On October 12-14 2008, AusAID and SFA officials along with independent consultant Dr Wayne Hancock and a member of the Beijing PCO participated in a scoping mission to Xining, Qinghai province.The purpose of the trip was to look at potential gaps in the AusAID funded Qinghai Forestry Resources Management Project (QFRMP) following the project’s successful completion in May 2008. The field trip also aimed to seek opportunities for potential activities under the ACEDP that could help to gain higher-level policy outcomes from the Qinghai project whilst alsosharing lessons learnt and knowledge gained from the QFRMP.
During the two-day visit, the delegation met with Provincial and County level government officials and discussed practical working level requirements. Key topics included the development of ecological compensation activities, conversion of farmland to forestry, protection of natural forests and water sources, and scientific monitoring methodsused to measure project outcomesfor environmental improvement. Following outcomes of the field trip, further discussions with AusAID and SFA are anticipated. An independent report by Dr Hancock regarding outcomes of the scooping mission is expected in December 08.