forests

This integrated project will study the conditions, nature and effects of land-use change in the Cauca (Colombia) and Tapajós (Brazil) basins. Land-use change in these areas is related to different processes of exploitation of natural resources, such as the rapid expansion of  sugar cane and soy monocultures, deforestation, large-scale industrial mining of minerals and the development of mega-projects using water resources such as hydroelectric power plants. In both cases these changes come along with different forms of conflict, social and environmental harm and human rights violations.

The project tackles the cases from a multidisciplinary perspective with a team of biologists, anthropologists, geographers, criminologists, social workers and activists.

The team realizes a wide range of activities in the field of research and knowledge sharing, capacity building and policy development in their respective countries. They apply innovative methodologies, such as participative action research, ethnography and social cartography as well as critical perspectives from green criminology, political ecology and human rights. Presentation and Poster LAR project.

‘Lands and Rights’ seeks to promote a right-based approach to development, strengthening organizations and communities in their claim for rights and environmental justice. The aim is to learn from the conflicts, to reduce them and to contribute to the rule of law by improving (the implementation of ) public policies regarding natural resource management.

The LAR project is part of the programme CoCooN (Conflict and Cooperation over Natural Resources in Developing Countries) of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO).

Further information

The communications and publications of this project are posted on this blog

The Australian Government made an election promise in 2007 to ban illegal timber. Last Saturday, PM Gillard set the date for the next election for August 21st. The Government has just one month left to uphold its commitment on illegal timber.

Australia has continued to expect timber supplying countries, especially Indonesia to stem out illegal logging.

"Of course, Indonesia needs to tackle the serious and chronic problem of illegal logging because it is in our national interest to do so. However, Australia is a timber importing country and an influential power in the Asia-Pacific region. It has to walk the talk on good governance by banning the trade in timber stolen from other country’s forests." says Mohammad Teguh Surya, Head of Campaigns for WALHI. 

"For the last few decades, WALHI and other civil society groups in Indonesia have been campaigning hard to fight illegal logging to protect what is left of the once dense and mighty Indonesian tropical rainforests. Teguh explains, "we are fighting a losing uphill battle. Illegal logging operations are organised criminal activities. They operate above the law, bribing law enforcers, using force to intimidate forest communities and those who stand in their ways to cut down the trees, leaving a trail of destruction behind."

Illegal logging is highly profitable. Those who benefit from it will be open for

business as long as there are buyers. A recent UK-based Chatham House research showed that tough actions taken by the US and EU has resulted in a drop in demand for illegal timber. However other timber importing countries including Australia must act aggressively in order to maintain the momentum created to eliminate this trade.

• Find more on the Friends of the Earth Indonesia website 

Recently two roads have been developed across the Wilpattu National Park without respecting the value of this natural habitat and the environmental laws.

The park, which was famous for its leopards, was closed due to the civil war in Sri Lanka and has recently been re-opened only to find that this ambitious construction is ruining the park further.

This may be the last chance to save Wilpattu, the largest national park in Sri Lanka.

Please sign this petition and help ensure the national park is a safe haven for animals.