Appendices

Appendix 1: List of participants

Country	Name and address
Australia	Mr Geoff Armitage Data Manager Data Management & Collection Section ABARE GPO Box 1563, Canberra ACT 2601 AUSTRALIA	Tel: 61 2 6272 2367 Fax: 61 2 6272 2324 [email protected]
China	Mr Chen Jiawen Senior Engineer State Forest Administration Beijing, 100714 PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA	Tel: 86 10 84238299 Fax: 86 10 84238428 [email protected]
Cook Islands	Mr William Wigmore Director of Research Ministry of Agriculture P.O. Box 96, Rarotonga COOK ISLANDS	Tel: 682 26 720 / 28 711 Fax: 682 21 887 [email protected]
Fiji	Mr Osea Tuinivanua Director Planning Ministry of Fisheries & Forests P.O. Box 2218, Suva FIJI ISLANDS	Tel: 679 330 1611 Fax: 679 330 8218 [email protected]
Maldives	Mr Hassan Rasheed Deputy Director Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture & Marine Resources Ghaazee Building, Male MALDIVES	Tel: 960 322625 Fax: 960 326558 [email protected]
Mongolia	Dr Avirmed Ayurzana Officer in charge of Forests Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment Government Building No.3 MNR & E, Baga Toiruu-44 Surhbaatar District Ulaanbaatar-11, MONGOLIA	Tel: 976-11-312025 Fax: 976-11-326616 [email protected]
Myanmar	Mr Sein Htoon Linn Assistant Director Planning & Statistics Dept Ministry of Forestry Thirimingalar Avenue Off-Kabaraye Road, Yankin P.O. Yangon, MYANMAR	Tel: 951 664459 Fax: 951 664459 [email protected]
Papua New Guinea	Mr Kini Karawa Marketing Officer PNG Forest Authority P.O. Box 5055 Boroko, NCD PAPUA NEW GUINEA	Tel: 675 327 7881 Fax: 675 325 9943
Samoa	Mr Tolusina Pouli Forestry Officer Forestry Division Ministry of Agriculture, Forests, Fisheries & Meteorology P.O. Box 1874, Apia SAMOA	Tel: 685 22561/22729 Fax: 685 22171 [email protected] [email protected]
Solomon Islands	Mr Tommy Tagili Senior Forest Officer Forestry Department Ministry of Forests, Environment & Conservation P.O. Box G24 Honiara, SOLOMON ISLANDS	Tel: 677 22453 / 28802 Fax: 677 22824
Tonga	Mr Alipate Tavo Agriculture Officer Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry (MAF) P.O. Box 14, Nuku’alofa TONGA	Tel: 676 17937 Fax: 676 24271 [email protected]
Vanuatu	Mr William Bani Forest Utilization Officer Private Mail Bag 064 Port Vila, VANUATU	Tel: 678 23856 / 23171 Fax: 678 25051 [email protected]

Resource persons

FAO	Mr Felice Padovani Forestry Officer (Statistics) Forestry Policy & Planning Division Forestry Department, Rome ITALY	Tel: 39 06 5705 2193 Fax: 39 06 5705 5137 [email protected]
	Mr Aru Mathias Forest Resource Management Officer FAO Sub-Regional Office PMB Apia, SAMOA	Tel: 685 22127 Fax: 685 22126 [email protected]
Consultant/ Resource Persons	Mr Chris Perley 16 Dacre Court, Maryhill, Dunedin 9001, NEW ZEALAND	Tel: 64 3 453 4948 Fax: 64 3 453 4945 [email protected]
ITTO	Mr Steve Johnson International Tropical Timber Organization International Organizations Center - 5^th floor, Pacifico-Yokohama, 1-1-1 Minato Mirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama, JAPAN 220-0012.	Tel: (81-45) 223 1110 Fax: (81-45) 223 1111 [email protected]
ANU	Dr U.N. Bhati School of Resources, Environment and Society, Australian National University, Canberra 0200 AUSTRALIA	Tel: 61 2 6125 2579 Fax: 61 2 6125 0746 [email protected]
	Professor Peter Kanowski School of Resources, Environment and Society, Australian National University, Canberra 0200 AUSTRALIA	Tel: 61 2 6125 2667 Fax: 61 2 6125 0746 [email protected]
	Mr Rob McWilliam School of Resources, Environment and Society, Australian National University, Canberra 0200 AUSTRALIA
	Miss Emma Soraya School of Resources, Environment and Society, Australian National University, Canberra 0200 AUSTRALIA
Others	Mr Robert Adams Australian Bureau of Statistics
	Mr Richard Stanton PTAA/APIC Private sector perspective

Appendix 2: Workshop and training programme

MONDAY 16 DECEMBER

08:30 - 09:00	Registration (shuttle from University House at 08:30)

09:00 - 09:30	Welcome addresses:

	Peter Kanowski - Australian National University

	Aru Mathias (FAO)

09:30 - 0945	Self-introduction by participants

09:45 - 10:00	Introduction to the workshop: Background, objectives and expected outcomes (F. Padovani, FAO)

10:00 - 10:30	Emerging trends in forests and forestry in the Asia-Pacific region and their implications on collection and analysis of forest products statistics (C. Perley)

10:30 - 11:00	Coffee break

11:00 - 12:30	Country presentations focusing on:

	· Current status of collection, analysis and dissemination of forest product statistics

	· How forest product statistics are used in policy analysis at the country level

	· Constraints in making forest product statistics relevant to decision-makers

12:30 - 13:30	Lunch

13:30 - 15: 00	Country presentations (contd.)

15:00 - 15:15	Coffee break

15:15 - 17:15	First Working Group Discussion on issues relating to: Improvement of forest product statistics

	Presentation of reports of the first working groups, and discussion

17:15 - 17:30	Strengthening collection of country forest product statistics: Roles and responsibilities of national correspondents (F. Padovani)

TUESDAY 17 DECEMBER

08:30 - 09:00	Improving forest product information flow in the context of globalization (R. Nelson)

09:00 - 09:45	Role of international organizations in collection and dissemination of forest product statistics: the Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire 2001 (Returns, Structure, Definitions; Functions; Statistical Cycles; Notes; Communication; Security; Sharing Information; Data Processing) (F. Padovani and S. Johnson)

09:45 - 10:45	Second Working Group Discussion relating to: Problems encountered in completing and using JFSQ 2001

10:45 - 11:15	Coffee break

11:15 - 11:45	Report of discussion on the Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire

1:45 - 12:45	Hands-on training in completing the JFSQ 2001 (F. Padovani)

12:45 - 14:00	Lunch

14:00 - 15:00	International trade statistics (classifications HS96 and SITC rev.3) (S. Johnson)

15:00 - 15:30	Forest product statistics - problems in data collection, reporting -consolidation of forest product data (F. Padovani)

15:30 - 16:00	Coffee break

16:00 - 17:00	Working Group: Consolidation of national forest product data

17:00 - 17:30	Reports by working groups and discussion

WEDNESDAY 18 DECEMBER

09:00 - 13:00	Experience of countries in data collection and analysis - presentations by invited speakers focusing on methodologies and approaches:

	Australian presentations:

	· Robert Adams - Australian Bureau of Statistics

	· Geoff Armitage - ABARE

	· Richard Stanton - PTAA/APIC - private sector perspective

	Other Countries

	Judith Dennis - New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry - Roundwood Removals in New Zealand

13:00 - 13:45	Lunch

13:45 - 17:30	Site visit:

	· Bureau of Rural Sciences (National Forest Inventory)

	· Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry Australia

THURSDAY 19 DECEMBER

08:30 - 09:00	Dissemination and use of forestry sector information for decision making at the national and international levels (A. Mathias)

09:00 - 10:00	Third Working Group Discussion relating to: Solutions to main problems related to collection, compilation and dissemination of wood product statistics

10:00 - 10:30	Presentation of the reports of the working groups

10:30 - 11:00	Coffee break

11:00 - 12:30	Hands-on training in the use of international forest product statistics on FAOSTAT CD WWW and FTP (F. Padovani)

12:30 - 13:30	Lunch

13:30 - 14:00	Presentation of the FAO Virtual Questionnaire (F. Padovani)

14:00 - 15:30	Hands-on training for completing the Virtual Questionnaire

15:30 - 16:00	Coffee break

16:00 - 16:30	Role and responsibility of national statistical correspondents on forest products: actions and perspectives of forest sector statistics in the region (F. Padovani, A. Mathias, S. Johnson)

16:30 - 17:00	General conclusions and recommendations

17:00	Closure of the workshop

FRIDAY 20 DECEMBER

Departure of participants

Optional site visits to ACT Forests/Environment ACT

Appendix 3: Working group discussion notes

The participants were divided into two subgroups to discuss a number of issues relating to improving the effectiveness of collection and dissemination of forest product statistics. The first subgroup included the smaller forest producers: the Cook Islands, Maldives, Tonga, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. The second subgroup included the larger timber exporters of Australia, Fiji, China, Mongolia, Myanmar and Papua New Guinea.

The subgroups met during three separate workshops throughout the week, each focusing on a separate issue. The working groups were facilitated by Aru Mathias, Felice Padovani, Steve Johnson and Chris Perley.

First working group - improvement of forest product statistics

The first working group session had the objective of identifying the issues and constraints affecting the reliability and sustainability of forestry statistics.

The national statistical correspondents were invited to discuss the problems affecting their national forest product statistical systems, in accordance with the following subheadings.

Source of information

Issues and constraints identified related to:

Lack of interdepartmental and intradepartmental cooperation, sometimes exacerbated by competition.
Concerns over a lack of trained people.
The related issues of high staff turnover reducing institutional knowledge.
A lack of standardized units and systems in some cases.

Methodologies used

Issues and constraints identified related to:

Inconsistent methodologies.
Lack of capacity to cover other wood-based products (e.g. fuelwood), and NWFPs

Information flow

Information flows are constrained by:

Lack of resources.
Lack of awareness of the information required, and its uses.
Problems with interdepartmental cooperation.

Data reliability: for example, how accurate is the information?

Issues and constraints relating to data reliability relate to:

Lack of regularity in collecting forest statistics, both in terms of the standardization of methods, time periods, collection protocols (e.g. forms) and units.
Lack of appropriate skills and knowledge when data is collected.
Lack of financial resources to collect what is required.

Institutional structures and responsibilities in data collecting and reporting

Issues and constraints relating to institutional structures relate to:

Sometimes inadequate legislation or inconsistent policy relating to data collection/collation.
Interdepartmental and intradepartmental cooperation.

Other weaknesses and constraints affecting the forestry sectors in responding to different data consumer needs

The groups suggested that the commitment by governments to the forestry sector - and forestry departments - is a major driver for many of the problems and issues identified above.

Second working group - problems encountered in completing and using the JFSQ 2001

Each subgroup discussed issues and problems relating to the following aspects of forest product statistics, and requested clarifications or amendments as detailed.

Preferred format for receiving the questionnaire - on paper/ via e-mail/floppy disk, etc.

Some country representatives had problems receiving the questionnaires over e-mail because FAO had the wrong e-mail address. E-mail could not be relied upon completely with some countries. It was recommended to require confirmation on receipt to enable an FAO follow up if required. There were also some problems where the country’s designated person was not identified. Some countries reported late arrival of the questionnaires.

Access to and downloading from the Internet

Some countries or country representatives (Myanmar and Mongolia for example) have difficulty with Internet access.

Understanding the data structure relating to the individual FAO and ITTO questionnaires (JQ1, JQ2, DOT1, DOT2, SP1, ITTO1, ITTO2, and ITTO3)

Some country representatives thought that including the relevant codes with forms JQ1 and SP1 would assist clarity.

Any issues or problems relating to the use of forest product statistics’ classifications: SITC Rev. 3; HS96

No problems were reported with the classifications.

Any issues or problems relating to forest product statistics’ definitions

Not all country departments were familiar with forest product definitions (e.g. customs).

Access to and use of MS Excel

All country representatives had access to MS Excel, but some suggested that including formulae in JQ1, JQ2, SP1, ITTO1 and ITTO2 would assist data entry.

Any issues or problems relating to functionality (discrepancies, consumption, unit values, etc.)

Country representatives favoured the metric system for recording data. Not all countries operate along these lines.

Any issues or problems relating to JFSQ 2001 notes

No problems were reported.

Any issues or problems relating to conversion factors

No problems were reported.

Any issues or problems related to communication with FAO/ITTO

FAO has a reputation for good communication.

Any problems or issues related to measurement units - cubic metres (CUM) versus tonnes (MT)

No problems were reported.

Any problems or issues relating to collecting and integrating different data sources in the JQ (production data and trade data)

There are problems reconciling statistics collected in the fiscal year versus the calendar year by Myanmar, Australia, New Zealand and Mongolia. Some data are unavailable in some countries due to gaps in the data (for wood charcoal, woodchips, and fuelwood, etc.).

Any other issues or problems

Mongolia reported that a Russian language option would be preferred for the JFSQ forms. Myanmar recorded a problem in collecting some data where private companies were involved (export prices). Some countries experience data collection problems for certain forest products relating to volumes, country of destination and ports of origin.

Third working group: Solutions to main problems related to collection, compilation and dissemination of wood product statistics

The two subgroups discussed the main problems identified in the collection, assessment, dissemination and use of (forest) wood statistics, and suggested solutions.

Problems	Solutions
Sources of information
Lack of cooperation between agencies	Identify national agency as a focal point for forest product statistics Nominate and confirm appointment of National Correspondent (NCs) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between departments Reinforce and create partnership at the national level
Staff resource problems related to: · Retaining skills · Developing and maintaining relationships · Commitment and motivation · Institutional knowledge Exacerbated by: · Staff turnover · Lack of resources	Regular workshops by FAO/ITTO and other partners to support the NCs National workshops to increase and maintain skills and personal relationships, and to increase motivation Encourage and support the continuity of NC roles (increase status) to minimize staff turnover New staff should be aware of all the roles of NCs, and the importance of the statistics - who uses them and for what Ensure documentation of responsibilities of NCs
Financial constraints	Develop good relationships with other departments Develop partnerships between countries
Lack of availability of data	Develop systems for use across private and public sectors Develop and maintain trust with key data sources by demonstrating integrity
Lack of policy and legislation to support data collection	Advocate for appropriate policies, e.g. maintenance of confidentiality
Methodologies used
Different standardized units and methods of statistics collection	Encourage people to use standard units/systems Encourage data validation and checking Explore and utilize existing data collection systems (e.g. agricultural statistics)
Competing national data collection	Rationalize national data collection
Information flows (dissemination, etc.)
Lack of appropriate resources	Invest in computer technology Establish networks within and between departments
Lack of awareness of information	Promotion and better networking between stakeholders Ensure consistent (and reliable) regularity of data reporting to increase usefulness, and increase usefulness for planning, policy etc.
Lack of relevancy	Ensure information for public dissemination effectively targets the audience
Data reliability
Lack of regular updates reducing reliability. Related to: · Financial resource constraints · Staff resources · Varying workloads and changes in priorities	Ensure regularity through adequate resourcing and more effective use of available resources and systems. For example cross sector data sharing and maintenance
Other constraints
Insufficient political support for forestry sector	Encourage reinvestment in forestry sector

Appendix 4: Terms of reference (TOR) of national correspondents for forest product statistics

Data exchange between FAO and National Correspondents

Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire (JFSQ)
(Basic Annual Statistical Cycle)

JFSQ

FAO will send JFSQ to NC (April-May)
FAO will receive completed JFSQ (August)
FAO will release FAOSTAT on WWW, CD and Yearbook (December-March)

National correspondent’s benefits

1. Yearbook

2. FAOSTAT CD

3. Internet full access

4. Participate in network activities among countries and within countries (training, workshops, meetings)

5. Receive other relative documents, information, user notes, updated information from FAO

National correspondent’s responsibility

Complete the JFSQ and return to FAO punctually (August)
Provide information (clarification on questions related to past and present Forest Sector Data)

Ways of communicating the JFSQ

In print
E-mail
Internet

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Australian National Univerity
International Timber Trade Organization