"Keep Asia Green" Volume III
South Asia
The scientific publication project "Keep Asia Green" continues in Phase III (2008) with the production of a book on afforestation and rehabilitation of forest and tree resources in South Asia. Experts from the following six countries participate in this project: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
These six countries in the region share a wide range of common problems related to rural development, causes and symptoms of forest (land) degradation as well as afforestation and forest rehabilitation. However, there are different approaches to address some of the issues depending on the policies developed and implemented by individual countries. Socio-economic settings and anthropological aspects of local communities play an important role in forest rehabilitation projects and thus will be analysed and described in detail. For example, poverty reduction is an important issue in many of the countries in South Asia. Given the importance of globally emerging issues such as climate change, carbon sequestration, REDD, invasive species and others, innovative approaches making use of new mechanisms in support of forest rehabilitation will be elaborated.
The following senior forest scientists, one in each country, act as lead authors and coordinate the data compilation and drafting activities:
Country | Lead Author | Institution |
Bangladesh | Professor M.K. Hossain | Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences |
Bhutan | Dr. Lungten Norbu | Renewable Natural Resources-Research Center, Western Region Yusipang |
India | Dr. Promode Kant | Institute of Climate Change & Ecology, New Delhi |
Nepal | Dr. K.P. Acharya | Department of Forest Research & Survey, Kathmandu |
Pakistan | Mr. R.M. Zarif | Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar |
Sri Lanka | Mr. A. Sathurusinghe | Forest Department, Colombo |
Coordination Workshop:
A lead authors' workshop was held at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University in Seoul, Republic of Korea from 17-18 May, 2008. The workshop aimed at discussing the major aspects of forest and land rehabilitation in the various countries of South Asia. Based on presentations by the leads authors on key issues of afforestation and forest rehabilitation the group elaborated a general list of content that will serve as guideline in the drafting process of the individual country contributions. The list of content is shown in the right column of this webpage. The authors also agreed on a workplan for 2008 including deadlines for the country contributions, and synthesis paper as well as dates for the editorial meeting and final production of the publication. For more details of the lead authors' workshop please access the 
workshop report.
CONTENTS OF VOL. 3
1. Present information (basic country information)
- Geographic area (physiography, soils, river systems)
- Demographics
- Economic situation (including livelihood issues)
- Environmental status
- Agricultural situation (ex. cattle population, need for agricultural expansion)
2. Forest Information
- Forest area
- Forest distribution (nationally)
- Forest tenure system
- Ecological description
- History of degradation
- State of degradation & deforestation regionally + reasons
- Constraints for forest restoration & rehabilitation
3. Forest Degradation Control Mechanisms to Date (history)
- Linkage to national and provincial forest and land use policies
- Case studies
- Analysis of case studies
- National level degradation control measures
- International interventions for degradation control (World Bank, grants)
4. Capacities to Address Degradation Problems
- Research
- Education & training
- Institutional capacity
- NGO activities
- Extension
5. Innovation Approaches to Address Forest Degradation
- Ecosystem Services, Carbon Sequestration & REDD
- Landscape approaches
- Prospects for future & the likely countries approach
- Payment for environmental services
6. Recommendations
7. References
