Bangkok, 20 January 2015
Workshop on Drivers of Change Affecting Mekong Forests: Towards formulation of GMS action plans
Draft Regional Synthesis
John Costenbader, Climate Focus
Overview
Drivers
Negative
Positive
Policies and Measures (PAMs)
Cross-Cutting Challenges
Preliminary Recommendations
0
50000
100000
150000
200000
250000
300000
350000
400000
450000
To
tal F
ore
st
Are
a (
sq
. km
)
Rapid declines observed in forest area across most GMS countries
Vietnam Cambodia Thailand Lao PDR Myanmar
*Most GMS forests lost have been converted to agricultural
land, esp. cash crop plantations
Direct Indirect
Agriculture* Population & demographics
Infrastructure Economics
Mining Transport infrastructure
Dams Regional & global demand for arable land
Logging
Forest Fires
*Most GMS forests lost have been converted to agricultural land, esp. cash crop plantations
0
25000
50000
75000
100000
125000
150000
175000
200000
225000
250000
1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011
Ag
ric
ult
ura
l L
an
d A
rea
(s
q. k
m)
Year
Growth in Agricultural land area in GMS countries (World Bank data): 1961-2012
Vietnam Cambodia Thailand Lao PDR Myanmar
Main patterns and drivers of forest loss from 1990 to 2010 (Stibig et al. 2014)
Direct Indirect
Demand for wood products Global demand for sustainable goods & environmental services
Demand for:• Biodiversity conservation• Water-related environmental
services• Soil conservation
• Land use planning and agricultural intensification
• Urbanization and economic growth
Community forestry Cultural developments favoring forest protection
Sustainable timber supply chains Growing SFM opportunities
Abandonment of marginalagricultural areas
Outmigration & overseas work
Public awareness
Environmental disasters
1. Sustainable Forest Management
2. Land Use Planning
3. Protected Areas
4. Forest Law Enforcement & Logging Bans
5. Community Forestry
6. PES Incentives
7. Allocation of Forest Land to Local Stakeholders
8. Private Sector Incentivization
9. Forest Funds
10. Regional Agreements
1. Policy targets not implemented into laws and regulations
2. Inadequate human and financial resources
3. Overlap with other sectors
4. Unclear land tenure & exclusion of rural communities in
forest titling / management
5. Weak forest law enforcement
6. Inadequately planned logging bans
7. Inconsistent forest law & policy
8. Inadequate or improper incentives
Thank you for listening
John [email protected]