Train Locals to Help Conserve Tropical Forests

A considerable proportion of the remaining tropical forests on the planet are under some form of community-based ownership. These forests are exploited, and, in many cases, conserved and skillfully managed by tens of millions of indigenous and forest peoples who depend on them for their livelihoods. Yet, despite widespread concern about the fate of tropical forests and biodiversity, effective forest management by rural commmunities in the tropics has become increasingly constrained by legal, normative, and technical hurdles. 

One idea of what could be done about this. [NOTE: Photo shows Dayak villagers from Tae in West Kalimantan, Indonesia collecting fruit in their managed forest orchard (see Tembawang)].

Lunch at Ban Sobphuan

After running the inventory transects at Ban Sobphuan (see Thin Red Line and Sediments), we returned to the village and were served a delicious, multi-course lunch. The hand on the right side of the image is pointing to the tasty rattan shoots on the plate with the fish. [NOTE: That's Le Viet Tam (WWF Vietnam) on the left and Ou Ratanak (WWF Cambodia) to the right with the colorful scarf tied around his waist].

The young, tender (mostly) shoots are from Calamus viminalis Willd. ("wai ton"), which is grown in small plantings near the agricultural fields outside of town. Lunch was delicious - as were the rattan shoots.

Reading

Domestic still life. Amy had just come in after shoveling the snow (see First Snow of 2012) off the sidewalk in front of the house, hence the snowpants. I guess this wore her out, because she decided to "stretch out" in the living room chair and do some reading. Fluffy grey figure in the right foreground is a dog chew toy that Nikki (see Nikki) is systematically destroying. Painting, Blue Dog at the Revel, is by George Rodrigue.  Baskets are made of split rattan. Don't know why she's holding her legs up in the air. [NOTE: Love the colors in this image].

More Kachin

Another shot from the 2005 Naga Festival in Shimbweyeng (see Naga Festival and Manau Leader). I like the image, but the real reason for posting it is that the people and resources of Kachin State in northern Burma have been very much on my mind since Friday's post. May all beings be safe, happy, healthy, and free from suffering. [NOTE: Including Kachin in your mettā practice certainly couldn't hurt anything. Gassho].

First Snow of 2012

Started snowing after midnight and now we have about 4 to 6 inches on the ground. Wonderful, hushed Saturday; good day to catch up on my reading. Postman reminded me that by this time last winter we'd already had 32 inches of snow.