On May 27-31, 2013, Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) and the National Forest Commission of Mexico (CONAFOR) hosted the fourth Next Generation of Forest Agency Leaders Seminar. 18 forest leaders from 9 countries (Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, China, Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia, Mexico, Peru and the United States) gathered there, as well as 7 respected scholars and practitioners from around the world and representatives of the co-organizers.
The weeklong meeting exposed the participants to tenure reform, the forest industry in transition, community forestry, Indigenous Peoples’ rights, and challenges with regulations in a relaxed and open setting that encouraged active participation. Through presentations, group discussions and a field trip to a variety of different tenured lands, participants left with a deeper understanding of global transitions and issues in forest governance. For the second time, a day was devoted specifically to leadership to discuss the unique challenges that forest leaders are facing around the world.
Seminar’s objectives
- Better prepare the next generation of public forest agency senior leaders to lead in a more complex social, political, environmental and market context.
- Engage senior executives from forest ministries and related public agencies in cutting-edge analysis and information for a deeper understanding of global transitions in forest tenure and governance, and markets.
- Promote improved information sharing and networks among these agency leaders through frank and open dialogue in a small group setting where problems and solutions can be discussed openly.
- Strengthen contributions of forest agencies to addressing land rights, poverty alleviation, governance, conservation and climate change challenges in their countries.
Resources
- Synopsis (including the agenda and list of participants)
Presentations
- Introduction to Oaxaca (English and Spanish) – Miguel Angel Soto, Acting State Forester, CONAFOR State Office
- Forest Agencies in Transition: The world view: What is changing, what challenges are forest agencies facing? – Augusta Molnar, Senior Director, Country & Regional Programs, RRI
- The example of Mexico (English and Spanish) – Víctor Hugo Martínez-Cíntora, Assistant Manager of Community Forestry, CONAFOR
- Global Trends for Investments in Forests, Forest Products & Energy – Sten Nilsson, CEO, Forest Sector Insights AB
- Smaller Forest Enterprises in Transition – Augusta Molnar, Senior Director, Country & Regional Programs, RRI
- Global Markets for verified Legal Wood Products: Are SMFEs Prepared? – Kerstin Canby, Director of Trade & Finance Program, Forest Trends
- Land Acquisitions, Extractive Industries, Infrastructures & Agriculture: New pressures on forest lands – Jeffrey Hatcher, Director, Global Programs, Rights and Resources Initiative
- New Pressures on Forest and Community Lands: The Case of Latin America – Omaira Bolaños, Regional Program Director, Latin America, RRI
- Tenure Rights & Reforms around the World – Jeffrey Hatcher
- Regulatory Reforms and Their Implications for Tenure and Rights – Sally Collins & Augusta Molnar
- International Forest-Climate Initiatives and Their Implications for Forest Agencies – Augusta Molnar
- Status of International Initiatives to Control Illegal Logging and Trade in Timber and Other Commodities (FLEGT-VPA, etc.) – Kerstin Canby, Director of Trade & Finance Program, Forest Trends
- Role of Local Cooperatives, Associations, and Federations in Enabling Sustainable Management of Small Farmer Forests – Peter deMarsh, Chair, International Family Forestry Alliance
- Forest Agency Leadership – Sally Collins, Former Associate Chief, U.S. Forest Service
- Forest Agency Leadership – Luiz Joels, Former Director, Brazilian Forest Service
- Forest Agency Leadership – Keshav Kanel, Former Secretary, Nepal Ministry of Forests & Soil Conservation