| FO:LACFC/2002/2 |
|
LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN FORESTRY COMMISSION |
Item 3(a) of the Provisional Agenda |
22nd SESSION |
Buenos Aires, Argentina, 7 - 11 October, 2002 |
STATE OF FORESTRY IN THE LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN REGION: Period 2000-2001 |
Secretariat Note |
1. The FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (RLC) is organizing the 22nd Session of the Latin American and Caribbean Forestry Commission (LACFC) to which are invited all FAO member countries in the Region. The Commission will review the regional evolution of forests and the forestry sector in general since the previous meeting of the Commission. The meeting is also a forum for exchanging experiences and suggesting recommendations to the countries and to the FAO.
2. In order to obtain updated information on changes and ideas in the forestry sectors of the countries, with a focus on changes which have taken place since the previous meeting of the Commission in Colombia in September 2000, the FAO Regional Office sent guidelines to the countries requesting information on changes in the forest sector in each country.
3. This note has been prepared mainly on responses to the aforementioned request. In addition, this report draws on statistical data compiled by FAO and other valid sources from the same countries and from international and regional bodies.
4. As on previous occasions, after the meeting, this Secretariat Note will be enlarged in a document that will be distributed throughout the Region and which will also be posted on the Web site of the FAO Regional Office.
Forest cover and deforestation
5. Based on the study on the forest resources assessment for the year 2000 undertaken by the FAO with support of countries (FRA 2000), forest cover of natural forests and plantations in North, Central, South America and the Caribbean amounts to 1,435 million hectares, which is 37.1% of the world's total forest cover, accounting for 3,869 million hectares. Forest cover represents 36.9% of the Region's total surface area.
6. Forest plantations in the Americas account for 15% of the world's total plantations, but more than half of this is in the United States.
7. According to FRA 2000, there was a wide variation in the rate of change of forest cover within the region. Of particular concern, every country in Central America experienced a reduction of at least 10% of its forest cover during the period 1990-2000. The total loss of forest cover was greater in Brazil than in any other single country. While the global rate of loss of forest cover was slightly less in the 1990s than in the 1980s, it was still significant. Several countries in the region reflected a net increase in forest cover during the period: Cuba, United States, Guadeloupe, and Uruguay.
8. Major causes for deforestation, according to the countries, continued to include development and colonization policies, the conversion of forest land for agriculture and livestock, industrial overuse with no sustainable management plans, the extraction of firewood, and forest fires.
Sustainable forest management
9. Sustainable forest management, in particular with regard to natural forests, is a goal of most countries, and many countries point out they have made progress in this direction. However, there are still factors and conditions of a political, economic and institutional nature that limit widespread success. One positive trend is the participation of almost all countries in one of the processes to establish criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management. Progress can be observed in the implementation of these processes, such as the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO); the Lepaterique Process in Central America; the Tarapoto Process carried out by the eight countries belonging to the Amazon Cooperation Treaty; and the Montreal Process which includes Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, from the Southern Cone, as well as North America. Another positive trend is progress with the certification of forests. According to the records of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), in July 2002 in North America, there existed 132 certified forests (5,291,520 ha), 36 in Central America (536,280 ha) and 50 in South America (2,548,984 ha). Trinidad and Tobago reported that all of its forestry products exported are certified by the ITTO. Another interesting initiative, fostered by Canada, has been the recent establishment of model forests aimed at demonstrating how political concepts and commitments for sustainable forest management can be carried out in practice. The Latin American Network of Model Forests was established with the participation of Argentina, Chile, Mexico, along with the International Secretariat of the Model Forests of Canada, FAO, UNDP and IIAS.
10. In the year 2000, according to the FAO Yearbook on Forestry Products, total timber production in logs in the region, which includes timber for fuel and for industrial uses, amounted to 1,121 million cubic meters, equal to 33% of the world's total production. Production of the main forest products for the same year were as follows: sawn timber 223 million cubic meters; timber boards 72 million cubic meters and timber pulp 97 million tons. This represents 53%, 38% and 56% respectively, of the global production of these products. As regards imports and exports of forestry products, they were worth 37,000 and 53,000 million dollars respectively, which represents 24% and 36% of all exports and imports in the world for that same year. Some countries with a greater industrial forest development mentioned reported a reduction in their forestry exports compared to the previous period, due to the world's economic situation. Several countries refer to the socio-economic importance of non-timber forests and processes related to the sustainable management of these products as well as an improvement to their information bases.
11. In relation to forest policies, the majority of countries have reported the formulation of forest policies and refer to the validity and importance of national forest programmes and their basic principles that guide action on development in the forestry sectors. In Brazil, the National Forest Programme (NFP) has begun to be implemented with an initial commitment by the Government of 20 million dollars. In the Dominican Republic, the guidelines for forest policies have been put forward as the guiding framework in the search for feasible solutions from an economic, social and environmental point of view for the development of forests. Colombia, Costa Rica and Bolivia reported that during the period, their National Forestry Development Plans had been approved with the consensus of several Ministries linked to the forestry sector. In Peru, the new strategy for Forestry Development has been initiated. In Paraguay the guidelines for forestry policies presented by the National Forest Round Table, which groups together all of the actors in the sector, have been made official and are undergoing implementation. In Nicaragua, the Forestry Development Policy has been established for guiding the coherent action of all of the interested parties in the forestry sector, so as to guarantee the protection, conservation and the sustainable use of forestry resources. In these countries also, a process has begun for preparing a long-term forestry development programme.
12. On the topic of forestry legislation, several countries refer to the enactment of new laws and decrees related to the forestry sector, including Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, Dominican Republic and Uruguay.
13. Regarding forestry institutions, several countries have reported reforms. The Dominican Republic informed that with the creation of the Secretary of State for the Environment and Natural Resources, the Forestry Sub-Secretary with five Departments had been created. Moreover, in the private sector, the Dominican Forestry Chamber has been established as an official negotiator with the State on forestry matters. Many countries have now these private groups of bodies. In Uruguay, the state forestry commission has come more to the forefront within the Ministry for Livestock, Agriculture and Fishing. Trinidad and Tobago refers to the celebration of a centenary of the existence of the Forestry Division and that in 2001 a new strategic plan was adopted for the Division. Another trend on this topic of forestry institutions is decentralization, and several countries have reported on this process including Brazil, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Peru.
14. Other important private institutions and the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) continue undertaken important work in forestry in the Region.
15. Generally speaking, countries declare that forestry research falls far below needs, in particular research related to natural forests. The Tropical Agricultural Research and Education Center (CATIE) fosters research in Central America and has become a very important forestry educational organization for the Region.
16. Another topic that receives greater attention is the strengthening of information and statistics on the forestry sector. Several countries have reported new Internet sites linked to forestry institutions.
17. Only two countries, Cuba and Guatemala, refer to the creation of new higher education forestry faculties. Other countries refer to the modification of higher forestry education with a view to adopting it to the new expectations of the forestry sector.
18. A very positive trend is society's growing perception of the importance of forests from a social and environmental point of view, as evidenced by new forestry policies in many countries. Participation by civil society continues to increase in many countries.
19. Many countries refer to the relevance of their forestry programmes aimed at the rural population and indigenous communities and highlight the importance of the employment that is generated within the context of the forestry sector.
20. A number of countries have reported a significant increase in forest protected areas, for example Colombia (10% of the forest area is classified as protected), Costa Rica (25%), Chile (19%), Ecuador (17%), Nicaragua (10%). Several countries point out that new areas have been incorporated into the protected areas system since the previous period or are undergoing studies for their incorporation.
21. Some countries have reported on the important activities connected to the International Year of Mountains. Besides the setting up of National Committees, international and national meetings have been organized to promote dissemination programmes on the importance of sustainable development in mountainous regions. The preparation was begun by FAO and the Latin American Technical Cooperation Network on Watershed Management of the III Latin American Congress on Watershed Management, within the framework of the IYM that will be held in Peru in April 2003.
22. Another important topic is the capacity of forests to store atmospheric carbon. Of particular interest is the regional project that FAO and the Central American Commission on Environment and Development (CCAD) are developing in Central America.
23. Comparing to the previous period there were fewer occurrences of large forest fires. However, forest fires continue to be an important cause of the degradation of forests. Argentina reported on significant progress made on its fire information systems. In Cuba, Hurricane Michelle caused severe damage to over 100,000 ha and subsequently, due to severe drought, the same area was ravaged by huge fires.
24. In relation to pests, in Argentina the Platypus mutatus continues to wreak damage in pinus plantations as well as the Sirex noctilio. In Central America, there are reports on large areas of pine being affected by the Dendroctonus frontalis as been reported, as well as approval by FAO of a regional project, in collaboration with CCAD, aimed at establishing a Central American strategy for combating this latter pest.
25. Most of the countries are taking part in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), except the United States of America; in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climatic Change (UNFCCC); in the United Nations Convention on Fight Against Desertification (UNCCD), except the Bahamas; in the Convention on nature Prevention and Wildlife Preservation (CNPWP), except Haiti; and in the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, except Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Guyana. In relation to the International Tropical Timber Convention (ITTC), administered by the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), there have not been any changes and Canada, the United States of America, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago and all of the Amazon countries are taking part. Regarding to the Kyoto Protocol of the Framework Convention on Climatic Change, 15 countries have signed and ratified the Protocol, eight countries have signed it without ratifying it, four countries have ratified it and eight have not signed it: Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela.
26. Many countries in the region are participating in the international dialogues on forests within the framework of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF), aimed at promoting and facilitating the application of proposals for action for sustainable management of all types of forests as recommended by the processes of the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests (IPF) and the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (IFF).
27. To impel forestry development in Central America, a Central American Forestry Strategy (CAFS) is being designed in cooperation with the Central American Commission for Environment and Development (CCED) and by the Central American Council for Forests and Protected Areas (CACF-PA). For the countries of the Mercosur, the Center for Sustainable Forestry Development (CEDEFOR) is an important focal point for forestry.
28. As regards technical and financial cooperation, several countries have referred to programmes and projects that have the support of the European Commission (EC), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the FAO, the Government of the Netherlands, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO), the Tropical Agricultural Research and Education Center (CATIE), the Global Environment Fund of the World Bank (GEF), the World Bank (WB), the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB), the International Forestry Research Center (IFRC) and the International Center for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF), among others.
29. In relation to important forestry meetings, worthy of mention is the II Latin American Forestry Congress whose theme was "goods and services from the forest, a source of sustainable development", which was held in Guatemala from 1 to 3 August, 2002 with over 700 participants.
30. The Commission is invited to refer to aspects reported in this Note and to share experiences relevant to its countries.
