In this issue...read our latest briefing papers, keep up to date with our testing REDD+ in Mozambique project and find about our events at the World Forestry Congress next month.

The forests newsletter is sent out quarterly with updates on our work to improve forest livelihoods and ensure forests are managed in a fair and sustainable way.

News and blogs

Star spice in Vietnam's forests

Business training for farmers in Vietnam is adding spice to their harvest – and encouraging them to form producer organisations to make more from their crop.

Organise to thrive

Forest Farm Facility (FFF) support to help groups organise is helping forest and farm producers in Guatemala.

IIED at the XIV World Forestry Congress

The Congress will take place in Durban, South Africa from 7 -11 September. IIED will be holding the following side-events which are open to all:

Democratizing forest business: Investing in successful locally controlled forest business models (Monday 7th, 12:45-2:15pm)
Developing benefit-sharing arrangements for REDD+ (Wednesday 9th, 12:45-2:15pm)
China in Africa’s forests – finding a green path to prosperity? (Wednesday 9th, 6:15-7:30pm)

Come visit exhibition stand (G1+G3) to view our publications and meet our team of experts who be available throughout the event to talk about our work and discuss all things forest-related!

For more information on visit our dedicated World Forestry Congress webpage.

Our work

Testing REDD+ in Mozambique

Testing REDD+ (Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation) is a three year project led by IIED from 2012-2015 funded by the Norwegian Embassy in Mozambique. Testing REDD+ (or 'TREDD') works in Mozambique with a number of in-country partners aiming to create a database and analysis of clearing rates and the causes, for the construction of deforestation and forest degradation baseline emissions at sub-national level (in Manica, Sofala and Zambezia). It also aims to identify and test efficient and feasible designs to reduce emissions and inform the national debate on the institutional arrangements necessary for its implementation at national level.

Publications and briefings

The dragon and the giraffe: China in African forests

Chinese investments in African forests are growing fast, yet those who can best help chart a sustainable course for these investments are poorly linked. A new China–Africa partnership, focused on forest governance, is engaging with Chinese investors and enterprises to tackle key problems in the illegal timber trade and seize opportunities for more sustainable Chinese investment in land-use sectors (Also available in French and Chinese).

The following Country Briefings are now available:

China: English, Chinese and French
Cameroon: English, Chinese and French
Democratic Republic of Congo: English, Chinese and French
Mozambique: English, Chinese and French
Uganda: English

REDD+ for profit or for good? Review of private sector and NGO experience in REDD projects

Progress has been made on REDD+ during COP negotiations whilst bilateral and multilateral funding support has also generated and maintained momentum for both REDD+ readiness and testing at country and project levels. The motivation of the research reported on here was to better understand private sector and NGO engagement in REDD+ in particular.

Making the links between woodlands and wellbeing: a multi-stakeholder approach

The loss of woodland in Mozambique is more than an environmental issue. The ACES project brought local, provincial and national stakeholders together to identify how woodlands contribute to wellbeing, discuss why ecosystem services are changing, and look forward to future land use. This briefing discusses the areas of agreement and difference that point to some necessary next steps.

Integrated approaches to SDG implementation and indicators: focus on forests

In this briefing we identify two opportunities for giving the SDGs the best chance of success: through integrated implementation and integrated indicators. Focusing on forests — a theme underpinning many of the SDGs — we first outline a practical, ten-step approach to SDG implementation based on ‘SDG modules’, which cuts across the relevant goals. This inclusive and adaptable approach could guide integrated national SDG implementation and align intergovernmental frameworks.

Partner spotlight

Fundação Micaia (Micaia Foundation)

Micaia Foundation is an NGO working in Manica Province, Mozambique who aim to enable people to take action to change their lives for the better.

IIED have been working with Micaia Foundation for a number of years and they are a key partner in the Testing REDD+ project (detailed above) having coordinated extensive socio-economic research in natural resource dependent communities, and piloted investments in livelihoods that could go to scale as part of a REDD approach.

Opportunity

Researcher - Agroecology

The Natural Resources Group is seeking a researcher to provide support to the IIED/Irish Aid learning platform on climate change, which started in 2014.

The objective of the IIED/Irish Aid platform is to support Irish Aid in developing the capacity to integrate climate change into their programmes (most of which focus on food security and supporting smallholder farmers) by facilitating learning both through formal training and through joined learning and exchange of experiences between IA staff (country offices and headquarters) and partners.

Communities and Carbon Offsets Survey

Last but not least, IIED are part of a study looking at what motivates individuals and companies to buy carbon offsets in voluntary markets. We would greatly appreciated if you could take our quick survey. Take the survey now: http://bit.ly/1gStsoz

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