CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)
T +995 32 75 19 03/04
F +995 32 75 19 05
info@cenn.org

News Release:

1. DfID CSPPRP: Grant Competition for NGOs and Media
2. WHO PROFITS FROM DEFORESTATION?

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1. DfID CSPPRP: Grant Competition for NGOs and Media

CSPPR Project announces Grant Competition for Georgian NGOs and Media
Organizations. Details of the Grant Competition are given in the attached
documents. Deadline for proposal submission is 16:00 July 30, 2007.

The Civil Society Public Policy Reform (CSPPR) Project is a DFID and
SIDA-funded programme managed by Adam Smith International (ASI) and
UK-Georgia Professional Network (UGPN). It started in March 2007 and will
continue until December 2008. The CSPPR Project is intended to compliment
the reforms being ushered in by the Government of Georgia through the Public
Sector Financial Management Reform Support Project (PSFMRSP), a multi-donor
project co-ordinated by the World Bank. The PSFMRSP is driving through
Public Financial Management (PFM) reforms within government primarily
through engagement with the Ministry of Finance and the Chamber of Control
of Georgia.

CSPPR Project has set up the Major Grant Programme (MGP) which will fund a
number of advocacy projects, worth between $30,000 and $50,000, that either
campaign for changes to policy through the budget process (NGOs) or provide
coverage of major policy issues and how the budget process influences policy
(Media).

These projects should engage with the budget process through either:

-Advocacy campaigns that promote policies that protect the poor and
vulnerable; or

– Media coverage of policies that protect or are failing to protect the poor
and the vulnerable

These projects should engage with the budget process at one or more of the
following stages:

-Drafting – preparation of budgets by line ministries and the Ministry of
Finance

– Legislation – presentation of the BDD and the debate on the Budget Law in
parliament

– Execution – use of public finances to deliver vital services as outlined
in the budget -Accounting – reporting on government expenditure and the
performance of policies

All projects funded through the Major Grants Programme should clearly show
how they involve strong interaction with:

– Government

– Parliament

– Civil society

– Media

– The Public (particularly the projects target groups e.g. orphans, homeless
people etc.)

For detailed information on the Grant Competition, see the attached files,
or visit site.

Organization: UGPN (UK-Georgia Professional Network), CSPPR Project

tel: 995 (32) 29 06 19,

e-mail: ugpn@ugpn.ge

Announcement also is available at:
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< hot_news/hot_news.html>

2. WHO PROFITS FROM DEFORESTATION?

EcoArmenia

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 27 June, 2007 Contact: Mher Sharoyan (374 10)
54-15-29,

<mailto:media@ArmenianForests.am> media@ArmenianForests.am

YEREVAN, Armenia – 27 June, 2007 – Today a new alliance released an
unprecedented economic study that unveils the system of profits from illegal
deforestation in Armenia. The event held at Yerevan’s American University of
Armenia was initiated by EcoArmenia alliance with support from the British
Embassy in Armenia and OSCE office in Yerevan.

Armenia is one of the world’s 70 countries where forests cover less than 10%
of the country’s area. In today’s Armenia deforestation is largely due to
illegal logging of forests for obtaining construction and fuel wood. For the
last decade the amount of incomes received from illegal wood businesses
inside Armenia as well as export of unprocessed wood and wood products
reaches millions of US dollars in Armenia.

As the deforestation in Armenia has reached a critical level, the issue is a
priority for local environmental groups and international organizations.
Four organizations–WWF Armenia, American University of Armenia’s
Environmental Conservation Research Center, Armenia Tree Project Charitable
Foundation and Armenian Forests NGO-formed the EcoArmenia alliance in 2006
to help shift Armenia from a mode of deforestation to reforestation. In
winter 2007, with the involvement of OSCE Armenia office and financial
support of the British Embassy in Armenia, the coalition initiated and
financed a preparation of an unprecedented study that would unveil the
economics of illegal wood businesses in Armenia.

The study called "The economics of Armenia’s forest industry", prepared by
Economy and Values Research Center, exposes the financial flows in the
sphere of unprocessed wood utilization and wood processing industries, the
volumes of export of unprocessed wood and wood products, pinpointing the
existing environmental issues and presenting some economic recommendations
towards solving the deforestation problem in Armenia.

"This unique report helps bring light to one of the darkest areas of
Armenia’s economy," stated Jeffrey Tufenkian, President of Armenian Forests
NGO. "We see this not as an end in itself, but an excellent point from which
we can all move forward to help shift Armenia from a mode of deforestation
to reforestation".

Underlining the stance of international organizations towards the problem,
Jeanette Klotzer, Economic and Environmental Officer at OSCE Office in
Yerevan said "To support Armenia’s authorities and civil society in
sustainable forest management is in the focus of our activities in view of
the OSCE’s comprehensive approach to environment and security. Raising
awareness and national capacity building are important steps on the way to
prevent illegal logging and to restore Armenia’s forests as an environmental
and economic category."

A staunch supporter of stopping deforestation in Armenia, the British
Embassy, expressed its full support for the study by co-financing it. Quoted
on the decision to support the initiative, Richard Hyde, Charge d’Affairs of
the British embassy in Armenia stressed that "The future of Armenia’s
forests are at a critical juncture. We hope this study will help in the
process to save Armenia’s forests for current and future generations."

The study shows that 9% of households in Armenia use wood as fuel for
cooking and heating, and more than 300 small, medium and large wood
processing companies operating in Armenia utilize 10 times more wood than
the volumes set by the state for annual cutting. Overall annual income from
wood business operations equals 132 million USD within Armenia, including
the profits received from the export of unprocessed high quality wood.

The study recommends addressing the problem of deforestation on economic by
expanding natural gas supply to remote villages via micro-credits, exempting
of taxes for importing wood to Armenia, ban on export of unprocessed wood
from Armenia, supporting alternative energy resources and developing
eco-tourism.

To obtain an electronic version of the summary findings or full report in
Armenian or English please contact Mher Sharoyan at (374 10) 54-15-29 or
write to <mailto:media@armenianforests.am> media@armenianforests.am.

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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress