| United Nations | E/CN.17/IPF/1996/23 |
Economic and Social Council
Distr. GENERAL
20 August 1996
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Panel on Forests
Third session
9-20 September 1996
Item 6 of the provisional agenda*
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND MULTILATERAL INSTITUTIONS AND
INSTRUMENTS, INCLUDING APPROPRIATE LEGAL MECHANISMS
Programme element V.1: International organizations
and multilateral institutions and instruments
Report of the Secretary General
SUMMARY
The present report contains an overview and description of existing
institutions and instruments, including their role and mandates vis a` vis
programme elements I-IV of the work programme of the Ad Hoc Intergovernmental
Panel on Forests, and identifies institutional linkages, gaps, areas requiring
enhancement and any areas of duplication. It takes into consideration the
deliberations of the Swiss-Peruvian Initiative on Forests.
The report takes a forward-looking approach, recognizes the
cross-sectoral nature of complex forest-related issues and examines the
anticipated functions and activities required to be performed by international
and regional organizations and multilateral institutions and instruments to
support internationally agreed future priorities for forests. It considers
the evolving environment in which organizations operate and for which they
have a comparative advantage at the international level. It then assesses
some of the potential, specific forest-related needs and functions at the
international level. It describes briefly the role of non-governmental
organizations and the private sector.
The report suggests that the issue is not how many agencies and
instruments are engaged in forest-related activities, but if there are
appropriate mechanisms to formulate an international forest policy agenda and
the means with which to coordinate and mobilize the diverse strengths and
capabilities of institutions and instruments around it.
International forums for policy-level discussion and debate need to
include a structured set of interlocked bodies to deal effectively with major
forest issues, with a mechanism for high-level dialogue to deal with
priorities and over-arching issues in a cohesive, comprehensive and holistic
manner.
A significant part of the problem of coordinated action is clearly that
each agency must respond to its own governing body within the current
international context, and that there is no real intergovernmental mechanism
for guiding relatively continuous joint action as regards forests, which is
the only real product of coordination.
Non-governmental organizations (e.g., private sector organizations,
environment and development organizations, organizations of indigenous people
and of forest dwellers) play a number of different roles at the international
level. Some international non-governmental organizations are particularly
well-positioned to contribute to the future work of United Nations
organizations engaged in forest-related activities.
The forest-related issues and activities under conventions are somewhat
different in nature from those of organizations and institutions, as they are
governed by legal commitments among countries. Some of the instruments have
only recently come into force and their operational capacity and impact remain
to be seen.
The Panel may wish to discuss such proposals as a high-level forum for
international policy dialogue; strengthened activities supporting
international policy formulation; significantly enhanced strategic data
collection and analysis capability; strengthened forest research and
development activities and institutions; formulation of mechanisms and
arrangements for coordination and collaboration; and the desirability of a new
institutional system of pooled funding.
CONTENTS
Paragraphs Page
INTRODUCTION ............................................ 1 - 8 5
I. THE EVOLVING CONTEXT .............................. 9 - 14 6
II. EXISTING INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTRUMENTS 15 - 21 8
III. INTERNATIONAL FRAMEWORK AND AREAS REQUIRING
ENHANCEMENT ........................................ 22 - 65 10
A. International forest policy forums ............ 26 - 31 11
B. International data acquisition systems ........ 32 - 34 12
C. Strategic analysis systems .................... 35 - 37 12
D. Scientific research, analysis and development . 38 - 41 13
E. Pilot projects ................................ 42 - 45 14
F. Extension systems ............................. 46 - 50 15
G. Capacity development .......................... 51 - 54 16
H. Investment capital ............................ 55 - 59 16
I. Coordination of international efforts ......... 60 - 62 17
J. International instruments ..................... 63 17
K. General observations .......................... 64 - 65 18
IV. ROLE OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND THE PRIVATE
SECTOR AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL ................. 66 - 75 19
A. Non-governmental organizations ................ 66 - 73 19
B. Private sector ................................. 74 - 75 20
V. COORDINATION MECHANISMS AND AD HOC ARRANGEMENTS ... 76 - 80 21
A. Coordination mechanisms ....................... 76 - 78 21
B. Ad hoc arrangements ........................... 79 - 80 22
VI. OPTIONS FOR ACTION ................................. 81 - 82 22
Annex. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTRUMENTS
AND ESTIMATE OF MOST RELEVANT INVOLVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO
PROGRAMME ELEMENTS I.1-IV OF THE WORK PROGRAMME OF THE AD HOC
INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON FORESTS ................ 24
INTRODUCTION
1. The present document reports on the first programme element (V.1) of
category V (International organizations and multilateral institutions and
instruments, including appropriate legal mechanisms) of the work programme
of the Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Panel on Forests (IPF).
2. The work under programme element V.1 is guided by the decisions taken
at the third session of the Commission on Sustainable Development and
further elaborated at the first session of the Panel.
3. The Commission defined programme element V.1 as a need to "Develop a
clearer view of the work being carried out by international organizations
and multilateral institutions and under existing instruments as
appropriate, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United
Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries
Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in
Africa, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora (CITES) and the International Tropical Timber Agreement (ITTA), in
forest-related issues, including United Nations Conference on Environment
and Development decisions related to forests, and the institutional
linkages emanating therefrom, in order to identify any gaps, and areas
requiring enhancement, as well as any areas of duplication". 1/
4. Subsequently, the Panel, at its first session, emphasized the need for
the preparation of a report presenting an overview and description of
existing institutions and instruments, including their role and mandates
vis a` vis programme elements I-IV, and identifying institutional linkages,
gaps, areas requiring enhancement and any areas of duplication
(E/CN.17/IPF/1995/3, para. 18). The Panel decided to schedule programme
element V.1 for substantive discussion at its third session.
5. During the brief initial discussion of programme element V.1 at its
second session, the Panel reiterated the views expressed at the
Commission's third session and the Panel's first session. In addition, the
Panel stated, inter alia, that some options should be explored for
achieving better cooperation and coordination, and for maximizing
efficiency and effectiveness, among forest-related international and
regional institutions, and, if appropriate, for the reorganization of
existing structures of governance of those institutions, in order to
maximize coordination and the mobilization of their comparative advantages;
the ways and means by which other types of organizations (for example, non-
governmental, intergovernmental and research organizations) can contribute
effectively to the activities of United Nations organizations should also
be explored.
6. The present report was prepared by the secretariat of the Panel, in
consultation with the informal, high-level Inter-Agency Task Force on
Forests. In the preparation of the report, consideration was given to the
deliberations of the Swiss-Peruvian Initiative in support of programme
element V.1. Extensive use was made of the information gathered in support
of the Initiative, as well as the results of the discussions that took
place among the independent experts during two meetings, held from 5 to 7
March 1996 and from 24 to 28 June 1996, including the general conclusions
drawn at those meetings.
7. The report takes a forward-looking approach, recognizes the cross-
sectoral nature of complex forest-related issues and examines the
anticipated functions and activities required to be performed by
international and regional organizations and multilateral institutions and
instruments to support internationally agreed future priorities for
forests. It does not attempt an in-depth analysis of the past performance
of each relevant organization. Such an in-depth assessment would require,
among others things, assessments at the national and field levels, which is
not possible within the resources available for the preparation of the
report, and within the time frame of the Panel.
8. The report discusses briefly the evolving environment in which these
organizations operate and examines general functions which can best be
fulfilled, with a comparative advantage, at the international level. It
then assesses some of the potential, specific forest-related needs and
functions at the international level. The details of this needs assessment
are also forthcoming through the ongoing IPF process related to programme
elements I.1 to IV. The report identifies a framework for potential
international action and identifies areas requiring enhancement. It also
describes briefly the role of non-governmental organizations and the
private sector, the current coordinating mechanisms and ad hoc
arrangements. The report finally suggests a set of proposals for action
for consideration by the Panel.
I. THE EVOLVING CONTEXT
9. The enormous political, economic, social, environmental and
technological changes of the past decade have had implications for the
international community and the organizations it governs. Significant
concepts have evolved - for example, Agenda 21 representing a comprehensive
programme of change for achieving sustainable development worldwide, which
also embodies chapter 11 (Combating deforestation) and the Non-legally
Binding Authoritative Statement of Principles for a Global Consensus on the
Management, Conservation and Sustainable Development of All types of
Forests (Forest Principles), crucial to international work on forests.
These developments have resulted in new intergovernmental mechanisms and
the realignment of the activities of most United Nations system
organizations in the economic, trade, environmental, financial and social
areas. The past decade has also seen the emergence of a significant number
of legally binding and other formal and informal non-legally binding
instruments at the international level which impact either directly or
indirectly on sustainable forests management. International organizations
are striving to meet challenges imposed by change, but often find
themselves hampered in their efforts by lack of consensus on programme
priorities in their governing bodies, and increasingly severe budget
limitations.
10. There is an ongoing open debate about what exactly is the comparative
advantage of international organizations, in particular that of the United
Nations system, reflecting to a degree national debates on the function and
role of the public sector versus the private sector and civil society. The
present report takes into account some of the principal trends evolving
from this general debate. It is clear that in the twenty-first century,
international organizations will have to be able to detect and adapt to
change in a more dynamic way in order to respond to diverse and ever-
changing needs of Governments and civil society.
11. Many suggestions have been advanced about the functions which could be
performed at an international level in the economic, environmental,
sustainable development and social fields. A few recurring suggestions on
these functions can be broadly described as follows:
(a) Assessment of needs and problems in areas of "common" or "global"
concern;
(b) Facilitation of consensus-building and establishment of common
norms and regimes among countries;
(c) Provision of forums for Governments, civil society and other
international actors, inter alia, for international policy formulation and
exchange of experiences; promotion of cross-sectoral cooperation and
collaboration;
(d) Servicing of global and regional intergovernmental meetings;
(e) Assistance of various kinds, including capacity-building,
financial and technical cooperation and investment mobilization;
(f) Evaluation of progress made and proposing of policy options for
further development and implementation of effective activities at the
national, regional and global levels.
12. These general functions have to be supported by a set of important
basic activities in order to examine emerging issues and provide an agenda
for the international community, namely:
(a) Global data and information gathering, dissemination, access,
statistical compilation and interpretation;
(b) Policy research, analysis, and options for action;
(c) Strategic trends studies of a global scope;
(d) Formal and informal consultations with relevant actors.
13. If the role of the United Nations system as a whole is to facilitate
the harmonization of common efforts of countries and to establish, where
necessary, regimes and common norms and to promote the common good or
shared international interests, then what does it mean in the context of
the world's forests? In contrast to oceans, for example, forests are not
located on any "international territory" or "global commons". They are
physically located within national boundaries and many of their economic,
social and environmental functions (e.g., wood production and soil
conservation) are local or national in scope, while other functions (e.g.,
watershed forests of international rivers, biodiversity and carbon
sequestration) are of transboundary, regional or global dimensions.
14. The treatment of forest-related issues at the international level, so
far, can be seen as a reflection of the fast-changing demands at different
levels, nationally, regionally and globally, and in relation to evolving
cross-sectoral approaches. Forest-related issues may encompass a wide
variety of such cross-sectoral issues as trade, poverty, consumption and
production patterns and technology transfer. New perceptions on how
forests should be governed, conserved, utilized and prioritized as a
natural resource have proliferated. Within the evolving perceptions and
concerns about the role of forests there are now new "interested parties",
which were neither traditional decision makers nor special interest groups
in the past. There is also a rapidly developing trend towards reduced
roles of Governments at the national level, due in part to the formation of
multi-country blocs and a preference for private sector solutions.
International organizations will increasingly be engaged in activities
which involve major private sector groups, such as commercial private
enterprises and transnational corporations. These kinds of activities
could include the facilitation of an effective role for the private sector
as well as the development of codes of conduct. Such trends have far-
reaching implications for international organizations, multilateral
institutions and international instruments as well as the groups with which
they interact.
II. EXISTING INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTRUMENTS
15. Forests simultaneously provide a wide range of economic, social,
environmental and industrial benefits at the local, national, regional and
global levels. Consequently, an equally wide range of constituencies and
special interest groups have emerged that are concerned with specific
aspects or with issues of a specific geographical scale. Furthermore, most
forest-related issues are complex and cross-sectoral in scope. Equally
diverse are the mandates and activities of international agencies and
instruments concerned directly or indirectly with forests.
16. In the context of the above, the nature of the work of international
organizations, multilateral institutions and existing legal instruments is
changing and will continue to evolve significantly in the future in areas
ranging from the focus of their assistance at the national level, to
coordination requirements (institutional, national, regional and global),
to arrangements for servicing the international forest policy debate. It
is not surprising that no single agency or international instrument has the
necessary mandate and/or resources to address forest-related issues with
all their complexities. The issue is not how many agencies and instruments
are engaged in forest-related activities, but if there are appropriate
mechanisms to formulate an international forest policy agenda and the means
with which to coordinate and mobilize the diverse strengths and
capabilities of institutions and instruments around it.
17. Brief descriptions of the mandates and forest-related activities of
relevant international organizations and multilateral institutions provided
by the Swiss-Peruvian Initiative and set against the framework of the
programme elements of the Panel's work programme are contained in the annex
below, to give a sense of the scope and focus of these organizations. A
description of existing instruments can be found in the report of the
Secretary-General on programme element V.2, (Contribution to consensus-
building towards the further implementation of the Forest Principles)
(E/CN.17/IPF/1996/24).
18. The table in the annex should be studied with some caution: at first
glance it would appear that many organizations are involved in the same
area and their activities duplicated. However, the nature of their work
can also be differentiated by at least seven "horizontal" activities,
namely:
þ Financing;
þ Technology transfer and cooperation;
þ Capacity-building;
þ Information collection and dissemination;
þ Coordination;
þ Research and analysis;
þ Policy formulation.
19. Current resource constraints and the fact that the substantive and
operational focus of forest-related activities in the different
organizations varies greatly, makes the risk of serious overlaps fairly
modest. Only a few of the organizations have considerable human and
financial resources specifically dedicated to forest-specific activities.
Organizations with fewer resources dedicated to forests but with relevant
activities of a different focus, play an enriching and complementary,
rather than duplicative, role. Addressing many of the complex forest-
related issues on the Panel's agenda requires the input of more than one
agency. However, forest-related activities are largely underfunded, a
concern which is further explored in the report of the Secretary-General on
programme element II (E/CN.17/IPF/1996/19).
20. While the present report focuses to a large extent on United Nations
system organizations, it should be noted that many other organizations
provide the bulk of inputs to forest-related work at all levels: local,
national, regional and international. In the United Nations system,
programmes and specialized agencies respond primarily to decisions taken by
their governing bodies, in which Governments are usually represented by
different relevant sectoral ministries. This could be somewhat problematic
as regards forest-related issues involving the sustainable management of
forest and forest-dependent resources, which would demand more integrated,
cross-disciplinary approaches. This was recognized in chapter 38 of Agenda
21, in which it is stated that coordination and mutual complementarity of
the efforts of all relevant organs, organizations and programmes of the
United Nations system to promote integration of environment and development
can be enhanced by encouraging countries to maintain consistent positions
in the various governing bodies. 2/ For certain general issues this works
relatively well both from an institutional and from a government point of
view. However, as many of the international organizations with
forest-related activities were established during an era embracing
perspectives and concerns differing from those of today, fairly fragmented
and specialized approaches have evolved. Even if there are clear drawbacks
with the necessarily specialized nature of some of these organizations in
approaching forest-related problems, in some cases this has resulted in
building a critical mass of expertise and resources in some areas of great
importance to forests.
21. The forest-related issues and activities under conventions are
somewhat different in nature from those of organizations and institutions,
as they are governed by legal commitments among countries. The Convention
on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those
Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly
in Africa, CITES, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International
Importance Especially on Waterfowl Habitat and the Convention Concerning
Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries (ILO Convention No.
169) and are all relevant to only some functions of forests. Some of those
instruments have only recently come into force and their operational
capacity and impact remain to be seen.
III. INTERNATIONAL FRAMEWORK AND AREAS REQUIRING ENHANCEMENT
22. This section draws on the emerging proposals for action contained in
the reports on other programme elements prepared for the Panel, while
examining their potential institutional implications, as well as on the
outcome of the Swiss-Peruvian Initiative.
23. It was noted by the Swiss-Peruvian Initiative that international
organizations and multilateral institutions had to internalize United
Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) decisions within
the framework of their basic texts, mandates, by-laws and structures, and
within the limitations of their own capacities and budgets; even though
these were of interest to the study, it was considered that the countries
and people concerned would be more interested in the quantity and quality
of programmes, projects and local activities.
24. A significant part of the problem of coordinated action is clearly
that each agency must respond to its own governing body within the current
international context, and that there is no real intergovernmental
mechanism for guiding relatively continuous joint action as regards
forests, which is the only real product of coordination.
25. Improved conduct of various international policy dialogues on
forest-related issues, and more effective international action on key
problems can be achieved through enhancement and use of existing elements
and functions in an international framework. The following discussion aims
to highlight these elements through simple descriptions and to set them
against an assessment of areas requiring enhancement and the international
need that they could fulfil. To visualize the issue, agency activities are
roughly cross-referenced to international functions.
A. International forest policy forums
26. International forums for policy-level discussion and debate need to be
a structured set of interlocked forums to deal effectively with major
forest issues, with a mechanism for high-level dialogue to deal with
priorities and over-arching issues in a cohesive, comprehensive and
holistic manner.
27. The Committee on Forestry (COFO) of the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations (FAO), has provided the main forum for
international discussion on forestry and forests since 1972 and prior to
the establishment of the Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Panel on Forests. COFO,
which has focused on advising the FAO Council on its forestry programme of
work as well as profiling emerging forestry policy issues, has been firmly
under the aegis of this agriculture-oriented and agriculture-dominated
organization. The linkage with agriculture policy is apparent, given
agriculture's profound influence on forests; however, linkages have not
been at equal levels, which has had an impact on FAO's forestry budget. In
1995 FAO organized, in conjunction with COFO, but separate from it, the
first ever meeting of forest ministers, within a broader and more
independent stance, and provided high-level advice to the Commission on
Sustainable Development in the form of the Rome Statement on Forestry.
28. The six Regional Forestry Commissions (Africa; Asia and the Pacific;
Europe; Latin America and the Caribbean; Near East; and North America),
founded under FAO's mandate, have acted mostly as forums for discussion on
technical issues and occasionally for regional policy questions and debate.
Those with active participation of developed countries are largely
recognized as having been effective. The effectiveness of others is
hampered by limited inter-sessional activities and insufficient travel
funds to attend meetings. FAO's periodic shifts from emphasis on strategic
studies activities (e.g., global data systems, regional timber trend
studies, policy/planning studies) in order to give needed support to
national and regional field-level activities, have been one factor in
corresponding shifts at the level of regional policy forums.
29. The International Tropical Timber Agreement-International Tropical
Timber Organization (ITTA-ITTO) system was established over a long (20-
year) evolutionary period, through an initiative of FAO and the United
Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to discuss global
trade issues in tropical forest products. Emerging issues over the years,
such as the need for improved tropical forest management and the need to
address forest-related UNCED decisions have added to the already
substantive challenge of ITTO's discussion and action mandate on trade and
development.
30. Some of the most significant lapses of effectiveness in the
international forestry dialogue occurred in and around the evolution of the
country planning processes (see also subsect. H below on investment
capital). This resulted in the development, by both multilateral and
bilateral agencies, of a multitude of approaches and concepts for adoption
by recipient countries. A key problem was the lack of an intergovernmental
policy dialogue on forest planning and management, as well as on
forest-related concerns, among funding and technical assistance agencies
that could have been more consistent with recipient sectoral and
cross-sectoral priorities, and that could have resulted in more coordinated
and integrated efforts. Another associated problem was the dearth of
sound, accepted strategic analysis of major regional-global problems -
which could help in setting a framework for country-driven priorities
within national plans.
31. The Commission on Sustainable Development model - the Ad Hoc
Intergovernmental Panel on Forests itself - together with the expressed
interest of national ministers in participating in more substantive policy
discussions of forest-related issues in conjunction with COFO, offer
promising examples for enhanced focus of international discussion and
decision-making related to forests.
B. International data acquisition systems
32. Regional and global data acquisition systems require systematic data
collection on forest resources, forest functions and services, trade,
prices and so forth, mostly derived from national, and in some cases
private sector, data systems. Fully operational and comprehensive data
acquisition systems are, therefore, related to national capacity. This
requires an accepted data system at the international level, as well as a
custodian of its coordination, and is fundamental to international
cooperation and collective action.
33. FAO has played a historic role as the main global forest sector
statistics agency - for resources, production, consumption and, together
with ITTO, prices. This role has gradually improved the international
network of national contributions and data handling capacities. The system
is now also gradually broadening its scope in collecting data on more
environmental functions of forest ecosystems with the assistance of the
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Economic Commission for
Europe (ECE). Organizations such as the International Union for
Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), the World Resources
Institute (WRI) and the World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC), among
others, publish FAO resource data through various channels, which FAO could
not afford. The inter-agency cooperation on the 1990 global Forest
Resources Assessment was excellent and should be encouraged to continue.
However, this critical activity remains seriously underfunded (see the
report of the Secretary-General on programme element III.1 (a)
(E/CN.17/IPF/1996/20)).
34. Many new technologies (e.g., satellite imagery) provide new
perspectives of global forests. In its 1990 Assessment, FAO made extensive
use of satellite remote sensing and geographical information systems
technologies. For the 2000 Assessment, FAO will need to overcome resource
constraints in order to fulfil plans to cooperate fully with national and
international remote-sensing agencies which have global and regional land
and forest cover mapping projects.
C. Strategic analysis systems
35. A strategic analysis system should include competent strategic
analysis of clearly defined needs and issues. Communication with major
user groups is crucial. Diverse approaches and perceptions are not only
necessary but feasible by using an accepted database from different points
of view. Forest policy forums, as mentioned above, especially a high-level
international dialogue, must have access to these analyses for sound policy
guidance.
36. The general weakness in strategic analyses of particular issues and in
some narrow sectoral approaches has led to many problems in the evolution
of the Tropical Forests Action Programme-National Forestry Action Plan
(TFAP-NFAP) process of cooperative official development assistance (ODA)
planning. The weakness of strategic analysis in the international forest
arena has also had an impact on the trade and environment discussions of
ITTA, and has been a factor in similar discussions of the non-tropical
timber trade.
37. A considerably strengthened focus within international organizations
on strategic data collection and analysis and closer attention to the
appropriate level and field of focus should rapidly improve strategic
analysis of global forest-related issues. There is considerable scope for
inter-agency collaboration in producing strategic studies on forest-related
issues, possibly modelled on the task manager approach of the Inter-Agency
Committee on Sustainable Development. The expanding global capacity for
such studies at universities and institutes and in non-governmental
organizations, is impressive. A clear need can be identified for improved
focus and reporting to major action groups: international and regional
forums (with their associated sub-forums), countries, banks, bilateral
donor agencies, private investors and United Nations agencies. Improved
periodic assessment and feedback channels from these same operational
groups/agencies are also needed. A set of interlocking international
policy forums should set the agenda and priorities for such studies.
D. Scientific research, analysis and development
38. Scientific, research, analysis and development should involve
organized programmes of specialized research on critical forest-related
priority issues, including sustainable forest management, forests and
biodiversity, economic instruments and policy, agroforestry, rural
sociology, traditional knowledge, underlying causes of deforestation,
restoration of degraded forest land, impact of pervasive stresses on
forests, and improved forest products (see the report of the Secretary-
General on programme element II (E/CN.17/IPF/1996/19), in particular
section II on technology transfer).
39. The broadening of the mandate of the Consultative Group on
International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) to more explicitly include
resource sustenance, with the addition of two forestry centres - the
International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF) and the Centre
for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) - should be viewed as a highly
positive development in international forestry. The need to integrate
traditional knowledge with modern scientific methods and trials is
inadequately recognized within the current framework.
40. Start-up of CIFOR was, however, delayed in part owing to the lack of a
common vision of what was needed, and how results could best be achieved.
These are important and continuing matters for an international policy
debate on forest-related issues within the overall context of sustainable
development. There may already be risks that general restraint in
agriculture research funding will impact excessively on forestry
programmes. The objective of expanding forest policy research within the
network is arguably inadequately guided within the current framework.
41. The general "institute without walls" approach taken by both ICRAF and
CIFOR is positive, in terms of effectively using scarce resources and
maximizing extension possibilities, and should be built upon. Options for
expanding the network should look at adding research centres, preferably
through enhancing existing national centres and increasing the use of
regional networks, such as the European Forest Institute, the Boreal Forest
Research Network and the Asia-Pacific Association for Forest Research
Institutes. High-level policy guidance and resource allocations should
help with future funding to support this critical activity, and should take
full advantage of emerging initiatives at the regional level.
E. Pilot projects
42. Pilot applications of improved technology and knowledge would involve
an organized system for periodic assessment of pilot trials on new,
integrated land-use systems, involving traditional systems of agriculture,
range management, forestry, soil conservation, conservation and sustainable
use of biodiversity, and water management, to address emerging pressures
from increasing populations and consumption.
43. In spite of nominal pilot trial programmes in most international
agencies, there has been a long-standing "gap" between the new forest
knowledge-technology frontier and field applications. Key problems
include:
(a) The mandate of most bankers, ODA donors and national finance
agencies appears on occasion to be risk averse: "proven" development
project formats are preferred;
(b) Poor farmers in degraded lands and socio-economically
marginalized inhabitants of the forest fringe are in no position to accept
all the risks inherent in new land-use and management methods;
(c) Many new methods require new tenures and new distribution of
costs and benefits - in some cases, involving apparently risky national
policy changes;
(d) Researchers have a predilection for high-tech analysis and
solutions to problems;
(e) Inadequate monitoring of existing trials, and inadequate feedback
with respect to societal and individual investment decisions.
44. This has led to pilot trials of new systems being perennially
underfunded in relation to the needs of local, rural populations living
near forests. This does not mean that subsidies and incentives should be
expanded or extended indefinitely. However, new systems have to be given a
fair trial and periodic assessment-feedback systems have to be timely and
intensive. A similar set of problems has been identified in the
development of sustainable forest management systems for temperate and
boreal forests, mainly in developed countries.
45. Enhanced high-level policy formulation is essential to set priorities
for an explicit programme of pilot trials and to ensure development of
effective periodic assessment-feedback and international extension systems.
F. Extension systems
46. Extension and knowledge dissemination systems should be targeted
programmes of extension with emphasis on ground-level users, maximizing the
effectiveness of financing agencies, workable tools for sustainable
development, and periodic progress and assessment reports.
47. In spite of nominal extension programmes in every international agency
and programme, a recurrent set of weaknesses has been identified with
respect to forests and forest-dependent resources (generally in both
developing and developed countries), for example,
(a) Failure to reach the field operational levels;
(b) Failure to be driven by country priority needs;
(c) Failure to reach investors, the ODA community and national
finance agencies;
(d) Failure to reach the general public and/or their NGO public
personae.
48. Unrealistic expectations, often the result of inadequate clarity and
frankness in communications, are at least as big a problem as more tangible
problems with system performance. The general dissatisfaction with current
ODA, on both donor and recipient sides, is similar to the broad public
dissatisfaction with sustainability of current forest management practices
in this regard. A feasible matching of publicly stated targets and actual
resources committed has not been worked out operationally.
49. Inadequate structuring of decision-making and communication processes
is clearly a factor in poor extension results. In general, the broadest
possible participatory mechanisms are needed for good extension. The
Forests and Trees and People Programme (FTPP) of FAO, is an example of a
programme which has successfully addressed some of these concerns. FTPP is
a decentralized, regionally based network focused on participatory
approaches, land and resource tenure issues, conflict management, and terms
of negotiation between interested groups. The Small Grants programme of
the Global Environment Facility (GEF), administered and coordinated by the
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is also an interesting
modality, which provides small grants (under US$ 50,000) directly to
community-based activities within the objectives of GEF. Project selection
is done at the country level through committees with broad representation.
50. There is also an important relationship between successful
applications (pilot projects) and extension-communications. Systems that
work successfully in field practice virtually extend themselves and lead to
improved communications and spread of the technology. On the other hand,
no extension service or budget is large enough to extend inoperational and
unprofitable systems very far.
G. Capacity development
51. Capacity-building should be targeted towards human resource and
institutional development programmes related to actual country needs; and
could involve regional programmes to help poorer countries. Along with
national Governments, FAO, UNDP, the multilateral development banks, ODA
donors and many others have taken roles in this field for several decades.
52. However, there is still a dearth of internationally agreed policy
frameworks, and a lack of agreement on the criteria and indicators
necessary to show real progress in sustainable development of natural
resources, in particular forest management (most of the indicators of
general sustainable development currently in use appear to indicate limited
real progress, or real losses).
53. Further, even after decades of country projects, many developing
countries are still unable to reach minimum human resources development
targets for forest and natural resource managers on their own. Better
original formulation of such projects, and improved guidance and periodic
assessment approaches could flow from an improved set of forest policy
forums.
54. Larger developing countries are doing better in the 1990s, albeit
subject to financial constraints. They, as well as developed countries,
could profit from improved regional human resource development programmes
and facilities.
H. Investment capital
55. Collection and application of development capital could involve
coordinated and high-level targeted funding for data collection; policy and
strategy analysis; selected research and/or pilot trials; and assistance
for coordination at the national/field level, mainly for capacity-building.
Contributors include banks, agencies, bilateral donors and private donors.
Funds could be allocated more effectively and coordinated through high-
level international policy guidance to existing agencies, institutions,
non-governmental organizations and the like.
56. Investment capital is a crucial driving force in the sustainable
development of the resources of developing countries. The main
international agents are the World Bank system, including the International
Development Association (IDA) and the regional banks. UNDP has played a
prominent role in assembling capital for capacity expansion. Bilateral ODA
donors have contributed capital to both core capacity development and
project enterprises.
57. It is significant to note that these "engines" of international
development have also been one of the most dissatisfied users or clients
with respect to past and current international forest policy guidance and
strategic analysis capabilities. They face the difficult tasks of defining
the future of sustainable development in practice, in a changing world, as
embodied in their next set of investments. It can be problematic for these
organizations to combine funding and policy roles, and they could usefully
depend for policy analysis on other agencies better positioned to carry out
strategic sector studies. Conversely, agencies involved in more technical
activities could usefully leave financing activities to funding agencies.
58. International organizations will have an increasing role to play in
facilitating private capital flows and encouraging the adoption of policies
which create a supportive environment for private investment.
59. There is room for improved mechanisms and information for high-level
strategic guidance in this particular field. Funding agents should be able
to obtain strategic guidance from a broader international forest community
in a more effective, coherent and consistent manner than at present. There
is a critical need for high-level, normative guidance from an authoritative
source, not for detailed prescriptions.
I. Coordination of international efforts
60. Coordination of the activities of United Nations organizations and
others dealing with forest-related and forest-dependent resources in the
international arena is essential in the age of reform and restraint. In
general this should be accomplished by highly focused agendas, step by
step, with financial resources to backup the effort.
61. Examples of useful coordination of effort abound in the international
arena, as do examples of agency conflict and uncoordinated activity.
Improved coordination would be particularly useful in the preparation of
national action plans, strategic studies and reporting requirements under
the different conventions (see sect. VI below).
62. Improved coordination of diverse agencies fundamentally requires
authority as well as goodwill, and can be expanded most rapidly through
tangible resource flows, monitored for impact in the desired coordinated
way. Some form of global sustainable forest management fund operating
under the advisement and allocative control of a high-level policy forum
would focus discussions and follow-up actions.
J. International instruments
63. Many relevant international legally binding instruments already exist;
for example, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Convention to
Combat Desertification, CITES, ITTA, the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change and the Ramsar Convention. They deal mostly
with forest-dependent resources. In fact they form almost a perfect net
around forests, without dealing directly, cohesively and comprehensively
with forests. This is a relatively inoperational situation for the long
term holistic sustenance of these resources. As a simple example, it is a
fact that species can be revived more or less "in vitro" but cannot be
ultimately protected without reference to other components of the
ecosystem. The same is true for watersheds, wetlands and the atmosphere.
K. General observations
64. Some important overall weaknesses in the current situation can be
identified from the preceding discussion. It highlights the fact that at
present too little effort goes into the base allocation decisions between
these and other areas of effort. Together with the information provided in
the annex below, this situation reveals more of a random institutional walk
around forest-related issues over the past two decades than a coordinated
assault on forest problems, at the global, regional, national and local
levels. Resources have not automatically or rapidly flowed in the most
effective direction to address newly perceived problems. Just as every
country has had to face integration and rationalization of programmes
related to forests and forest-dependent resources, the international arena
has had to face the same concerns.
65. Five key problems and areas requiring enhancement can be identified:
(a) A high-level policy forum structure, as part of an institutional
framework, focused on forests, forest-dependent resources and
forest-related issues, with strong, balanced links to national objectives
and programmes, does not exist;
(b) Not surprisingly, because of the lack of a defined clientele,
regional and strategic studies regarding forest-related issues have been
sporadic, scattered, uncoordinated and not integrated;
(c) Lack of a clear focus to define a forest research agenda at the
global and regional levels, and to coordinate the now critically
underfunded research in the context of expanded needs;
(d) Pilot applications of new approaches and technologies in forest
management, for example the critical frontiers of agroforestry, have not
been adequately coordinated with research, nor have they been adequately
assessed periodically for lessons learned; nor have the results been
broadly extended;
(e) Coordination of forest-related activities, especially concerning
assistance for national forest programmes, strategic studies and reporting
requirements under the existing instruments, needs strengthening.
IV. ROLE OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND THE PRIVATE
SECTOR AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
A. Non-governmental organizations
66. Non-governmental organizations play a number of different roles at the
international level. They are involved in the conceptual development of
and provision of support to national forest and land-use plans; they are
working on developing criteria and indicators for sustainable forest
management. They are analysing the feasibility, benefits and drawbacks of
labelling schemes for sustainably harvested forest products. They are also
involved in research, policy development, lobbying national Governments and
international organizations, project funding and execution, education,
capacity-building and public awareness.
67. Some international non-governmental organizations are particularly
well-positioned to contribute to the future work of United Nations
organizations engaged in forest-related activities. Moreover, by
representing the broader range of interests, such organizations can reach
out transnationally to a wide range of participants in international
forums, governmental and non-governmental, capital city and grassroots,
North and South. Non-governmental organizations are an important conduit
of information in both directions. They can disseminate information about
activities at the international level to their networks and members at the
national, local and grassroots levels.
68. Contributions of non-governmental organizations can be broadly defined
in the following five categories: education and public awareness;
capacity-building; information provision both from the top down and from
the bottom up; research and publication support for follow-up activities,
including monitoring of implementation; and implementing and funding
projects at the local level. While activities of non-governmental
organizations in the forest sector are not limited to these five
categories, they are the primary areas where international non-governmental
organizations often play an important role, complementary to that of
national and local level non-governmental organizations as well as
Governments and intergovernmental organizations, which has increasing
implications for the future work of the United Nations system in
forest-related activities.
69. Education and public awareness. The ability of international
non-governmental organizations to reach concerned constituencies can be an
important tool for spreading the message about sustainable forest
management work at the international level. In addition to disseminating
their own materials, many non-governmental organizations are often willing
to co-produce and disseminate materials on forest-related issues emanating
from the United Nations system.
70. Capacity-building. International programmes on forests and
forest-related issues should take into consideration the work that is
already being done by international non-governmental organizations in
developing countries in the area of capacity-building and what they can
contribute in the future.
71. Information provision. International non-governmental organizations
often have the comparative advantage in information provision, whether it
is providing a conduit for information from the international arena to the
grassroots or taking information from the local level back up to the
national or international levels. Therefore, future international efforts
concerned with sustainable management of forests should have a mechanism to
facilitate the participation of non-governmental organizations in the
collection, analysis, exchange and dissemination of information about the
forested areas of the world.
72. Research and technical assistance. International non-governmental
organizations can also provide scientific and technical assistance to
Governments and the United Nations system through their own research and
their ties with the scientific and local communities (often indigenous or
agricultural). International initiatives on forests should examine the
research and scientific activities that are already being carried out by
non-governmental organizations, so as to save money, avoid duplication of
efforts and enrich the overall body of knowledge.
73. Funding. The great majority of international non-governmental
organizations are not funding agencies but depend on external contributions
for their activities. However, they represent an important channel for the
funding of sustainable forest management and should not be ignored. Many
foundations are themselves non-governmental organizations and channel their
contributions partly or entirely through international non-governmental
organizations in both developed and developing countries. In addition,
bilateral donor agencies and international development banks are
increasingly defining internal goals for certain amounts of resources to be
channelled through non-governmental organizations. International non-
governmental organizations often fund projects undertaken by national or
local non-governmental organizations in developing countries and in some
countries with economies in transition.
B. Private sector
74. The role of international private sector capital flows (in the form of
investment and lending) is expected to gain in relative importance in view
of the anticipated lack of significant increases in ODA for financing
sustainable forest management. The challenge for international
organizations, including non-governmental organizations is to support
Governments in their efforts to redirect and channel existing international
private sector resources towards activities related to sustainable forest
management by creating the right conditions for this to happen, including
reducing resource tenure and market risks, funding incremental costs of
internalizing environmental externalities, and covering additional costs of
preparing project and investment plans.
75. With increasing capital flows and investments, the international
private sector will play an increasingly significant role in capacity-
building, transfer of technology, research and development, flow of
information and so forth in developing countries. Examples of this are
already appearing in countries that have established appropriate conditions
for long-term international investments, whereas it is maintained at
minimum levels where private foreign investment is taking place under
conditions of political and/or economic uncertainty.
V. COORDINATION MECHANISMS AND AD HOC ARRANGEMENTS
A. Coordination mechanisms
76. The report of the Secretary-General on chapter 38 of Agenda 21
(E/CN.17/1995/3), submitted to the Commission on Sustainable Development at
its third session, gives a brief description of how United Nations
organizations and other agencies have realigned their programmes in
response to UNCED objectives as regards forest-related issues. More
general descriptions of the institutional arrangements to follow up UNCED
can be found in the report of the Secretary-General (E/CN.17/1996/16),
submitted to the Commission at its fourth session, as well as in a
background paper made available to the Commission. Within the Inter-Agency
Committee on Sustainable Development (IACSD), FAO is assigned the role of
task manager for UNCED decisions relating to chapter 11, (Combating
deforestation) of Agenda 21 and the Forest Principles, and is responsible
for facilitating harmonized action within the United Nations system.
IACSD, in its initial phase, has been mainly concerned with coordination of
procedural and organizational discussions and reporting arrangements.
Discussions are now moving more towards conceptual and policy-oriented
aspects and the evolving function of task managers in the development of
joint programmes and approaches for implementation at the country level.
77. In order to ensure coherent support to and wide participation in the
IPF process by the United Nations system, an informal high-level Inter-
Agency Task Force on Forests was formed in 1995. This mechanism has been
particularly effective in coordinating the necessary input from the United
Nations system to service the Panel. This Task Force is in part modelled
on IACSD in the sense that in order to coordinate reporting, organizations
have taken the responsibility for producing background documents for the
reports of the Secretary-General on different programme elements of the
Panel's work programme. The coordination and collaboration are taken a step
further, however, because, in addition, the Task Force has as a joint
activity been able to ensure proper staffing of the Panel's secretariat,
mostly by secondments of experts from different organizations. The
experience of this arrangement has so far been positive and could serve as
a prototype of any future coordination mechanisms.
78. Several coordinating mechanisms, involving bilateral and multilateral
institutions, recipient countries, non-governmental organizations and
experts, already exist in relation to subjects covered by several of the
programme elements of the Panel's work programme. The Kotka meetings on
the global Forest Resources Assessment 2000 is one example; the Forestry
Advisors Group (FAG) of donors in forestry is another. Regarding national
forest programmes, a long intergovernmental debate in the FAO Council led
to an agreement on the establishment of a Consultative Forum for National
Forest Action Plans, provided that extrabudgetary funding would be
forthcoming. Since no such funding has been made available, the
Consultative Forum has not been convened. However, these and other already
functioning mechanisms could form the basis for future, formal or informal
coordination mechanisms.
B. Ad hoc arrangements
79. Since UNCED there have been many government-led initiatives attempting
to define, at least in part, the areas of priority action on forests and
forest-related issues which would reconcile the variety of functions of
forests at different levels. The establishment of the Panel represents an
ad hoc intergovernmental arrangement bringing together the results of these
different processes as well as a unique opportunity for a "reality check"
for the generic debates on an array of cross-cutting issues that, for
example, are under deliberation in the Commission on Sustainable
Development and have to be applied as a test case on forests at a very
practical level. Of particular value to the Panel's deliberations are the
results of 11 country-led initiatives involving hundreds of experts around
the world. These unique initiatives, frequently involving North-South
sponsorship, have synthesized existing information and generated new
insights on the issues under consideration by the Panel.
80. The Panel's secretariat is an ad hoc one, staffed through
contributions and secondments from the Department for Policy Coordination
and Sustainable Development of the United Nations Secretariat, FAO, ITTO,
UNDP and UNEP. The time-bound nature of the Panel has made it possible for
these organizations to service an international level policy debate in this
manner, in some cases, by carrying the extra costs involved from regular
budgets, but in most cases, extrabudgetary funds have had to be sought.
There are definite advantages, from an integration and coordinating point
of view, in having the different organizations represented in the servicing
of an international level policy debate, bringing with them their specific
expertise as well as the policy frameworks from their individual governing
bodies. The Panel's secretariat has also established working arrangements
with the non-governmental community and the private sector.
VI. OPTIONS FOR ACTION
81. Several interrelated areas that are in critical need of enhancement
and improved action have been discussed and identified in the present
report, particularly:
(a) A high-level forum for international policy debate on forests and
forest-related issues;
(b) Strategic data collection and analysis capability - regional and
global;
(c) Regional and global projects - especially projects related to
capacity-building;
(d) Focused and additional funding for research and development,
including pilot project operations of regional and global significance;
(e) Improved mechanisms for coordination of efforts by agencies and
instruments on international forest-related issues.
82. The Panel may wish to consider:
(a) Appropriate mechanisms for enhanced high-level policy guidance
for defining action programmes in priority areas, such as:
(i) Analysing, discussing and building consensus on important
international forest-related issues, including underlying causes
of deforestation and forest degradation; forests and
biodiversity; forest product trade, forest planning and
sustainable management; restoration of degraded forest land and
ecosystems; traditional forest-related knowledge and sharing of
benefits; and research-development priorities, including policy
research;
(ii) Formulating and focusing of funding and considering other
international financing mechanisms for sustainable forest
management, forest research, forest assessment, including all
forest-dependent and forest-related resource conservation and
management aspects;
(iii) Improving capacities to effect sustainable forest-based
development in all countries;
(b) Enhanced and improved strategic data sets and analysis systems as
crucial to guide high-level policy discussions;
(c) Strengthened global-level forest research and development;
(d) Defining mechanisms and arrangements, at the international level,
for necessary improvements to operational methods and structures to be
achieved through coordination and collaboration among existing
organizations or instruments;
(e) The desirability of a new institutional system of pooled funding,
including for activities supporting international policy formulation, to
more effectively use some existing resources and to seek new forms and
sources of funding.
Notes
1/ Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1995,
Supplement No. 12 (E/1995/32), chap. I, sect. D, annex I, sect. V.
2/ Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by
the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and
corrigendum), resolution 1, annex II, para. 38.20.
Annex
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTRUMENTS
AND ESTIMATE OF MOST RELEVANT INVOLVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO
PROGRAMME ELEMENTS I.1-IV OF THE WORK PROGRAMME OF THE AD HOC
INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON FORESTS
International organizations - United Nations system
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Most relevant
programme
Name element
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Global Environment Facility
Mandate Help developing countries protect the global II
environment by providing grants and
concessional funding to meet incremental costs
for activiites addressing global warming,
biodiversity, international waters and ozone
depletion
Main forest Biodivrsity: forest ecosystems (development,
programmes and strengthening and establishment of sustainable
issues use methods in forestry, wildlife and
biodiversity conservation).
Climate change: rural renewal energy, biofuel
activities, carbon sink enhancement, restoration
prevention and reduction of land degradation
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (WMO-UNEP)
Mandate Periodical assessment of the scientific and I.4
technical information related to the impact
of climate change and strategies for response.
Main forest Improvement of forestry and agriculture,
programmes and potential for increasing energy efficiency,
issues cleaner energy sources and technology.
Forestry options: slowing current
deforestation and forest degradation,
increasing forest biomass, improving use of
wood, afforestation.
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
Mandate Mobilize financial resources to be made II
available on concessional terms for
agricultural development for developing countries
Main forest Forest component of activities is indirect
programmes through agricultural projects incorporating
and issues forestry/tree planting.
International Labour Organization (ILO)
Mandate Improve work and living standards throughout I.3
the world; social and labour aspects of forestry. II
Main forest FAO/ECE/ILO Joint Committee on Forest Technlogy,
programme Management and Training
and issues
Technical cooperation, training, employment and
management development, conditions of work and
working environment, industrial relations.
International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO)
Mandate Promote trade on tropical timber; implement I.2
ITTA; promote the conservation and sustainable III.2
management of tropical forests with balance IV
between conservation and utilization; prevent
deforestation in tropical forests.
Main forest Economic information and market intelligence;
programmes
and issues Reforestation and forest development;
Forest industry.
(Guidelines for sustainable forest management,
plantations, biodiversity; natural forest management
multiple-use of hardwood forests; criteria and indicators;
models for sustainable production of wood and non-wood
products; timber situation; policy development.)
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
Mandate Facilitation and promotion of restructuring IV
of traditional patterns of international trade
in order to enable developing countries to
participate in world commerce.
Main forest Integrated Programme for Commodities
programmes (tropical timber, forest product trade).
and issues
United Nations Environment programme (UNEP)
Mandate Promote international cooperation in the field I.1-I.5
of the environment and sustainable development; III.1-III.2
keep under review the state of the world IV
environment; promote acquisition, assessment and
exchange of environmental knowledge; formulate and
implement environment programmes within the United
Nations
Main forest Contribution to TFAP and global Forest Resources
programmes Assessments; pilot projects on integrated forestry
and issues management; ensure environmental considerations in
forest-related programmes; prepare methodologies for
assessing total value of forests; prepare methodologies
for assessing effects of acid rain; Forest Programme
1996-2000. Participate in the Ecosystem Conservation
Group.
United nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Mandate Assist developing countries to accelerate their I.1-I.5
economic and social development by providing II
systematic and sustained assistance geared to
their development objectives. Implementing agency
for Global Environment facility, leading United
Nations agency on capacity-building issues.
Main forest Capacity-building programmes to implement sustainable
programmes forest management (Forest Capacity Programme);
and issues environment, energy and natural resources programmes
to implement Agenda 21 through Capacity 21.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Mandate Contribute to peace and security by promoting III
collaboration among nations through (scientific
education, science and culture research)
Main forest Programme on Man and the Biosphere (MAB/UNESCO).
programmes Encourage the establishment of international
and issues biosphere reserve network (conservation of genetic
resources, ecosystems and biodiversity; research
and monitoring network; association of environmental
protection with sustainable land resources conservation).
Responsible for World Heritage Sites
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Mandate Policy form on international forestry.
Information on all aspects of forestry,
primary forest products, technology and
forest statistics. Forestry capacity-
building and technical assistance in
forestry to developing countries and
countries in transitin (resource management
and processing, promotion of the
development of the sector to reconcile the
interface of social, protectionand
production factors).
Main forest Global forest resources: assessment,
programmes sustainable management, plantations,
and issues agroforestry, protection, conservation,
genetic resources, wildlife, urban forestry
etc.
Forest policy, planning and institutions:
planning, policy, institutions, statistics,
community forestry, NGO development,
education, extension and promotion of
national forest programmes, international
liaison and information.
Forest products; harvesting, processing,
utilization of wood and non-wood forest
products, marketing and trade.
Field programme: identification,
evaluation, preparation and implementation
of investment programmes and projects.
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
Mandate Raise living standards through the promotion II
of industrial development.
Main forest Promotes and develops secondary wood
programmes and processing industries and is responsible for
issues dealing with issues in established mill
operations. Involved in non-wood pulp
industries, phyto-
chemicals/phytopharmaceuticals, aroma
chemicals and essential oils. global
source of industrial information.
World Bank
Mandate Lending for productive projects or finance I.1, II,
reforms which will lead to economic growth in III.1
developing countries.
(valuation)
Main forest Lending Programme (industrial forestry and
programmes and social and environment forestry);
issues
Free standing forestry projects;
Social or rural development and environment
forestry programme;
Watershed management/Land-use projects.
World Food Programme (WFP)
Mandate Save lives in emergency situations; improve I.4
Nutrition and quality of life of the most I.5
vulnerable people at critical times; and help II
build assets and promote self-reliance of
poor people and communities.
Main forest Forestry "food for work" projects involving
programmes and forest protection committees, nursery,
issues reforestation, forest infrastructures
development
Rural development, transport activities,
human resources development, social, land
reclamation, irigation, road-building.
World Health Organization (WHO)
Mandate Raising of living standard through improved I.3
health.
Main forest Collaboration between Traditional Medicine
programmes and Unit and IUCN on conservation of medicinal
issues plants. Support to countries for research
efforts to rationalize use and their
pharmacological active products, often part
of biodiversity development programmes.
World Trade Organization (WTO)
Mandate Facilitate and liberalize international trade IV
and place it on a secure basis; supervise
the settlement of commercial conflicts;
recognize the need to protect the
environment and promote sustainable
development.
Main forest Committee on Trade and Environment: explore
programmes and link between trade and environmental policies
issues (compatibility between environmental
protection measures and WTO rights and
obligations).
Multilateral regional development banks
African Development Bank
Mandate Promote economic and social development in I.1, I.4,
membr countries of the Bank I.5
II
Main forest Forest Policy Paper: derive maximum
programmes and economic and environmental benefits from
issues forest resources (conservatin and
rehabilitation of degraded forests;
fuelwood and industrial plantations;
raising sawn timber production capacity;
natural resource conservatin; technical and
technical assistance).
Asian Development Bank
Mandate Assistance to developing member countries of I.1
the Bank. II
III.1
(valuation)
Main forest policy and regulatory framework; support for
programmes and technological, policy and valuation research;
issues promoting public participation in forestry
development; investment strategies;
cooperation with international and regional
initiatives; selection and design of
investment projects.
Inter-American Development Bank
Mandate Assistance to member countries of the Bank. II
Main forest Financing of forest-related projects,
programmes and involving reforestation, land restoration,
issues agroforestry, fuelwood, small-scale forest
products industry, conservation,
institutional capacity-building and
research, among others.
International research organizations
Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)
Mandate Part of CGIAR. Strategic and applied I.3
research in improved ofrest conservation, III.1-III.2
productivity, and sustainable forest
management.
Main forest Improved understanding of physical,
programmes and biological, economic and social aspects of
issues forest systems in tropical developing
countries. Sustainability in production
from forests through management, species
selection/improvement, utilization,
marketing and policy. Provision f
informationand advice to support policy
decisions. Increase national forest
research capacities.
International Centre for Research in agroforestry (ICRAF)
Mandate Part of CGIAR. mitigate tropical I.2, I.3,
deforestation, land depletion and rural I.5
poverty through improved agroforestry III.1
systems.
Main forest Strategic and applied research in partnership
programmes and with national institutions to develop
issues appropriate agroforestry technologies and
strengthen national capacities through
training and information dissemination.
Focused on Africa, Latin America and Asia.
International Union of Forestry Research Organizations (IUFRO)
Mandate Promote research in forestry through a III
communications and collaboration network of (scientific
15,000 scientists and 700 research research)
institutions.
Main forest Meeting and exchange of information all
programmes and related to scientific aspects of forestry.
issues Promotes assistance to tropical research
agencies. Identifies future needs and
directions of forestry research. Special
Programme for Developing Countries located
in Vienna, which gives support to
scientists to enable them to participate in
250 networks.
Montreal Process
Mandate International dialogue on criteria and III.2
indicators for the conservation and
sustainable management of temperate and
boreal forests.
Main forest Development and endorsement of the
programmes and non-legally binding criteria and indicators
issues by 10 developing and developed countries in
the northern and southern hemispheres;
implementation at the national level.
Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (including the
Helsinki Process)
Mandate Cooperation of all countries in the III.2
protection and sustainable management of
forests in Europe; recommendations and
themes to be further developed by
international organizations and their
subsidiary bodies; process to serve as
reference for other forums.
Main forest Monitoring forest ecosystems; genetic
programmes and resources; forest fires; mountain forests;
issues research network on physiology and forest ecosystems;
Guidelines for sustainable forest
management, conservation of biodiversity,
adaptation to climate change; Helsinki
Process; cooperation with countries in
transition; criteria and indicators for the
sustainable management of forests in
Europe.
------
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