This report summarizes the findings of the e-mail conference that took place from 9 October to 4 November 2002 and which was organized by the Land Degradation Assessment in Drylands project (LADA). The report contains exchanges of views on data sets and methods that may be used to assess land degradation and a discussion on the biophysical, socio-economic and institutional indicators that explain the root causes, driving forces, status, impact and reponses to land degradation at various scales.

Forests play major roles in climate change. They contribute carbon emissions when destroyed or degraded and they suffer from changing climate, drought and extreme weather. Managed sustainably, they can provide a unique environmental service by removing excess carbon from the atmosphere, storing it in biomass, soils and products. In addition, sustainably produced wood fuels offer an environmentally benign alternative to fossil fuels.

Nutrient-balance assessments are valuable tools for delineating the consequences of farming on soil fertility. Various approaches and methods for different situations have been used. This bulletin presents a state-of-the-art overview of nutrient-balance studies. It brings out the evolution of the approaches and methods, provides for comparisons among them, features the improvements made, and highlights remaining issues. The analysis would be useful in further development of the assessment methodologies as reliable tools for devising time-scale soil fertility management interventions.

Invasive tree species are now considered to be a threat to the biological diversity of Southern Africa. Most of the invasive tree species in Southern Africa were either deliberate or accidental introductions. Most of the invasive tree species are exotic, with only one or two being indigenous. These invasive exotic tree species are causing significant environmental and economic damage to the ecosystems of the region.

The African Highlands Initiative works to enhance livelihoods and reverse natural resource degradation
through the development of innovative methods,practices,policies and approaches.

Summary: China’s trade in timber products with Myanmar grew substantially from 1997-2002, from 295,474 m3
(round wood equivalent, RWE) in 1997 to 947,765 m3 (RWE) in 2002. Despite increased volume,
timber product imports from Myanmar comprised only 2.5% of China’s total timber product imports
from 1997-2002. However, the small fraction of total imports masks two important features: i)
timber imports from Myanmar are primarily logged in slow-growing natural forests in northern

La compleja historia y desarrollo de la institución comunal de uso y propiedad de la tierra en las comunidades campesinas del Ande peruano hoy vuelven a tomar un nuevo rumbo. Los cambios recientes en las normas que la gobiernan, especialmente en la Nueva Ley de Tierras 26505, ponen en preocupación el destino que les espera a las comunidades campesinas y su medio ambiente. Las reflexiones presentadas en esta investigación, a partir de la percepción de los actores locales, muestran las posibles tendencias de la institución comunal de uso y propiedad de la tierra para regular sus recursos.

Background paper for an IDS Sussex workshop on new ideas on the rights to land, housing and property. Contains a renewed focus on poverty and, within that, a new focus on land rights; livelihoods and rights-based approaches; the World Bank and received orthodoxy in land policy; DFID’s focus on land rights in Africa; Francophone perspectives; recent World Bank thinking; the mysteries of capitalism (a discussion of de Soto); lessons learnt.

La définitio n de mécanismes app ropriés à la lu tte contre les activités illé gales et la corruption dans le sec t eur forestier dev rait constituer un des fondements des réformes législativ es entreprises par une majorité de pays africains. Ce nouveau cadre juridique est une des conditions préalables à la gestion durable des ressources forestières . Les principales caractéristiques des nouvelles lois sont une reconnaiss ance des valeurs sociales, écono miques et environnementales et leur intégration dans les object ifs de la gestion durable des forêts.

A Briefing Document by Global Witness. October 2003...

Table of Contents... Recommendations...
Introduction...
Summary:
Natural Resources and Conflict in Burma;
SLORC/SPDC-controlled logging;
China-Burma relations and logging in Kachin State;
Thailand-Burma relations and logging in Karen State...

#039;Capitalizing on Conflict' presents information illustrating how trade in timber, gems,
and gold is financing violent conflict, including widespread and gross human rights
abuses, in Burma. Although trade in these “conflict goods” accounts for a small
percentage of the total global trade, it severely compromises human security and
undermines socio-economic development, not only in Burma, but throughout the
region.
Ironically, cease-fire agreements signed between the late 1980s and early 1990s