The IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group has published a new set of guidelines on the prevention and mitigation of conflict between humans and great apes. Presented as part of the Best Practice series for great ape conservation, this report is designed to help researchers and wildlife managers understand the causes of human - great ape conflict, and find equitable ways to resolve it.

http://www.primate-sg.org/BP.conflict.htm

22/07/2010
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 By: Jessica Parker, Enrichment Intern and Janie Dubman, OFI writer, special to mongabay.com.
July 22, 2010

Visitors to the Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ) are always delighted by the sight of playful young orangutans. Hairy orange youngsters swinging through the branches or tossing balls around always induce fits of cooing and camera clicking. These activities appear to be so natural that it is easy to forget these are orphans in rehabilitation school and one of the main classes is Enrichment. The term enrichment has become a catchword in the world of captive animal husbandry in the past few years and for many organizations, enrichment has become a new focus as more and more research reveals how critical enrichment is to the physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing of captive animals.

http://news.mongabay.com/2010/0722-dubman_parker_enrichment.html

22/07/2010
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KINSHASA (Reuters) - Democratic Republic of Congo is studying a proposal to provide land to China to grow large amounts of palm for
oil production in the vast central African country, a government minister told Reuters on Thursday.

http://af.reuters.com/article/investingNews/idAFJOE66F01920100716

16/07/2010
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By Richard Black Environment correspondent, BBC News

Illegal logging can remove vital wildlife habitat, leading to conflict with people. Illegal logging in the world's forests has fallen by nearly a quarter since 2002, according to what claims to be the most thorough analysis yet.

The London-based thinktank Chatham House says consumer pressure, legal restrictions by importing countries and media attention have all contributed.

Some important forest countries such as Brazil, Cameroon and Indonesia have seen much larger cuts, its report says.

But further improvements will be harder to make, it concludes.

15/07/2010
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Jeremy Hance - mongabay.com - June 24, 2010

The Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC) has released a resolution urging the UN to change its definition for 'forest', before the controversial definition undermines conservation efforts, biodiversity preservation, carbon sequestration, and the nascent REDD (Reducing Emissions through Deforestation and forest Degradation).

http://news.mongabay.com/2010/0624-hance_atbc_forests.html

24/06/2010
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Wed Jun 23, 2010 3:28pm IST

By David Fogarty, Climate Change Correspondent, Asia 

 (Reuters) - Indonesia needs to quickly settle rules for deciding what is degraded land and spell out how much is available to palm oil and timber firms in order to strengthen investment certainty, an environmental expert says.

Such a move would also boost a $1-billion climate deal signed last month by Indonesia and Norway.

The deal involves a two-year moratorium from January 2011 on conversion of natural forests and peat land with the intent of using degraded land to allow Indonesia's multi-billion dollar palm oil industry to keep expanding.

http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-49564520100623

24/06/2010
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