Southern African wetland region to become world’s largest protected freshwater site. - © WWF Lac Tumba" border="0" align="left" hspace="4" vspace="2" />An area of the Democratic Republic of Congo containing the largest body of fresh water in Africa has been added to the Ramsar Convention’s list of Wetlands of International Importance, making it the largest region ever to be designated as such. At more than six-and-a-half million hectares, the Ngiri-Tumba-Maingombe area is twice the size of Belgium and has one of the highest concentrations of biodiversity anywhere in the world. It is also a major carbon sink. "WWF is delighted that Ramsar has recognized the importance of this extraordinary wetland and the efforts of the Democratic Republic of Congo to protect it," said James P. Leape, Director General of WWF International. "This is a significant step forward for the welfare of communities who depend on this wetland for their livelihoods and for the wildlife that lives there." Recognition by the Convention, which was signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, means that there is now a framework to conserve the wetland, which is under threat from illegal logging, fishing and poaching, and a decline in water levels that is most likely attributable to climate change. In addition, proper management will help to maintain the ecosystem services that the site already provides, and ensure that its defences remain robust in the face of unpredictable environmental changes; “The Ngiri-Tumba-Maindombe area contributes to the regulation of flooding and regional climate and ensures that the quality of the water remains good enough for millions of people who depend upon it,” said WWF project Manager Bila-Isia Ingwabini. Wetlands, however, do not merely provide water for drinking and sanitation. The commercial value that can be derived from them is noteworthy. It is hoped that prudent and measured extraction of resources, including palm oil, groundnuts and fish, will contribute to sustainable economic growth for nearby cities such as Kinshasa and Brazzaville. Globally, the total economic value of wetlands is estimated at more than $70 billion.

EU countries add to illegal logging trade - © WWF-Canon / André Bärtschi" border="0" align="left" hspace="4" vspace="2" />Deforestation, a major contributor to climate change, is still rampant globally and European Union countries are guilty of compounding the problem according to a new WWF report. Almost one-fifth of wood imported into the European Union in 2006 came from illegal or suspected illegal sources, with Russia, Indonesia and China being the main sources according to the report - Illegal Wood for the European Market. In 2006, the European Union imported approximately 30 million cubic metres of wood and related products from illegal origins, equivalent to the total amount of wood harvested in Poland in the same year. In all, 23 per cent of wood-based products imported from eastern Europe originated from illegal or suspect sources, with 40 per cent from South East Asia, 30 per cent from Latin America and 35-55 per cent from Africa. Major importers are Finland, UK, Germany and Italy and WWF is calling for strong European legislation to prevent illegal wood entering the EU markets. “Illegal logging destroys the protective function of forests, increasing risk of natural disasters such as floods and landslides, and leads to deforestation, one of the main causes for climate change,” said Anke Schulmeister, WWF Forest Policy Officer. “Illegal logging also pushes wood prices down resulting in major economic losses for states, industries and local communities. Strong measures are needed at EU level to protect the world’s remaining forests and our own future.” The study highlights the ineffectiveness of the existing EU licensing scheme, Forest and Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT). Even if all agreements currently being negotiated by the EU with partner countries under FLEGT were concluded about 90 per cent of the illegal wood would still enter the EU markets. Furthermore, no such negotiations are planned with countries like Russia and China and many products manufactured from illegal wood such as furniture or paper are not covered by FLEGT regulation. WWF is urging the introduction of EU legislation to guarantee that only legal wood is traded in the European market. Traders should prove the origin and legality of wood and penalties should be introduced for any violation. The European Commission is expected to propose legislation on this issue in the coming months.

Livelihoods Outcomes in the Terai Arc Landscape, Nepal - © WWF" border="0" align="left" hspace="4" vspace="2" />The latest addition to the sustainable livelihoods series, "Livelihoods Outcomes: Study and Analysis of Changes of Bottleneck Level Community Forest Users, TAL", features the changes in livelihoods of community forest users living in the Lamahi Bottleneck Area of the Tarai Arc Landscape Program.  The study shows how people’s livelihoods status is going through a change after being involved in managing and sustainably using the community forests in their areas. The overall objective of the study was to find out how the change is occurring at household levels and how the institutional capacity to manage and involve local users is increasing, attracting meaningful and active participation of local people. The study comprises of two different study tools - use of institutional and household survey forms and use of perception analysis methods applied at different stages for different groups. The study was carried out in the mid-western part of the Terai Arc Landscape Program bordering with India in the southern part. The study site is one of the key bottlenecks and corridors for endangered species like Asian Elephant and Royal Bengal Tiger. According to analyzed results, some significant improvement on livelihoods on local households could be found, such as: - More than 1/4 of are using energy efficient devices and 20% of total biogas are attached with toilets - About 70 per cent have at least six month food sufficiency - 84 per cent have access to improved drinking water - Over 1/3 one third of household members have obtained at least one capacity building or skills based trainings A majority of community households are also able to install toilet attached biogas plants which reduce workload of women and children significantly, reduce grazing pressure on forests and the reduce the occurrence of water and airborne diseases. In the end, the conclusions and recommendations of this study have shown the way to the strategic feedback to WWF Nepal and its partners for the kinds of issues that need to be addressed in this development and conservation programs for livelihoods.

Wal-Mart joins WWF in fight against illegal logging - © Wal-Mart Stores, Inc." border="0" align="left" hspace="4" vspace="2" />Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., the world’s largest retailer, has strengthened its relationship with WWF by pledging to help save the world’s most valuable and threatened forests. Earlier this year the American discount department store committed to purchasing 100 per cent of its wild caught salmon from sources certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) within four years; WWF were co-founders of the MSC in 1997. Now, by becoming a member of the Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN), Wal-Mart has committed to using more wood from sustainable, certified sources and phasing out wood from illegal or non-sustainable sources. “With nearly half of the world’s forests already gone, action is urgently needed,” said Suzanne Apple, WWF-US vice-president for Business & Industry. “Wal-Mart’s commitment to support responsible forestry answers that call to action.” The United States is the largest consumer of industrial timber, pulp and paper in the world. The US is also among the top destinations for imports of wood from areas where illegal logging and trade are common such as Indonesia, China and Brazil. Thus, the US market is critical to protecting forests worldwide. Wal-Mart sources wood for furniture from the Amazon, Russia, northern China, Indonesia and the Mekong region of south-east Asia. These areas include some of the most biologically diverse places on earth, places that WWF is working to protect. Within one year, Wal-Mart will complete an assessment of where its wood is coming from and whether it is legal and well managed. Once the assessment is complete Wal-Mart has committed to eliminating wood from illegal and unknown sources within five years. “One of our goals at Wal-Mart is to sell products that sustain and protect our resources,” said Matt Kistler, Wal-Mart’s senior vice-president of Sustainability. “By joining the GFTN we can further this goal by providing our customers with a reliable supply of wood products that come from responsibly managed forests.” The GFTN is a WWF initiative to combat illegal and unsustainable logging. The network promotes responsible management of valuable and threatened forests in the Amazon, Amur-Heilong (Russia), Borneo, Sumatra, Congo, Mekong (Southeast Asia) and other areas where forests are threatened.

WWF Colombia En Acción Vol. 8 - © WWF Colombia" border="0" align="left" hspace="4" vspace="2" />Enacción 8 invita a sus lectores a viajar en las aguas del Pacífico Oriental para conocer los resultados de un experimento que busca la sobrevivencia de la tortugas marinas. En la selva amazónica, conocerán cómo tres pueblos indígenas acuerdan formas de trabajo favorables a la conservación del Piedemonte Andino-Amazónico. Y en el punto de encuentro del Chocó-Darién y los Andes del Norte, la participación ciudadana - de la mano de WWF-  hace su apuesta por el manejo integrado de la cuenca del río Guiza. Además, en su editorial enacción 8 resalta la importancia de la Comisión Ballenera Internacional y el papel de Colombia en la conservación de las ballenas jorobadas. Las últimas noticias y publicaciones de WWF Colombia también darán cuenta de nuestros logros y avances. Esperamos que disfruten este viaje.