On Monday, December 17th, the Department for International Development (DFID), United Kingdom, announced major support for the Rights and Resources Initiative through 2012.

MP Gareth Thomas, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for International Development, made the announcement at the opening of the Roundtable Meeting on the Forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo at Chatham House.

"Forest resources are among the main assets of the poor and creating a system that allows them to conserve the forests and diversity of livelihoods will help tackle poverty by improving their income and wellbeing.

To help start the process, and in addition to the UK’s support for the World Bank deforestation project announced at the climate change conference in Bali last week, today I announce £5 million contribution to the Rights and Resources Initiative to reduce rural poverty, strengthen forest governance, conserve forests and achieve sustainable growth."

For more information, see the press release here or contact us.

Comments: 0 [+add comment]