press release
Brasilia — During the week of February 23-28, a delegation of government and private sector leaders from Ethiopia and Mozambique will visit Brazil to exchange knowledge and experience on sustainable forest plantations.
The delegation will meet and discuss with government officials from the federal government and the state of Espirito Santo, and as well representatives of research institutions and private sector entities to discuss best practices, policies, and incentives in promoting the forestry sector and how forest plantations can help improve management of natural resources, particularly native forests while promoting rural development.
“African economies and their rural population could benefit from sustainable forest plantations”, said Mark Lundell, Country Director for the World Bank in Mozambique. “This is particularly relevant for plantations that include smallholders in the supply chain of different forest products. This could be an important policy option to generate jobs and income in rural areas, while also contributing to reducing pressure on existing forests”.
Brazil is chosen as a host country due to its internationally recognized capacity in the planted forest sector. “Brazil has developed state of the art knowledge in forest management, harvesting and wood transport. It is often seen as a benchmark by other tree growing companies all over the world”, said Magda Lovei, Practice Manager, World Bank. “This is one of the reasons we are working with our client countries in Africa to foster South-South learning and knowledge sharing”.
The knowledge exchange will enable participants to:
Increase knowledge on how re/afforestation activities and sustainable forest plantations can contribute to poverty reduction, focusing on the participation of smallholders and small industrial wood consumers, and their integration into timber supply chains;
increase awareness on fast-growing species applicable to smallholder forestry and latest technologies in silviculture – the practice of controlling the health, and quality of forests to meet diverse needs and values, and its integration with surrounding natural ecosystems;
discuss public policies and incentives to help foster forest plantations by the private sector; and
learn about innovative sources of financing and tools to improve the investment climate for forest activities and wood industry.
The visit is expected to establish a broad network of stakeholders and strengthen lasting partnerships between Brazil, Ethiopia and Mozambique.
“I expect to obtain practical knowledge on how to sustainably manage forests with strong community participation,” said Darlindo Ernesto da Conceicao Pechisso, Head of Forest Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mozambique. “The exchange and discussions among peers will hopefully generate ideas that can be replicated in the Mozambican context and support our efforts to create sustainable forest plantations”.
“The study tour is closely linked to ongoing World Bank forestry operations in both countries”, says André Aquino, Sr. Natural Resources Management Specialist at the World Bank. “Forest plantations for different purposes are an important element of sustainable landscapes. They can reduce pressure on existing native forests while generating much needed rural employment and income.”
For more information, please visit: http://www.worldbank.org/
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