News

A visit to Indonesia

This October, TFT Indonesia staff and senior TFT management from Switzerland, where the TFT support team is based, reviewed their work in the natural forests of Kalimantan, Indonesia. The aim of the exercise was to explore and identify opportunities to further enhance the assistance TFT provides to forest concession staff in the region. 

Several field visits and meetings were followed by discussions on current activities aimed at implementing sustainable forest management. TFT staff also evaluated how social benefits and understanding community impacts and needs are taken into account and how this could be further improved.

Some of the issues covered included forest planning, road building, Reduced Impact Logging, forest and water quality monitoring, log tracking, impacts of hunting and other best practices.

Monitoring progress

In particular, the progress of three forests received special attention: Dwima and Carus have been working with TFT since 2007 and are coming closer to FSC. The third forest examined was Guang, a new forest where TFT initiated work this year.

Meeting regularly to monitor progress is really important. Defining ways to realistically measure and understand the improvements concessions make towards achieving the FSC certificate keeps them motivated and reinforces their efforts.

The following pictures highlight a number of activities during the forest visits.

 

photos Phil Guillery