This publication reveals that the majority of Southeast Asian countries already have plural legal systems, and to some extent custom is recognised as a source of rights in the legal framework of a number of them. National and international courts have affirmed indigenous peoples’ customary rights in land. And all these countries have endorsed and ratified key international human rights laws and treaties-- thus, the basis for securing indigenous peoples’ rights through a revalidation of customary law exists.

This note examines how to maximize the benefits from the use of market instruments in support of developing countries' low-emission development priorities. First, it briefly surveys the current state and trends of the carbon market, highlighting the main achievements of carbon finance over its decade-long history. Second, it reviews updated scenarios of the scale of future carbon markets and associated financial flows, in light of developments in climate negotiations and domestic markets.

This note, prepared as background for the G20 submission, explores the potential for Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to increase the volume of climate financing by leveraging and intermediating resources, through two main avenues: leveraging shareholder capital through the MDBs non-concessional windows, by raising debt from capital markets to finance climate investment; and mobilizing and 'pooling' concessional flows to support climate investment beyond the MDBs own balance sheets.

The purpose of this paper is to summarize the challenges and the practical successes that a selected number of countries are experiencing in moving towards 'climate-smart' agriculture while also meeting the food requirements of a growing population, broader economic development and green growth objectives. It complements papers prepared in 2010 on technologies and policy instruments, research, and farmers' perspectives.

Table of Contents:-
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND MAJOR FINDINGS …
2. HISTORICAL OVERVIEW ...
3. NATIONAL FOREST STRATEGY, POLICIES AND REGULATIONS:
3.1 The Myanmar Selection System and Annual Allowable Cut;
3.2 Forest Law and Policy ;
3.3 Forest Land Categories;
3.4 Community Forestry;
3.5 Impact of Forest Law Enforcement on Local People...
4. DEMAND: DOMESTIC DEMAND AND WOOD EXPORTS:
4.1 Domestic Demand ;
4.2 Exports ...
5. TIMBER SUPPLY: DOMESTIC PRODUCTION AND WOOD IMPORTS:
5.1 Domestic Wood Production;

The paper deals with the establishment of the coppice and coppice-with-standards research object under the project Biodiversity and Target Management of Endangered and Protected Species in Coppices and Coppices-with-Standards Included in the System of NATURA 2000. It summarizes reasoning which preceded the selection of the site and provides a detailed description of the methodology of experimental site establishment.

Nearly half the world's population and about 81 percent of Sub-Saharan African (SSA) households rely on wood-based biomass energy (fuel wood and charcoal) for cooking. This degree of reliance is far greater than in any other region. While the use of biomass fuels in China, India and much of the developing world has peaked or will do so in the near future, SSA's consumption will either remain at very high levels or even grow over the next few decades.

Thailand needs to avoid the high-carbon growth path of many developed countries and, instead, take a low-carbon growth path. A green low-carbon growth path is in Thailand's own interest as it can simultaneously tackle local environmental degradation, global climate change, and energy security challenges. It can also position Thailand as a regional leader in green, sustainable growth.

The new wave of land deals is not the new investment in
agriculture that millions had been waiting for. The poorest people
are being hardest hit as competition for land intensifies. Oxfam’s
research has revealed that residents regularly lose out to local
elites and domestic or foreign investors because they lack the
power to claim their rights effectively and to defend and advance
their interests. Companies and governments must take urgent
steps to improve land rights outcomes for people living in poverty.

... Myanmar is a country of huge biodiversity importance that is undergoing major political change, bringing with it new international engagement. This includes access to international markets, which will likely spur investment in export-oriented agriculture, leading to increased pressures on already threatened ecosystems. This scenario is illustrated in the Ayeyarwady Delta, the country’s agricultural heartland sustaining high deforestation rates. Using the Delta as a model system, we use an integrated

London-based New Forests Company (NFC) would seem to be the design blueprint of how a young modern company should conduct a major land investment in Africa in a responsible way. Oxfam’s investigations reveal that serious allegations by people who were evicted from land to make way for NFC’s operations remain unresolved. How will the company respond?

This assessment builds on existing data and analysis from two prior publications: From Exclusion to Ownership, which was published by the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) in 2008 and provided data for nine countries in Asia, and Tropical Forest Tenure Assessment – Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities, jointly published by RRI and the International Tropical Timber Organization in 2009 and 2011.