Reforesting Africa – the contested role of smallholders

World Vision and MTK/FFD warmly welcome you to a breakfast seminar to discuss reforestation in Sub-Saharan Africa, from the perspective of smallholder farmers. Tony Rinaudo, an internationally awarded agronomist and the father of the Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) method, will give a presentation on his unique insights and experiences from agricultural-forestry-pastoral systems in Africa. The focus is on FMNR - a low-cost, transformational and sustainable land restoration technique used to combat poverty and hunger and to increase the quality of life for subsistence farmers in developing countries.

The presentation will be followed by a panel discussion on the alternative approaches to reforestation, revealing the highly complex issues such as the conflict between supply and demand of timber, land use, ownership and governance, and conservation that are often overlooked in forest management projects. The seminar is aimed at scholars, practitioners and other professionals working with the theme.

Register yourself via email (petra.matsi@worldvision.fi). Please confirm your attendance by September 23rd. 

Time: September 26th, 2019, 8:30–11:30

Place: MTK, Simonkatu 6, 00100 Helsinki

Program

8:30 Coffee and registration

9:00 Opening words by World Vision Finland, MTK and panel chair Professor Olavi Luukkanen, University of Helsinki, VITRI

9:15 FMNR as a community-based solution to deforestation – a presentation by Mr. Tony Rinaudo, Principal Advisor, Natural Resources, World Vision Australia

9:45 Comments and panel discussion

Panelists:

    Dr. Eshetu Yirdaw,  University Lecturer, Viikki Tropical Resources Institute (VITRI)
    Ms. Niina Tenhio, Development Policy Adviser, Finnish Development NGOs (Fingo)
    Dr. Vesa Kaarakka, Senior Adviser, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland
    Ms. Mawa Karambiri, Researcher, International Forest Policy (VITRI)
    Dr. Hannu Ilvesniemi, Research Professor, Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE)

10:45 Open discussion with the audience

11:30 The seminar ends

Register yourself via email (petra.matsi@worldvision.fi). Please confirm your attendance by September 23rd.  

Welcome!