The attention of the Council is drawn to:
(a) The role of the Regional Forestry Commissions in implementing IPF/IFF proposals for action
The Committee:
- agreed that FAO Regional Forestry Commissions are an important mechanism to support member countries in implementing sustainable forest management, including IPF/IFF proposals for action, by facilitating the exchange of experiences, building networks and enhancing co-operation at national, regional and international levels. The Committee recommended that FAO Regional Offices be strengthened to more effectively support the Regional Forestry Commissions (para 10).
- recommended that Regional Forestry Commissions strengthen their links with other regional organizations and processes working in forestry, wildlife and related areas, and that the private-sector and non-governmental organizations be more involved in activities of these commissions (para 11).
- recommended that FAO should take the lead in providing support and increasing focus on policy and technical advice to countries on implementing IPF/IFF proposals for action and that it continue its efforts to build capacity in member countries in this area. The Committee requested FAO to be more proactive in identifying funding for these activities (para 12).
- recommended that FAO enhance its efforts to help mobilize resources for countries to implement the IPF/IFF proposals for action. In this respect, the Committee recommended that Regional Forestry Commissions facilitate the assessment and implementation of IPF/IFF proposals for action and other internationally agreed actions in countries. The Committee recommended establishing a small roster of persons in each region who are familiar with the IPF/IFF proposals for action, to assist countries in assessing and prioritizing them, and that FAO provide information on sources of funding. It encouraged FAO and other members of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests to help fund such an approach (para 13).
- recommended that Regional Forestry Commissions be used to facilitate the flow of information between the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) and countries. It also recommended that FAO, through its Regional Forestry Commissions, help increase awareness of the importance of sustainable forest management in countries and the importance of implementing the IPF/IFF proposals for action (para 14).
(b) Forests and freshwater - issues and options
The Committee:
- recognized the significant influence of forests on the availability and quality of clean water in many regions of the world and recommended that FAO facilitate better national and international coordination to help ensure that forests contribute to and benefit from developments related to fresh water management. As a result, the Committee supported the inclusion of a new entity on water and forests in the FAO Medium-Term Plan 2004-09 that would involve, for example, raising awareness on forest hydrology; identifying factors which constitute effective watershed management; disseminating related knowledge and research findings; and assisting countries build capacity to implement and enforce policies and action programmes (para 17).
- recognized that, in many countries, water issues are managed by institutions other than those responsible for forests. It recommended that countries further enhance synergies to deal with issues of mutual concern at the national level (para 22).
- noted that FAO can play an important role in the interface between forest management and watershed management and it urged FAO to help countries integrate various national programmes that are derived from such instruments as the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the national forest programmes. The Committee recommended that FAO actively participate in the 3rd World Water Forum in Japan in 2003 (para 23).
- recommended that FAO explore ways to report on the linkages between forests and water in the FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment and recognized that resources would be needed to collect, compile and analyse such information and data (para 25).
(c) National forest programmes as a mechanism to implement the key outcomes of the WFS:fyl and WSSD
The Committee:
- commended FAO for its support to national forest programmes and for hosting and supporting the National Forest Programme Facility. It recommended that FAO continue to support national forest programme processes (para 26).
- noted the multi-sectoral and participatory nature of national forest programmes. It also recognized the contributions that national forest programmes can make to sustainable development in general and to food security and poverty alleviation strategies in particular. In this regard, the Committee agreed that national forest programmes are important tools to implement commitments related to the World Food Summit: five years later (WFS:fyi), the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD)and outcomes of other international discussions (para 27).
- recommended that national forest programmes cover all types of forests and trees outside forests that would contribute to socio-economic and environmental goals (para 30).
- stressed the need for mechanisms for updating and reporting country efforts on national forest programmes and relevant actions agreed at WFS:fyl and WSSD. The Committee also recognized the need for verifiable goals and milestones for reviewing progress and for assessing the contributions of national forest programmes to sustainable forest management. It requested FAO to assist member countries in this regard (para 34).
- recommended that countries seek to have their national forest programmes and their national development programmes and plans related to the management of other natural resources be mutually supportive (para 35).
(d) The future of forests: implications of the Forestry Outlook Study for Africa (FOSA)
The Committee:
- recommended that FAO continue to support further research in institutions and agreed that follow-up activities should include regular updates of country data and information to ensure their relevance for the development and implementation of strategies (para 40).
- recommended that FAO and partners, including countries, promote the participation of stakeholders in national processes; continue to provide information on factors that affect poverty; and further assist countries build capacity for long-term strategic planning and sustained action to reverse negative trends (para 42).
- requested FAO to continue assisting countries in their efforts to promote efficiency in the public sector, improve the functioning of markets, and achieve greater access to markets (para 43).
- recognized that many activities being undertaken in Africa's forest sector can positively influence future outcomes. In this regard, it recommended that FAO continue to disseminate information and reports on progress as a potential tool for others to replicate successful approaches and experiences (para 44).
(e) Review of FAO programmes in the forestry sector, including follow-up to the requests and recommendations of the Fifteenth Session of the Committee and the Programme Implementation Report (2000-2001)
The Committee:
- recommended that FAO focus on its mandated role as a source of global forestry information and that FAO continue to give high priority to forest resources assessments, emphasizing the importance of strengthening national capacities to collect and analyze information about forests, and of improving compatibility between national, regional and international assessments. It recognized that this work needed to reflect the range of national circumstances in forest cover, use and management. The Committee endorsed the major recommendations of an international expert consultation on forest resources assessments (Kotka IV), including the establishment of an advisory group on global forest resources assessments; the importance of linking these assessments with criteria for sustainable forest management; and the need for an updated global FRA report in 2005 (para 46).
- recommended that FAO continue to give high priority to supporting forestry education, extension and research. It noted that FAO has a comparative advantage in these areas and encouraged FAO to work with academic institutions to update forestry curricula related to cross-sectoral issues, including the social, economic and environmental dimensions of forests, especially in developing countries and in countries with economies in transition (para 48).
- commended FAO for its active role in harmonizing forest-related definitions in collaboration with other organizations and recommended that the process be continued in order to address critical issues that are not yet resolved (para 49).
- recommended that FAO continue its work on criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management; model and demonstration forests; participatory forestry; forest fire control; wildlife management; forest biological diversity; forests and climate change; support to national forest programmes; the links between forests, forestry and poverty alleviation; trade and sustainable forest management and assistance to countries to prevent and control forest pests and diseases (para 51).
- commended FAO for its work in the field of forestry and climate change and recommended that it strengthen its technical work in close collaboration and coordination with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (para 52).
- commended FAO for its support to the United Nations Forum on Forests and its leadership in the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF). It recommended that these roles be continued and strengthened (para 53).
- recommended that FAO increase its efforts to raise the awareness of its achievements in the different field programmes (para 55).
- recommended that FAO work on simplifying the procedures and reducing the time frame required for obtaining its support (para 56).
(f) Defining work objectives for FAO in key cross-cutting areas defined by countries and the FAO Medium-Term Planning Process
The Committee:
- broadly agreed with the programme of work as outlined in the Medium Term Plan 2004-2009 and in document COFO 2003/8. The Committee supported the proposed increased share of the total FAO budget allocated to Forestry in the Medium Term Plan 2004-2009 and Summary Programme of Work and Budget 2004-2005 (SPWB), and recommended that this proportional share be protected within the budget for 2004-2005 (para 57).
- stressed the need for an integrated approach to work programme entities and recommended that steps be taken to continue to improve linkages between the programme of work and outcomes. It emphasized that better-defined outputs, performance indicators
and milestones were needed to improve future reporting on achievements and to assess programme outcomes and impacts. It recommended that FAO forestry programme outputs for 2004-2005 and beyond clearly show linkages to the IPF/IFF proposals for action and the expanded Programme of Work on Forest Biological Diversity (para 59).
- recommended that FAO continue to focus on its core mandates in all entities of the proposed work programme. Forest information was highlighted as a priority, including work in forest resource assessments and in harmonizing forest-related definitions (para 60).
- recommended that FAO, and encouraged the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and other partners, provide technical support to low forest cover countries (LFCCs) for the sustainable management of forests and trees outside forests, including the rehabilitation of degraded lands, desertification control and strengthening national planning and institutional frameworks (para 61).
- recommended that FAO continue to support forestry education, extension and research, wildlife management and valuation of non-wood forest products and services, and continue to serve as a neutral forum for discussing issues related to forest certification schemes. It also recommended that FAO support countries' efforts in forest law enforcement (para 62).
- recommended that FAO's programme of work related to forests and climate change be expanded to continue addressing issues identified under the UNFCCC (para 63).
- recommended that FAO provide increased emphasis on socially and ecologically based fire management and foster information exchange, including at a regional level (para 65).
- recommended that FAO continue its support to the United Nations Forum on Forests and its leadership in the Collaborative Partnership on Forests and that these roles be continued and strengthened. It further recommended that FAO continue to work closely with the other members of the CPF (para 66).
- recommended that FAO continue to give high priority to criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management, including technical assistance and capacity building. It also recommended strengthening FAO's role in facilitating collaboration among criteria and indicators processes, noting that the Contribution of Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management (CICI) conclusions in this area identified the following common thematic areas of sustainable forest management based on existing sets of criteria elaborated by regional and international criteria and indicators processes:
- extent of forest resources;
- biological diversity;
- forest health and vitality;
- productive functions of forest resources;
- protective functions of forest resources;
- socio-economic functions;
- legal, policy and institutional framework (para 67).
- in light of the conclusions and recommendations of the CICI 2003, recommended that FAO, in collaboration with the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), convene an international expert consultation to consider, inter alia, developing communication networks; improving common understanding of concepts and definitions; identifying approaches and methods for collecting, storing and sharing data; and strengthening cooperation (para 68).
