USAID RDM/A Regional Environment Office Weekly Report Week Ending November 23, 2007

Sustainable Coastal Livelihoods Program Works to Build Harmonious Communities. On Saturday, September 27, 2007, USAID’s Sustainable Coastal Livelihoods Program and the Kamphuan Community Learning Center in Ranong province, Thailand hosted a successful soccer tournament for youth under the age of 13. Many of the teams were sponsored by local businesses and the young players proudly sported colorful new uniforms. Eight teams of seven participants vied for the honor of 1st prize and the beautiful trophies donated by Kamphuan Community leaders. USAID also awarded a cash prize for a student scholarship. Several hundred community members, including the District Governor, packed the soccer field on the grounds of the Learning Center to enjoy the festivities. The community is pleased to see the Kamphuan Community Learning Center already fulfilling its original vision as a focal point and gathering spot for community events.

Thailand's Wildlife Enforcement Network Task Force Cracks Down on Illegal Timber Traffickers. With habitat loss being one of the major threats to wildlife, the Thai ASEAN-Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN) Task Force is not only targeting wildlife traffickers, but also has illegal loggers and timber traffickers in its sights. The Task Force is now investigating a major case, while also requesting CITES for help. On October 6, 2007, the Thai Nature Crime Police, working with the Central Investigation Bureau, raided a warehouse outside Bangkok and seized over 7,000 pieces of rosewood timber, worth an estimated $10 million USD. The Nature Crime Police have received USAID-sponsored investigations training by the ASEAN-WEN Support Program. This unit is also taking the lead as a law enforcement focal point for Thailand's national ASEAN-WEN Task Force. Following this seizure, this week, the other member of Thailand's Task Force, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, announced it will request CITES to place tighter restrictions on the international trade in rosewood. Police believe the valuable rosewood timber was cut from forest in northeastern Thailand and destined for export to China. The raid followed police interrogation of suspects arrested in another rosewood case earlier this month. Generally found in dry, evergreen areas, rosewood is cut from the forest to supply demand from the essential oil and furniture industries. Thailand forbids logging in the protected areas and the export of rosewood.

Indonesia Affirms Commitment to Improved Sanitation. The Government of Indonesia and donor partners declared the commitment to make sanitation a priority in the national and local levels and to mobilize resources to improve access to sanitation. At its first National Sanitation Conference on November 19-21, 2007, in Jakarta, Indonesia, national and local decision-makers and other experts shared experience an ideas on addressing priority sanitation challenges. Under the Environmental Cooperation-Asia (ECO-Asia) Water and Sanitation program, USAID helped to structure the dialogue by facilitating linkages between Indonesian and the Philippines, which is actively engaged in national policy dialogue on sanitation. The Mayor of Iloilo City, Philippines joined the Conference to share the city’s experience in effectively increasing the awareness and understanding of its residents and policymakers on the importance sanitation services to safeguard public health and improve quality of life.