A short video documentary of AFA's participation (through its Indonesia member Aliansi Petani Indonesia or API) in activities organized by civil society organizations (CSOs) parallel to the conferences of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC or FCCC), such as the thirteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 13) and the third session of the meeting of the parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 3), in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia last December 3-14, 2007. API has been invited by some CSOs who organized the parallel activities to UNFCC.

 Land is a scarce resource increasingly affected by the competition of mutually exclusive uses. Fertile land in rural areas becomes scarcer due to population growth, pollution, erosion and desertification, effects of climate change, urbanization etc. On the remaining land, local, national and international users with different socioeconomic status and power compete to achieve food security, economic growth, energy supply, nature conversation and other objectives. Land use planning can help to find a balance among these competing and sometimes contradictory uses.

After the collapse of the former Soviet Union and the end of the latest Balkan wars, countries in Southeastern Europe had to reorganize their land management and land administration systems. Whereas in the Caucasus region privatization and first property registration were the main challenges, in the former Republic of Yugoslavia, essential objectives were the return of collectivized, confiscated property through restitution or (re)distribution, as well as the updating and harmonization of traditional land registry and cadaster systems and their conversion to modern systems.

Agroforestry systems and tree cover on agricultural land make an important contribution to climate change mitigation, but are not systematically accounted for in either global carbon budgets or national carbon accounting. This paper assesses the role of trees on agricultural land and their significance for carbon sequestration at a global level, along with recent change trends. Remote sensing data show that in 2010, 43% of all agricultural land globally had at least 10% tree cover and that this has increased by 2% over the previous ten years.

When I began this study, my interest was to investigate the agricultural development on both sides of the Mekhong river where my study site was located. It was supposed to be a micro study of changes in local livelihood at border areas

Khamleuang talks about the market for their crops.

 

Amphone talks about using the land to grow his crops

 

Khamon about the crops from the land.

 

Chouvanh's views on being productive with the land.

Malee's views on the importance of protecting the land.

Village Focus helps families in rural villages in Laos and Cambodia. Dependent on the natural abundance of the wilderness around them for all things, they are often victims of profiteering in many forms. Images from Pajujeun, Pajudon, Ta-oy, Saneung and Phorbeuy villages in Laos, and Siem Reap province, Battambang and Mondulkiri provinces in Cambodia. Scenes of bomb craters, Typhoon Ketsana's destruction, a sacred forest reserve, water and sanitation projects, and food cultivation.

 

An introduction into the work we do to assist disadvantaged communities in Laos and Cambodia. 

We have 3 core Programs of development work: Healthy Villages & Local Leadership/ Land & Livelihoods/ Child Protection and Empowerment. 

Please visit our website for more information: https://villagefocus.org/index