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6/30/1978 - untitled by Deanna G. Donovan

INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS Webster Street Berkeley CA 9A705 June Peter Martin Institute Current World Affairs A West Wheeler Street Hanover New Hampshire 03755 Dear Peter Ater months travel Europe eastern United State I resettled Berkeley My proud fruitful despite myriad minor hassles ubiquitous rainy spring weather In accordance erplan I visited several European groups involved forestry projects Nepal research technology My investigations California regarding problems firewood scarcity forest conditions Nepal indicated might advantageous visit United Nations Food Agriculture Organization headquartered Rome Commonwealth Forestry Institute University Oxford England In addition several individuals ICWA meeting Salisbury urged Geoffrey Oldham currently sabbati leave Science Policy Research Unit Univer Sussex England Everyone I spoke helpful generous information referrals As might expect individuals progressed Even before itinerary extended include Washington D C I interviewed twenty individuals organizations When I boarded London bound plane New York May schedule loose commitment being family friends Chateau Meung Loire south Paris before May After brief visit parents I proceeded Par initiate research aspect travels My eventually circular route Paris St Rome whence I returned London In Pari Bill Martin Organization Economic Cooperation Development OECD referred several groups individuals England investigating Third World energy problems At offices La ForSt Privge I spoke Michel Chavet about trial plantings Mondell hardy Variety Pinus eldarlca Afghanistan A subspecies Aleppo halepensis Mondell reported thrive extreme imatlc conditions surpassing growth cousins similar environ ments With persistence telephone I locate Brenda Geoffrey Oldham hillside cottage retreat outside St Cyprien southwest France They generously iuvited I beautiful stretch journey spring rains which encouraged multitude wildflowers could detract gentle beauty Dordogne valley Geoffrey returned recently Nepal where visited graduate student Deepak BaJracharya fuelwood consumption patterns several rural communities Geoffrey comments helpful I encouraged learn research which erests could complementary Deepak pleted The pleasant hours spent Brenda ffrey beauty French countryside spirits valuable sustenance _t_r__ Rome Deauua Donov Institute Forest Man Fellow investigating relationship between society forest resources Her current focus study fuelwood crisis Nepal My arrival Rome about after recovery Aldo Moro Nevertheless constant hassle involved dealing Italian public services precluded thoughts about local political situation It difficult recognize constant aggravation would develop either patience Job enormous frustrations which easily could erupt violence During visit however patience prevailed I succeeded penetrating imposing fortress United Nations Food Agricultur Organization FAO three individuals involved forest community development programs Mr Wardle helpful identifying recent publications addressing problems firewood scarcity forestry rural development introduced associates directing forestry projects Nepal Mr Watanabe become FAO adviser program designed promote multiple forestry activities through increed community participation joint UN Nepalese government sponsored projects He stressed futility introduce technology institutional change above reaffirmed necessity grassroots enthusiasm local entrepreneurship social economic development Mr Watanabe lamented great volume report issued Kathmandu elsewhere which based limited fieldwork result little practical application follow In addition I Mr Pellinck involved upcomimg reforestation project Nepal We discussed numerous foreign research programs Nepa growing impatience foreign governments entertain increasing numbers foreigners whose interests often primarily serving HemphasiZedthe importance making research relevant needs group under study The final longest Eurepan London where great surprise fortune weather superb Inadvertently I arrived London Thursday evening before three national holiday With coincident arrival weather months I found almost everyone except tourist crowd vacation Friday morning My telephoning avail I resigned myself enforeed leisure I visited London Zoo Royal Botanieal Gardens Kew enjoyed scenery river cruise Thames By Wednesday following business returned normal I rauged Oxford several professors University Oxford Department Forestry Commonwealth Forestry Institute CFI Although I hoped Oxford moved Ghana FAO project I several other individuals expertise fellowshi topic I spoke Jeff Burley completed paper selection species fuelwood plantations Peter Wood informed joint CFI UN forestry project Nepal launched introduced proposed project director Peter Howland In addition Bob Plumptre supplied names several foresters forest research institutes contact South Asia I fortunate occasion J E M Mike Arnold FAO studying source energy developing countries presenting paper topic Eighth World Forestry Conference Djakarta Indonesia October While London I visited International Institute Environment Development IIED where I talked Chris Leis investigating feasibility alternative energy sources developing countries Ms Ainger Intermediate Technology Development Group ITDG consultancy originally organized E F Schumacher names several sources alerted Group bookstore offering variety publications describing availi bility application technologies appropriate developing country conditions Additionally I spoke Mr Chittenden director Forest Products Fuel Technology Group Tropical Products Institute referred several research facilitiesSiemass fuels technlogy Southeast Asia At Imperial ollege Science Technology I Leo Ple professor Department Chemical Engineering He recently helped organize workshop technology energy rural development currently directs research biogas pyrolysis The final interview I scheduled London Ron Kemp forestry adviser British Ministry Overseas Development He returned previous Kathmandu where attended conference called World Bank discuss coordination various research development programs Nepal The foreign assistance projects country apparently times become mutually obstructive Mr Kemp appeared positive accomplishments recent meeting Nepal optimistic about acceptance research proposal He spoke highly Swiss Australian programs recommended several persons contact Nepal Exhausted activities enoounters weeks June I eagerly boarded plane San Francisco Upon arrival I greeted among other things letter Jim Howe Bill Knowlaud Overseas Devel opment Council inviting attend Department State Agency International Development Strategy Conference Tropical Deforestation Washington D C following In addition I invited participate special workshop firewood scheduled conjunction conference With laundry repacking I relaxation before I airport The purpose DOS AID conference bring together representatives various government agencies industry scientific university communities environmental groups private foundations policy responsibility expertise tropical forestry focus problem tropical deforestation The meeting produce policy recommendations guide U S institutions It indee impressive gathering general conference having approxi mately people attendauce Despite crowd I single several interesting dividuals notable being Dr Ratna Shumshere J B Rana Chairman NatioBal Council Science Technology Nepal Although conference presentations covered familiar material least their hurried speech format Dr Frank Wadsworth Institute Tropical Forestry Rio Piedras Puerto Rico interesting account recently overworked subject Panama Carnal He pointed dependence operation Canal locks discharge nearby fresh water described watershed gradually being deforested The ruction watershed interferes steady supply water which detrimental effects continueus efficient operation Canal Further proceedings I fouud amusing foresters attendance ascended podium admonished multidisciplinary audience being tardy lending attentive conservati message foresters preaching centuries The firewood workshop I attended focus African problems however central issues associated scarcity fuelwood common worldwide The discussion topics outlined paper prepared David French causes depletion firewood reserves patterns firewood acquisition alternative stategies provide improve utilization priorities research project planning Workshop participants approx imately forty number variety institutions backgrounds several informal gatherings aided small compatibility group afforded opportunity valuable individual discussion My recent travel experiences enlightening professionally personally The fixed itinerary permitted detours extensions which added immeasurably profit pleasure I large number individuals workingin avarietyowayson forestryissuesoThird Worldnations I spoke people involved research policy formation program design project implementation Contrary expectations I reerred again again small group researchers research I continually received additions reerences Moreover although recent research Berkeley uncovered small quantityo published forest resources Nepal rBcent conversations identified mumerous projects Nepal which could valuable sources information The Americans British Australians Swiss French Indians several inter national organizations individual scholars operate research assistance projects Nepal Kathmandu become popular oreign Certainly personal contacts I personal ltntional bibliographic reerences which I collected recent journey invalu Equally exciting glimpse foreign policy decisions Ambiance often reflects influence tings unsaid Althoughin instances I existence sincere desire fello I lingering attitudeopaternalism reluctance reachorthe future recognize dynamicsodeveloping country conditions To extent developed country oreign policy institntlonalize historic sltation developing countries It encouraging however recognitionothe multidimensional nature human problems participation backgrounds policy making process Change comes slowly etious almost unconscious screening information entry evidence intransigence bureaucracy After speaking dozens individuals forest economists geneticists engineers anthropologists sociologists I become certain specific orientation fellows research I believe course prepare topics within interest discussion individuals Nepal relevance possible approaches various topics before undertaking fieldwork I would complement rather duplicate present efforts I forward conversations heard singeegati commentbout thatmountainnation Deanna G Donovan