THE ISSUES: WHY THE CONCERN?

Despite the fact that many of these biodiversity rich sites are already gazetted as Protected Areas.  (e.g. Forest Reserves), the resources are depleting at increasing rates.

Forests are being encroached and converted to farmland or bush.  Biodiversity is lost by over harvesting of key resources.

  The forests, with little management or protection, have a reduced ability to supply resources.  The demand for resources is increasing as human populations not only continue to grow, but also have greater consumer demands. The Supply and Demand equation is greatly out of balance!

Added to these issues are the facts that:

  *                Government regulatory agencies all over the region have a reduced capability; and are poorly equipped to deal with today’s newer ideas of joint regulation WITH local people.

  *                Communities themselves have little awareness of larger biodiversity issues (although they are often well aware of biodiversity values!) and low capacity to interact with governments at local and central levels.

  *                Existing legal and social rules and regulations often do not permit sustainable exploitation of biodiversity.  The present “Enhancing Environment” for conservation does not permit a regulatory capability involving all stakeholders.