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As an organisation, we at LEI are very grateful to all our project staff and partners who have continued to work tirelessly in this difficult pandemic environment. During this time, with people being so physically isolated, it is easy to feel disconnected. While the ‘virtual world’ has provided some respite from this isolation, through zoom meetings and the like, it somehow doesn’t fully make up for those familiar face to face connections, visiting offices and having conversations over tea or coffee. It is also daunting and unsettling when passing time is dominated by “doom scrolling” [Scrolling news articles on the COVID count and second wave surges where it is all bad news].
The Mekong Region Land Governance project will be changing leadership in October. We would like to thank John Meadows for his hard work since first joining the team in April 2017. From October, we will be joined by seasoned Mekong professional and Vientiane-based, Dr Micah Ingalls and welcome him to the team.
The second instalment of Rory Read's experiences interning with Land Equity International
Between 2001-2018, Vietnam lost 25% of its forested area, equivalent to over 2.5 million hectares. A 2004 law sought to focus efforts on reforestation and protection; however, it had major shortcomings that failed to protect both the forests and the communities dependent on them.
Rory Read recently commenced an internship with LEI. He’ll be writing a regular blog update to keep us on our toes. Read on for his experiences…
*Thank you for all who applied. This position is now closed*
Land Equity International and Daemeter Consulting are pleased to commence working with the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) via the UK Climate Change Unit in Indonesia (UKCCU) and the Government of Indonesia to deliver the program Reducing Deforestation through Improved Spatial Planning in Papua Provinces, Indonesia (Papua Spatial Planning – PSP).
The Mekong Region Land Governance (MRLG) Project with partner organizations in Cambodia will pilot methodology to recognize customary tenure of communities in Protected Areas (PA). The results will be used for the continuing advocacy for the Environmental Code, with the intention of revisions of the Protected Area Law and Forestry Law.
2019 saw the “Climate Emergency” raised to the fore around the globe gaining huge public momentum and varying political attention. It’s difficult to write from a country that ignored a call from neighbouring Pacific leaders in August and then a month later at the UN summit rejected future commitments to a global UN Climate Fund. Nonetheless, we at LEI, are committed.
Over the past few months we’ve worked with a local digital design team and are pleased to invite you to revisit our website www.landequity.com.au. During this time Australia’s own experience with resilience in the face of bushfires and floods has reminded us how strong a sense of place and belonging truly is – and has highlighted how important the role of reliable property systems is in enabling individuals and communities to recover.
LEI is pleased to see the First Edition of the International Land Measurement Standard published – find it here [https://ilmsc.org/the-standard/].
Interest in joining the Summer School on Mekong Land Relations increased almost three-fold this year. We wish all the participants an informative and motivating week-long session from 14th-19th July 2019 in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
In spirit of reconciliation, Land Equity International acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea, and community. We pay respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
