Forest conservation and fauna protection in East Timor

摘要

This paper discusses the efforts of the government of East Timor to rehabilitate 10 watershed areas throughout the country. Because of the critical conditions of these sites, the focus on conservation should be aimed at increasing public awareness, development of a framework for management of watershed areas, protection and conservation of biodiversity and recognition of the socio-cultural significance of imported natural resources. This calls for protected natural areas (PNA) and public information and involvement in community-based integrated management planning, building upon existing management activities. In addition, better links are needed between environmental interventions and poverty reduction for target beneficiaries in the protected areas, through: an improvement in people's health due to access to resources such as potable water; enhancement of the livelihoods of rural people; and reduction in vulnerability to natural disasters.