How the EST helped

Saving Madagascar's Forests

Applicant: Gabrielle Smith

Applied for: Travel funds towards volunteering work in Madagascar.

Outcome: Gabrielle joined a community forest management programme which is helping to stop slash and burn agriculture in Madagascar and to restore the sites. The slash and burn practice is one of the major factors contributing to loss of primary forest and in south east Madagascar. At least two plant species listed as Critically Endangered by the world conservation union IUCN are endemic to the area of Manindry Havia. During her stay Gabrielle was able to help with the job of collecting seeds from this area and replanting them to restore old slash and burn sites.

Finnishing School

Applicant: Joseph Mitchell

Applied for: A travel bursary towards the Scottish School of Forestry’s first study tour to Finland.

Outcome: Joseph was able to look at recreational provision, renewable energies and technologies, biomass production and consumption, small-scale timber utilisation and the process of adding value to wood products during the Finland trip. The trip gave the opportunity to see a range of forestry technologies from sawmills using computer optimisers, to logging sites where timber cutting is mostly done to order through a computer and mobile phone with the harvesting done by machine and to a farmer who makes wood carvings with a chainsaw.

Down Under to Forests for People

Applicant: Penny Morris

Applied for: A grant towards her trip to the International Forestry Students’ Symposium.

Outcome: Penny joined 90 forestry students from 28 countries attending the 33^rd International Forestry Students’ Symposium in Southeast Australia. The EST contribution helped Penny to join the intensive two-week programme on “Forests for People: Maintaining a Balance” which incorporated an academic conference, workshops and lecture forums together with cultural and educational excursions. Topics ranged from water catchment management and land restoration to salinity issues and spiritual values. Penny wrote: “I feel extremely privileged to have attended and communicated with forestry students from around the world about the challenges facing forest managers.”