Global Witness - Breaking the links between natural resources, conflict and corruption
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~report on Honduras: “Illegal logging in the Rio Plátano Biosphere. A farce in three acts"
IFM in Honduras
Following various visits to the country, Global Witness and the Honduran National Commission for Human Rights (Comisionado Nacional de Derechos Humanos - CONADEH) signed an agreement to pilot Independent Forest Monitoring in May 2005.
The main objectives of the project were:
- To generate reliable information about illegal logging and its associated trade in Olancho Department, which contains one of the largest areas of conifer forests in the country and is being subjected to intensive logging;
- To ensure the objectivity and transparency of monitoring operations undertaken by the Forest Authority (Administración Forestal del Estado - Corporación Hondureña de Desarrollo Forestal, AFE-COHDEFOR);
- To strengthen the operational capacity of the Forest Authority through undertaking joint field missions and sharing experience and skills.
Between May 2005 and April 2006, Global Witness and CONADEH produced 14 field mission reports, a first summary report of activities and a second summary report. The project has been warmly welcomed by AFE-COHDEFOR, civil society and some elements in the industry, all of which have voiced a need to implement long-term IFM in Honduras.
Joint work between Global Witness and CONADEH also provided the opportunity to build the latter's capacity in monitoring techniques and gradually hand them over the leadership of the project.
In April 2006, CONADEH and AFE-COHDEFOR signed an agreement for a further year of IFM work in the country, which included a substantial increase in human resources and area covered by the project. Mission reports continue to be produced regularly and are publicly available on CONADEH's website.
Both CONADEH and AFE-COHDEFOR have expressed a strong interest to continue to have Global Witness' support in the implementation of the project.
Latest Publications
June 2009
Governments urged to renew commitments as diamond meeting closes
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The landmark Kimberley Process is in danger of losing its credibility, civil society groups warn today, ahead of a key meeting of the scheme established to stop the trade in blood diamonds.
Verdict on UN Climate Change Talks in Bonn
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Briefing note on imminent oil supply crunch
Global Witness is calling for governments to officially and publicly declare that there is an imminent
oil supply crunch and to take urgent measures to develop safe and sustainable alternative energy
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ECA Press Conference at Bonn
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Global Groups Call for End to Deforestation in Bonn
Global coalition calls on negotiators to deliver a strong climate deal, warning that they will put all of our survival at risk if they do not act immediately to halt deforestation and the industrial logging of the world's primary forests
Global Witness hails commitment of veteran diamond campaigner
Global Witness today paid tribute to the efforts and commitment of Ian Smillie, a founding member of the Kimberley Process, who has decided to end his participation in the rough diamond certification scheme.
Vested interests - Industrial logging and carbon in tropical forests
Industrial logging is a major source of carbon emissions, a primary driver of deforestation and threatens to derail the UN process to reduce deforestation warns Global Witness in a new report.
