The Forestry Outlook Study for West and Central Asia region is one of the series of outlook studies implemented by FAO. At the invitation of the FAO Director General, the Ministers responsible for forestry of the 23 countries of the region nominated an outlook study focal point to coordinate the study activities at country level.
A planning workshop gathering the 15 West Asia countries focal points was held on 23rd May 2004 in Beirut, in conjunction with the 16th Session of NEFC. The main objectives of the planning workshop were to introduce to the focal points the process and activities of FOWECA study, to discuss the structure and the preparation of the country outlook paper, and to identify the thematic outlook study topics and issues. From May 2004 onwards, FOWECA activities were implemented at country level including the formation of a working group, organizing meetings and drafting the country outlook report. The FOWECA team provided technical assistance to the focal points through country visits, technical advice and comments to the country draft reports. Details of the FOWECA activities are provided in successive FOWECA UPDATES. (http://www.fao.org/forestry/foris/webview/forestry2/index.jsp?siteId=1301&sitetreeId=2241&langId=1&geoId=0).
As many of the country outlook papers in West Asia are drafted, a sub-regional outlook workshop was organised - as scheduled during the planning meeting – in Damascus (11-14 April, 2005) to exchange the findings and to discuss follow up activities of FOWECA implementation at country level. The sub regional outlook workshop was also an opportunity to strengthen the network among the West Asia countries.
The main objectives of the workshop were to present and share information based on the country outlook papers among countries; and to further discuss and identify key issues and trends, main driving forces and possible future scenarios of the sector at the sub-regional level.
The workshop programme consisted of three main working sessions. The sections focused on the following three topics separately:
• Key issues and trends of forests & trees
• Main driving forces and their impacts on forests & trees
• Future alternative scenarios of forestry sector
(For the detailed workshop agenda, please see annex 1)
The workshop was held in the Semiramis Hotel of Damascus, Syria from 11 to 14 April 2005. The Syrian government provided administrative support in organizing the workshop. More than 30 participants attended, representing Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. The Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD) and the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Developments (AAAID) were represented by one participant each. Mr. Jean-Louis Blanchez and Ms. Qiang Ma from FAO HQs, Mr. Hassan Abdel Nour and Ms. Dahlia Radwan from FAO Regional Near East Office, facilitated and participated in the workshop. (For the list of participants, please see annex 2)
The workshop was opened by inaugural speeches from Mr. Salim Zahoueh, Assistant FAO Representative in Syria. and H.E. Eng. Hassan Ibrahim, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform of Syria. Both speeches addressed the importance of the Forestry Outlook Study for West and Central Asia to the region and its countries, and the expected significant contribution of the workshop to the study.
Mr. Abdel Nour reported to the participants the progress made in the FOWECA process. Ms. Ma introduced the workshop objective and approaches which were discussed and adopted by the participants. The first day of the workshop focused on Working Session I; each Focal Point presented the key issues and trends of his respective country after an introduction presentation on the topic made by Ms. Ma. The presentations, which were facilitated by Mr. Abdel Nour, generated interest among participants, and stimulated questions and discussions. Participants then were divided into two groups to further discuss the issue at sub-regional level. The key issues and trends of forests and trees identified were reported by the two groups in the plenary session which followed.
The second day of the workshop focused on the main driving forces impacting the forestry sector development. Mr. Blanchez introduced the topic to the participants at the beginning of the working session. Mr. Abdel Nour facilitated the country presentations. The presentations generated interest among participants, stimulating questions and discussions. Participants then were divided into two groups to further discuss main driving forces at sub-regional level. The key driving forces, actors, and their impacts identified were reported by the two groups in the plenary session later that day.
During the third day, participants visited different types of forest plantations and a nursery in Damascus area. The visit was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform.
On the last day of the workshop, the focus was on future scenarios. Mr. Blanchez delivered a presentation on principles of scenario planning. Ms. Ma presented the approach to FOWECA scenario formulation. Both presentations generated interest amongst participants and led to discussions. Further suggestions on regional scenario formulation were provided by the participants. Most participating countries presented their perspective scenarios in the section. The country presentations were facilitated by Mr. Abdel Nour.
(For results of discussions of the three working sessions, please see annex 3)
The main outputs of the workshop, which were assessed by the participants are:
• Country information on forestry sector development were shared and further discussed;
• Three proposed topics (forest issues, driving forces, scenarios) were thoroughly discussed at both country and sub-regional level;
• Key forestry issues and driving forces were identified at sub-regional level;
• Concept of scenarios and scenario approach were presented and discussed;
• Suggestions were made regarding drafting the regional report.
Main issues |
Other causes and effects1 |
Forest fires and pests |
Pressure on land use including over grazing, over logging, etc. |
Ownership and land tenure |
Drought |
Lack of financial support and investment, and lack of available land for plantations |
Water scarcity |
Lack of supporting legislations and political commitment |
Degradation of biodiversity and encroachment |
Lack of awareness and participation of civil society and NGOs, but increasing effects of NGOs |
Desertification and sand dune fixation |
Fodder production and wood collection |
High cost of reforestation |
Ecotourism and urban forestation |
|
The need of multiple use of forest resources and to maximize the benefits |
|
Reformulation on forest policies and institutions, restructuring of forestry curricula and capacity building |
|
Roles in reducing poverty and unemployment |
|
Watershed management |
|
Demand for non-wood forest products |
Driving forces |
Actors | |
Demographic and social |
Population growth |
Gov. + People |
Age structure |
Gov. + People | |
Migration: external and internal |
Gov. + People | |
Emigration |
Gov. + People | |
Urbanization |
Gov. + People | |
Per capita income |
Gov. | |
Poverty |
Gov. | |
Economic |
Economic liberalization |
Int. Communities |
Economic growth |
Gov. + Int. Communities | |
Investment |
Gov. + Private sector | |
Economic reform and privatization |
Gov. | |
Foreign debt |
Gov. + Int. Communities | |
Technological |
Biotechnology |
Gov. + Private sector + Int. Communities |
Nano-technology |
Gov. + Int. Communities | |
Information and communication technology |
Gov. + Int. Communities | |
Wood processing technology |
Gov. + Int. Communities | |
Environmental |
International conventions |
Int. Communities |
Public awareness |
Civil society | |
Natural disasters |
Gov. | |
Political and institutional |
Security and stability |
Gov. |
Political will and commitment |
Gov. | |
Political and institutional changes |
Gov. | |
Forest related conventions and national policies |
Int. Communities + Gov. | |
Participation and decentralization |
Gov. + NGOs + Private sector + Civil society |
The participants appreciated the introduction on principles in scenario planning. Participants discussed the suggested regional scenario framework, which has taken the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Scenarios as reference. The suggested scenario framework has two main dimensions: political & institutional, and economic. Focal Points identified their respective countries within the framework (see the annex 3). It was also commented that one dimension should be stability.
In addition, participants suggested the countries could be grouped either by socio-economic set ups or by different types of ecosystems. The regional report should include development strategies at regional and sub-regional level.
During the last plenary session of the workshop, the following points were presented and discussed:
The FOWECA team recommended that the Focal Points report on the workshop outputs and conclusions to their working group members. Improvement to the country scenarios should be discussed with the working group and the country outlook paper should be finalized and presented to a larger public. The discussion with a larger public involving various actors of the forestry sector development should provide legitimacy to the scenarios and the forest sector development proposals. Such meetings should help to identify organizations and individuals interested – or create interest - in forestry sector long term planning and development at country level. The final draft of the country outlook paper should be sent to FAO by July 2005 the latest.
Some countries, like Cyprus, Saudi Arabia and Turkey have already presented their final draft of the country outlook paper. Nevertheless, capacities in long term planning can still be improved by creating new scenarios through discussion with the working group or using recent information.
Information was provided about the preparation of the regional report to which the country papers are an important contribution. The report will be drafted entirely by the FOWECA team with the assistance of an external advisory committee. A series of thematic studies focusing on some forestry key issues in the region are currently being implemented by consultants mainly originating from the region. The thematic studies include the following matters:
Land uses Dynamics |
Environmental services |
Institutional changes |
Energy issues |
Access to forest resources and poverty |
Water issues and forest |
Urban expansion and forestry |
Information and knowledge management |
Wildlife |
Wood products market |
A first draft of the regional outlook report should be available by September 2005. Content and findings of this first draft should be discussed during a regional workshop to be organized in October/November in Turkey. All FOWECA focal points will be invited to participate in this regional workshop.
The focal points were invited to discuss about the FOWECA process in their respective countries. They reported the following:
• Information gathering is very difficult, particularly as the outlook paper outline is very broad and since much information has to be collected from other sectors.
• The concept of forward looking (creating a vision) is not easy to understand for working team members as they are not trained in such matters.
• The FOWECA process is time consuming. Different versions of the outlook paper have to be discussed by interested parties.
• The outlook study has created clear interest from the forest administration and more particularly from the sectors having an impact on forestry development. However, the involvement of NGOs in the process is considered difficult.
• There is a fear that the various studies promoted by FAO (IPF, FRA, NFP, FOWECA, C & I) are not harmonized enough, generating a heavy burden of country reporting, confusion or even contradiction in policy recommendations.
• The visit of the FAO staff is very helpful particularly for arranging meetings with other sectors and for supporting the drafting of the outlook paper.
Many focal points met for the second time (some for the third time as they participated in COFO) and the basis of a network based on friendship and mutual esteem has been established.
On the basis of an open discussion, this FOWECA outlook workshop was evaluated by all participants as very useful, and the workshop achieved more than expected results. The participation and the involvement of all participants in the various discussions were very active. Many of the participants came with elaborate power-point presentations which obviously indicates a strong interest. One participant wished to receive technical advice on scenario planning during the planning workshop.
1 Items listed in this column are causes or effects in the management and development of forestry rather than the main issues in the forestry development.