Forests and the neoliberal economy: lessons from Indonesia and beyond: conference proceedings

The conference consisted of two complementary sessions. The first session highlighted the results of the CIFOR/WWF-MPO research detailing the impacts of IMF/World Bank policy interventions on the forest and oil palm sectors of Indonesia. Next, the IMF presented their perspective on the challenges of developing policies to help re-float the Indonesian economy. A panel discussion followed with representatives from the World Bank, Conservation International, the IMF, and WWF-Indonesia.

The second session broadened the discussion from what is happening in Indonesia to what are more general trends as regards the world's forests in the global economy. This session began with presentations by David Kaimowitz (DG CIFOR) and Odin Knudsen (ESSD, World Bank). Next, a panel discussion with representatives from World Rainforest Movement, the U.S. State Department, and World Resources Institute focused on the new challenges and the roles of various actors to protecting and sustainably managing the world's forests.

Both sessions were followed up with open group discussions. Two main conclusions were evident:

• The need to enhance the capacity of the international financial institutions, governments, and NGOs to address the linkages of economic policy reforms, the environment, and poverty as well as allowing for the tradeoffs inherent in such complex issues.
• The need to deepen the working relationships between international financial institutions and civil society.

[WWF summary]

Aside from this summary proceeding from the conference made available are as follows:

• Proceedings
• Agenda
• Participants List
• "Structural Adjustment and Forestry Reform in Post-Suharto Indonesia" Presentation by Chris Barr, Center for International Forestry Research
• "IMF Intervention in Indonesia" Presentation by Heike Mainhardt, WWF-MPO
• "Financial Crisis and Forest in Indonesia" Presentation by Agus Purnomo, WWF-Indonesia
• "From Indonesia's Forests to the World's Forests"Presentation by David Kaimowitz, Center for International Forestry Research
• Presentation by Marcus Colchester, Forest People's Programme

Documents are available in either Word or PDF format.