A source of information and advice

Sound forestry decision-making requires accurate, up-to-date statistics. FAO collects and disseminates forest statistics and information; carries out analytical studies to identify trends; reviews the major issues found from the analyses; and publishes monographs, sector analyses, case-studies, meeting reports, training and information materials, statistical compendia and periodicals. The State of the World's Forests, is FAO's biennial policy-relevant summary of data and issues related to the status and trends of forest resources, production and trade and institutional development.

FAO makes forestry information available in both printed and electronic format, including on the Internet (http://www.fao.org).

Through its work in forest resource assessment, FAO strives to improve the quality and coverage of global forestry data and their dissemination; country capacity building; and the sound use of forest resources information in national planning. The Forest Resources Assessment 1990 Project assessed forest area at year 1990 and its changes over the period 1980-1990.

The statistics, based on collection and analysis of information from all FAO member countries and confirmed by satellite imagery, constitute the current baseline data on forest resources and deforestation rates.

A key to sustainable forest management is conservation of natural forests and the biological diversity they contain.

The next global forest resources assessment (FRA 2000) will have an increased focus on biological diversity; the economic potential of forests; sustainable forest management; and components of the carbon cycle.

FAO produces the Yearbook of Forest Products and other statistical compendia of national and international information on the forest sector, as well as economic reviews including, Forest Product Prices and Pulp and Paper Capacities. FAO also helps country-level institutions strengthen their ability to collect, analyse and transmit forestry data.

Outlook studies are an important activity. The study, European timber trends and prospects: into the twenty-first century, was published in 1996 jointly with the Economic Commission for Europe. In 1997 FAO released the Provisional outlook for global forest products consumption, production and trade to 2010 and a study of the forestry sector in Asia and the Pacific is currently under way with completion expected in 1998.

With a 50-year publishing history, Unasylva, FAO's quarterly journal of forestry and forest industry, provides an informative, unbiased analysis of the major issues facing forestry development.

The Forestry Branch Library complements FAO's work in producing forestry information, providing access to multilingual information services on forestry and related subjects, including the 1.5 million documents in the FAO collection as well as paper and electronic databases covering the worldwide literature.

Policy and planning

Sustainable forestry activities can only be undertaken within an appropriate policy and institutional framework. FAO helps countries adapt their forest policies to dynamic socio-economic and environmental demands. Particular challenges relate to the relationship of forestry with other sectors, and to the need to consider the concerns of increasing numbers of interest groups with diverse perspectives.

Regional policy surveys provide an information base against which countries can analyse their current policies and identify "institutional" options, "mechanisms and structures" for developing their own strategies. Studies have been completed for Europe, the Near East, Asia and the Pacific, Africa and countries in transition to a market economy and the survey on Latin America is currently in progress.

FAO undertakes country-specific sector and subsector studies which serve as fundamental starting points for policy review and, where appropriate, revision for subsequent forest development and investment plans. FAO has been active in this respect in countries in transition to market economies, both in Eastern Europe and in other parts of the world.

As part of its policy analysis work, FAO supports the development of trade policies and institutional arrangements that lead to transparent market conditions, are compatible with sustainable development and respect the environment, while allowing fair competition. Attention is focused on trade barriers and on environmental issues connected with trade, especially timber certification and labelling, recycling and waste paper content.

Two recently published studies assess the future effects of the GATT Uruguay Round on wood and non-wood forest products.

In a collaborative effort involving the private sector and NGOs, FAO collects and analyses information to enable its member countries both producers and consumers - to answer fundamental questions about the potential benefits and disadvantages of certification programmes and to develop appropriate policies.

Improved methodologies and capacities for forestry planning are essential for the conservation and development of forests. All concerned groups and individuals governments, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, as well as local communities - must be involved for successful planning (see box on National forest programmes), FAO is developing and field testing new guidelines for improved forestry planning. For example, guidelines on economic accounts for forestry will soon be prepared to complement the recent FAO publication A system of economic accounts for food and agriculture. The FAO Forests, Trees and People Programme is currently developing materials on participatory planning methods and tools for use by both field workers and project managers (see box on Community forestry).

FAO also organizes training seminars in project formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, as well as in forestry statistics as part of its commitment to capacity building in the area of forestry planning.

Forest management and conservation

Helping countries develop appropriate technical approaches to the challenges of sustainable forest management and to put these approaches into practice is at the heart of the FAO Forestry Programme.

Activities range from efforts aimed at safeguarding and maintaining the forest ecosystem and its functions to those focusing on species or groups of species for the improved production of goods and environmental services.

FAO assists in the development of criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management in line with the Organization's role as Task Manager for Chapter 11 of UNCED's Agenda 21.

Each of the different ecological zones - tropical, temperate, boreal presents specific challenges in terms of forest management. In recent years, much attention has been focused on the forests of the humid tropics. Yet dryland degradation is one of the most serious resource management issues facing the world today.

FAO supports regional and subregional approaches to desertification control through forestry, especially efforts to provide food and energy to local communities. FAO also provides assistance in the formulation of national action programmes within the framework of the International Convention to Combat Desertification. A particularly good example is the work undertaken in Mali.

Conservation of natural ecosystems and the biological diversity they contain (within and between species) is an important area of the FAO Forestry Programme, both at headquarters and in the field. FAO has developed a database on the state of forest genetic resources and provides support to member countries in conservation of forest gene resources. For example, the Organization is supporting programmes on in situ conservation of priority species in Brazil, Peru, Indonesia and Malaysia. The information bulletin Forest Genetic Resources serves as a forum and a link between organizations.

Improved processing technologies respond to market demands while ensuring the conservation of natural resources.

Forest plantations complement natural forest formations in both productive and protective functions. FAO supports national programmes in afforestation, reforestation and tree planting, using genetically optimal, high-quality materials that are well adapted to specific site conditions. As in all of FAO's work, due consideration is given to social, environmental and

FAO's programme in forestry looks beyond forests, focusing on the sound management of trees on-farm and in urban and pert-urban areas. FAO works to build a better understanding of the factors that influence the potential of agroforestry and to help strengthen the capacity of government agencies and NGOs to provide adequate support to agroforestry research, training and extension services. Through such FAO-supported networks as the Asia-Pacific Agroforestry Network (APAN). FAO helps strengthen national capabilities and develop regional links.

Demographic trends and related land-use and environmental changes have recently motivated FAO to launch a programme in urban and peri-urban forestry. FAO collects, analyses and disseminates information about urban and peri-urban forestry and provides technical assistance in planning and implementing urban forestry programmes.

FAO's efforts in wildlife and protected area management focus on the promotion of the conservation and sustainable use of wildlife resources, the management of protected areas and the development of ecotourism. Particular attention is directed towards protected area management efforts based on the participation of local people and ensuring direct benefits to them.

Well-trained staff, efficient extension methods and the support of research are essential to achieve sustainable forest management and the conservation of natural resources. FAO, in cooperation with a number of partners Including the International Union of Forestry Research Organizations (IUFRO) and the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF), provides assistance in forestry curriculum monitoring and updating; in the modernization of extension methodologies; and in promoting national research systems and networking among countries. For example, FAO's Forestry Research Support Programme in Asia (FORSPA) paved the way to the creation of the Asia Pacific Association of Forestry Research Institutions.

Forest utilization

To survive the many pressures being placed on them by increasing populations and their associated needs, the value of forests as prospering ecosystems must exceed their potential worth under other forms of land use. FAO's programme on environmentally sound forest practices develops specific, practical approaches to forest utilization and to the assessment of the environmental impacts and economic contributions of forest operations.

Forest industries have a key role in overall socio-economic development. FAO helps forest industries, whether public or private, large or small, to develop and apply efficient technologies for the sustainable use of and to assign an appropriate value to forests and their products while increasing income and employment. This involves adapting and improving processing technologies to respond to market demands in terms of better-quality products and larger volumes, while ensuring the conservation of natural resources, the protection of the environment and pollution abatement.

Non-wood forest products enrich the lives of hundreds of millions of people and are essential to disadvantaged groups living in communities inside and around forests. If developed in a sustainable manner, these products could make even greater contributions to overall socio-economic development. The FAO-organized International Expert Consultation on Non-Wood Forest Products, held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia in January 1995, has helped to shape and prioritize FAO's work in this sector. Currently, priority attention is being devoted to information gathering, analysis and dissemination through the non-wood forest products publication series, and the newsletter Non-wood News. A database is also being developed on agencies, institutions and individuals involved with non-wood forest products.

Wood-based fuels are an important source of household energy, particularly in the developing countries, and also have a role in industrial energy production. FAO assists in the development of policies, programmes and projects which raise wood fuel productivity and conversion efficiency for traditional and modern energy uses. FAO activities promote new and more appropriate energy-efficient technologies through the exchange of experiences and information across a series of regional wood energy cooperative networks.

FAO's work in forest products marketing is composed of three interrelated elements: assessment of marketing opportunities and practices; development of human resources for forest products marketing; and strengthening the information base to support the planning and operation of forest products marketing. For example, it has helped organize workshops on marketing of sawnwood products for countries in transition to market economies in Hungary and Estonia.

FAO supports regional and subregional approaches to desertification control.