:: 25 February 2007

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In this issue

• Message from RUPES Project Office
• RUPES Sumberjaya Anticipates the Next Phase of the Project
• COMMITTEES: Sharing Updates 
• RHA Training at Baticulan Watershed
• Featured Link
• New Publication

Message from RUPES Project Office

After a month, the Lombok Workshop was still memorable to many. It was not only because of the wide range of topics covered during the week, but also for the opportunity to interact and share experience with other participants.  

"Participants returned to their countries with a lot of food for thought and inspired to make further efforts in their own context, and having made new connections" said Dr Meine van Noordwijk of ICRAF.

RUPES Project would like to express its appreciation to all co-organizers who have made the workshop come into realization. Special gratitude goes to all presenters and participants actively contributing during the week. Together, we have learned a lot!

Visit www.worldagroforestry.org/sea/portals/2/lombok to download presentations. You may also be lucky to find your face in one of the photos!

Aunul Fauzi
RUPES Communication Specialist

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RUPES Sumberjaya Anticipates the Next Phase of the Project

To further socialize the results of RUPES Sumberjaya research to various development players in Lampung province, a meeting was held in Bandar Lampung on the 23rd of February (also as part of RUPES TAC meeting). The meeting was also aimed at gaining commitment from potential project proponents for future RUPES-type project activities.

Dr Suyanto, RUPES Sumberjaya team leader, elaborated the achievements of the two years long work in Sumberjaya sub-district of West Lampung focusing on the conditional community forestry (HKm) scheme as a form of rewards for coffee farmer groups practicing better coffee garden management and protecting remaining state-owned protection forest.

Community based water quality monitoring activity (Rivercare Group and Soil Conservation Farmer Group), the new scheme being studied and introduced to farmers on the riparian zones, was also especially mentioned in this meeting for its potential as a service that potential buyers like PLN (state owned hydropower electricity company) can think of to ensure the supply of low sediment water to their dam.

A strong proponent of RUPES Sumberjaya activities, Mr Warsito - also the Head of Forestry Unit of Lampung Barat District - explained the potentials of Lampung Barat as an environment services provider. He received positive responses and commitments from the meeting participants for any further RUPES-type activities in Lampung.

Present at the meeting were representatives of various provincial level government offices such as Forestry Unit, Law Bureau of Lampung Provincial Government, Development Planning Agency (BAPPEDA), House of Representative (Commission B – Environment), Bukit Barisan National Park, and Environment Management Body (BPLH). Representatives from non-government sector such as WWF, WCF, Watala, PLN (hydro power company) were also present. [Aunul Fauzi]

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COMMITTEES: Sharing Updates

During a meeting hosted by the Environmental Service Program (ESP-USAID) Project in Jakarta on the 15th of February, COMMITTEES members provided updates on their activities related to PES.  Andri Santoso of RMI (an environmental NGO in Bogor) presented a case study carried out under the support of ESP-USAID in Deli Watershed of North Sumatera and in Progo Watershed of  Central Java. This study is a part of a wider review of PES in Indonesia covering Lampung, Brantas, Cidanau, Kuningan and Lombok.

Nita Kartika of BAPPENAS (National Planning Agency) presented a study report on the identification of non-timber products and environmental services in five provinces in Indonesia.

As a member DKN (National Forestry Council), a newly formed council within the structure of Ministry of Forestry, Nanang Roffandi elaborated the functions of the council and its short term focus on environmental services. 

At the same opportunity, Beria Leimona of RUPES Project shared the results of the Lombok Workshop [Andini Desita]. 

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RHA Training at Baticulan Watershed

The training was held on December 11-12, 2006 and organized by GENESYS Foundation, Inc., an environmental NGO involved in reforestation activities and sustainable biomass production in the rural uplands.

Dr Rex Victor O. Cruz, a top watershed management expert in the Philippines, conducted the training. It included a module on the biophysical characterization of the watershed and the socio-economic aspect for establishing the baseline hydrology of watersheds.

The City Mayor, through the San Carlos Development Board, co-financed the activity. A total of 35 participants from NGOs, private sector, and government agencies such as City District Water Works, City Engineering, City Agriculture Office, North Negros Aquaculture and Resource Management Office, and the Provincial Environment Management Office participated the event.

Payment for Environmental Services (PES) concept is seen as an option to encourage forest protection and rehabilitation while rewarding the service providers. The Northern Negros Natural Park (NNNP) portion within the jurisdiction of San Carlos City has lost its forest cover many years ago. Payments for carbon sequestration services of to-be planted forest may encourage reforestation in these areas and can alleviate poverty. [Grace A. Villamor and Inna G. Kadda]. 

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