We are delighted to announce that Ms. Lena Kern has assumed the spokesperson position of the SNRD Asia recently vacated by Mr. Berthold Schirm. The handover procedure officially took place during the last SNRD Asia Steering Group Meeting held back-to-back with the FATA in Bonn on 18 August 2016.
Ms. Lena Kern is currently working as Senior Advisor for the trilateral project Joint Protection of the Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion in Manila, Philippines. Previously working as the Network Manager for the SNRD Asia from 2014-2015 in Thailand and the Phillippines and being an active member of the Working Group Hills to Oceans, Ms. Lena Kern could already show her enthusiasm for networking and knowledge management in the Asian region. Therefore, we believe Ms. Lena Kern is well-equipped to facilitate the SNRD Asia with its more than 58 member projects and wish her all the success for her position as a Spokesperson!
We would also like to take this opportunity to introduce you to our new Network Manager, Ms. Nalina Hiranprueck. She has been working for GIZ for over three years and since 1 August 2016, has taken the position of SNRD Asia and TUEWAS Sector Network Manager.
Last but not least, we would like to thank Mr. Berthold Schirm for his effort in supporting the SNRD Asia for the last two years and wish him all the best for his future.
Sincerely,
Dr. Petra Mutlu, Head of Regional Department Southeast Asia and the Pacific
Mr. Lorenz Petersen, Director of Climate, Rural Development and Infrastructure Department
And now please read on to see what this August issue has got to offer. Once again, thank you all for your active contribution!
In this section, you will find some focus articles contributed by our Working Group members. For this issue, please read on to see contribution from the WG Agriculture.
GIZ-SNRD attends ADB-led- high-level forum on food security
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) hosted a Food Security Forum at its general headquarters in Manila, Philippines on 22-24 June 2016. With the theme ‘ADB Food Security Forum: Safe, Nutritious, and affordable Food for All’, the forum was participated by different governments from around the world;
Sustainable Agriculture: MOSA concept tailored for ASEAN
The ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems project[1] collaborates with ASEAN and all of its 10 member states (AMS) in implementing the ASEAN Integrated Food Security Framework (AIFS) and its Strategic Plan of Action on Food Security (SPA-FS)[2] at the national level to promote food security and the development of sustainable agriculture[3].
Improving farmers’ livelihoods by enhancing productivity and market linkages in Iloilo Province
In close cooperation with the Department of Agriculture (DA), its Regional Field Offices (RFOs), the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRICE) along with private sector partners Bayer and Yara, Better Rice Initiative Asia or BRIA seeks to promote market-oriented rice production
BRIA works with a local university to assess farmers’ training needs
Better Rice Initiative Asia or BRIA collaborates with Thailand’s Rice Department, Department of Agricultural Extension, local authorities and Bayer to conduct farmer training. To understand the constraints, aspirations, needs and training wants of farmers under the project, BRIA has commissioned the
From study tour to cross-border cooperation: Cambodian delegates sort for biological products and partnership in Vietnam
People dealing with biological pest and disease control were brought together cross-border by GIZ – ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood System (ASEAN SAS) project to identify cooperation opportunities and seek ways to work more collaboratively. The Cambodian Center of Study and Development in Agriculture (CEDAC) and Eco-Agri Center (EAC) in Cambodia organized a study
Biodiversity12 members of the Biodiversity WG had the chance to briefly meet during a side event at the FATA in August 2016. The main updates include:
• Preparations for the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Hawaii: Contributions will include a session on OECM (see https://portals.iucn.org/congress/sessions) and a presentation of the regional network COMACON, among others.
• A call for interested participants in the training on biodiversity and human well-being planned for March 2017 in Los Banos, Philippines.
REDD+On 19 August, REDD+ WG colleagues attended a Global Forest Exchange meeting organized back-to-back with the GIZ professional staff exchange (FATA) of the Division of Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure under the Dept. of Sector and Global Programs as well as the Division of Climate Change, Rural Development and Infrastructure. The updates are:
• A short overview on recent portfolio developments, forest strategy, the GNU (Germany, Norway & UK) Initiative, FCPF (Forest Carbon Partnership Facility), ICI (International Climate Initiative) and the Bonn Challenge was presented by representatives from BMZ and BMUB.
• Through the GNU initiative, up to 5 billion dollars will be available for REDD+ countries if adequate programs reach out to the initiative.
• BMZ plans to double its funding for REDD+ from 2015-2020; mainly through the FCPF.
• A comprehensive National Forest Inventory was presented by GIZ Mongolia while main topic of the exchange was to discuss how the forest and land sector is represented in the (I)NDCs (Intended Nationally Determined Contributions).
Understanding Mangroves: A step towards preservation
‘Understanding Mangroves: A high school teachers training on Mangroves and their significance’ was organised by Centre for Environment Education (CEE) at the Sanskruti Bhavan, Panaji, recently. “Forty schools from Bicholim, Tiswadi and Bardez participated in the three-day long training programme.
One-month long Industrial Environment Improvement Drive to raise awareness on environmental issues
In recent years, there has been a growing consensus that public engagement is necessary to bring any change, be it an environmental issue or social issue. Public engagement is particularly important in the Indian Subcontinent where climate change has emerged as major threat to humankind, as ecosystem, health and livelihood are impacted.
Meet Kheldho the mudskipper, an artistic metaphor for the damage we’re doing to our oceans
My four-year-old son’s hurried footsteps betray his excitement. “There, Daddy! There it is!” he cries. Impatient, he lets go of my hand and runs ahead. We are looking at a 25-ft long mudskipper lighting up the area around it at the Bhagwan Mahaveer Children’s Park in Panaji. From where we’re standing, it’s hard to believe the glittering installation has been made entirely of marine debris.
Call for Speaker and Sector Network members to start the Task Force Sustainable Development Goals!
In June 2016, participants of the inaugural conference of TUEWAS (Transport, Environment, Energy and Water) and SNRD Asia (Sector Network Natural Resources and Rural Development Asia), called for the setting up of a Task Force on SDG to monitor and streamline member projects and their indicators. To move the agenda forward, both SN Steering Groups have agreed to form the SDG Task Force and work towards an integrated approach in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. These article shall outline how the Task Force can operate and what it could achieve.
Subscribe now to get news and updates on GIZ International Forest Policy.
If you would like to receive the GIZ International Forest Policy Newsletter, please send a message to
forests@giz.de
Published by SNRD Asia Secretariat
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
193/63 Lake Rajada Office Complex 16th Fl. New Rachadapisek-Rama 4 Road
Klong Toey, Bangkok, 10110 Thailand