3.      VISION AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES

The participants of the workshop identified a common vision and underlying principles to guide forest-related rehabilitation efforts in the affected areas of the region. These would provide a basis for country, regional and international-level action.  

The participants agreed on the following vision of the outcome of forest-related initiatives in rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in tsunami-affected area:

Vision: a better future than existed before the tsunami, which is based on forests' and trees' contributions to poverty alleviation, food security, human capacity building, environmental sustainability and reduced vulnerability to natural disasters in the short and long-term. 

Guiding principles for rehabilitation efforts in the forest sector:

1. Rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts should recognize the sovereign rights of each affected country and the cultural and economic contexts of the affected coastal communities, and respect traditional uses, access and rights to resources.
2. Interventions should be based upon a livelihoods approach that addresses poverty alleviation, food security, human capacity building, environmental sustainability and minimizes vulnerability and risks from future natural disasters.
3. Action should be based on participatory principles involving all stakeholders, but in particular the affected populations, in policy formulation, planning and decision-making.
4. Forestry interventions should be compatible with sustainable forest management practices, and carried out within the context of integrated coastal area management and spatial planning that recognizes the multiple uses of the natural resource base.
5. Planning of rehabilitation activities should take into consideration the anticipated impacts of climate changes on coastal areas as well as national strategies for climate change adaptation, as appropriate.
6. Flexible and adaptive methods should be adopted to respond to the complexity of the situation and particular conditions in the affected areas.
7. Emphasis is needed on strengthening institutional capacity at all levels and of various actors (government and non-governmental), ensuring good governance and law compliance and securing equitable distribution of costs and benefit.
8. Rehabilitation processes should be carefully planned, implemented and evaluated, including the following elements:
   • detailed impact and damage assessments and needs analyses as the basis of all rehabilitation activities;
   • assessments of the institutional capacity of different organizations at all levels and all economic sectors in order to ensure efficient delivery of suitable technical and material inputs and effective use thereof;
   • application of scientifically-based, proven technologies that are environmentally sustainable, socially acceptable and economically sound;
   • action taken with clear indication of measurable outcomes;
   • emphasis on accountability and transparency; and
   • effective communication and coordinated partnership between government, NGOs, international agencies and bilateral donors.