INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS FOR SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT: LINKING NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS IN SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST ASIA
Chris Brown, Forestry Sector Outlook studies specialist
FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
We would like to begin this next segment of the workshop by briefly outlining the agenda for the next three days, as well as describing the overall objectives and the key outcomes we are hoping to achieve. It is worthwhile to keep in mind that, to a large extent, the workshop is an exercise in brainstorming. While in the initial phases FAO and the European Commission worked together to develop an overall framework for the Programme - the detail has been left for you, the countries, to color in according to your priorities and interests. The various activities carried out under the programme must be relevant and useful to you. Thus, much of the workshop agenda has been developed to encourage your participation in developing a detailed workplan that matches your priorities.
There are effectively four major objectives for the Workshop:
The first objective is to inform and discuss with you, the country representatives and National Focal Points, the background, objectives, structure and expected outcomes of the programme. Already, this morning, you have heard overview presentations on the overall Programme, and along with your study of the preliminary workplan you should now have a good grasp of how the overall Programme is structured, and the types of activities that are envisaged. At the conclusion of this brief talk we will have time for questions and discussion to clarify points of interest.
A second objective is to establish a basis for planning specific programme activities. If we are to identify gaps and weaknesses within national information systems then we need to discuss what information is currently being collected, how it is being collected and, by comparing experiences by different countries, examine ways in which the programme may be able to help strengthen information systems. Thus, you have each been asked to prepare brief presentations on forestry information collection and collation processes in your countries and these are planned to be made later this morning and this afternoon. Following on from today's presentations, we plan to move into small breakout groups with two purposes in mind. The first is to work through a Workbook exercise designed to help standardise, and build on, the information contained in the presentations.
The breakout groups will also begin work on the third objective for the Workshop, that is they will begin the process of planning actual pilot studies that may be carried out in countries. In these groups we will particularly be looking for suggestions from countries on specific studies they are interested in having implemented within the programme, and particularly studies or areas of interest that you would like to have carried out within your country. We will also be looking to sketch out how specific pilot studies may be implemented.
For those of you uncertain as to exactly what we mean by pilot studies, later this morning we will be distributing a list of examples and suggestions, which we will ask you to work through during the day and rank in order of importance to your country, and this process should give you an good idea of exactly what we have in mind. In essence, we are looking to implement trial data collection projects on a limited geographic scale, to develop and refine methodologies that could then be implemented at larger state or national scales.
At the end of tomorrow's discussions we will regather in a plenary session to discuss the fourth element of the programme objectives - means for working together, as well as incorporating inputs and advice from other institutions, and particularly the merits and means for establishing an on-going network of statistical correspondents within the region.
On the final day of the workshop we will carry forward the pilot study planning process from small groups, when we will rejoin together in a plenary session to develop an overall plan for taking the programme forward, including firming up proposals for pilot studies, and refining methods of implementation for pilot studies. We will endeavor to work systematically through the seven topics identified for potential pilot studies, and these will each be introduced by a brief presentation.
The concluding session of the workshop, will discuss the way forward for the Partnership Programme during the three years of its implementation - summarising the immediate steps to act on the plans developed here - and looking forward to specific activities further down the track.
As you can see we have a very busy agenda, and consequently, I will finish this brief outline here, and open the floor for comments and questions on both the overall Partnership Programme and on the Workshop.
Thank you
