0224-A1
Mr. Anup H. Lohiya. 1
By their nature, forests have a great impact on economy, environment and the society. The subject is introduced by an overview of forest as typical ecosystem, value of forestry and impact of forest on sustainable development and needs.
Subsequently, the key factors for sustainable growth of forest are stressed. Brief outline for participatory ownership and awareness are focused. Forest as a source of life and business, eco-friendly approaches to consumption are discussed.
Efforts around the world are focused on achieving sustainable forest management with social, economical and environmental objectives. To help solve the problems of deforestation, etc best management practices have been presented. Especially results in China and India provide an insight to practices. The role of sustainable forest management practices and certification of forest are stressed. The presentation further highlights needs for flexible, clear strategic policies to expanding market opportunities and forest resources. It advocates consistent forest legislation and operational guidelines to society's changing expectations.
The paper concludes with alarming that the failurity will end all- life and system. The paper describes the roles that have to play and responsibilities indirectly due to direct exploitation of forest and it's resources. Overall, the paper highlights on constraint in forestry development and it's possible solutions.
The impact of forest on human life and economic progress of various nations world over has given a major impetus to accelerate research, development and application of this field in relevant socio-economic sectors. Too often in the past, policies and programs to reduce deforestation and promote growth have been at the expense of the environment, while efforts to protect the forest have not always taken into account, the interest of people in general. What we now have to do is to help local community based group and private sector, their capacity to pursue these opportunities systematically. And in particular this is an urgent need for more effective partnerships with the poor to empower them to implement their own solutions.
Above all we must keep in mind that what is at stake: the health of our planet and its people is the most important legacy that we will leave for future generations. Policies should be viewed as an integral part of sustainable development; cooperation is also essential. Forest is regarded as a typical ecosystem. We are now at the stage where we have to utilize them on sustainable basis. It is our duty to develop and maintain healthy forest with vitality, which produce maximum benefits of various functions including responsible consumption. This means that we are requested to materialize "sustainable forest management". The certification of forest management has developed through consumer demand to ensure that purchased timber originates from well-managed forests based on internationally recognized standards for sustained yield and maintenance of environmental and social benefits. The forest management practices find new ways of closing the gap between the knowledge that is available. If governments, industries, the financial communities and the general public are brought together in a common endeavor, there is every reason to believe in the future where the value of forestry can be measured by their positive impact on sustainability in the world.
There is a growing view in policymaking circles that forest policies should lead to increase market opportunities. The development of policies with very uncertain future returns may not constitute a risky project. If it will have a high pay off under just those conditions when the rest of the economy will do poorly, it will reduce overall variability of national income, therefore reduce the risk. Such an investment has the characteristics of insurance. Good governance translates into effective government institutions and an enabling framework through policies, incentives, appropriate laws and strong enforcement to operate in harmony to achieve national objectives such as economic efficiency, economic and social equity, improved environmental quality and more sustainable forest management.
Building up local skills and infrastructure is a vital part of ensuring the long-term success of forestry development. A major barrier to the growth in forestry sector is the lack of awareness regarding its real potential and characteristics, so education of people at all levels must be a priority. In areas where people have little experience like seedling, conservation of forest, policy planning, etc, it is best to start with demonstration projects. These stimulate interest and provide the chance to train local forestry-men, farmers and people in general. It is important to learn lessons from past mistakes. Despite many different situations where eco-forestry, has a valuable contribution to make, barriers must be faced. Decades of experience shows that for projects to be successful, it needs to meet people's real needs, be affordable and reliable. There are several key factors to develop leadership among real owner beneficiaries and make awareness. These include:
The task is not easy one, but it can be done. With the right level of involvements and participatory ownership by the people themselves, it can be a huge success.
Our planet's capacity to sustain us is eroding. Forest is the source of life and business. However deforestation, degradation, irresponsible consumption and sharp inequalities in the distribution of forestry benefits, remain serious problems that require novel solution and joint-action by all with interest in the forest. In view of growing world population and rapidly eroding natural eco-systems, the natural habitats are dwindling qualitatively and quantitatively. It is the right time to develop eco-friendly approaches to consumption. Some example include use of non-timber forest products to promote alternative sources of income and employment among communities living in and around globally significant protected areas, the use of agricultural wastes in bio-gas production as an alternative to gathering fuel wood from forest, and integrated pest management to improve the sustainability of food production. Wetland can be restored and even created. Desertified lands may adapt better if drought-tolerant species and better soil conservation practices are encouraged.
Forest certification is an instrument used to confirm the achievement of certain predefined minimum standards of forest management in a given forest area at given point in time. A number of international, regional and national forest certification schemes now exist. Certification of forest management has developed through consumer demand to ensure that purchased timber originates from well managed forests or plantations based on internationally recognize standards for sustained yield and maintenance of environmental and social benefits. Cost of certification for smallholder management units can be reduced significantly through Group Certification Process where a large number of small units can be certified under a single group management organization. Certificate of Origin provides for verification that the material used in production does in fact originates from forest that have been certified and can also be used to ensure that the material used is harvested legally and is either from a certified Well-Managed Forest or under a structured program to attain certification in the near future. The total global area of certified forests grew to more than 2% by the end of 2001. Forest certification can play a great role in encouraging to public and private sector to make themselves eco and environment friendly, if the cost of certification is covered. At the same time, it will impose liability to follow strict guidelines on them, which will contribute to sustainable development. The concept of sustainable forest management and efforts to achieve it- continued to gain momentum around the world during past decades. This resulted in changes in forest policy and legislation in many countries on the ground, changes are occurring in management objectives and practices in the range of people involved in planning and managing forest. Efforts to encourage sustainable forest management include the development of tools and mechanisms to encourage the adoption of better management practices. Most countries are now carrying out activities related to the formulation and implementation of a National Forest Program (NFP). The process of NFP involves the development of a comprehensive forest policy framework that is consistent with a country's socio-economic, cultural, political and environmental conditions, is integrated into wider programs for sustainable land use and involves participation of stakeholders. The most of the implementing countries reported increased recognisation of the importance of sustainable management and of forest's contribution to national economy and environment. But a number of developing countries have financial constraint and need more effective experts, policy planners, etc. So not only financial support but also educational support is needed to achieve universal goal.
The 20 th century was the time when forests were destroyed and decreased sharply in terms of forest area. Chinese government has paid great attention to forestry development and made "Planting Trees and Afforestating the Country", a basic state policy. Increasing resources, building vitality and gaining benefit were leading core to the deepen reform and opening up policy and accelerate development. It is proved that the fast development of China's forestry plays an important role in improving ecological environment, expediting regeneration forest resources and facilitating economic development. Under joint forest management in India, the community provides labor and protection to improve the degraded area and to allow the forest to regenerate. The state receives revitalized forest and a large share of income from forestry resources, whereas community gains access for gathering non-wood forest products and a partition of income generated.
Model and demonstration forest has its own advantages like multiple development objectives, job creation, poverty reduction, etc. Each nation must take steps on it's own to combat forestry threats, but we will not succeed unless we learn to coordinate our efforts.
The future generations are not able to influence directly the choice made today. The economic literature suggests that each country should select a well-defined policy and adjust it overtime in light of new market opportunities and changing circumstances. By constructing a balance portfolio a policy options aimed at reducing deforestation, pollution, improving knowledge base public participation lead to sustainable development. The consequence of poor planning, slow institutional response, absence of conservation management and high incidence of poverty affects the public policies in relation to market for commercial forest development. Forest planning and operational activities allied with measures to alleviate poverty can go far towards building consensus, co-operation and support for job creation and qualitative market. If the existing growth momentum in individual markets and sectors is to be sustained and harnessed to catalyze market growth for forestry on a worldwide scale, the policies must be implemented collaboratively. Linkages need to be created between countries having large natural recourses and powerful public policy to expanding market share for these resources. This include making a real contribution to eradicating poverty and raising living standards, adding value to the social well being of poor populations. Choosing forestry policies now is rather subscribing to an insurance policy that provides coverage against the ravages of forestry and economic risk. And insurance is something we gladly pay for when we know costs and payout. But, while the initial cost well be high, creating that level playing field could ultimately prove to be less costly than maintaining a `business as usual' approach. Policies should also aim to continuous R&D. Incentive and fiscal policies could be established to set market signal in the direction of more sustainable forest managements. Valuable insight in to the questions of "why, how, when and where" make forestry development policies effective. Policy objectives and goals must be clearly identified, specific, measurable and consistent with local forest conditions.
Mere announcing a policy is insufficient to achieve desired result. The policy needs to be embedded in legislation and this subject of clear and transparent guidelines and regulations. Existing laws, statutes, directives, and operational regulations and guidelines must be reviewed and amended as necessary to assure consistency and congruence in purpose and prioritization of programs. Uncertainty regarding public policy, rules and regulations undercut long-term efforts for sustainable management and environmental protection. Market reward efficiency, penalize inefficiency and provide clear indications of various types of forest goods services that can be economically produced and distributed. Without long-term commitment to political support, public consensus, and adequate resources, the efficacy of bans and restrictions is likely to be compromised.
We are responsible whenever we cause or permit pollution, deforestation. And alarming growth of human population has led to massive overexploitation of our dwindling natural resources. Our generation's opportunity and challenge is to transform our newfound awareness of the long-term dangers associated with the continued destruction of forest into positive actions that allow us to both protect and to use our global life assests. Each nation must take steps on its own to combat environmental threats, with global networking. And as leaders, our challenge is to forge an international diplomatic response that reflects strong consensus goals, which lead to positive and measurable result. Forestry sector needs to be reactive to societie's changing expectations. Rehabilitation for highly degraded natural forest may require temporary or a short-term closures independent of long term future use base on restored sustainability. Public participation in decision-making is a key to success. Strong political commitment is too important. Underlying all efforts, there must be adequate support and resources including political will- to follow through on clearly established goals and objectives. If we fail, this third millennium may be the last.
I wish to thank many persons, institutions and libraries, which have been my continuing inspiration. I especially wish to thank my parents, my teachers and friends for making this possible.
*FAO.2001 State of the World's Forest 2001,Italy
*FSI.2000 State of Forest Report1999, Forest Survey of India, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Dehradun, India.
*Jean- Pierre Kiekens, ESE1997,Certification: International Trends and Forestry and Trade Implications.
*TERI1999. National Study on Joint Forest Management: Government Orders, Tata Energy Research Institute, New Delhi, Project Report No. 98 SF 64
*UNEP/NASA/World Bank1999, Protecting Our Planet, Securing Our Future, Nairobi, UNEP
*Internet Sites and Email List- Server:-
*Newspapers and Periodicals: - Economic times, Forestry News, etc
1 Anup H. Lohiya is currently a law student of Nagpur University, India; has Bachelor degree in Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics and has little work experience in environment and HRD projects.