FO:LACFC/2000/6

1.    Many countries of the region have successfully found effective technical solutions to solve the problems involved in implementing their forestry programmes on the basis of their own situations and the use of financial and technical resources available to them. A number of the solutions can easily be adapted to solve similar problems in other countries of the region. There also are a number of centers and national institutions, whose experience, technical competence, infrastructure and knowledge represent an enormous potential that can be applied to the development process.

2.    These realities led the countries of the region to join the Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC) mechanism to exchange knowledge and experiences. To support this effort, during the 1980s, the FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean began promoting technical cooperation networks on forestry subjects of interest to the countries.

3.    The technical cooperation networks are integrated by national institutions sharing the common technical interest of the network. These generally are public or semipublic institutions, but may also be non-governmental organizations. Normally, a country is represented by only one institution in each network. This institution coordinates the network's activities at the national level, and must ensure adequate participation of other institutions interested in the network's activities and their cooperation.

4.    The following objectives were established for the technical cooperation networks sponsored by the FAO Regional Office:

• Promote cooperation among the countries of the region through joint efforts and the exchange of knowledge and experiences.
• Promote the countries' self confidence in their own resources, knowledge and abilities.
• Strengthen the technical capacities of national institutions above all to identify problems and formulate adequate solutions.
• Promote capacity building and human resources training at all levels.
• Accelerate development through a more effective use of human, physical and financial resources available in the region.

5.    In the course of the Fifteenth session of the Latin American and Caribbean Forestry Commission (San José, Costa Rica, 1986), considering the difficulties of most auxiliary bodies to carry out continuous activities and in view of the active work being carried out by the technical cooperation networks in the forestry sector, the Commission approved the suppression of the auxiliary bodies on national parks, forest products and trade and industrialization of tropical woods. The activities of some of these bodies were incorporated in the technical cooperation networks. The only body that was not suppressed during the Session was the Committee on Forestry Research. This Committee was latter on abolished during the Twentieth session of the Commission (Havana, Cuba, 1998).

6.    The networks resort to various methods and mechanisms to exchange information and experiences and implement their programmes of activity. They include the following:

• Round tables, workshops and expert consultations to analyze technical matters and coordinate programmes of work of common interest.
• Training activities through courses and seminars.
• Study visits and technical exchange.
• Exchange of research findings, publications and audiovisual materials.
• Periodical communications by means of circular letters and informative notes.
• Preparation of technical documents and manuals to disseminate appropriate technologies.
• Cooperation in the execution of national, bilateral, subregional, regional and interregional activities such as technical cooperation projects, studies, technical documents or specific programmes.

7.    Following the Eighteenth session of the Commission (Maldonado, Uruguay, 1993), special attention is being paid to the distribution of circular letters and technical documents to the region's forestry directors to enable them to participate more actively in the orientation of the networks and to coordinate the activities of national coordinators who are often staff members of the Forestry Departments.

8.    The FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean provides the networks with a Technical Secretariat which coordinates them, both technically and logistically. The Technical Secretariats collaborate in identifying activities of common interest to the countries, as well as their technical and institutional capacities. The Secretariat, jointly with the regional coordinators, proposes a programme of activities for the networks and coordinates FAO's financial and administrative support. It also helps regional and national coordinators in the implementation of network activities and coordinates the edition and publication of technical documents.

9.    To ensure the effective dissemination of network activities and achievements in the countries and promote the same cooperative spirit in the national milieu, the networks and the FAO Regional Office promote the establishment of national networks. However, it has been possible to implement national networks only in some of the participating countries.

10.    In general FAO support has been fundamental in obtaining the necessary funds to carry out the network's activities. These funds are generally provided by FAO's Regular Programme, in ever decreasing amounts, and by other regional and interregional institutions such as UNEP, IUCN, IDB, OAS and Unesco and the Amazon Cooperation Treaty (ATC). In addition, some regional projects executed by FAO have contributed to finance network activities.

Regional networks in the forestry sector sponsored by the FAO Regional Office

11.    Until 1999 the FAO Regional Office supported five technical cooperation networks in the forestry sector:

12.    When the Technical Cooperation Networks were analysed in the course of the 20^th session of the Commission in Havana, Cuba, in September 1998, the Commission, keeping in mind financial problems, the length of time some networks have been operating and time restrictions for adequate support of the Technical Networks by the Secretariats, recommended that FAO, jointly with the Regional and National Coordinators, and in consultation with Forestry Authorities, analyse the future of the Technical Cooperation Networks and report to the forthcoming meeting of the Commission on this subject. The result of this analysis for the five networks is included below.

Latin American Technical Cooperation Network on Agroforestry Systems

13.    As a follow-up to the Commission's recommendation, the Technical Secretariat sent in April 1999 an Information Letter to all the National Coordinators of the Network, to inform them on the results of the discussions held during the 20^th session of the Commission, regarding the future of the networks, and asking them to analyse, together with the Forestry Authorities of their respective countries, realistic options regarding the Network's future. It was pointed out that after the replies were received the Technical Secretariat and the Regional Coordinator would analyse the comments received and report to the National Coordinators on the result of said analysis and the future of the Network.

14.    In general the replies received referred to the excellent work of the Network since its creation, however the National Coordinators stated that they shared the views set forth in regard to considering the termination of the Network and that after making the corresponding consultations they could not offer sound alternatives to ensure the continuation of the Network. Only one National Coordinator suggested a new work methodology; however, he stated that he was not in a position to offer financing solutions for the Network's activities under this modality.

15.    On the basis of the replies received and taking into account the reasons for this inquiry to the National Coordinators on the future of the Network, it was agreed with the Regional Coordinator that there was no alternative but to agree on the termination of the Network's activities. The National Coordinators were informed about this through an Information Letter in December 1999, with a copy to the Forestry Authorities and to the FAO Country Representatives.

16. In this communication it was pointed out that during the 13 years of the Network's operation its objectives were fully achieved and that its termination in no way weakened the importance that FAO assigned to agroforestry in the Region and the support given to the countries in the development of these land use systems.

Latin American Technical Cooperation Network on Dendroenergy

17.    The same procedure as that used for the Network on Agroforestry Systems was applied to analyse the future of the Latin American Technical Cooperation Network on Dendroenergy.

18.    The replies of the National Coordinators were similar. In addition to pointing out that the objectives which were the basis for its creation were fully achieved and that this was demonstrated by the large number of activities carried out during the 13 years of the Network's operation, they stated that they were not in a position to offer concrete options to continue its operation.

19.    In consultation with the Regional Coordinator it was decided, therefore, to discontinue the Network's activities, and a communication to this effect was sent to the National Coordinators, with a copy to the Forestry Authorities and the FAO Country Representatives. It was also stated in the communication that this in no way meant that FAO assigned less importance to the subject of dendroenergy and to the support that will continue to be given to the countries of the Region in this field.

Latin American Technical Cooperation Network on National Parks, other Protected Areas and Wildlife

20.    The Latin American Technical Cooperation Network on National Parks, other Protected Areas and Wildlife currently has over 1,000 specialists and institutions of all the Latin American countries. Its objectives are to achieve effective management of protected wild areas, ensure the conservation of an adequate sample of biologic diversity in the Region, upgrade the training level of staff for the management of protected areas and wildlife, and cooperate in obtaining a greater contribution from these areas toward local and regional socioeconomic development.

21.    The Network is coordinated by a Regional Council, directed by a Regional Coordinator, currently in charge of the Chief Conservation Units Department, of the Brazilian Environment and Renewable Natural Resources Institute (IBAMA). The remainder of the Council is composed of representatives from Mesoamerica, the Spanish-speaking Caribbean and South America.

22.    The Latin American Technical Cooperation Network on National Parks, other Protected Areas and Wildlife, has been especially successful in the Region due to the support it has received from projects which have financed its activities. As an example, mention may be made of a FAO/ UNEP project on Biodiversity Conservation in Protected Wild Areas, and a Project financed by the European Union on Protected Area Management in the Amazon Region. These projects have permitted the Network to conduct a number of activities in the last years. As a result of this experience the Network has decided to continue with its important work and will endeavour to develop projects and obtain financing to continue its activities in the Region.

23.    In the framework of the Sub-network on Protected Areas of the Amazon, which is part of the Network on Parks, the FAO Regional Office implemented at the beginning of 1996 an important component of Project, Regional Programme on Planning and Management of Protected Areas in the Amazon Region (European Union-Amazon Cooperation Treaty). These activities were concentrated on establishing a protected area system, planning and management of protected areas, and organising binational meetings, professional courses and other training activities in the Amazon Region. This Project terminated its activities in 1999.

24.    Specific activities in conservation and management of wildlife have been carried out in the context of the Sub-network, and with the support of the pro tempore Secretariat of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty. A study was made in this connection and a workshop was organized on the management of animal reserves in the countries of the Amazon watershed. A technical document was produced as a result of the study and widely distributed in the Region.

25.    With the support of FAO, the Network on Parks, is formulating two regional projects to be submitted to the Global Environment Facility (GEF): one for the Andean countries and another for the countries of the Great American Chaco, whose components were strongly supported by the XI Meeting of Environment Ministers of Latin America and the Caribbean, Lima, Peru, 1998, and by the XII Meeting of the Forum of Latin American and the Caribbean Environment Ministers, Barbados, March, 2000.

26.    These Regional Projects will contribute to global sustainable development, by means of strengthening the role of protected wild areas as strategic spaces for the conservation of biodiversity and the generation of environmental goods and services in Latin America and the Caribbean. The conservation of biodiversity will be strengthened in the areas of action of the Projects that have been identified through a highly participative process involving bio-regional planning, the establishment of biologic corridors and planning of frontier protected areas. Additionally, the Projects will implement work programmes to strengthen horizontal technical cooperation and institutional development, through technical exchanges and training activities.

27.    The Network will continue to operate in view of the good possibilities to obtain financing for the activities it may develop.

Latin American Technical Cooperation Network on Watershed Management

28.    The purpose of this Network is to promote the adoption of the concept of watershed as the most appropriate unit to plan and manage natural renewable resources. An important aspect is the implementation of integral solutions to biologic, technical and socio-economic aspects and to possible problems in this area, with strong emphasis on community participation. The Network aims at developing demonstration areas and achieving coordination and communication between the different national and international institutions involved in watershed management.

29.    The Network has made significant progress in achieving its objectives through technical cooperation activities, which include mutual assistance in the management of important watersheds, training courses and workshops, technical exchange, development of projects and the preparation and exchange of information on different aspects of integrated watershed management. The Network and the FAO Regional Office have also organized two Latin American Congresses on watersheds, one in Chile and another in Venezuela, in which a great number of specialists from the Region participated.

30.    The Network has paid special attention to the implementation of the recommendations of Chapter 13 of Agenda 21, related to the sustainable development of mountain ecosystems, and the organization and participation in events related with International Year of Mountains.

31.    In 1998, the Network organized a Seminar-Workshop on Integrated Natural Resource Management in Watersheds, in Quito, Ecuador. During this event the Network Coordinators decided, considering the need for cooperation between the countries of the Region in the subject of watersheds, to continue the Network's activities and focus them on the implementation of the International Year of Mountains' celebration, in 2002.

32.    In 1999, the Network carried out a Workshop on participative watershed management in mountain areas, in Queretaro, Mexico. In this event the Network also prepared a programme of activities aimed at watershed management in mountain areas.

33.    The Network's National Coordinators agreed on the following programme of activities for the coming biennium:

• Establish a System of Demonstrative Watersheds in Mountain Areas.
• Evaluate and systematise the lessons learned in the watershed management projects and integrate them in a manual on community and participative management in mountain areas of the Region.
• Implement a Communications and Information System of the Network.

Caribbean Technical Cooperation Network on Forestry and Related Environmental Matters

34.    During the meeting of the Subregional Group for the Caribbean of the Latin American and Caribbean Forestry Commission, with the participation of Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago, which was held in St. George, Grenada, in November 1999, in the framework of the workshop on Formulation of Forestry Policies in the English-speaking Countries of the Caribbean, the Group analyzed the future of the Caribbean Technical Cooperation Network on Forestry and Related Environmental Matters.

35.    The participants unanimously agreed on the importance of a sub-regional mechanism to facilitate the exchange of technical experience between the Caribbean countries. However, due to the fact that the objectives of the Network and the Subregional Group are very similar, it was decided that instead of having two mechanisms for cooperation between countries, the Network would be ended and its objectives and activities would be incorporated in the LACFC's Subregional Group for the Caribbean.

36.    It was also recommended that the focal point of the respective member countries of the Subregional Group should be the authority of the national organisation in charge of the administration of the country's forest resources.

Final comments

37.    Out of the five networks sponsored by the FAO Regional Office, the Latin American Technical Cooperation Network on Watershed Management and the Latin American Technical Cooperation Network on National Parks, other Protected Areas and Wildlife, continue to be operative.

38.    On the basis of the foregoing, it is suggested that in the forthcoming meetings of the Commission, information on the activities of the technical cooperation networks that are still active, be included in the report on FAO activities in the Region and not as a permanent item in the Agenda of the meeting.