Azis Khan participating in the 2018 Training of Trainers course, with instructor John Lynham.

Phanor Montoya Maya, Director of Corales de Paz, Colombia. Photo: Niki Gribi

Most decisions regarding the environmental and social impacts of infrastructure projects in the Brazilian Amazon are arbitrated by judges, which means that there are often no clear criteria to establish compensation values.

CSF-Brazil Director, Pedro Gasparinetti, CSF-Brazil consultant, Rodrigo Ozorio, and leaders from the Wazare indigenous village.

For the past year, CSF-Bolivia has been working on an innovative platform called CASA Verde which aims to engage different sectors of Bolivian society including conservation NGOs, private companies, and the general public, who are interested in contributing to environmental conservation. The main objective of CASA Verde is to improve conservation of ecosystems that sustain life and productive activities in Bolivia by promoting greater participation and awareness in society. CASA Verde will also contribute to the implementation of the commitments assumed by Bolivia in the National Development Plan, as well as the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Luky Adrianto, Dean of Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science of IPB Bogor, giving an opening speech during the workshop. Photo credit: Imanda Pradana.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is responsible for managing over $16 billion in non-military aid and assistance around the world. Among the agency’s projects are many that conserve and protect threatened ecosystems, contribute to greenhouse gas emissions reduction, and support community adaptation to the effects of climate change.

Workshop participants doing group work. Conservação Estratégica (CSF-Brasil) led a workshop on sustainable business plans for products from the Amazon. The aim was to create an open-space for dialogue on possible ways to support the development of sustainable businesses and the strengthening of their value chains in the Brazilian Amazon.

CSF-Brazil is pleased to announce the launch of a new publication: "Cost Benefit Analysis of the Construction of the Castanheira Dam" (in Portuguese). The Arinos River, located in the Juruena sub-basin – an important tributary of the Tapajós River – in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, is known for its aquatic biodiversity. Currently, however, there are more than 100 dams proposed in this sub-basin, which may threaten the biodiversity and local community’s way of life. One of these is the Castanheira Dam.

CSF-Indonesia has officially begun working to develop a shared vision and roadmap for Green Sintang Regency (Kabupaten Sintang Lestari) in West Kalimantan Province, Indonesia. Green Sintang refers to the transition to sustainable, low carbon development principles, and preservation of natural resources and ecosystems. With the programs brought by CSF Indonesia and other Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) under the Circle of Green Regency group partners (Lingkar Temu Kabupaten Lestari, LTKL), the government of Sintang will have the opportunity to achieve Green Regency despite the establishment of new large scale plantations within the area. The Sintang government recognizes the need to engage stakeholders in land use planning to ensure sustainability and more equitable distribution of benefits from development. CSF held a kick-off meeting on April 9th and 10th and involved CSOs and Local Government Agencies (Organisasi Perangkat Daerah - OPD).