Tropical Forest Update
Issue 28 No.2
Balancing act
Sustainably managing forests, creating sustainable supply chains and ensuring that local resource owners and managers obtain fair remuneration for their efforts requires a balancing act. The margins are always likely to be slim in sustainable forest management—even the fastest-growing forests take years to reach harvestable age, and the world still seems a considerable distance away from fully paying for the essential ecosystem services that forests provide. Yet the need for sustainable forest management is growing increasingly urgent—articles in this edition show that organizations and local people are finding smarter ways to get the balance right.
A Balinese woman carries sokasi woven from bamboo
on her way to a temple for a religious ceremony. Photo: FOERDIA
Contents
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From the Executive Director
by DieterleAdding economic value to conserve and expand tropical forests. -
When timber crosses the border
by Chen Hin KeongITTO has joined forces with TRAFFIC and the World Customs Organization to develop guidelines for use by customs officers in verifying timber trade legality. -
The bamboo-weaving women of Bali
by Ekawati, Khotimah and YuniatiA traditional handicraft among women has become an important commercial product, improving livelihoods and boosting efforts towards sustainable forest management. -
Seeking sustainability in the Sungai Medihit watershed
by YanuariadiA recently completed project in the Malaysian state of Sarawak has helped Kelabit and Penan communities develop new sustainable livelihood strategies. -
Act now on forests—or suffer later
An FAO outlook study for the Asia-Pacific region urges the forest sector to take immediate action at the landscape scale to avert environmental catastrophe. -
Fellowship report
by Vroh, Koné and Adou YaoAn ITTO Fellowship enabled a study of the ecological and social value of a timber production system in the Téné
gazetted forest in Côte d’Ivoire. -
Market trends
by AdamsWestern markets claw their way back to growth, but expansion slows in Asia. -
Tropical and topical
by Sato -
Recent editions
by Sato -
Meetings
A Balinese woman carries sokasi woven from bamboo
on her way to a temple for a religious ceremony. Photo: FOERDIA
Full edition
The ITTO Tropical Forest Update is published quarterly in English, French and Spanish.
The French and Spanish editions are usually posted about one month after the English.
Content does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of ITTO. ITTO holds the copyright to all photos unless otherwise stated. Articles may be reprinted without charge providing the Tropical Forest Update and author are credited and the editor notified (tfu@itto.int).