RIL implementation in Indonesia with reference to Asia-Pacific Region: review and experiences

One important step towards sustainable forest harvesting is the implementation of reduced impact logging (RIL). Over past decades, a number of forestry technical cooperation projects in the Asia-Pacific Region have focused on RIL training (RIL training manuals and modules, and RIL training curriculum), RIL pilot trials/demonstration, development of RIL guidelines, research on RIL and RIL implementation on an operational scale. Experiences and results of these projects provide a good foundation upon which to build national RIL training and implementation programs.

In 1999, FAO published the Regional Code of Forest Harvesting Practice for the Asia Pacific Region. Since then, most countries in the Asia-Pacific Region have developed and implemented national codes of forest harvesting practices to encourage the promotion of RIL. Among others are (1) ITTO Project PD 110/01 Rev. 4 (I) 'Programme to Facilitate and Promote Adoption of Reduced Impact Logging (RIL) in Indonesia and the Asia Pacific Region'; and (2) the FAO Project GSP/RAS/192/JPN 'Enhancing Sustainable Forest Harvesting in Asia'.

The theme of the workshop was RIL implementation in Indonesia with reference to the Asia Pacific-Region: review and experiences. The scope of the regional workshop was to review, disseminate and share the results and experiences of these projects among stakeholders in the countries of the Asia-Pacific Region.

The main objectives of the workshop were to: review and disseminate the results of project PD 110/01 Rev. 4 (I): Programme to Facilitate and Promote the Adoption of Reduced Impact Logging (RIL) in Indonesia and the Asia Pacific Region; and share experiences on RIL training and implementation in the Asia Pacific Region.

The workshop aimed to bring together different actors of the forestry sector (forest companies, communities, engineers, government officials, scientists, trainers) to review and share experiences on RIL training and implementation and opinions on the challenge to bring forest management towards better practices in order to achieve sustainability.

The Workshop was organized by the Project Coordinating Unit (PCU) of ITTO Project PD 110/01 Rev. 4 (I).