posted by System Administrator on 11/10/06

"Consumption now exceeds production of most natural resources in China. Conservation concession is an innovative approach to public-private partnerships in conservation and involves a contractual partnership between the national government and non-governmental sector (such as an institution, a private business, or a community) whereby the non-governmental entity manages State-owned land for purposes of ecosystem and biodiversity conservation. This emerging approach is being increasingly adopted in Central America, South America, New Zealand and Indonesia.

The Global Environment Institute (GEI) aims to introduce innovative sustainable forestry finance tools with a clear understanding of the current context of the institutional setting, policy incentives, and community structures of the forestry sector in China. The project’s approach involves introducing the concept and experience of conservation concession from the United States, Brazil, Peru and other countries to China and explaining the sustainable use of forest resources to achieve both environmental and economic sustainability. In addition, introducing Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM) into the forestry sector and initiating a process in China toward a full concession law. Finally, it involves encouraging the Chinese government to transfer its role from traditional operator to active supervisor in forest management."

Excerpted from Global Environment Institute Biodiversity Program