‘Growing our future’ means finding the balance between development and conservation – ASFN leaders

February 22, 2016. Clark, Philippines. The perennial question of finding sustainable development’s ‘goldilocks zone’ has once again surfaced during the ASEAN Social Forestry Network’s (ASFN) expectations meeting for this year’s Asia-Pacific Forestry Week (APFW). The meeting was held to prepare the ASFN leaders for the weeklong event and to help focus ASFN’s key messages.                                                                                                 

ASFN officials from Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Viet Nam all agreed that community forestry (CF) is a major ingredient in finding that sweet spot and that they expect CF to be discussed during the week in light of its link to sustainable development goals (SDGs), improvement of local livelihoods and inclusion of local producers in the value chain; food security; adaptation to climate change; land tenure and stronger rights for local and indigenous communities, and women.

Can we finally find the balance between development and conservation? Surely, a week is not enough but let’s wait and see and find out at the end of the event.

This year’s Asia-Pacific Forestry Week with the theme ‘Growing our future’ is currently being held in Clark, Philippines and will run from February 22-26, 2016. The event is organized by the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in collaboration with RECOFTC-The Center for People and Forests and other regional partners.