28. The following salient features of the forestry and wildlife sectors in Southern Africa were noted and conclusions and recommendations about FOSA implementation were made:
Sub-regional Issues
· forest are essential for survival of rural and urban populations, and about 31% is under some form of forest cover;
· the benefits of forests are taken for granted, and reinvestment is often given low priority;
· despite positive economic growth in most countries of the sub-region, population is growing at a faster rate;
· debt burden continues to constrain sector development;
· land tenure is a major issue, especially as it affects private forestry development;
· the private sector plays a significant social role, with potential for expansion.
Country Papers, Sub-regional Reports and Co-ordination
· some areas of study for FOSA correspond to criteria and indicators, and these need to be reflected in country papers;
· SADC-FSTCU recognises it core role in co-operation and co-ordination in the Southern African sub-regional report of FOSA, and fully endorses the FOSA process;
· the role of SADC-FSTCU in this co-ordination should be supported to improve capacity in information management;
· the proposal for an Expert Advisory Group (EAG) was endorsed by the meeting. It was noted that certain members of the African Forestry Experts Group (AFEG) could form the nucleus of the EAG and be supplemented by other experts drawn from academia, civil society and the public sector, as well as from North Africa;
· the meeting advised that other organisations - e.g. IUCN, SAFIRE, should be included into the FOSA process, particularly for producing reports;
· countries should emphasise their particular concerns within the overall framework of FOSA;
· the FOSA process should be country-driven, and build mainly on information already existing from previous studies, reports, reviews, etc.
Thematic Studies
· All the proposed studies were accepted, but a number of additions and suggestions were included.
Implementation Arrangements and Follow-up to the Workshop
· The proposed sub-regional strategy for FOSA was endorsed, and it was recognised that strong partnerships between donors and sub-regional institutions were crucial for its success.
· The interest of various financing agencies (inter alia: AfDB, World Bank, European Commission) in using the findings of FOSA for investment/programme planning and the potential for increased internal funding through innovative financing mechanisms were noted. In this context, the importance of active involvement of the countries and of sound country outlook studies in ensuring appropriate orientation of the final sub-regional report, was stressed.
· Substantial information exists within the sub-region, including national forest programmes, Vision 2020 documents, strategies to conserve biological diversity. It was recommended that FOSA build upon the existing body of knowledge and avoid duplication of effort.
· SADC - Forestry Sector Technical Support Unit represents a valuable source of knowledge and a network facilitating sub-regional collaboration. It was recommended that SADC be actively involved in the FOSA process.
· The meeting recommended that FOSA identify areas for future investment in capacity building in FSTCU. FAO was advised to seek further involvement of national and international NGOs in order that their vision of forestry in 2020 be captured in FOSA.
· FAO agreed to send a letter with the final report of the sub-regional meeting to the Minister responsible for forestry in each South African country, and asking for strong support to the study from the Ministry.
· FAO indicated that it would send informational and promotional materials on FOSA to the FOSA Focal Points for their use.
· FOSA Focal Points agreed to initiate action on the country outlook papers.
· It was proposed that the next FOSA meeting for the sub-region (to discuss the draft of the sub-regional report in late 2001) be convened in Swaziland.
