WORKPLAN OF THE CARIBBEAN SUBREGIONAL GROUP
Countries participating in the meeting of the Group: Belize, Cuba, Dominican Repubic, , Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States of America. The Dominican Republic holds the Vice-Chair of the Caribbean Subregional Group for the period 2004-2006.
The practice to carry out the work of the Caribbean Subregional Group in small working groups will continue. The main reason is that cooperation is focused, concentrating on countries with similar social and ecological conditions.
Up to now activities were undertaken in three main groups:
1. Small- and medium-sized English-speaking islands: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados. Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago,
2. French and Spanish-speaking islands: Cuba, Dominican Republic and Haiti.
3. Countries with large areas of forests: Belize, Guyana, French Guyana and Suriname.
The definition of these working groups is not exclusive. Participation in regional activities will also depend on the interest of the respective country. In past meetings countries from different working groups also participated.
Principal thematic areas of common interest
• Development of programmes for forest fire management. A decision was taken that the Caribbean Subregional Group would be the appropriate mechanism for the undertaking of activities of a Caribbean network on forest fire. Within two years it will be decided if an independent Caribbean network will be established or if the Subregional Group will continue coordinating activities.
• Methodologies for the preparation of forest inventories, including the preparation of maps.
• Development of community and participatory forestry.
• Development of criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management.
• Development of an appraisal methodology of environmental services and its inclusion in the national accounts.
Exchange and management of information
A rough draft of a format for a Web site of the Caribbean Subregional Group was discussed and the Group agreed and supported the institutionalization of a page presented within the framework of the LACFC Web site.
Small-and medium-sized English-speaking islands
◊ Training in combating forest fire. A workshop for 25 foresters on adequate techniques will be carried out in Trinidad. Trinidad and Tobago will provide the local logistics. The NGO TNC has offered training personnel and FAO will facilitate the participation of some countries of the Region in 2005.
◊ Develop a data base programme for the monitoring of forest fire based on the Trinidad and Tobago protocols on forest fire. Carry out a two-day regional workshop in Trinidad for gathering and evaluation of forest fire data. The activities for 2005-2006 will be carried out with contributions from Trinidad and Tobago, the USDA Forest Service, and FAO.
• Forest inventory and mapping
◊ Workshop on methodology for preparation of forest inventories and forest mapping for the development of a Project on forest inventory and mapping, which will be offered by FAO in 2005.
• Development of community and participatory forestry
◊ Regional workshop on the participatory method for community forest management. Planned for Guyana based on the experiences of an international project on participatory methods for forest management. Potential facilitators: FAO, Guyana and the Forest Project, for 2005.
• Mitigation of cyclone effects for the forestry sector
◊ Preparation of a study for mitigation of cyclone effects, recommending methods for better use of wood products, including first steps for the rehabilitation of affected areas.
• Combating Forest fire
Cuba and Dominican Republic have institutional and organizational arrangements for the prevention and control of forest fire. It was decided to carry out the following steps:
◊ Cuba offered to send to the Sub-secretary of Forest Resources a copy of its Strategy and Plan for the Prevention and Control of Forest Fires for 2004.
◊ The Dominican Republic will identify its needs and training areas for strengthening the national programme on control and prevention of fire for 2005.
◊ Expert consultation on forest fire in 2006 for the development of a monitoring methodology of forest fire with the contribution of Cuba, Dominican Republic, NGOs and FAO.
•
Forest inventory and mapping
◊ Workshop for the revision of the methodology for forest surveys in the Dominican Republic in 2005 with the participation of Cuba and Puerto Rico. A five-day workshop is proposed with the contribution of the Sub-secretary of Forest Resources, FAO, and the participating countries.
◊ Cuba carried out the development of criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management based on the Lepaterique Process. Criteria and indicators were identified to be applied in the 400 existing forest units. It was agreed to undertake the following steps:
i. The Forestry Division of Cuba will send to the Sub-secretariat of Forest Resources of the Dominican Republic its criteria and indicators as well as the documents of the evaluation of the application of those indicators.
ii. For the revision of the criteria and indicators contained in the technical standards, a regional workshop will be held in 2006 in the Dominican Republic with the participation of representatives from Cuba, Puerto Rico and Haiti with the support of the participating countries and FAO.
The working group of the Caribbean countries with large areas of forests (Belize, Guyana, French Guyana and Suriname) will carry out a fifth technical meeting on management and monitoring of forest harvesting practices. Two possible themes were suggested: Chainsaw logging or approaches to forest certification.
WORKPLAN OF THE AMAZON SUBREGIONAL GROUP
Countries participating in the meeting of the Group: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana and Venezuela. Venezuela holds the Vice-Chair of the Amazon Subregional Group for the period 2004-2006.
1. Information system
Title: Develop the first elements of a subregional information system for: (i) Forest cover; and (ii) Information on national accounts.
Activities
i. Feasibility analysis for the application of the CYBER/DETEC system in the countries of the subregion.
ii. Install and train local/national institutions for the adequate operation of the monitoring system of the forest cover, through a training workshop for 25 people in Brazil.
iii. Study of the account mechanisms of the forestry sector in the national public accounts.
iv. Workshop with the forestry and financial sectors to discuss criteria to include the forestry sector in a segregated way in the national public accounts.
v. Include in the Web Site of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) the information generated in an aggregated form for the subregion and for the countries.
Inputs and possible sources of financing
i. One month of consultancy (FAO).
ii. Organization costs for two workshops (Brazil), fares and daily subsistence allowance (to be defined).
2. International agreements
Title: To promote areas for discussion of: (i) Implementation of international agreements at a regional level; and (ii) to reflect on the agreements, experiences and regional demands.
Activities
i. Two video conferences (Dec. 2004 and Mar. 2005).
ii. Establish a follow-up mechanism for the proposals of the Intergovernmental Panel and Forum on Forests (IPF/IFF).
Inputs and possible sources of financing
i. One month of consultancy (FAO).
ii. Include in the workshop of Criteria and Indicators of the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO).
3. Mechanisms for consultation and dialogue
Title: Promote an institutionalized space, within the countries, for dialogue and consultation of the forestry sector, defining principles for its means of functioning.
Activities
i. Complement and extend the study made within the framework of the national forest programmes.
ii. Carry out a consultation workshop, involving the different civil society stakeholder groups to define those principles.
Inputs and possible sources of financing
i. One month of consultancy (resources to be defined).
ii. Organization of the workshop (resources to be defined).
4. Financing Mechanisms
Title: Define the necessary conditions to capture/attract investments and financing for sustainable forest management.
Activities
i. Carry out a study of the variables/factors which restrict/stimulate/justify the investments and financing, in a specific and general way, for sustainable forest management.
ii. Promote internal debate in the countries and in the Region on the issue.
iii. Promote debate with investors in the sector.
Inputs and possible sources of financing
i. One consultancy (FAO).
ii. Two regional workshops (sources of resources to be defined).
Other items of interest
Other items were also considered important, however it was considered that they could overload the plan of work for the period 2004-2006. Nevertheless, the Group recommended to keep in mind as a high priority for the next period the following items:
i. Cross-border control of illegal logging.
ii. Training and forest education structure.
WORKPLAN OF THE MESO-AMERICA SUBREGIONAL GROUP
Countries participating in the meeting of the Group: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama. Costa Rica holds the Vice-Chair of the Meso-America Subregional Group for the period 2004-2006.
1. Activity Title
Define, disseminate and consolidate a common vision to facilitate a development process for the forest sector in Central America and Mexico, in harmony with the relevant international commitments and recommendations.
Main activity: Recognize the Lepaterique Process as the reference framework to orient the criteria and indicators.
Expected result: Criteria and indicators to be applied in at least four countries.
Period: 2 years
Participating countries: Meso-America
Possible financing: FAO
Main activity: CTB and CTAP of the CCAD propose meetings with coordinators of regional projects to identify activities of interest.
Expected result: Forestry and protected areas components of the different regional projects will integrate efforts.
Period: 2 years
Participating countries: Central America and Mexico
Possible financing: FAO
Main activity: Establish the Meso-American Network of Permanent Monitoring of Natural Forests.
Expected result: The Meso-American Network of Permanent Monitoring of Natural Forests created and in operation.
Period: 2 years
Participating countries: Central America and Mexico
Possible financing: FAO
Main activity: Inclusion of the concept of a “biological corridor” in the strategies of development of the forestry sector in the Subregion.
Expected result: Strengthening of the National Committees of Biological Corridors to include this concept in the workplans of forestry sector institutions.
Period: Two years
Participating countries: Meso-America
Possible financing: To be defined.
2. Activity Title
To facilitate the preparation or up-dating of policies, plans or national forest programmes in the countries of the Region, as well as their implementation through dynamic processes and with the participation of the relevant sectors.
Main activity: Belize has negotiated its project support with FAO.
Expected result: Plans or national forest programmes in the seven countries of the Region being implemented.
Period: Two years
Participating countries: Central America and Mexico
Possible financing: FAO, World Bank, The Government of The Netherlands
Main activity: Guatemala has updated its forestry policy.
Expected result: Plans or national forest programmes in the seven countries of the region are being implemented.
Period: Two years
Participating countries: Central America and Mexico
Possible financing: FAO, World Bank, The Government of The Netherlands
Main activity: Nicaragua reassuming its national forest programme supported by the World Bank
Resultado esperado: Plans or national forest programmes in the seven countries of the region being implemented.
Period: Two years
Participating countries: Central America and Mexico
Possible financing: FAO, World Bank, The Government of The Netherlands
Main activity: Panama has negotiated its project of support to national forest programmes.
Expected result: Plans or national forest programmes in the seven countries of the Region are being implemented.
Period: Two years
Participating countries: Central America and Mexico
Possible financing: FAO, World Bank, The Government of The Netherlands
Main activity: Identify and apply the necessary financial mechanisms to promote the forestry sector as a strategy for sustainable development.
Expected result: FAO/Netherlands Project for the development of financial mechanisms approved and in execution.
Period: Two years
Participating countries: Central America and Mexico
Possible financing: FAO, World Bank, The Government of The Netherlands
Main activity: To provide grassroots organizations with technical and administrative training so they can actively participate in the national forest programmes of their respective countries.
Expected result: grassroots organizations participating actively in national forest programmes.
Period: Two years
Participating countries: Central America and Mexico
Possible financing: FAO, World Bank, The Government of The Netherlands
Main activity: Support to the Forestry Administration of El Salvador in the organization of the IV Central American Forestry Congress.
Expected result: organization of IV Central American Forestry Congress.
Period: Two years
Participating countries: Central America and Mexico
Possible financing: To be defined.
3. Activity Title
Identify and develop regional projects in support of the national forest programmes which would allow support to the countries to face high-priority forest problems in the Region.
Main activity: Preparation of project proposals and negotiation with possible donors.
Expected result: At least four projects in negotiation, two of them financed:
- Financial mechanisms
- Governability
- Adaptation to climate changes
- Forests and climate changes.
Period: Two years
Participating countries: Central America and Mexico
Possible financing: FAO/Government of The Netherlands
Main activity: Identification of activities to be developed within the Central American Forestry Strategy (EFCA), with the support of the National Forest Programme Facility.
Expected result: EFCA Projects prioritized for financing of the Facility.
Period: Two years
Participating countries: Central America and Mexico
Possible financing: FAO/Government of The Netherlands
Main activity: Participation and support to meetings of the Regional Working Groups on Forest Fire, Pests and Forest Diseases.
Expected result: Regional group of coordination on fire and pests management operating and implementing the Regional Fire Plan and the Regional Strategy on Health and Forest Management.
Period: Two years
Participating countries: Central America and Mexico
Possible financing: FAO/Government of The Netherlands
WORKPLAN OF THE SOUTHERN CONE SUBREGIONAL GROUP
Countries participating in the meeting of the Group: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. Chile holds the Vice-Chair of the Southern Cone Subregional Group for the period 2004-2006.
1. Activity Title
Strengthening of the forest information systems for the preparation and validation of criteria and indicators for the sustainable forest management in the Subregion (Montreal Process).
Main activities and period
• Reformulate the existing Project profile and others on the basis of the inputs generated during the period 2002-2004.
• Oversee its presentation to financing sources.
• Execution of the project with validation of the main selected indicators.
Expected results
Information systems operating with validated criteria and indicators.
Participating countries
Argentina, Chile Paraguay and Uruguay, and The Netherlands as observer.
Possible source of financing
• FAO Technical Cooperation Programme.
• Support from the Secretariat of the Montreal Process.
2. Activity Title
Strategies and financial mechanisms for the conservation and sustainable utilization of forests.
Main activities
• Identification and analysis of financial mechanisms.
• Financial strategy within the framework of the countries’ forest programmes.
Expected results
Strengthening of the financial strategy of the forest programmes.
Participating countries
Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay, and The Netherlands as observer.
Possible source of financing
The Government of The Netherlands.
AGREEMENT
We, the group of countries from the Southern Cone, decided to join the formulation process of the proposal which will follow the dialogue on forests in Latin America. To do so, the group will act through its Vice-president in coordination with the formulation group of project PUEMBO II.