Global Witness - Breaking the links between natural resources, conflict and corruption
This page is also available in Spanish and French
| Independent Forest Monitoring (IFM) projects focus on cooperation with governments, civil society and the private sector in timber-producing countries by providing objective information on forest concession allocations and infractions, capacity building in forest monitoring techniques and case-tracking for legal processes, in order that the populations of the countries concerned equitably benefit from the sustainable use of their natural resource base. |
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Monitoring staff and officials make inspection visits, either jointly or independently, to a range of locations (forest, sawmill, factory, port etc.) either in a programmed, systematic way or to investigate suspicions. By complementing official forest law enforcement with the objectivity and public credibility of an independent third party, IFM can improve transparency in the short term while contributing to the development of a sound legislative and regulatory framework for responsible forest management.
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The definitive guide to IFM for governments, donors, and NGOs is available here in English (3.5mb), French (3.5mb) or Spanish (3.2mb) | Global Witness has pioneered and gained unique experience on IFM in Cambodia (1999-2003) and Cameroon (2000-2005). We are currently running IFM projects in Honduras and Nicaragua, as well as answering requests from Peru and other countries where our expertise is in high demand. |
Latest Publications
June 2009
Governments urged to renew commitments as diamond meeting closes
Some progress at Kimberley Process diamond meeting but governments must do more to ensure scheme's effectiveness
Blood Diamonds - Time to Plug the Gaps
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
Global Witness campaigner, Davyth Stewart, reflects on tough week of negotiations in Bonn, which yielded mixed results
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
systems
ECA Press Conference at Bonn
Going backwards or forwards on Forests and Climate? Environment groups under the bannner of the Ecosystems Climate Alliance hold joint press conference in Bonn as UN Climate Change meeting draws to a close
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.
