The prospective at the sub-regional level
by Mr Hayeth Sidhoum
Introduction
There are certainly risks involved in the effacing disparity between the countries when changing from the national level to sub-regional level.
Yet, it is possible to make this passage and obtain good results, with some efforts of analysis.
On one hand, it is necessary to finely analyse in-depth the national reports, and on the other hand there must be some constant concertation with the FOSA Focal Points.
Besides, for a better understanding of the process, several exchanges between the two levels should be constantly carried out.
Therefore, thanks to this sustained effort, one should arrive from the start of the work at a formulation of the common problems.
Concerning this matter, we can already say that the most burdensome tendencies that mark the regions are common to most countries (population, water...).
Despite the difficulties encountered, when passing from one level to another, there are nevertheless some advantages.
-some problems cannot be easily expressed at the national level;
-the sub-regional report takes inspiration from national reports, this can forecast the importance of reflections. Reflections from individuals who work in different countries face different problems. Besides, there are no data at the sub-regional level, compared with the national level.
-the sub-regional consultant should be given more autonomy, which will contribute to a more concise analysis of national reports.
-The dynamics of the national level must be passed to the sub-regional level for the initial prospective analysis. The community dynamics at the level of decision making, must be passed, at the contrary, to the national level.
Among other objectives, the study at the sub-regional level must provide food for overall thought, which aims at a common action on the major problems of the sector.
The sub-regional study has to the objective, amongst others, to feed a global reflection aiming at a common action of the major problems facing the sector.
Given the fact that the sub-regional study is founded on the national reports, permits the orientation for actions which are essentially better adapted to the local conditions or at least adapted nationally.
I. Analysis of national presentations
First of all, congratulations must be given to countries for their work and their good will to take part in the finalisation of this study and consequently, in ensuring the future of the forestry sector.
It is certainly too early to take full advantage of the national reports, since it is always difficult to show several months' work in a thirty minute presentation. The reports require a thorough reading and re-reading.
Nevertheless, some very useful information can be drawn from these reports.
The issues that appear are the following:
- The important role of the forest for the improvement of standards of living.
- The multifunctional role of the forest.
- The fight against desertification (forestation, reforestation)
- Improved production through better techniques relating to forest exploitation.
Slowing down of forest degradation.
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Finally, the issue can be summed up in one sentence: "how can the actors of forestry contribute to ensure an optimal and sustainable economic and social development of their sector while at the same time protecting the natural resource?"
II. How to establish a prospective
We could add to the report that is considered finalised by the author the following:
-Any new idea or change or data
-the elements of the meetings
-Some additional illustrations: age charts synthesising and classifying information
-Some additional information or reflections on the land and its organisation in the country, the evolution of pastoralism and the problems related to it, the integration of the forest sector within the framework of the territorial management, the way the future foresters' training can be conceived.
III. The focal point coordinators' role in relation to the sub-regional report writing
First of all, it is necessary to point out that the regional consultant must pay attention to the national coordinators' ideas and draw upon them. This obviously reflects the very important role he plays in the sub-regional report writing.
Consequently, we hope for a real "working group", where everyone would actively take part in the study process.
The members of this group need to be strongly motivated, and actively take part in a network where they will exchange ideas and experiences and discuss the problems they encounter.
It will be necessary to establish a dialogue between national FOSA focal points and the sub-regional consultant until the end of the study, in order to be able to discuss the important points of the outlook study (hypotheses - scenarios...) in a permanent way.
From now on, within the framework of the sub-regional report, the consultant would like to emphasise the following points:
-keep in touch with everyone, according to their availability, to inform others about the progression of work.
-widen the reflection, a processes that has already been started for a rather long time, thanks to the hers' experience and their critical awareness.
-sustain the work relating to the sub-regional report and maintain this impetus, so that it can serve as a prospective for monitoring.
-and, finally keep the sub-regional network animated.
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