Bali to host forum on natural resources

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sat, 06/17/2006 2:59 PM

JAKARTA: Bali is to host a five-day conference on natural resource management, land tenure and forestry starting June 19.

About 700 participants from 60 countries are expected to attend the 11th biennial conference of the International Association for the Study of Common Property (IASCP), which is themed ""Survival of the Commons: Mounting Challenges and New Realities"".

""The participants will discuss various issues on the management of natural resources, our common property, and people's involvement,"" conference chairman Ernan Rustiadi said.

The conference is co-organized by the Bogor Institute of Agriculture, the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and IASCP.

It will begin with an international policy seminar -- ""Implementing Forest and Land Tenure Reforms in Asia: Lessons from Experience and Recommendations for the Future"".

IPC chairman Chip Fay said the event would bring policy-makers, local leaders and national and international researchers, who have practical experiences in implementing forest tenure and policy reforms.

""During the last decade, in some Asian countries, there has been progress made by the governments toward the recognition of local rights over land and increasing local administration of natural resources ..."" he said.

""However, implementation of tenure reforms have not always proceeded as intended, or have had the impacts hoped for,"" he said.

Fay said the seminar aimed to address the problem by providing delegates with guidelines on best practices.

Bali Governor I Dewa Beratha is scheduled to open the meeting in Ubud. --JP

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