Forest Action Network

Regional workshop on REDD

Date: August 12th - 14th
Venue: Mombasa, Kenya
Contact: mabdi[at]fankenya.org

Library Services : FAN has developed a library focusing on a wide range of environmental topics including natural resource management, energy and development.

The Forest Action Network (FAN) together with collaborating partners from civil society organizations in the sub-region, decided to organize a knowledge – sharing and learning event to provide a platform for awareness creation and to develop strategies for future collaboration and networking in the region. The workshop was used to create awareness on global issues like Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) initiatives in the region and how countries can use their multi-stakeholder forums to strengthen the voice of the poor communities in decision-making over forest resources.

Participants were drawn from six countries in East and Southern Africa, namely: Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. These participants come from: Multi-stakeholders national forest programme committees in countries where the FAO-NFP Facility is operational; Government officials from Forestry Departments or Services; Civil society organizations; Forest research institutions and universities; Forest community groups; Identified donor representatives

Participants explored the opportunities and threats related to REDD on community involvement in sustainable forest management, secure tenure arrangements and how communities and civil society can forge workable partnerships with governments to respond to the threats and capitalize on opportunities presented by REDD.

More specifically, the workshop: Created awareness on new global initiatives as they affect the sub-region (for example, what are carbon funds and what are their implications for livelihoods?); Identified the main barriers to sustainable forest management in the region (land tenure, hostile policies, lack of funding); Agreed on interventions that will fast-track the implementation of sustainable forest management in the region (networking, advocacy, capacity building); Established a regional networking mechanism to be facilitated by the Forest Action Network (FAN); Agreed that countries will establish national level networking and information sharing mechanisms.

For more information, contact Dominic Walubengo, using the contacts given below

Dr. Walubengo is the director of Forest Action Network whose headquarters is in Nairobi .