Near east forestry commission
UN special help for Chile forestry institute
Pulp and paper meeting in Rome
Near east forest rangers' school
Near East Forestry Commission - UN Special help for Chile forestry institute - Pulp and paper meeting in Rome -Near East forest rangers' school
Five consecutive meetings with study tours were held in Turkey in late April and early May, at the invitation of the Turkish Government. These comprised a meeting at Istanbul of the Executive Committee of the International Poplar Commission, to prepare its next session to be held in Yugoslavia in September 1962; a second Near East Poplar Conference; a meeting of a working party on insect pests of poplars; at Adana, a meeting of the committee on forest research of the FAO Near East Forestry Commission; and finally the third session of the full Commission itself.
The session of the commission was attended by delegates of Cyprus, France (Somaliland), Iran, Kuwait, Lebanon, Sudan, Syria, and Turkey. Observers were also present representing Germany (Federal Republic), Tunisia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. The session was opened by the Assistant Undersecretary of the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture. Addresses were also given by the governor of the province of Adana, the FAO regional forestry officer (K. OEDEKOVEN) and, at the closing meeting, by EGON GLESINGER, Director of the Forestry and Forest Products Division of FAO.
The following officers were elected to serve until the beginning of the Commission's next session:
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Chairman: |
ANDREAS POLYCARPOU (Cyprus) |
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Vice-Chairmen: |
MOUIN AL-ZOGHT (Syria) |
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NURETTIN TÜRKÖZ (Turkey) |
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OMER NAFI ABDO (Kuwait) |
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Rapporteur: |
ABBAS BALLAL (Sudan) |
After its customary periodic review of progress in national forest policies based on the reports submitted by member countries, the commission recorded the heartening progress made. Forestry in the region seemed now to have an assured future. Saudi Arabia was the latest country to set up a forestry division within its Ministry of Agriculture. A forester was being provided for Kuwait under FAO's technical assistance program.
Land-use planning. A feature of the commission's discussions was the stress laid on land-use planning of
which forest policy should be an integral part. The conclusions were briefly that:
(a) each country should set up a special land-use planning unit within the framework of national economic planning bodies;(b) frequent and free exchanges of views should be encouraged between the specialists concerned with the various types of land-use;
(c) the staff of any land-use planning unit require special training, with emphasis laid on the economic and social implication of the various sectorial techniques.
The commission advocated the establishment of a regional institute for land-use planning, catering for graduates of agricultural, forestry or veterinary faculties; it might appropriately be associated with some European or American institution already pursuing studies of land-use problems in the Near East.
Education and training. The commission also concluded from its discussions that the purely forestry education and training facilities existing or immediately planned within the region are wholly inadequate to meet the future or even present demand for foresters at all levels although the Near East forest rangers' school at Lattakia, Syria, had demonstrated the possibilities of regional co-operation. Based on studies of the absorption capacity of forest administrations, a phased and balanced program of expanding education and training facilities should be drawn up. The commission appointed a special working party for this purpose. The commission also recommended that agricultural faculties give a course in general forestry to their students.
Timber requirements and resources. The commission considered that a careful evaluation of the present scale and pattern of wood consumption and a forecast of future timber needs are prerequisites to the establishment of realistic targets for forest production. It again requested FAO to carry out a regional survey of timber requirements and resources, and urged Member Governments to collaborate in this task by carrying out national surveys, with the help, if necessary, of international or bilateral aid programs.
Research. Regional problems requiring further research constituted another major topic under discussion by the commission. For instance, in large parts of the Near East agriculture can be markedly improved by means of shelterbelts and windbreaks, but more research is needed to produce convincing arguments for farmers. The commission proposed that a brochure be compiled to be used by agricultural extension workers. National research institutes were urged to undertake research on the profitability of tree crops as compared with agricultural crops, and on irrigated tree plantations. Also, because of the close connection between range management and animal husbandry, more intensive research was needed on how to restore range lands without halting an increase in animal production. All this denotes that governments should devote increased funds to research on forestry problems.
Those recommendations of the commission which require further consideration by high-level representatives of Member Governments are being referred to the next FAO regional conference to be held in Lebanon in August 1962.
In connection with his attendance at this session of the Near East Forestry Commission, the Director of the Forestry and Forest Products Division of FAO visited the poplar research institute at Izmit, which had earlier been formally opened, before going to Ankara to sign the plan of operations for the United Nations Special Fund project to expand this institute, and to negotiate the second phase of the Antalya pre-investment survey project. Subsequently he inspected the Near East forest rangers' school at Lattakia, Syria, and held discussions with the authorities in that country and Lebanon on other pending field projects. In the United Arab Republic he had further negotiations on field projects: one promising project relates to an expansion of the pulp and paper industry based on bagasse, and another to desert reclamation along the coastal strip between El Alamein and Alexandria. He visited the experimental desert farm of the FAO regional representative near Cairo. Earlier in March, Dr. Glesinger had, with other FAO staff, negotiated further phases of the Special Fund integrated development projects in Morocco and Tunisia.
The third session of FAO's Advisory Committee on Pulp and Paper was held at FAO Headquarters 11-13 April 1962 under the chairmanship of R. M. FOWLER, President of the Canadian Pulp and Paper Association. Members of the committee also participated in the second meeting of the contributors to the Trust Fund for the special study, Pulp and paper trends and development prospects in Europe, on 12-13 April. The contributors are pulp and paper associations of Argentina, Austria, Canada, Chile, Finland, France, Germany (Federal Republic), Italy, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The work of the Advisory committee was mainly concentrated on reviewing the past years' work of FAO in the field of pulp and paper, and on discussing the future program. It became clear that, owing to lack of staff, all the tasks committed to FAO could not be carried out concurrently and there would be delays on some projects.
The preliminary findings of the special study on Europe which is being directed by A. SUNDELIN, indicate a surplus capacity for paper and pulp in western Europe by 1965 but increasing shortages of raw materials after that date. The contributors expressed the view that the study was progressing satisfactorily and that the findings so far were of great interest. The study will be completed next year.
The next session of the advisory committee and of the contributors to the Trust Fund is set for 4-6 April 1963
Although it has only been in existence for two years, the Near East forest rangers' school at Lattakia, Syria (Figure 1), has already justified the perseverance of those who worked hard to bring it into being. The 16 students from five countries (Iraq, Jordan, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Republic) who made up the first class, passed their final examination in August 1961 and have now returned to their home countries. A senior class of 20 students and a junior class of 24 students from six countries are at present studying at the school, including three Palestinians awarded scholarships by UNRWA.
The formative years of the school were directed on behalf of FAO by O. A. BADRAN (U.A.R.) and it is now directed by A. H. HILWA, former Director of Forestry in Syria. The teaching staff is being strengthened by university-trained specialists and experienced foresters from different Arab countries. In addition, occasional lectures are given by visiting high-level foresters from countries in the region.
The school is well equipped (Figure 2) for theoretical training and the students receive practical training in nearby forest districts (Figure 3). The course of studies includes a period at a summer camp (Figure 4). A demonstration forest nursery has also been established adjacent to the school (Figure 5), and a pilot sawmill is shortly to be installed.
