for a Senior Research Fellow/Senior Scientist position to lead and coordinate the Program. The PRGA Program's hosting center, CIAT, offers internationally competitive salary packages, is an equal opportunity employer, and believes that the diversity of its staff contributes to excellence. CIAT is interested in increasing this diversity of its staff and particularly encourages applications from both women and developing country professionals.

  – For more details regarding the position
  –Contact: Ms. Claudia Garcia, Assistant Coordinator of the PRGA Program

14 openings in the scientific committee of the European Environment Agency
Deadline: June 30th, 2008

The European Environment Agency has 14 openings for positions on its scientific committee. These include a range of climate-relevant positions. These include:
1. Atmospheric processes, air pollution, climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies
2. Biodiversity
3. Business and environmental entrepreneurship
4. Ecological economics
5. Energy (incl. mitigation & adaptation strategies)
6. Environmental history
7. European and international environmental law
8. Freshwater (incl. groundwater)
9. Integrated environmental assessment and indicators
10. Spatial planning and management of natural resources
11. Agriculture
12. Terrestrial ecosystems, incl. soils, forests, grasslands
13. Modern technologies (incl. nanotechnologies, GMO etc.)
14. Transport and environment

  – The Official Journal publication:
  – EEA website

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