MOU for ASFN Strengthened Collaboration with RECOFTC Signed
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between ASEAN Social Forestry Network (ASFN) and RECOFTC – The Center for People and Forests on 12 August 2009 shows a strong commitment of the two organizations to continue to work jointly to support social forestry development in Southeast Asia region.
2. Both ASFN and RECOFTC recognize that actively engaging local people in forest management is a vital ingredient for achieving sustainable forest management and reducing the number of poor people. Despite the increased attention to social/community forestry in ASEAN Member Countries, translating policies into real changes that make a significant contribution to people and forests alike continues to be a major challenge. Furthermore, the progress that has been made thus far is being affected, largely negatively, by new developments such as climate change, surging prices for food items and energy, the agro-fuel revolution, the collapse of international financial markets and impending water scarcity. By working together both ASFN and RECOFTC are in a strategic position to make real changes by addressing current and anticipated challenges systematically. Through this partnership ASFN and RECOFTC will promote policy and practices through an established information and communications system in strengthening the ASEAN Cooperation in Social Forestry.
3. The signing ceremony is done by Mr. Billy Hindra, the Chairperson of the ASFN Secretariat and Dr. Yam Malla, Executive Director of RECOFTC in Jakarta at the Ministry of Forestry Office, witnessed by the Secretary-General of MOFRI. Officials from the Center for International Cooperation and Center for Information and Statistics of MOFRI, the ASEAN Secretariat, ASFN Secretariat Officers and RECOFTC’s delegate also participated the ceremony.
4. Although the signing ceremony takes place today, the collaboration between ASFN and RECOFTC dates back to March 2005, during which RECOFTC supported the ASEAN Workshop on Social Forestry held in Madiun – East Java, Indonesia. Since then, RECOFTC had consistently provided supports such as in the First through the Third Meetings of ASFN held in Semarang-Central Java, Indonesia in April 2007, in Bangkok in August 2008, and in Subic, The Philippines in June 2009, respectively.
5. The Side Event held prior to the 3rd ASFN Meeting on 10 June 2009 in Subic on ‘Promoting Social Forestry Roles in Addressing Climate Change’ under the ASFN Partnership with SDC in Collaboration with RECOFTC had particularly marked strengthened collaboration between ASFN and RECOFTC. The signing of the MOU with broad scope of collaboration ranging from capacity building, public awareness raising, and knowledge management to promote social forestry in Southeast Asia, is a follow-up of the decision from the 3rd ASFN Meeting held on 11 – 13 June 2009 in Subic for the MOU to be signed, which was also reported to the 12th ASOF Meeting held on 25 – 27 June 2009 in Nay Pyi Thaw, Myanmar.
6. Founded on 8 August 1967, the Association of outheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) comprises Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The establishment of the ASEAN Social Forestry Network (ASFN) was deliberated during the ASEAN Workshop on Social Forestry held from 28 to 30 March 2005 in Madiun, Indonesia and endorsed during the Eighth Meeting of the ASEAN Senior Officials on Forestry (ASOF) in August 2005 in Cambodia.. ASFN is the first inter-governmental social forestry network in Southeast Asia. The main goal of ASFN is to promote policy and practices through an established information and communications system in strengthening the ASEAN cooperation in Social Forestry. ASFN’s role is to exchange experiences and share knowledge through various means to targeted audiences. Ultimate beneficiaries of its efforts are poor people living in and around forests by enhancing their involvement in sustainable forest management. For more information, visit http://www.asfnsec.org
7. RECOFTC holds a unique and important place in the world of forestry. It is the only international not-for-profit organization that specializes in capacity building for community forestry and devolved forest management. RECOFTC engages in strategic networks and effective partnerships with governments, nongovernment organizations, civil society, the private sector, local people, and research and educational institutes throughout the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. With over 20 years of international experience and a dynamic approach to capacity building—involving research and analysis, demonstration sites, and training products—RECOFTC delivers innovative solutions for people and forests. For more information, visit www.recoftc.org
