Breathing life into Asia’s forests
Meet Celina (Kin Yii) Yong, Stakeholder Engagement Specialist for Asia-Pacific, UN-REDD Programme.
In one sentence, what do you do at UNDP?
I provide policy and technical advice to governments, organizations, and communities — including indigenous peoples and forest-dependent communities — on how to work together to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, as well as reduce the barriers to enhancing forest carbon stocks (known as REDD+.)
How does your specific project change the lives of people in the developing world?
Forests are more than just a source of food or income for some people. For indigenous peoples in particular, their ways of life — and their identities — are intricately linked to their relationship with forests, which also influences how they use them. These life-long relationships provide valuable lessons that should inform and shape more equal climate policies.
So my role in particular focuses on having conversations with governments, to shift mindsets from perceiving indigenous peoples and forest-dependent communities as “vulnerable,” to seeing them as knowledgeable, experienced and active contributors to REDD+ and climate change solutions. This allows them to participate and influence not only the design, but also the implementation of relevant strategies and action plans.
Tell us about a community member you’ve met who has benefited from this project?
In Myanmar I worked with an indigenous woman who headed a national indigenous peoples’ organization. We helped facilitate conversations with the relevant government representatives about the needs of indigenous people in the REDD+ process. She later shared that the conversations helped cement a genuine working relationship with the government. Indigenous people now had a voice and were active participants in the decision-making process. This reinforced my belief that empowering indigenous peoples to engage in the REDD+ process is both necessary and beneficial.
If you were president of a climate-vulnerable country in your region, what’s one thing you would do to minimize the threat of climate change?
I would strengthen existing laws and policies, and I’d also would make funding and technical resources available to support community-managed forest areas. I’d include provisions that will promote long-term income-generating opportunities, while contributing to minimizing the threats of climate change.
As a child, what did you want to be when you ‘grew up’?
When I was about four years old, I remember standing in front of a large family gathering and announcing that I wanted to be a judge. I honestly had no idea where that came from. But looking back, the belief in justice — fairness, equality, equity — has continued to weave its way into my professional choices.
What was your first-ever job? How did you end up working in climate change?
I started with Sarawak Timber Association in Malaysia, an organization with over 650 member companies involved in all sectors of forestry and forest industries. It helped me understand the importance of forests, not only as a source of income for indigenous and forest-dependent communities, but also their role in providing environmental services, plus as the social identity and ties for these communities.
What’s one action that people can take in their everyday lives to minimize the risk of climate change?
Find out if there are any community-supported agriculture initiatives, and support these to ensure long-term access to food and income for local farmers.
Finish these sentences:
My colleagues would describe me as…
… calm and analytical.
By 2030, I want to live in a world that…
… recognizes men, women and young people equally, as well as the roles of indigenous and non-indigenous forest-dependent communities in contributing to healthy and thriving forests.
