Rough trade - How Australia's trade policies contribute to illegal logging in the Pacific Region

Image: Ben Beiske / flickr

05 November 2010The Australian Government is not doing enough to ensure that Australian imports of forestry products are consistent with the goals of Australian aid programs and stated commitments to reduce greenhouse gases. Australian aid includes programs and projects to help Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Island nations to better manage their forestry resources for long-term sustainability, maximum socio-economic benefit for their citizens and to participate in REDD (reduced emissions from deforestation and forest destruction), the innovative program rewarding carbon sequestration. Illegal logging in these countries is more extensive than generally understood and it is a serious impediment to achieving the goals of Australian aid programs.

Image: Ben Beiske / flickr

Noticeboard

07 March 2012

In May 2011 the Federal Government announced that the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) would commence operations from 1 July 2012 and that it would initially be responsible for determining the legal status of groups seeking charitable, public benevolent institution, and other not-for-profit (NFP) benefits on behalf of all Commonwealth agencies. 

13 January 2012

The Summer 2012 issue of Quarterly Access examines the recent East Asia Summit, bilateral alliances in the Asia Pacific, the future of Timor-Leste, women's participation in peace processes and more.

Read QA online: http://www.aiia.asn.au/qa/qa-vol4-issue1

02 December 2011

Applications are now open for a unique training opportunity for selected individuals develop the skills, networks and knowledge needed to be effective in forging a more sustainable future.