Objectives of the project/activity:

The direct objectives are two-fold:
· The inventory and study of customary forest rights
· Policy recommendations to the NPC
· Influencing the NPC law-drafting process of the Nature Reserve Law and the Property Law

The indirect, long term objectives (which this project can only make a modest contribution to) are:
· The protection of customary forest rights leading to an improved livelihood of ethnic and poor farmers
· Increased sustainable forest management through the involvement of local communities and their rights systems

Description of project/activity:

The project includes the following activities:
1. The collection of material on customary and local law systems (including forest permits, historical (pre-dating 1952) and current ownership certificates, government reports on forest law implementation)
2. 2x household surveys of 100 respondents per province
3. Interviews with key-informants in households and state agencies
4. Meetings with relevant local authorities (including the departments for environmental protection; agriculture; forestry; and land administration)
5. 1 x meeting in Beijing with representatives of local and village authorities

Expected output and results:

· Two case-studies described in a policy recommendation report to be submitted to the CENR of the NPC
A survey database open for consultation by third parties (announcement of this will take place through the SNISD homepage, as well as to the IED (Institute of Environment and Development) Enviroinfo network of which SNISD is a partner.