International Conference on

Sustainable Forest Management and Poverty Alleviation: Roles of Traditional Forest-related Knowledge

17-20 December 2007, Kunming, China

Background

Traditional Knowledge is a combination of ancient ingenious practices and techniques, locally adapted and distinctive to a territory or a community. Traditional knowledge passed on through the generations, packaged in folk songs, stories, dances, poetries, and carvings and paintings. Traditional knowledge has greatly contributed, and still does, to the world’s natural and cultural heritage by sustaining the production of multiple goods and services that enhance livelihood security and quality of life. Traditional knowledge, cultural values and historical perspective have gained an increasingly important role in shaping policies towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of alleviating poverty and ensuring economic, social and environmental sustainability.

Traditional Knowledge has been used for managing the utilization of natural resources such as water, soil and forests, and for organizing rural and urban communities. Traditional Forest-Related Knowledge (TFRK) has long been known to have important implications for forest management and conservation of forest biodiversity, as well as identification of valuable genetic resources.

The political commitments on increasing awareness of the role of TFRK and practices in the protection of landscapes and conservation of biological diversity were reaffirmed by many of the member states of the United Nations Forum on Forests. During its Sixth Session in 2006, countries agreed to four Global Objectives on Forests aimed at enhancing SFM and the contributions of forests to the achievements of MGDs. The increasing emphasis on SFM, which includes ecological, social, cultural, spiritual, and economic sustainability, has prompted increasing emphasis to consider all relevant knowledge about forest ecosystems and the impact of forest management options in the development of forest policies and operational practices.

The Asia Pacific region has one of the world’s highest diversity of ethnicities, languages and cultures. The region has also two of the ancient civilizations, India and China, both with recorded histories that date back many thousands of years. The region is the home of very rich ancient wisdom that had been passed down through the generations. A major portion of this is directly or indirectly linked to its vast stretches of forests, which have been the lifeline for the millions of people living in and around them. Although most of these age-old techniques and practices had been deemed outdated and no longer relevant to present day forestry, increasingly they are being re-discovered and explored for solving current problems. In the process, issues such as equitable sharing or benefits and intellectual property rights have surfaced.

With all these as the backdrop, this international conference will gather stakeholders and interested parties to share and exchange information and experiences related to the various aspects of TFRK in Asia and the Pacific.

Objectives

The conference will provide a platform for sharing of information and exchanging experiences related to TFRK in the Asia Pacific region. The conference will also highlight the importance of TFRK towards achieving MDGs and sustainable forest management. It should also encourage further development on incorporating TFRK in models of sustainable practices.

The conference thus will cover the following specific topics:

• Economic, ecological and cultural dimensions of TFRK in Asia and the Pacific
• Facing globalization: Issues of intellectual property rights and equitable sharing of benefits
• Conservation and utilization of TFRK for achieving sustainable livelihoods of local communities
• Joint initiatives and utilization of traditional and modern scientific knowledge in forest management activities
• Development of good practices incorporating both traditional knowledge and modern sciences in forestry education, research and forest management activities
• Forestry policies recognizing the role of TFRK in achieving SFM and MDGs

Target Beneficiaries

• Researchers and technologists
• Academicians and students
• Holders and users of traditional forest-related knowledge

• Policy makers, analysts and planners
• Government, international agencies and NGO representatives

Organization

The International Conference on Sustainable Forestry Management and Poverty Alleviation: role of Traditional Forest-Related Knowledge, a IUFRO event, is being organized by the IUFRO Task Force on Traditional Forest Knowledge, the Chinese Academy of Forestry (CAF), Korea Forest Research Institute (KFRI), Seoul National University (SNU), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Asia Pacific Association of Forestry Research Institutions (APAFRI); as well as other member institutions in the Asia Pacific region and related regional and international agencies. The conference will be hosted by Sustainable Forest Research Centre of Chinese Academy of Forestry.

The conference will be held on 17–20 December 2007, at a leading hotel in Kunming, China. The official language of the conference will be English.

A one-day field visit would be organized to witness the rich and diversified cultural heritage related to forests in local communities nearby Kunming, China.

Tentative Conference Programme

The conference will be divided into five technical sessions, and a one-day field tour.

Registration Fee

Conference registration fees:

v Participants from outside China (including non-Chinese residing in China): USD300,

v Participants from IUFRO and APAFRI member institutions: USD250

v Students: USD150

v Local Chinese participants - RMB500

The conference fee covers a welcome dinner, all refreshments and lunches, conference materials and field trip.

Submission of Presentation and Poster

Priority will be given to papers or presentations done jointly between indigenous community members or practitioners and researchers. If you wish to present a paper, or exhibit a poster, send your abstract of 300-500 words to:

Dr. Liu Jinlong
Sustainable Forestry Research Centre, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, 100091, China or attach to an e-mail in an MSWord file (.doc), or in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) or plain text format to:

liujl@caf.ac.cn

Abstracts should include the full names, addresses of authors, and e-mail address for the corresponding author. The abstract should clearly describe the content and major findings and conclusions of the proposed paper/presentation and its relationship to the specific topics or objectives of the conference.

Deadlines: Submissions of abstracts - August 31, 2007

Notification of acceptance - September 30, 2007

Final Papers/Presentations - October 31, 2007