Partnership Development

FREDA has been engaged in a wide range of activities like socio-economic survey for rural development, planning and demonstration for community participation in reforestation and forest conservation especially in areas dominated by slash-and-burn agriculture, promotion of sustainable forest management, introduction of appropriate methodology for improved land use systems for rural community development, implementation of integrated watershed management activities for natural disaster preparedness and sustainable land use, restoration of degraded mangrove ecosystem in the delta of Myanmar, wildlife conservation with special focus on tiger, leopard and elephant, introduction of renewable energy resources including various types of gasifiers for village electrification, wildlife products trade survey, support to scholars in environmental science at M.Sc. and Ph.D levels in partnership with donors and universities concerned, and relief and rehabilitation works in natural disaster affected areas, and responsible eco-tourism.

The projects and programs are primarily implemented with the co-operation of the international NGOs-local NGOs-and UN agencies. FREDA has been actively engaged in some activities with the collaboration of the Japan Overseas Forestry Consultants Association (JOFCA), Japan Wildlife Research Centre (JWRC), Nagao Natural Environmental Foundation (NEF) of Japan, Action for Mangrove Reforestation (ACTMANG) of Japan,David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) of UK, Gesellschaft zur Forderung konkreter Entwicklung-sprojekte e.V (GFE) of Germany, Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (DKH) of Germany, Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (EED) of Germany, Bread for the World (Bftw) of Germany, Global Environment Centre (GEC of Malaysia), Myanmar Environmental Rehabilitation Network (MERN),Total SA and Yadanar Consortium, Integrated Community Development Project ICDP/ UNDP, the Embassies of USA,UK, Japan and Germany in Myanmar.

Participation in Sustainable Forest Management

In order to conserve the natural forests effectively within the context of economic, social and environmental dimensions, FREDA has cooperated with the forestry authorities in the formulation of a set of national Criteria and Indicators (C&I) for Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) in Myanmar. It has also contributed in the development of national initiatives to promote field assessment activities essential in the process of forest management certification. As a gesture of cooperation, FREDA has participated in all forms of meetings, seminars and workshops related to the implementation of SFM. It has presented some technical papers in the area of sustainable forest management and timber certification as follows:

1. National criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management (SFM)
2. A brief review on timber certification and labeling for SFM
3. Some salient points for timber certification process
4. Review of Myanmar forest management system in the context of FSC principles and criteria
5. Field Assessment Handbook for monitoring SFM at the forest management unit level
6. Analytical evaluation of the C& I Project activities in relation to forestry in Myanmar