THE NINTH WORLD FORESTRY CONGRESS
Having met from 1 to 10 July 1985 in Mexico City, Mexico:
Recalling that the Eighth World Forestry Congress in Jakarta. Indonesia, in 1978, recognized that forests should be at the service of people and took cognizance of its contribution towards improving society, in particular its poorest sections,
Recalling that, later, world-wide strategies had been devised in regard to agrarian reform and rural development, the conservation of nature and of energy sources, and that such strategies made it possible to understand better and address social demands, the interdependence of mankind and forest resources and the need to apply integral solutions for development,
Noting that the 86th Session of the FAO Council recommended that the Ninth World Forestry Congress accord special priority to conservation and proper utilization of forest resources,
Convinced that the International Year of the Forest, declared by the FAO Council, provided a unique opportunity for the examination of world forestry problems,
Being aware of the plan of action endorsed by the FAO Committee on Forest Development in the Tropics,
Recognizing that forestry formations provide goods and services which contribute to environmental stability, rural and industrial development and food security.
Considering that the future of humanity is endangered by the degradation of forest ecosystems, the loss of germ plasm, the extinction of species, adverse ecologic, hydrologic and climatic changes, soil depletion and decline in productivity, insufficient renewal of the resource base and its poor utilization,
Considering that, because a close relationship exists between poverty and ecological imbalance, backwardness of rural communities, lack of an adequate infrastructure, absence of technological progress and low productivity are the main causes and effects of the destruction of forests,
Recognizing that the main causes of forest degradation lie in the misuse of these resources and that inadequate institutional, industrial and commercial structures aggravate socio-ecologic conditions which result in further detriment to the resource.
Considering that the majority of people in developing countries continues to depend on forest resources as the main source of energy for subsistence and that, in certain countries, due to population growth, the shortage of fuelwood is becoming increasingly acute, resulting in environmental, economic and social complications,
Recognizing the gravity of the consequences of deforestation in those regions stricken by drought and of the impact of the resulting desertification on the food situation and mere survival of the affected populations, especially in Africa,
Considering the fact that in more and more countries, apart from forest fires, pests and diseases, forests are increasingly affected by atmospheric pollution, which may endanger in the future the quality of life and certain aspects of human activity such as agriculture, production of food, water quality and conservation of wildlife and fishery resources.
Accepting that the present international crisis has brought into focus the close interdependence of, and disparities among, nations as well as the impact of economic and political factors on the conservation and utilization of natural resources,
Considering that the prospects and solutions which the forest sector offers in each country vary in accordance with its social development, the characteristics of its resources and predominant demands,
Recognizing that in most of the developed countries forest resources are a means of economic growth and improvement in the quality of life, while in the majority of developing countries such resources represent a potential not yet fully utilized and a special opportunity for improving the socio-economic well-being of the rural areas.
Convinced that the enhancement of forestry activities should contribute to the stability and advancement of rural communities and benefit the nation as a whole,
Taking into account the wide perspectives for the development of the wood-based industries, ranging from the small-scale family units to the large integrated industrial complexes, for the production of goods to satisfy a wide spectrum of society's needs,
Recognizing that the forest sector is frequently subjected to partial analysis or excessively specialized categorization - silvicultural, ecological, productive or social - independently from other sectors resulting in conflicting approaches and strategies which make the achievement of an integral approach difficult,
Considering the progressive depletion of non-renewable natural resources and their substitution by renewable ones, especially by forest resources, whenever possible.
Noting that due to the world economic situation during recent years insufficient funds were devoted to the protection and development of forest resources at the desirable level,
Considering that funds allocated for research are inadequate to face the technological and scientific challenges posed by the sector's new dimensions and responsibilities.
Declares that new forestry policies and strategies based on the following principles and guidelines should be implemented:
1. that world peace, economic growth, social well-being, quality of the environment and fair dealings among nations must constitute the main pillars of equitable, sound and long-term development,2. that the forest sector must be a part of the integral development of society, contributing to the welfare of both rural and urban communities by making full use of its productive. protective and social potential,
3. that policies must be defined and strategies based on the co-responsibility and co-participation of all the society components put into practice.
4. that human beings must be the protagonists and their benefits should be the main objective of development, and the progress of populations living in forest and surrounding areas should be the main priority of such development,
5. that the changing world situation requires a new definition of the relationships between forest resources and society which harmonizes the human being with the natural environment through a clearer awareness of technical, social, economic and political changes needed within a new forest strategy,
6. that appropriate action should urgently be taken for the betterment of communication systems between the forest sector on the one hand and political levels, financial institutions and other professional sectors and the society in general on the other,
7. that trust and confidence among the people must be inspired in order to enlist their cooperation and achieve their effective participation. Moreover, in order to ensure proper coordination of action among central government and regional authorities, private and social organizations, new laws may have to be enacted or existing legislation amended and institutions updated and adjusted,
8. that it is indispensable and urgent, especially in developing countries, to make forest resources a profitable source of income for rural populations. Such an option would meet their needs through the promotion of self-governed genuine organizations enabling people to play an effective role as protagonists in forest activities and act as legitimate spokesmen before society, government and industry. These organizations should include landless peasants, women and youth,
9. that the training of new generations of forestry professionals, technicians, specialists and workers should be improved and broadened to enable them to face efficiently the new challenges in forestry,
10. that only through an integral rural development framework, including forest management and utilization in harmony with farming, animal husbandry and hydrological activities, and with ecological aspects, can there be a simultaneous contribution to social progress and the conservation of resources,
11. that forestry actions for the restoration of degraded watersheds and the combating of desertification, especially in Africa, should be sustained and should aim, simultaneously, at restoring and maintaining the ecological balance, at integrating these areas in national productive processes and at meeting the needs of people in arid and semi-arid areas,
12. that available financial resources should be increased and reoriented to intensify conservation, protection, social well-being and industrialization activities; such resources should derive, on the one hand, from greater productivity and, on the other, from national and international financial institutions, including nongovernmental organizations.
13. that the planning of forest industrial development must be adapted to forest characteristics and to raw material production systems within the framework of an integral and sustained utilization, recognizing that forest industrialization is an essential component of rural development programmes and a source of income and employment, as well as a guarantee of conservation of the resource itself,
14. that because forestry enterprises require investments which frequently produce low levels of economic profitability it is essential to design improved technologies in order to achieve more efficient use of the investment, accessible to a greater number of beneficiaries,
15. that greater emphasis should be placed on appropriate solutions and technologies of forest resource conservation and utilization, including traditional knowledge found among rural populations and old cultures in forest areas,
16. that transition of current economic systems to more efficient use of renewable energy sources must be effected so as to induce fuller utilization of the forest biomass, not only as a source of energy for subsistence but also for industry, electrification in rural areas, development of irrigation facilities and fossil-fuel substitution,
17. that adoption of specific national and international measures is needed in order to decrease industrial pollution levels generating atmospheric pollution harmful to forests and to human life, especially in industrialized regions.
18. that action against destructive agents of the forest, especially fires, pests and diseases, should be intensified, including the adoption of broader measures for support and coordination at national and international levels,
19. that high priority must be accorded to scientific and technological research and the dissemination of results in forestry, with special emphasis on critical areas such as tropical forests, arid and heavily eroded zones, land under agrosilvipastoral use and forests affected by industrial pollution,
20. that global social economic development and ecological balance demand international cooperation and a full sense of responsibility towards future generations, especially based on efforts of individual countries,
21. that the forestry profession should recognize and accept its responsibility as an agent of economic development, in order to meet the new challenges of the sector resulting from the many changes that confront mankind. Consequently, foresters of all countries must strengthen their joint efforts to exchange knowledge and experience and to develop international cooperation so as to promote friendship and peace among the nations of the world.
22. that the effective contribution and the great potential of women's participation must be fully recognized in order to achieve their integration at all levels of forestry activities,
23. that the positive environmental impact of forest resources in developed countries should be stressed as well as their contribution to industrial production.
The Congress
Appealed to governments to support the objectives of the FAO International Year of the Forest, the success of which depends, mostly, on national and local initiatives,
Emphasized the importance and urgency of the Plan of Action on Tropical Forests which was adopted by the FAO Committee on Forest Development in the Tropics and firmly supported all initiatives geared at accelerating the implementation of actions identified in the five priority areas of "forestry and land use", "fuelwood and energy", "conservation of tropical forest ecosystems", "forest based industrial development" and "institutions",
Supported the creation of a world fund for the development and environmental protection of forests, especially to aid developing countries. 1
1 The Federal Republic of Germany is of the opinion that the principles and measures of a fund should be examined first before they could be supported.
THE NINTH WORLD FORESTRY CONGRESS
Emphasizes its conviction that it is possible to conquer poverty, overcome the shortage of forest products prevailing in large regions of the world and reverse the process of forest destruction through the sustained use, development and care of the forests,
Recognizes that only the conservation and rational use of the potential of forests can promote the development of national economies, ultimately leading to the enhancement of standards of living, to the benefit of humanity, and therefore
Appeals to all human beings of all nations and to their governments, within the framework of their own sovereignty, to recognize the importance of forest resources for the biosphere and the survival of humanity and to devote themselves to safeguarding and promoting this resource which has to provide humanity with food, raw materials, energy, rural well-being, ecological protection and improvement in the quality of life.
