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» RBLAC » 2018-2021 » Mid Term Evaluations of the GEF CIAP child projects: GGP Adaptative Management & Learning, and Reducing Deforestation from Commodity Production
Mid Term Evaluations of the GEF CIAP child projects: GGP Adaptative Management & Learning, and Reducing Deforestation from Commodity Production
2018-2021, RBLAC
Mid Term Project
Prod-AL MTR TOR_Final.pdf tor English 508.36 KB Posted 256
GGP MTR Adaptive Management and Learning Project Review Report-FINAL.pdf report English 2012.40 KB Posted 469
GGP MTR Production Project Review Report_FINAL.pdf report English 3164.74 KB Posted 403
Atlas Project Number:
Evaluation Plan: 2018-2021, RBLAC
Evaluation Type: Mid Term Project
1. Output 1.4.1 Solutions scaled up for sustainable management of natural resources, including sustainable commodities and green and inclusive value chains
Evaluation Budget(US $): 115,000
Source of Funding: GEF funding
Evaluation Expenditure(US $): 120,000
Malika Virah-Sawmy Team Leader malikavs@gmail.com
Maryline Guiramand Team Leader mg@marylineguiramand.com
GEF Project Title: 00097946 GGP Adaptative Management & Learning, and 00098209 Reducing Deforestation from Commodity Production
Evaluation Type: Mid-term Review
Focal Area: Biodiversity
GEF Project ID: 9179 & 9180
PIMS Number: 5665 & 5664
Key Stakeholders: WWF, CI, Governments, Academia, Producers and Production CSOs in participating countries
Adaptive Management and Learning for the Commodities IAP - PIMS 5665
The entire GGP programme has not been designed in a way that connects interventions from the various global child projects (Demand, Production and Transactions) in specific supply chains. Instead, each child project has its own individual Theory of Change with the aim that they theoretically reinforce each other. As a result, one of the main reasons for a lack of deeper integration between the child projects is the lack of a systems approach in GGP to identify leverage points. In addition, the lack of common objectives/indicators between child and A&L projects, whilst ensuring there is no double counting of achievement among projects, has resulted in insufficient buy-in and incentives for integration between agencies at the country level and with the A&L team. Indeed, the lack of a systems approach leads actors to think there is an overestimation on potential of integration: while there are many interdependencies between these organizations and their child projects, in general people suffer from "systems blindness" and do not recognize interlinkages and opportunities to change the broader system. The role of A&L right now is solely to support integration between the child projects, but not integration at systems level. For the latter, the A&L could support child projects on how to get government and partner buy-in and motivation for working on leverage points between Production, Transaction and Demand. It could be helpful to develop a unique GGP approach for integration using proven systems change methodologies, such systems modelling, prototyping and multi-stakeholder dialogue.
The strong coordination structure supported by GGP contributes to build cohesiveness, helping to bring the group under 'a collective GGP umbrella'. In fact, the A&L project has been successful in its aim to be viewed as a cohesive whole and its coordination role is excellent for accelerating learning and collective engagement. Therefore, future projects that aim for integrated approaches for systemic change should ensure that a robust A&L component rooted in systems approaches is used for design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
Adaptive management stories are being documented (GGP database) but they are focused on reactive adaptive management, so adapting to changing contexts. Whilst being reactive is very valuable, nonetheless it limits iterative learning concerning assumptions of the GGP project and hence to a large extent the project cannot undertake pro-active adaptive management. Pro-active adaptive management, which involves clarifying the assumptions and questioning them and having multiple options in order to determine the best strategy, would also be needed.
The key assumption in GGP's Theory of Change for integration is that other activities than working only via the market level (hence VSS) is needed. As valuable as Outcome 2 is for providing access to credible research on the sustainability impacts of supply chain initiatives and tools, including standards and certification, however, within GGP, this outcome is a standalone activity and has not served and supported the A&L vision sufficiently. Component 2 should contribute more to reinforce other A&L activities and efforts towards integration, coordination, collective umbrella, and learning on systemic change.
The Community's learning curricula, although user driven, is mainly focus on technical aspects. As a result, the current method in place within the CoP of turning collective experiences and shared learning into guidance material and good practice documents, encompasses technical themes but is not tied enough to what is integrated and systemic approach. To make the Community even more impactful for future projects, its learning method should be linked with a more holistic M&E system, which ideally would be more focused on learning about the theory of change and its assumptions around the integration of Transactions, Production and Demand. In this way, the GGC method would also include critical visions for systemic change.
The Community of Practice has aimed to strengthen country practitioners' capacity – virtually and through face-to-face encounters and events – on issues relevant across multiple commodities such as land-use, stakeholder dialogue, private sector and financial institutions engagement, farmer support, gender, etc. For instance, creating coaching and dialogue circles as was done for staff working on platforms seem to have played an important role in supporting adoption of best practices and sharing challenges on how to engage on multi-stakeholder platforms. Thus, this could also be replicated for the other components and thematic areas.
Taking Deforestation out of Commodity Production Project - PIMS 5664
Whilst it is recognized that UNDP platforms offer a good environment for policy change, there is still however a delicate tension between UNDP being a neutral facilitator as platform managers and GGP's goals for policy change that may require being directly involved. The neutrality is crucial for the facilitation, but GGP may have to step out of this neutral role to promote the policy change. In addition, GGP policy work is tricky and necessitates government approval which can take time and persuasion. Therefore, UNDP role as both platform manager and policy changer should be better structured to ensure smoother buy in from government for policy change.
Under component 1, it is currently clear that there is still a gap between platform work and the policy change needed. For instance, action plans as formulated identify key areas of actions, but more effort should be addressed to the missing link on how the proposed actions are connected to the current policy environment in each country. Therefore, platforms for multi-stakeholder dialogue should be better used to ensure a participative process for policy reform, farmers system support and land use planning. In each country, areas where dialogue can be extended to better leverage some of the project work must be identified, as well as additional space for government and private sector engagement towards enabling environment reforms.
Most people interviewed identified the project design phase as the weakest aspect of the project. In general, design phases have been far too focused on writing technical project documents rather than facilitating dialogue and partnerships on how integration will achieve systemic change. So, normally competitive partners were asked to sit round a table to write a joint project document in line with GEF requirements. The design phase of GGP, being rushed without enough consultation between partners, local stakeholders and governments, did not encourage dialogue in way that fosters fair and transparent decision-making. As a result, a lot of coordination time during implementation is needed in order to find common grounds or gain government buy-in. A rushed design phase has also led to issues regarding modalities, budgets, competition, roles, strategies and integration. For future projects, more time should be dedicated to the design phase, facilitating dialogue that would emerge as the start of the overall partnership process.
The main Knowledge Product of Component 4 is a Landscape Analysis Tool, which is designed to track the landscape-level dynamics of change towards reduced deforestation commodity production in the targeted landscape, in order to understand GGP Production project contribution. The KP is meant to inform GGP at the end of the project in terms of what works and what does not work, but it might be difficult to discuss attribution and contribution of project on merely landscape changes observed. In fact, the measurement of impacts must be focused on systemic change. Therefore, more information on how the Theory of Change of Production is working in practice is needed, as well as a more robust system to assess it. The value for money of the LAT for the project should be reassessed if no review of the ToC is done.
GGP production is reaching positive results, but potential changes in government and disengagement of the wider audience represent a constant risk for the achievement of lasting impacts. As a result, it is crucial to demonstrate the benefits of the project in terms of the potential transformational change it brings. In order to do so, a strong presence with the Governments must be maintained, especially at the highest possible level in all the key Ministries involved in the project. A specific strategy on key messages has to be prepared for each country to highlight the key progress so far and the key benefits of the sector to the economy, and remaining challenges.
Project Strategy:
Whilst A&L's vision of the GGP is a giant step in the right direction, nonetheless its design needs to improve. For example, the vision of GGP is to take a supply chain approach to transform key commodity supply chains. This means leveraging Production, Demand and Transaction for systemic change at the level of the supply chain system. However, both the project design and the inception phase did not specify how systemic change can be achieved concretely. In particular, while A&L was designed with the objectives of integration between projects and learning, nonetheless the language in the Prodoc and in the results framework reduce the ambition to much smaller than country level supply chain integration. The result framework prescribes sequenced work planning, coordination and collaboration as separate activities rather than a more outcome-oriented approach to leveraging the Production, Transaction and Demand projects as a whole.
Project Progress:
In general, progress against target has been excellent for the A&L component, with most activities and targets reached ranked as satisfactory. The function of the A&L component has proven itself instrumental to catalyse partnerships and collaboration under a collective umbrella for systemic change. In particular, GGP's A&L has provided a robust foundation for supporting dialogues, coordination structures and building of trust. The Community of Practice has also provided an excellent learning environment and infrastructure that should be maintained and further capacitated. With both aspect, UNDP has demonstrated that it is ideally positioned as a neutral partner and independent facilitator for approaches needing integration, collaboration and learning and hence move towards systemic change.
Project Implementation and Adaptive Management:
Good practices in project implementation, coordination and 'reactive' adaptive management has been deployed to a highly satisfactory level. In other words, the quality of activities whether for coordination, communication, learning and reporting has been excellent in general. The main challenge is the M&E which focuses only on monitoring of implementation of activities (is the project doing things) rather than whether the activities make sense (are we doing the right thing).
The overall Sustainability is rated as moderately likely because while there are three long-term infrastructures (improved partnerships observed under a collective umbrella, the Community of Practice for learning so the community moves towards systemic change, and Evidensia) that are likely to last beyond the project lifetime, financial investment will be needed post GGP for their long-term sustenance.
The project design had the intention of systemic change in most of the components, but the implementation and measurement of impacts of the project is not focusing on systemic change. This is due to the gap between the vision and the scale of intended impact within the project timeframe as well as with the results framework indicators and the tools used for M&E. A lot of knowledge has been provided from the Global level especially through the communities of practice, some tools and by the technical advisers. However, important lessons on how well the Theory of Change of Production is working might not be captured because the M&E focuses mainly on output/structure indicators.
the project has progressed well towards its target in all three countries, although Indonesia is more advanced than Liberia and Paraguay due partially to a later start of the project in Liberia and Paraguay. The overall rating of progress towards results is moderately satisfactory.
Despite all these good achievements, some issues remain like low buy in from government in Indonesia, the link between the action plans and the necessary policy change, low corporate engagement, financial sustainability of platforms and farmers support systems, and learning environment is still not conducive to learn effectively on what works and not for sustainable production.
Monitoring and Evaluation was implemented according to its design. Project implementation and 'reactive' adaptive management has been satisfactory, despite the different set-up among pilot countries. In addition, the quality of activities whether for coordination, communication, learning and reporting, has been excellent in general.
Financial sustainability has been identified as major risk as the financing mechanism for the platform and action plan implementation is not clear yet. The divestment of Sime Darby in Liberia and the delay in the NAP legalization are creating risks to the sustainability Government willingness to support policy reform in sustainability have been rightly identified as a high risk. The risk posed by sustainable intensification of beef has also been identified as high risk. It is not clear how the project is working on this risk without a systems approach.
Adaptive Management and Learning for the Commodities IAP - 5665
To start supporting the original vision of leveraging at systems level and hence achieve systemic change, capacity building of the CoP with training in the application of systems thinking and prototyping is recommended. Such capacity building will support practitioners to be capacitated with a better understanding of what systemic change might look like in the context of GGP. It will also help them identify policies and activities that need to better prototyped (a prototype is a practical and tested mini version of what later could become a pilot policy/activity that can be shared and eventually scaled. The feedback received from testing the prototype policy/activity with stakeholders is then the basis for refining the concept and its underlying assumptions of systemic change before it is scaled).
Capacity building of the platform teams through the Community of Practice, to facilitate systems approaches and to measure the effectiveness of approaches used in GGP through the ladder of change
Given the delay, it is strongly encouraged for the A&L to have an extra 10 months of no cost extension until the end of Dec 2021 in order to ensure A&L is synchronised with the end of all other child projects. This is in order to continue the critical role of coordination, learning, and acting as an umbrella for all the child projects.
A Theory of Change process is recommended as a lesson learning exercise. This could be achieved with an outcome mapping exercise to collect some key outcomes of GGP that was not anticipated from the project but is significant to be highlighted. Budget Allocation would be needed for this process. In addition. given that all GEF IAP appears to suffer from same design issues, with lack of more robust systems approach linking design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation to move towards systemic change this process could also be led and funded by GEF as a collective IAP process.
We recommend developing a robust systems approach for integration or buy-in for integration (the same as GCP did for multi-stakeholder platform) for at least one country, ideally Paraguay
ISEAL Alliance and GGP could re-assess some better areas for collaboration to build the vision for integration.
Taking Deforestation out of Commodity Production - 5664
High level meetings at Minister level in Indonesia and Paraguay to demonstrate the benefits of the project. Project progress and benefits for the country of the potential transformational change linked to the project should be presented at the highest possible level in all the key Ministries involved in the project.
• A specific strategy on key messages has to be prepared for each country to ensure the efficiency of the meeting
• In Indonesia, meeting is a priority given the current slow process and the final step needed for legalization
• In Paraguay, meetings should highlight the dual benefit for Paraguay to have a sustainable beef sector as well as to preserve its current forest. Promote the Value added of including the Ministry of Finance as part of the National Platform, and of the space of dialogue provided by the Platform
Secure financial sustainability of Platform and implementation of its action plan. Define and implement strategy to secure the financial sustainability of all platforms in each pilot country. It may rely on a mix of sources (e.g. ensuring costing is carried out, and costs are included in government budgets at all relevant levels, exploring public-private partnerships for long term solutions, or donor funding for medium term).
Ensure Action Plans have a clear monitoring framework Clear monitoring frameworks with indicators and targets should be developed for each action plan to facilitate monitoring of their implementation.
Strengthen the corporate engagement Designing a coherent strategy, building on the concept of Value Beyond Value Chain, would enable to foster the systemic change required. This should also be coordinated with the other child projects who have also corporate engagement.
Better use of platform for multi-stakeholder dialogue to ensure a participative process for policy reform, farmers system support and land use planning:
• Identify in each pilot country areas when dialogue through platform can be extended to better leverage some of the project work on these themes.
• Given the positive results from the dialogue and collaboration held in Platform for systemic change, explore how the government and private sector themselves could communicate on the results to further support the engagement of stakeholders and demonstrate how certain activities (such as policy reform) are critical for the process success, as well as better understand their motivation. Lessons from this extended use can provide input to further refine the concept of Multi-stakeholder Collaboration for systemic change.
Explore Producer Incentives for voluntary forest conservation In Paraguay, the legislation enables to deforest up to 75 %. It is therefore critical to explore the potential of financial incentives to conserve biodiversity and forests above legal requirements through financing mechanism linking to REDD+.
Country Project efficiency In each country office, there are some areas to be considered for better efficiency:
• In Indonesia, teams work in silos, there should be more coordination among the Platform work and the work at Landscape level.
• In Indonesia, continue to leverage the power of the other child projects to support the work, as much as possible. More sharing on the corporate engagement work could be useful.
• In Liberia, explore if the root cause of the Sime Darby divestment and potentially other divestments is the lack of a financially viable outgrower model, or other factors. Support the country accordingly.
• In Paraguay, the platform coordination work is shared with the BAPAA project which will end in June 2020. Securing funding to continue to benefit from the expertise of the Platform team (coordinator, beef specialist) is therefore crucial.
• In Paraguay, the budget should be revised as there were some mistakes at project design.
• Paraguay Recommendation is to explore the benefits and costs to implement the Systems approach in order to have a comprehensive approach for a sustainable beef sector with reduced deforestation
Paraguay: strategy for a common vision on sustainable beef Ensure discussion in the National Platform leads to agreement on a common vision of "sustainable beef production". Systems approaches are often very valuable for getting collective agreement over sustainable beef production.
Obtain a 6 months no cost extension for the Production Project
Management response GGP AL - FINAL.pdf 5665_Management_Response
Management response GGP Production_FINAL.pdf 5664_Management_Response
Management response: Agree with the recommendation
Develop a thematic stream on Systemic Change and Systems Approach under the new cycle of the Green Commodity Community.
[Added: 2020/02/06] [Last Updated: 2021/01/04] GGP A&L PMU – Pascal Fabié, Lead Knowledge & Impact 2020/02 Completed - History
Organise virtual workshops to implement the stream.
[Added: 2020/02/06] [Last Updated: 2021/01/04] GGP A&L PMU – Pascal Fabié, Lead Knowledge & Impact 2021/03 Completed 3 workshops organized History
Include a face to face workshop at the second good growth conference on discussing the practicalities of systemic change and systems approach for multi-stakeholder collaboration.
[Added: 2020/02/06] [Last Updated: 2021/08/10] GGP A&L PMU –Lise Melvin, Senior Platform Advisor 2021/04 Completed The Good Growth Conference did not take place in-person due to COVID-19 but was adapted to a virtual format. Three first days of the Conference focused on trainings related to systems change and practice and multi-stakeholder collaboration including - Systems Practice - Collaborative Partnerships / Facilitating Collaborative Innovation / Working with Power and Conflict - Systems Leadership for Change Makers History
Management response: Agree with the recommendation.
Build the capacity of platform teams to facilitate systems approach and measure their effectiveness through the ladder of change
[Added: 2020/02/06] [Last Updated: 2021/08/10] GGP A&L PMU –Lise Melvin, Senior Platform Advisor; Nicolas Petit, Senior Commodities Advisor; Andrea Bina, M&E Specialist 2022/03 Initiated History
Agree with the recommendation
Get approval from Project Board
[Added: 2020/02/06] [Last Updated: 2021/01/04] GGP A&L PMU 2020/06 Completed Project Board agreed in June 2019. Request of a 12-month extension due to COVID-19. History
Get approval from UNDP GEF
[Added: 2020/02/06] [Last Updated: 2021/01/05] GGP A&L PMU 2020/08 Completed Request sent and approved in September 2020 History
The GGP Steering Committee reviewed this recommendation and decided to not invest in a Theory of Change process for lesson learning at global level at this stage. Indeed, the GEF is already planning a Lessons Learning workshop for all the GEF IAP in 2020 which should be achieving key learnings on the Integrated Approaches, including revisiting assumptions that were made initially. Hence no key actions are deemed necessary here.
Agree with the recommendation. The GGP Steering Committee agreed to use system thinking and a system approach as part of the two workshops it is planning to hold in Brazil and Paraguay in Q1 2020.
Agree on date for the workshops with GGP partners
[Added: 2020/02/06] GGP A&L PMU 2019/12 Completed
Agree on agenda and resources for the workshops with GGP partners
Ensure workshops are held with high quality sessions on systems approaches to an integrated way of working
[Added: 2020/02/06] [Last Updated: 2021/08/10] GGP A&L PMU 2020/03 Completed Brazil was completed in March 2020 but Paraguay postponed to October 2020 and took place virtually due to COVID-19. Four sessions were organized in October and a fifth session to close the workshop took place in Q1 2021. Insights from this exercise fed into the GGP Paraguay integrated planning workshop. History
Enable the wider GGP and Green Commodities Programme to work with Evidensia through: 1 Video instructions 2 Dedicated webinar and walk-through for the GGP partners 3 Make better use of the monthly updates by giving partners key insights 4 Include link to Evidensia directly from GGP website home page 5 Position Evidensia as one of the key components in the knowledge hub offering of the GGP, tightly interlinked with the COP
[Added: 2020/02/06] [Last Updated: 2021/01/04] GGP Steering Committee & ISEAL 2020/06 Completed - History
ISEAL will bring expertise from non-GGP activities into the Green Commodities Community via specific webinars already agreed with UNDP on topics such as jurisdictional assurance claims guidance (note: no funding for this ISEAL role available via GEF grant)
[Added: 2020/02/06] [Last Updated: 2021/01/04] UNDP & ISEAL 2020/06 Completed ISEAL colleagues not involved in GGP engaged in GCC virtual workshop on jurisdictional assurance claims guidance History
GGP Steering Committee and ISEAL will explore how to maximize the value of ISEAL's contribution to any future GGP projects and activities both via Evidensia and more widely
[Added: 2020/02/06] [Last Updated: 2021/01/04] GGP Steering Committee & ISEAL 2020/02 Completed ISEAL part of FOLUR Global Platform and will be engaged in further development of GGP Phase 2 History
Project progress and benefits for the country of the potential transformational change linked to the project should be presented at the highest possible level in all the key Ministries involved in the project. A specific strategy on key messages has to be prepared to ensure the efficiency of the meeting
[Added: 2020/02/06] [Last Updated: 2021/12/06] Paraguay Production Project Team 2021/12 Overdue-Initiated History
[Added: 2020/02/06] [Last Updated: 2021/01/04] Indonesia Production Project Team 2020/03 Completed Done through SPOI Project Board meeting in Q1 2020, with the participation of representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Planning (BAPPENAS) and the National Land Agency. In addition to that, two FOKSBI Steering Committee meetings took place in 2020 (February and June), attended by representatives from all ministries listed in the Presidential Instruction legalizing the NAP. Meetings were carefully prepared with key messages to be convened. History
Define a strategy for Platforms and Action Plans Financial Sustainability
[Added: 2020/02/06] [Last Updated: 2021/12/06] Indonesia Project Team Liberia Project Team Paraguay Project Team 2021/09 Overdue-Initiated History
Implement the strategy
[Added: 2020/02/06] [Last Updated: 2021/08/10] Indonesia Project Team Liberia Project Team Paraguay Project Team 2021/12 Overdue-Initiated In Indonesia, the FOKSBI platform transitioned into the NAP Implementation Team and two Decrees (National Implementation Team and Secretariat) were signed in 2020 and both mention allocation of budget to support operation of the National Implementation Team. Since beginning of 2021, the project is supporting the operationalization of this National Implementation Team including Secretariat and establishment of multi-stakeholder working groups. A similar process has been kicked off at the subnational level but is on hold in most of the landscapes until NAP implementation guidelines get finalized. Regarding the NAP and subnational action plans, engagement with government and other stakeholders was continued in 2020 and 2021 to secure commitment to finance implementation of the action plans. Bi-annual reports on implementation demonstrate progress made in terms of action plan implementation. Similar exercise conducted at the subnational level is feeding into national level reports. In Paraguay, while the strategy for the Chaco platform sustainability is still in discussion with stakeholders, the strategy to accelerate implementation of the action plan is under implementation, with a first exercise to prioritize actions and identify key stakeholders in charge of action implementation currently ongoing. This will be completed by a costing exercise and included in the monitoring framework. History
Define monitoring frameworks for each action plan developed
10. Recommendation:
Design a strategy for corporate engagement in support of the national and/or subnational action plans in coordination with other child projects, as relevant
[Added: 2020/02/06] [Last Updated: 2021/08/10] Supported by Senior Partnership Advisor Indonesia Project Team Liberia Project Team Paraguay Project Team 2021/09 Overdue-Initiated Delays due to COVID-19 crisis, including inability to meet and discuss with stakeholders and government prioritizing COVID-19 response. In Indonesia, a stakeholders mapping was done to identify private sector companies to be engaged for action plans implementation. Initial discussions also took place around the development of guidelines for private sector actors to support action plans implementation but this was not pursued as the development and implementation of a private sector engagement strategy was prioritized. Budget did not allow to hire a national private sector engagement, but the stakeholder engagement officer worked on the development of the strategy that was finalized at the end of 2020. Private sector engagement was also a thematic discussed with GGP Partners during annual integrated workshops. In Liberia, a virtual workshop with local development partners was organized in December to gather inputs for the development of a corporate engagement strategy for NOPPOL and the action plan, as well as feedback on an initial roadmap. The draft strategy was refined in 2021 and is currently under consultation with stakeholders. In Paraguay, initial discussions took place in 2020 but competing priorities prevented the team from working further on this. An initial strategy was internally defined and is being refined, while already in implementation. This includes the identification of private sector actors that are/can be involved in action plan implementation through the exercise currently under implementation to accelerate action plan implementation. History
Implement the strategy for corporate engagement in coordination with other child projects
[Added: 2020/02/06] [Last Updated: 2021/12/06] Indonesia Project Team Liberia Project Team Paraguay Project Team Supported by Senior Partnership Advisor 2021/12 Overdue-Initiated History
Implement the action points identified above
[Added: 2020/02/06] [Last Updated: 2021/08/10] Indonesia Project Team Liberia Project Team Paraguay Project Team 2021/12 Overdue-Initiated In Indonesia, the Pelalawan forum was used to conduct public consultations for the development of the Pelalawan Regent Regulation on Palm Oil Plantation Partnership. In addition to that, the Pelalawan Farmers Support Strategy and the piloting of the Farmers Support Toolkit was also done through the Pelalawan forum. Finally, the FOKSBI Steering Committee meetings focus on palm oil development issues more broadly, and not strictly focus on the NAP. In Liberia, the farmers support system is being discussed through the NOPPOL platform and as part of the development of the national action plan. The RSPO NI was also discussed through NOPPOL. Finally, products developed by development partners such as a Proforest were presented and discussed through NOPPOL. In Paraguay, the National Environmental Policy was presented and discussed with Chaco Platform members at the end of 2020 while feedback on the HCV HCS criteria was gathered through the Platform in January 2021 In addition to that, the definition of sustainable beef (supported by Demand project) is planned to be validated through the National Beef Platform. History
Identify in each pilot country areas when dialogue through platform can be extended to work on policy reforms, farmer support system and land use planning, and derive key action points
[Added: 2020/02/06] [Last Updated: 2021/08/10] Indonesia Project Team Liberia Project Team Paraguay Project Team 2020/03 Completed Indonesia is using subnational platforms or its thematic groups for policy work where possible. Several opportunities for using district forae for policy development and public consultations were identified, as well as at the national level. In Liberia, it was identified that the platform could be used to discuss the development of a farmer support system strategy and the RSPO National Interpretation (NI). In Paraguay, the Chaco Platform was already used in 2019 to work on the farmers support strategy (Productive Working Group of the Platform), and it will be used for discussion on HCV/HCS, public policies and the definition of sustainable beef. History
Implement the plan
[Added: 2020/02/06] [Last Updated: 2021/08/10] Paraguay Project Team 2021/12 Overdue-Initiated Support was provided on the socialization of the scheme for environmental services in partnership with MADES to three Mennonites cooperatives. This led to a discussion on a needed revision of the legal framework and criteria for environmental services identified as a barrier for producers. In addition to that, communication material on payment for environmental services is also being developed including flyers that will target private sector actors. It was also agreed at the beginning of 2021 that a working group with GGP Partners will be created on the theme of financial incentives and that GGP Partners including UNDP will be providing inputs to the feasibility study on financial incentives being developed by UNEP FI. Finally, the development of a green certification ("sello verde ambiental") applicable to agriculture and livestock production is being explored with MADES to encourage producers to go beyond legal requirements on the environmental side. History
Explore potential financial incentives to conserve biodiversity and forests beyond legal requirements
[Added: 2020/02/06] [Last Updated: 2021/01/04] Paraguay Project Team 2020/03 Completed Study completed in Q1 2020 History
Put plan in place for implementing financial incentives
[Added: 2020/02/06] [Last Updated: 2021/08/10] Paraguay Project Team 2020/09 Completed Initial discussions took place with the UNDP project focusing on Forests which is working on the promotion of environmental services and results-based payments, and it was decided to support financial incentives through promotion and communication of the environmental services scheme. History
SPOI team to continue with joint planning and ensure joint at least monthly technical meetings between the Platform and Landscape teams
[Added: 2020/02/06] [Last Updated: 2021/01/04] Indonesia Project Team 2021/12 Overdue-Initiated Process put in place for joint planning with weekly meetings organized between the Platform and Landscape teams. This allowed opportunities to be leveraged such as activities from the landscape team using platforms to enhance involvement of stakeholders and dialogue on activities, especially policy work at the subnational level. History
In Indonesia, continue to leverage the power of the other child projects to support the work, as much as possible, including more sharing on corporate engagement, through yearly integration workshop by end of Q1 and quarterly monitoring of actions taken
[Added: 2020/02/06] [Last Updated: 2021/08/10] Indonesia Project Team 2021/12 Overdue-Initiated Integrated planning workshops were organized in Q1 2020 and Q1 2021. This allowed increased collaboration between child projects on private sector engagement and NAP implementation. For example, a workshop with retailers to socialize the NAP was organized in collaboration with WWF Indonesia in 2020 and joint activities including around stakeholder engagement in support of NAP implementation are planned for 2021 Integrated workplans are monitored in a quarterly basis. History
In Liberia, understand the root cause of Sime Darby Divestment, and propose what UNDP can do on the policy side, beyond what it is already doing, to avoid more divestments
[Added: 2020/02/06] [Last Updated: 2021/01/04] Liberia Project Team 2020/03 Completed Discussions were held with CI and it was decided that TSA was the best that UNDP should do on the policy side. The TSA was reviewed to integrate the Sime Darby divestment, and provide some guidance on the policy side to avoid future divestments. The TSA was validated by the NOPPOL Steering Committee in December 2020. History
In Paraguay, secure funding for the BAAPA platform team beyond June 2020
[Added: 2020/02/06] [Last Updated: 2021/01/04] Paraguay Project Team 2020/03 Completed Team funding for core team secured for 2020 and new projects starting in 2021 should secure 2021 funding History
In Paraguay, carry-out a budget revision to correct mistakes made in the design phase
[Added: 2020/02/06] [Last Updated: 2021/01/04] Paraguay Project Team 2020/01 Completed Done. History
In Paraguay, explore the costs and benefits to implement a systems approach in order to have a comprehensive approach for a sustainable beef sector with reduced deforestation
[Added: 2020/02/06] [Last Updated: 2021/08/10] Paraguay Project Team with support from A&L Team 2021/03 Completed It was decided to hold a systems approach workshop, which was postponed from March to October 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions and moved to a 5 half days virtual event. The last session of this event took place in Q1 2021 and key insights fed into the integrated planning workshop. History
Agree on common vision of sustainable beef production at national level
[Added: 2020/02/06] [Last Updated: 2021/08/10] Paraguay Project Team 2021/12 Overdue-Initiated Under the Demand project, work on a definition for sustainable beef is currently ongoing and about to be finalized in the next months. It will be validated through the National Beef Platform (launched at the end of 2020) as a way to crystalize a common vision on sustainable beef production among stakeholders. History
[Added: 2020/02/06] [Last Updated: 2021/01/04] GGP Production PMU 2020/06 Completed Project Board agreed in June 2019. 12.-month extension recommended by UNDP HQ due to COVID-19, approved by Board member in December 2020. History
[Added: 2020/02/06] [Last Updated: 2021/01/04] GGP Production PMU 2020/10 Completed Request submitted in December 2020 and approved. History


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OPINION: Oscar guidelines encourage diversity
Diversity, representation are important; new Oscar guidelines will help ensure they are respected
ANISSA CHAK
The new guidelines for Oscar nominees will ensure that diversity is one of the key facets of the film experience.
MAKAYLA NORTH, Evergreen columnist
Among the blazing hellfields of misinformation and internet outrage that define 2020, it can be difficult to muddle out which side you're supposed to be screaming out. It can be even more difficult to determine what started the screaming to begin with.
As of September, the recent overhaul of guidelines for The Academy Awards, or Oscars, "Best Picture" nomination is one topic of debate that has drawn dividing lines in the sand yet again — as far as I'm concerned, celebrating diversity in film can only be a good thing. However, organic diversity and instituted diversity don't always compliment each other..
Some are bemoaning the death of creative freedom, while some are lauding affirmative action. But what do the guidelines actually entail? Furthermore, what impact can they really have on the landscape of cinema going forward? Lay down your arms, Twitter — let's break it down for the layman.
On Sept. 8, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — the Academy in "and I'd like to thank the Academy," in case you didn't know — announced a set of shiny new standards a film has to meet in order to be eligible for the much-vaunted Oscar award under "Best Picture" category. These standards are built around inclusivity for underrepresented groups in a film's cast, crew and thematic material. If a film doesn't meet these standards, it will not have a shot at "Best Picture."
If you listen, you can hear Grandma Betty yelling already: "I told you the Mexicans were invading! Look, they're in my TV!"
I admit the standards might look a little daunting for a prospective filmmaker at first. There are four standards, each with their own bullet points and subsections and snappy formatting. Each standard comprises one category of representation: cast and narrative, crew and development, internship and mentoring, and marketing. Each category then has a selection of different criteria that a film must meet in order to fulfill that standard.
If you're flashing back to an extra gnarly class rubric, don't go into the light, Carol Anne — it's not as complicated as it sounds.
See, in order to meet the eligibility requirements, all a film hoping for nomination has to do is fulfill two of the four standards. In order to fulfill those standards, it does not necessarily have to meet more than one of the listed criteria. To meet Standard A, a production would need either a lead or main supporting actor from an underrepresented racial group, or a secondary cast at least 30 percent comprised of underrepresented racial groups or thematic material related to underrepresented racial groups.
If this still sounds like a lot to keep track of, then we should probably define what "underrepresented racial and ethnic groups" means in this context. The Oscars website lists Asian, Hispanic/Latinx, Black/African American, Indigenous/Native American/Alaskan Native, Middle Eastern/North African and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander communities as qualifying, with an "other underrepresented races or [ethnicities]" catch-all thrown in at the end.
That's a lot of groups, guys. That's every group but white. All pretty broadly defined, too — from my experience, the average college literature class could pull off that level of casting eligibility (plus be delightful conversation in the meantime). See? Not so earth-shattering.
Now let's move on to Standard B. To achieve Standard B, at least two creative leadership and development positions must be from underrepresented groups, with one position explicitly filled by an underrepresented racial or ethnic group. Alternatively, six additional crew positions could be filled by racial or ethnic groups or 30 percent of the overall crew composition can be from underrepresented groups.
But wait a minute, you might say. What does "underrepresented groups" consist of if it's different from "underrepresented racial or ethnic groups?" I am glad to say that this much broader category not only covers all ethnic minorities, it covers the LGBTQ+, neurodivergent or people with disabilities, and women.
Yes, that's right. Women. I don't want to hear anyone out here stressing how difficult these new eligibility quotas are to meet when there are women on the list. Look hard, you'll find one.
Hell, forget my literature class, the average family unit could probably stage an indie film eligible for "Best Picture." Assuming it's a heteronormative picket fence kind of situation, you have a mother, a father and then a couple of kids (we'll say a boy and a girl). Without even getting into cultural heritage, disabilities or neurodivergence, sexual orientations, or gender identities this family might have, that's already 50 percent underrepresented group by virtue of having two women.
Let me be very clear here: the only alternative to what the eligibility guidelines define as "underrepresented groups" is white neurotypical able-bodied cisgendered straight men. "Underrepresented groups" are everything but white neurotypical able-bodied cisgendered straight men.
I know America has a serious fetish for those guys, but I'm just going to come out and say it — if you've made a film whose supporting actors or development crew isn't at least 30 percent underrepresented individuals, then you've made a film whose actors and developers are more than 70 percent white neurotypical able-bodied cisgendered straight men. I don't think you deserve to win "Best Picture."
Honestly, if you've made a film whose cast and crew aren't at least 30 percent women, then I think you need to wake up from the '50s and smell the "women in the workplace." To put things a bit more in perspective, my roommate and I have been watching the "Alien" franchise lately. If the first three movies don't qualify for eligibility in terms of cast and crew percentages, then they're at least not too far off.
This is as far back as 1979, people. Wake up from the '50s. What I'm trying to say here is that the changes to the "Best Picture" rules are not a massive change to iconic movies we already know and love. They are simply a new (and overdue) standard for what the Academy will use going forward to recognize what can be truly called a "Best Picture" — a "Best Picture" which qualifies for its nomination by a universal appeal to a diverse audience.
Standard C takes a different approach. Rather than focus on the makeup of the movie itself, it sets two industry-based criteria that must both be met. This standard requires "the film's distributing or financial company" to have paid internships or apprenticeships for the broader set of underrepresented individuals.
Major studios have to have ongoing programs which include said individuals, while not-so-major studios have to have at least two of said individuals as interns or apprentices. In addition, crew training has to be offered to anyone under the underrepresentation umbrella.
The final category, Standard D, deals with marketing and only has one criterion. This requires "multiple in-house senior executives" who belong to any of the listed underrepresented groups being present on the marketing, publicity and distribution teams. No percentages or exact numbers.
That wraps up what you need to know about the 2024 "Best Picture" guidelines. The four standards are diversity in story or casting, crew, apprenticeships, and marketing, of which only two must be met to qualify for "Best Picture." Note these standards do not apply to any other award categories, or to animated, international or documentary films competing for the honor.
These standards, according to the Academy President David Rubin and Academy CEO Dawn Hudson, are intended to "reflect our diverse global population in both the creation of motion pictures and in the audiences who connect with them." They believe inclusion guidelines will force the industry to change for the better.
Matthew Jeffries, director of the Gender Identity/Expression and Sexual Orientation Resource Center said he was optimistic overall, but expressed hesitation to believe that enforcing diversity standards would solve deeper-rooted problems with representation.
"I'm excited because we do need more stories," he said. "I think, you know, there's gonna be always those folks who push forward storylines that are limiting, of course, and that's what I'm apprehensive about."
As an example, Jeffries brought up the 2016 film "Moonlight," a story told in three pieces about one man's struggle to navigate a queer Black adolescence. Among many other awards, in 2017 "Moonlight" won the Academy "Best Picture" Award, which Jeffries pointed out probably exposed a much wider and more generalized audience — including him — to its message and characters than might have seen it otherwise.
He also said even if the pressure to showcase underrepresented groups risks encouraging tokenization or misrepresentation, the diversification of "Best Picture" films will if nothing else open conversations on the topic that might never have happened otherwise.
"What if they're really bold stories that finally get some space in that 'Best Picture' category, right?" Jeffries said. "That have maybe never been looked at before because they were seen as too whatever — too queer, too diverse, whatever."
In regards to Rubin and Hudson's claims of generating "long-term" change within the film industry, Jeffries said he agreed that the alteration of "Best Picture" guidelines is part of the long game, but isn't one that can't be won without lots of maintenance.
"A decision is made today, and we don't know what the unintended consequences and impacts are going to be," he said. "Therefore, when we do [diversity, equity and inclusion] work, we have to be diligent in following up to see what those impacts were. We can't say 'Ooh, we're done, we did it.' Instead, we need to say 'Okay, we made a decision a couple of years ago — what has happened because of that decision?'"
Sherwin Sales, WSU graduate instructor and doctoral candidate, said he believes changing the eligibility rules for a "Best Picture" qualification is a positive move, but far from the end-all of diversity struggles in cinematic media.
"I'm pretty big on representation, and so the sentiment is good," he said. "What I'm always skeptical [of] about initiatives like this is those things you pointed out — tokenism, and this myth of multiculturalism. Where if we have this set of standards, people who are, let's say, anti-multiculturalist, are like, 'Okay, everything is solved because now we have these standards … these unequal power balances are now equal.'"
Sales said he believes the initiative is a good start, but he doesn't think the work stops there. Instead, we have to continue working on meaningful representation. He addressed not only the creative harm of haphazardly throwing minorities into media for the sake of having minorities but the harm to the identity of the people within those minorities who've been reduced to trophy pieces.
"People of color, or I should say minoritized groups, are constantly thinking about how they are being represented," Sales said. "We're kind of savvy, or we're kind of smart in thinking 'Okay, I kind of know why I'm here.'"
Technically, within the "Best Picture" rules, it would be pretty easy to meet the "underrepresented" threshold with queer actors who play straight characters, or people identifying with minorities who play white characters.
It would also be easy to do what plenty of media has historically done and have Black actors in a story about Black issues with a wholly non-Black team doing the writing. Replace "Black" with "women" or "transgender" or "Latinx" as needed. You can see the problems inherent in saying something like 'It's okay, guys, I brought my Black friend Greg — I'm ready to talk about apartheid.'
Upon examining the different groups falling into the "underrepresented" section, Sales said misrepresentation could also come in subtler ways by dint of how broad the inclusion standards are. For example, the term Asian could refer to any kind of Asian.
"Maybe they're making a period piece about, I don't know, the … Japanese internment camps," he said, "and they can't get enough Japanese-American actors to fill their background set or whatever. They're just going to hire another Asian person who doesn't identify as Japanese to fill that out."
This is true. The film "Memoirs of a Geisha," which is based on a book by a white American man, employed a cast of largely Chinese individuals to play Japanese characters. I myself certainly have concerns about misrepresentation as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and I'm hesitant to trust a writing team who isn't LGBTQ+ itself to do a good job normalizing queer characters and storylines in an authentic way.
"Honestly, I feel like misrepresentation is going to happen," he said. "And tokenism — you know, with these sorts of standards, it's gonna happen. But I think it's a step in the right direction for potential dialogue so that I'm happy for. At least some things are being done so we can start some discussion on how to move forward with these sorts of things."
It's important to keep in mind that whether people like the guidelines or despise them, the one thing everyone can agree on is that these changes weren't made on accident. With the Black Lives Matter movement more prevalent than ever, publishers, advertisers, and content-creators need to reevaluate representation of America's intersectional reality in media.
The new guidelines will go into effect in 2024, so if you and your dorm buddies shot an indie film during quarantine that doesn't meet eligibility criteria and have your little hearts set on winning "Best Picture" in the next few years, you still have a shot. If you don't get around to releasing it until 2024, well, you still might take home an award — the guidelines only apply to "Best Picture" for now.
I highly encourage everyone to poke around the eligibility webpage themselves or share this column with someone. Ask a friend about it. Start a conversation. Bring it up this Thanksgiving with the family, if you really want to see some fireworks.
The 2024 Oscars have given us the chance to tackle a small, digestible piece of creative diversity, and we should all be talking about it. The point of the change is to let every voice be heard, so open that dialogue and see where it takes you. Keep a critical eye on the 2024 "Best Picture" nominees. With any luck, the Oscars might see something they've never seen before.
MAKAYLA NORTH,
Makayla North is a junior creative writing major from Snohomish, Washington.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The board hopes to add several more features to the park, including sprinklers, tables, an additional mutt mitt dispenser, a tunnel bridge, ramps and slides.
Pardall Carnival celebrated its 10th year in Isla Vista this past weekend, with numerous orgs tabling on the street and hundreds of students in attendance.
A citation for riding a Bird on campus could cost $250.


DALLAS, Feb 13, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE via COMTEX) -- DALLAS, Feb. 13, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wingstop Inc. WING, +1.30% (the "Company" or "Wingstop") today announced that it will host a conference call and webcast to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2018 financial results on Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at 4:30 PM EST.
Hosting the conference call will be Charlie Morrison, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Michael Skipworth, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. A press release with fourth quarter and full year 2018 financial results will be issued that same day, shortly after the market closes.
The conference call can be accessed live by dialing 1-201-689-8562. A replay will be available two hours after the call and can be accessed by dialing 1-412-317-6671; the passcode is 13687555. The replay will be available through Wednesday, March 6, 2019.
The conference call will also be webcast live and later archived on the investor relations section of Wingstop's corporate website at ir.wingstop.com under the 'News & Events' section.
Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Wingstop Inc. WING, +1.30% operates and franchises more than 1,200 restaurants across the United States and nine other countries around the world. The Wing Experts' menu features classic and boneless wings with 11 bold, distinctive flavors including Original Hot, Cajun, Atomic, Mild, Lemon Pepper, Hawaiian, Garlic Parmesan, Hickory Smoked BBQ, Louisiana Rub, Spicy Korean Q, and Mango Habanero. Wingstop's wings are always cooked to order, hand-sauced and tossed and served with our fresh-cut, seasoned fries and made-from-scratch Ranch and Bleu Cheese dips. The Company has grown its domestic same store sales for 15 consecutive years, has been ranked #3 on the "Top 100 Fastest Growing Restaurant Chains" by Nation's Restaurant News (2016), was ranked #7 on the "Top 40 Fast Casual Chains" by Restaurant Business (2016), and was named "Best Franchise Deal in North America" by QSR magazine (2014). For more information visit www.wingstop.com or www.wingstopfranchise.com. Follow us on facebook.com/Wingstop and Twitter @Wingstop.


The posters on this page are available for download for you and your organization to use to promote WEAAD, just credit INPEA.
Though the posters can be used "as is", there is also enough space to include your event information.
To do this, open the .pdf in photo editing/desktop publishing software and edit as needed.
The file can then be printed, or taken to a print shop for reproduction.
for INPEA's First World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.


Every year you go to the shops and buy exciting kids equipment for the perfect beach family day out. However, why is it, it always costs you more than you thought in buckets and spades and that the kids always seem to find more and more fun equipment they want - and of course we buy it!!!
Why not have it all ready and waiting in your holiday accommodation and spend the extra time enjoying your family holiday and the extra money on what you really want!
Let us worry about all the equipment by having our great 'Beach Pack' of exciting toys and equipment all ready and waiting at your holiday home to really make any trip to the beach enjoyable one!


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Wow, you found some gems in there. Yes, there's a definite risk of "time sink" once you start exploring. I enjoyed delving into William Simpson's sketchbooks in India around 1860.
Thanks, James. I came across a couple of Simpson's pieces, but I wasn't aware of the sketchbooks. I keep going back after the fact (Timesink indeed) and I'm being knocked out by some of the work of John Varley I.


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The Heber wild horses graze in a field of sunflowers last year.
Laura Singleton/The Independent
A photo taken last year shows a herd of Heber free-roaming horses grazes lazily among spring flowers in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests east of Heber and south of SR260. This year drought is affecting the horses' access to water and grazing.
Advocates say horses need water now
By Laura Singleton The Independent
Laura Singleton
HEBER — The national, non-profit wild horses advocacy group, Citizens Against Equine Slaughter (CAES), have reached out to the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (ASNF) with a request to transport water to a herd of 15-20 horses within the 300-450 horses that make up the total Heber wild horses population.
Advocates fear that the horses, also referred to as the "Heber wild horses" and "the Heber herd" may succumb to dehydration as extreme drought conditions have caused water holes, stock ponds and natural sources of water to completely dry up.
CAES representatives report that one horse has already died and that it's a matter of time before more suffer the same fate. This particular herd cannot access water due to fencing that runs north/south in the area. "It's not an issue of gates being open or closed because there aren't gates in that stretch of fencing," says Val Cecama-Hogsett of the Oregeon extension of CAES who is working with Arizona and local-area wild horse advocates.
Local residents that advocate for the wild horses and members of CAES contacted Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests representatives last week to ask for permission to transport water to the horses. However, there seems to be confusion as to what can be done and by whom.
"The community members are willing to take water to these horses right now," said Cecame-Hogsett. "There should be some access for the horses to traverse. They need to be able to traverse the whole territory for water and for breeding and maintaining the genetic health of the herds," she added.The ASNF understands the problem to be closed gates. However, CAES says that gates aren't the root cause in this situation.
"There are no gates where these horses are," explains Cecama-Hogsett of national advocate group, CAES. "The fences run north to south and there is no access on either end for the horses to get around. "There is water that they can see and smell to the west of them but they can't get there."
Local wild horse advocates along with their national CAES partners say they have a solution — they will bring water in for the horses.
However, the simplicity of bringing water into the area appears about as murky as the crusty remnants of dried-up water holes. There are a multitude of stakeholders that include but are not limited to the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, the Arizona Game and Fish Department, local cattle ranchers, and Heber-Overgaard residents like Mary Hauser that actively advocate for the wild horses and are backed by national groups like CAES.
The Independent contacted Steve Johnson, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (ASNF) Information Assistant, for comment as he is the lead staff with regard to issues surrounding the Heber horses. Johnson was unavailable to comment in detail because he was in Phoenix attending the ongoing, collaborate monthly Heber Wild Horse Territory meeting.
"There's a lot of moving parts. We are in the process of coordinating everything with all the affected stakeholders," said Johnson. "There are a lot of caveats to bringing water into the forest during a drought. For example, we are in Stage 2 Fire Restrictions and there are serious concerns about motor vehicles causing sparks. We have to keep everyone in compliance and we have to cross every "t" and dot every "i" in order to protect all resources," added Johnson.
The ASNF has been in communication with the wild horse advocacy groups since last week and posted this message to their social media page on Friday, May 11: "The ASNFs shares the public's concern regarding the drought conditions on the Sitgreaves National Forest, and is working with the local public to ensure access to water for horses is available. The Black Mesa Ranger District is coordinating with local private individuals who have expressed an interest in providing water for the horses. Two of the private entities that are assisting with coordination efforts are the Heber Wild Horses Freedom Preservation Alliance and the Gila Herd Foundation. Private individuals may contact the Heber Wild Horses Freedom Preservation Alliance at 602-571-1232, and the Gila Herd Foundation at 928-978-3417.
Gates are open throughout the territory and the horses are free to roam and access available water. Only a few gates may be closed for the safety of the horses where water has become dangerously low."
"The biggest statement I can make here is that this situation with a Heber wild horse dying of dehydration did not have to happen," said Cecama-Hogsett of CAS.
"Originally, the ASNF said that we (CAES) could not bring the horses water without going through the Arizona Game and Fish Department," said Cecama-Hogsett.
"Then they said that an environmental study had to be done. It wasn't until Friday, May 11, that Steve Johnson from the ASNF said that we could give them water but there was already a dead horse by then."
According to CAES, Johnson also said that providing water to the Heber horses could create a situation where the water creates mud as it dries up, similar to that of the Navajo Nation where horses searching for water became stuck in the mud and died.
"As long as the forage is enough for the horses and cattle, there isn't a problem except for dealing with the interior fences," say CAES representatives. "The cattle are moved around during different seasons. Opening the fences up, installing more gates and /or widening gates when the cattle aren't in those areas help. The livestock numbers need to be decreased to give the horses principal use because the sanctuaries are to be managed principally for wild horse according to the 1971 policy enacted by Congress to manage wild free-roaming horses as components of public lands."
"Arizona should take a whole lot of pride because that Heber area ecosystem is beautiful simply because it's working," said Cecama-Hogsett.
"That's the big story — that Heber herd is the only one that IS working. Don't fix what isn't broken. Let us and the community step in and help if need be."
Reach the reporter at lsingleton@wmicentral.com
Forest Service confirms 10 horses show evidence of gunshots
SPRINGERVILLE — Last week, the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (ASNF) published a long-awaited and much anticipated press release regarding…
Heber Wild Horses
Free-roaming Horses
Apache-sitgreaves National Forests
Laura Singleton is a reporter for the White Mountain Independent, covering Show Low city government, business and education.
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Clown2 May 15, 2018 7:29am
The horse advocates have never lifted a finger to finance water projects. Every single water source for permitted livestock and wildlife has been built and paid for by Game and Fish and Ranchers. Horse advocates have a history of being uneducated when it comes to range management issues. They have no proof that horse died from lack of water. There are hundreds and hundreds of "feral horses" out there so the range is over-stocked resulting in poor conditions for all species that live in the forest. Sadly, the out of control horse herd will continue to deteriorate range conditions until it's too late; drought or no drought. Don't let the horse advocates fool you with their propaganda! It's time for our local citizens to educate themselves on this issue. A few horses, maybe 50-75, is fine but to have nearly a thousand is a disaster unfolding right before our eyes. Local ranchers and wildlife are going to lose out to these unauthorized animals. I hope common sense prevails. The forest service let this issue go on way too long (over 13 years) and ultimately they are to blame due to lack of leadership within their agency!
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xpdsniper May 15, 2018 8:00am
These are a non native uncontrolled species just like the Amazonian snakes in the everglades. Make glue out of them.
r---333 May 15, 2018 10:48am
[angry] Sorry, these are not "wild" horses, they are feral. Deer? Wild. Elk? Wild. Horses? Nope...feral. They didn't spring from the loins of Father Kino's horses (which would still not make them "wild."); there was a small, manageable population on the Sitgreaves, and then the R-C fire burned the reservation fence, and feral horses crossed over and never went back. And they're growing in population, doubling every 5 years. We have a huge problem across this entire forest with the growing population of feral horses, and emotional politics don't help matters any. When is enough enough? We are facing a drying climate, and how long must we prop up these animals with supplemental water, and then what...food? Feeding areas? When will it end? How much will taxpayers have to foot the bill before they realize unmanaged horses are out of control? I'm OK with private organizations ponying up their own money to help these animals, but please don't use my tax dollars to help "save" a non-native, feral animal that is doubling in population every five years, contributing to overgrazing of the forest, and impacting true wildlife and their habitat. I've seen horses eat; they rip plants, roots and all, right out of the ground. Now we have hundreds across this entire forest. You can't drive anywhere on either the Sitgreaves or the Apache and not see feral horses. Cattle are managed; sheep are managed; elk, deer, and other big game are managed. Horses? Hands are tied; no handling, trapping, or touching any horse is allowed thanks to emotional legislation pushed by "horse lovers," who are going to let these horses be loved to death. These animals are growing and growing in population, and are faced with ongoing drought and degraded habitat into the future. Give them water this year, and then what? Next year too? How long can volunteers last hauling more and more water, especially if ranchers -- who manage a huge number of tanks that horses use too -- are pushed out because horses are eating the grass intended for livestock? When will enough be enough? No doubt the answer is: "when it's too late." Manage these horses NOW.
Russ_in_WML May 15, 2018 4:27pm
very well said [thumbup]
Airwuf May 15, 2018 6:44pm
R333...You sir are absolutely correct. Feral or wild..the horses need to be managed!!
V Cecama-Hogsett May 15, 2018 2:02pm
Thank you for doing this story Laura. I wanted to let readers know that it is CAES. I am not sure where you got the population numbers, but after speaking with one of our people this morning, that number is about twice what our boots on the ground people say are out there. However, I do not believe that an actual census has ever been done.Also, the situation on the Navajo was clearly staged as many horse people will tell you, and I pointed that out to Mr Johnson. Also the Heber group you mntion at the end of your article IS the CAES branch in AZ. And Barb Rassmusen from the Hila Group is also a CAES member. Mary Hauser is from the Heber Group. So it is CAES the ASNF has been wprking with, though it's clear they didn't know it. What is also clear is that different statements are being made to different parties, and we need to have one contact person with ASNF, Steve Best told one of our people we could not set out water. And this issue of creating mud...really? That is the most absurd reason I have ever seen for not providing water to an animal. If a private citizen did that with their animals we would be in jail, wouldn't we?
What gets me is the one someone said, that clearly repeated the rhetoric we always hear...these horses double in size every 5 years. The population in the Heber Wild Horse territory has remained the same since 2005. Apex predators are managing the population.The situation there is heating up because as the earth changes, and the drought becomes more severe ranchers need more land as forage becomes more and more scarce. They also comment about the deer and elk when claiming horses are not native. What they don't understand is there are 2 issues one is feral vs. wildlife and the other is native vs non-native or invasive. It is not native vs feral lol.
In the first issue we have feral vs wildlife, that issue was decided by the courts time after time, and is decided by the legal definition of wildlife. Our horses being managed as a protected species are in fact, legally wildlife.
The second issue native vs non-native or invasive is more complicated because it boils done to biology, DNA and genetics. But that has also been decided over and over by the science community, and is also something most Indigenous people will tell you is a non-argument. (Not the Tribal Fish & Game or Tribal Councils who get paid for killing our wild horses on their lands, but the Dine (elders) the real tribal members who still follow the traditional oral history and path that is their culture and heritage. Scientists and biologists will recognize that the first tale told by anti-wild horse people (the horses went extinct and were BROUGHT back) is an impossible statement to make if the animal is not native. Something that was never here (or non-native) cannot be brought back. The second tale told (they are a different genus, commonly called a different species) that domestication made them non-native. Domestication has not morphed into a new genus of horse. Equus was the last genus of horse here, in the 56 million plus years of horse evolution, equus is the genus that roams wild now. It matters little is someone caught one and tamed or trained it to behave in a different manner. Does a circus lion become a non-native species in it's country because it has been captured and trained? Has the DNA of off-spring from that lion made that off-spring any less native? NO. Have we seen the changes that are seen from wolf to dog, as they were domesticated happen to create a new genus? NO. What we have are different breeds. segments that have had certin traits bred in our out for breeders preference. They have not changed the DNA, there is no new genus that proves today's wild horses are some new genus. The argument really could be made that domestic horses are nothing more than a tame wild horse. And yes Prezwalski is a different genus, and were not here at the end of the Pleistocene Era, however ALL genus of equus originated right here on this continent, and in the case of the Prezwalski, the evolved from a genus in what they are when they moved to another continent, just as our last horses here on this continent evolved to be the equus genus, the same one here today. Now if we find Prezwalski DNA here...maybe you could say those wild horses are non-native here because they DID evolve into a separate genus of horse on another piece of land.
Sorry, one more comment and I promise I will get off the odium, because we will never change the opinions of some. In reply to loving these horses to death, this is exactly what I told MR Johnson in a conversation today. If wild horses do not have water, and it is purely because of a drought on their preserve, that is nature. However, if the horses do not have water because their access has been denied due to a man made situation, i.e. livestock fences, that is not nature. When humans interfere and create a situation it is our responsibility to fix issues that are caused by that interference. So in this case, horses are fenced out of other water sources, on their outlined territory where they would travel to when a traditional water source dries up, this is one of those situations man created and must be accountable for. And in this instance, CAES and our members ARE providing water, and we have done so in NM and other places as well. We discussed today some option to be looked at for a more permanent solution than hauling water out like we are now. The other thing I want to point out that no one seems to notice is that we have elk feeding stations all over the country, east and west, my favorite heard is in the mountains back east where people flocked during rut to hear the bucks. But the same agency that provides elk feeding stations also says people need to not feed wildlife because it causes them harm, a statement they make about mule deer, and in the case of wild horses they mistakingly claim wild horses are not wildlife, I guess we need to update them on legal definitions and court rulings too. However, elk who are a source of revenue for Fish and Game are fed and watered, often on the wild horse preserves, but in fenced areas that the elk and deer can jump in and out of but wild horses cannot access. Again human interference, accepted when it benefits humans, but we take no responsibility or accountability for wildlife when it does not?
xpdsniper May 16, 2018 1:50pm
Elk deer and antelope are native, horses and cattle are not. There are no elk feeders only water catch basins built with hunters money and mostly donated labor. Horses and cattle are here for someones pocket book period.
millefiofij May 18, 2018 6:37am
I am also concerned about how tax payer money is being spent in the A-S Forests. I recently learned that the monthly federal grazing fee for one cow and one calf was reduced from $1.87 in 2017 to $1.41 in 2018. I thought $1.87 was crazy low, but now they get a 46 cent AUM (per cow and calf!) discount? WOW! Where do I sign up? I can't even feed my cat for $1.41 a month! If I were a rancher, I wouldn't be complaining about a few horses, deer or elk –I would instead recognize this for the sweet deal it is and keep writing those tiny checks to feed his/her cattle for months at a time. If these conflicts keep playing out on the evening news, tax payers may get on to the fact that they are losing millions in lost revenue and decide to do something about the Public Rangelands Improvement Act. My cattle farming friends back in the Midwest – the ones that have to raise cattle on their own land and pay for all of their feed - can't believe there is such a big dust up over ranchers having to share a few acres of land. This land belongs to all of us taxpayers – not just ranchers and their cattle – and we really don't think it is too much to ask to share less than 20,000 acres of the millions of acres grazed by cattle in Arizona. Honestly, complaining about a few horses just makes ranchers look petty and cheap. As for any "feral horses" on the range, the law has repeatedly and clearly shown that any horses currently roaming in and around the Heber Wild Horse Territory have as much, if not more, right to be in the A-S Forests than the real "non-native, feral animal that is … contributing to overgrazing of the forest, and impacting true wildlife and their habitat" – namely, cattle. Finally, wild horses, unlike cattle, don't cost the tax payer a dime if they are allowed to roam freely on public land. It only gets expensive when the micro-managing begins at the request of that rancher (that is already getting the smoking deal.) The wild horses in this story wouldn't even be in a situation where they need water if they were allowed to remove freely through their territory, but they can't because of fences built for – you guessed it – the cattle ranchers. Seems to me the ranchers here should consider themselves lucky for all the gifts given to them courtesy of the tax payers and stop complaining about a few wild horses.
JW May 20, 2018 2:57pm
Question for the lady horse advocate. How much money has your organization given to any group in Arizona for the building of water catchments? $0.00 . Your argument is baloney. If we follow your ideology, then lets reintroduce the grizzly on the black Mesa. I am all for it. Lets all sit back and watch what happens. Which is exactly what is going on with this feral equine issue. Many of these horses have brands and are gelded. relocated into an ecosystem by people during the economic downturn and by migration from the nearby reservation. Those animals are under injunction, leave them alone. if they make it because they are indigenous then they should do well, your fence argument is bull. you can walk from canyon point to show low without hitting a fence following terrain.
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Home	Tags	Posts tagged with "multirole fighter"
multirole fighter
Saudi Arabia could order 48 additional Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighters soon
by Dario Leone Mar 12 2018
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman has signed a memorandum of intent with the U.K. government for 48 Eurofighter Typhoon fighters…
IAI COULD BRING FIVE SRI LANKA AIR FORCE KFIR FIGHTERS BACK INTO SERVICE
The Sri Lanka Air Force acquired six Kfir C.2s and a single TC.2 in 1995–1996. The service added additional nine aircraft…
Aircraft CarriersMilitary Aviation
INDIAN NAVY MiG-29K FULCRUM FIGHTER JETS HAVE FLOWN OVER USS NIMITZ DURING EXERCISE MALABAR 2017
by Dario Leone Jul 19 2017
Only 3 MiG-29Ks out of a fleet of 10 were normally available for operations in 2016 because of problems with engines…
A BLAST FROM THE PAST: COOL PHOTO OF THE FIRST F-15E STRIKE EAGLE
The F-15E was a modification of the two-seat F-15 Eagle and was designed as an all-weather multirole strike fighter The interesting…
INTERESTING VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS THE MAIN DIFFERENCES BETWEEN F/A-18 "LEGACY" HORNET AND F/A-18 SUPER HORNET
by Dario Leone Apr 2 2017
The Super Hornet is largely a new aircraft at about 20% larger, 7,000 lb (3,200 kg) heavier empty weight, and 15,000…
FRENCH DASSAULT RAFALE IS THE FRONTRUNNER TO REPLACE MALAYSIAN MiG-29 FIGHTERS
The competition for the new Royal Malaysian Air Force fighter was narrowed to the Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon, with the…


For over 14 years Kubota has been asking their customers what they want improved on their reliable and durable RTV's (Rough Terrain Vehicle). Recently we ventured to Georgia to put their all-new Sidekick under the microscope.
There are four divisions in the Side-by-Side market – Sport (Racing), Recreational that are high speed and designed for trails, work focussed that are safe with a max speed of 38kmph and crossovers or "Utility" Vehicles. This Crossover category focusses on fun and work and continues to gain momentum. This is where the new all-new Kubota Sidekick enters the market.
Naturally when it was my turn to drive, I punched the gas like no one was watching. Immediately I noticed how smooth the Sidekick accelerated. It wasn't jerky and gained top speeds quickly. The units are equipped with a continuously variable transmission with centrifugal clutch (CVT Plus) that gives you more than enough torque when climbing and accelerating. There was tremendous smoothness in the ride because of the tuned front and rear independent suspension. The engine-assisted braking was very evident as we descended down some winding trails while maintaining cruising speed and still feeling in complete control. One of my favourite additions to the Sidekick is the selectable full-time, four-wheel drive. You never know when you are going to lose traction and need a little extra help. Most competitors come with hydraulic power steering. These units are equipped with electronic power steering which makes handling and stability an A+.
We put Kubota to the test as we wanted to ensure the unit could get to the proclaimed 40 mph. We reached this speed with ease.
The ride was extremely smooth even while maintaining high speeds and of course trying to hit every bump on the course. Cornering felt safe at speeds not normally recommended and we were able to get back to centre quickly.
I was able to drive a couple of different units and my favourite is the black version, which is an upper model and considered their flagship Sidekick. It has some fantastic options such as Alloy Wheels, Front guard, Hydraulic lift for the cargo box and extra LED lights. This model is perfect for our conditions in Canada.
Overall, I was very impressed with how Kubota has put this unit together. Speed, Cargo and Towing is what Kubota customers asked for, and Kubota certainly listened and delivered. It is no coincidence that a new unit comes off the assembly line in Georgia every 200 seconds.
The Sidekick is practical, capable, durable, and a blast to drive.


Describes a variety of engine types including: automotive, motorcycle, boat, and motor sport vehicles. Instruction includes operation, maintenance, and repair of engines. Students will also gain a beginning knowledge of basic tools utilized in this area of study.
This course introduces students to fundamental concepts in the internal workings and operations of engines. Training will cover hydraulics, cooling and electrical systems, and other engine components. Students will explore the interrelatedness of these systems by examining and identifying the commonalities and differences between the various engines that power recreational and mobile equipment.


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Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad Co. Alton
Streamlined Parlor Car built 1947
The Alton after being repainted by Gulf Coast Railroad Museum volunteers.
Photo by Don Kendall.
GM&O parlor car Alton is one of four identical cars built by American Car & Foundry (ACF) of St. Louis for the railroad. These cars provided first class service on the railroad's Chicago to St. Louis streamliners Abraham Lincoln and Anne Rutledge. The Alton was ordered by the GM&O in January 1947, and was delivered by ACF in December 1947 or January 1948. The other cars were named (numbered) Springfield (2107), Bloomington (2108) and St. Louis (2109).
The cars remained in Chicago-St. Louis service until 1971, when the National Railroad Passenger Corp. (AMTRAK) took over operation of most passenger trains in the U.S. AMTRAK did not require the four cars for its truncated service network, and all were retired.
In 1972, the Alton was sold to Southwest Railroad Car Parts, a scrap dealer based near Longview, Texas. The car served as an office and later for storage space. A Gulf Coast Railroad Museum member brought the car to the attention of the museum's board of directors, which negotiated its purchase in 1993. The $18,000 cost to purchase and move the car to Houston was paid for by donations from museum members and the general public. The car is now used for museum meetings and other events.
The Alton is representative of the streamline era of American passenger railroading. However, the Alton is not a lightweight streamlined car such as those produced by other car builders of the period. Rather, the car is built with traditional heavyweight construction techniques, using riveted steel extensively, and rides on three-axle trucks, a type generally not found on lightweight streamlined cars.
Interior fixtures are representative of the era. Originally fitted with 26 parlor seats and a five-seat drawing room, in later years two more parlor seats were added to increase capacity. The car essentially is a modified coach, with a luggage area immediately inside the vestibule door and overhead luggage racks above the parlor seats, only six of which remain. The drawing room incorporates a private toilet, and individual men's and women's toilets with annexes are provided at the rear (non-vestibule) end of the car. The women's toilet annex incorporates a mirrored, two-seat makeup lounge.
The Alton moved from the scrap yard near Longview to the museum in Houston on its own wheels thanks to the efforts of Gulf Coast Railroad Museum volunteers, employees of Southwest Railroad Car Parts and Union Pacific staff in Longview. Thanks to them all!
Above and two photos below, the Alton as we first saw it.
Three photos, maneuvering the Alton to a live track in the yard.
Above, the scrapyard's "0-4-0" switcher moves the Alton on the live track. Photo by Howard Laker. Below, the Alton in position for museum volunteers to work on brakes and safety appliances in preparation for the move to Houston. That's Amtrak's Texas Eagle flying past
Three photos, the Alton arrives in Houston on the back of a UP freight train.
Left and below, museum volunteers clean the car and build steps for access. The Alton has served as the museum's primary meeting space since shortly after its arrival.
Below, the Alton getting a fresh coat of paint. Click here to see how the work turned out.
Below, GM&O Train No. 4 was captured arriving in Chicago and then backing down to the coach yard on Oct. 31, 1970, by George Hamlin. The parlor car carrying the markers today is the Alton's sister Bloomington.
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Features, Live Footage
ENTHEOS Crush This Performance of DARK FUTURE In Its Entirety At SAINT VITUS
by Sarlos Cantana
Entheos are somewhat of a difficult band to pin down, genre-wise I mean. They come from an area whose underground metal music culture was a mix of technical death metal and hardcore, usually erring on the technical side of things. The San Francisco Bay area is responsible for bands like Arsonists Get All the Girls, Animosity, and Decrepit Birth. It's awesome to see Entheos not only carrying this sound but progressing and extrapolating on it.
They just finished up a US tour with Rivers of Nihil, and as you can see from the KERRANG video above, they're throwing down hard in this live performance of their album Dark Future in its entirety at the famed Saint Vitus venue in Brooklyn. The band is tight as can be, and this is truly a tech death album for the ages.
Check out the tour dates here, and catch them when they come through your city. You can follow Entheos on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. You can check out their album Dark Future here on Spotify, iTunes, and Google Play.
chaney crabbdark futureentheosfull albumliveprogressiveprogressive tech deathsaint vitustech deathtour


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Chris Brown impresses judge with hard labor commitment
By Steve Schultz on February 19, 2010 at 1:26 PM
A judge has commended R&B star Chris Brown's efforts to fulfill the terms of his sentence for assaulting ex-girlfriend Rihanna.
Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg requested a hearing with the singer and his attorney in a Los Angeles courtroom to check on the community work she sentenced him to carry out last year.
Thursday's progress hearing lasted less then two minutes and concluded with the judge telling the 20 year old, "It looks like you are doing really, really well."
In court, Schnegg revealed Brown had worked off 32 of the 180 days of hard labor he had been ordered to carry out as part of his sentencing for lashing out at "Umbrella" singer Rihanna during a row a year ago, and the singer had also completed a third of the domestic violence classes he was told to take.
Impressed Schnegg said, "You haven't missed one. You are participating and doing a very good job."
sschultz
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An event that provides information about your grief and offers suggestions for working through the loss of your pet.
The afternoon session is free and will include a speaker to provide grieving families with help and resources to work through the trauma of losing a beloved companion.
You will be in a cozy safe environment with other families who know the agony of losing a beloved pet. Families grieving the loss of their pet are welcome whether or not they have worked with Chartiers Custom Pet Cremation. Details about our event will be in our January Newsletter.


As I sit here typing I imagine my lacerated body. It pleases me.
It's good to just say it. If you want a good rant go ahead, i'll read it but will never be offended because I feel exactly the same. You sound angry, depressed and sick of life. It's a bad day.
these are the most beautiful lines i've ever read.


4 beautiful bikes just joined the team of the Hôtel Vendôme!
We loan them for free, take the opportunity to travel the city and its surroundings by bicycle !
And if you go to the show tonight ?
Enjoy your visit to Vendome to enrich your journey with a show !
Read more : And if you go to the show tonight ?
The oldest establishment in this city of the Loir-et-Cher has just been renovated from top to bottom to regain its former glory.
Valerie and Dominique Berurier, already established for 12 years at the Hotel Mercator (southbound exit Blois) have bought the Vendôme Hotel in July 2014.
VENDÔME HOTEL, THE CHOICE OF ELEGANCE.
HOTEL VENDÔME RETURNS WITH HIS LUXURY ANTIQUE.
From floor to ceiling, if not from the basement to the attic: the Vendome hotel completes its metamorphosis.