Special session of the FAO conference
Latin-American forestry and forest products commission
Expanded technical assistance program
Meetings
The last regular session of the FAO Conference in 1949 adopted the principle that future sessions should be held every two years but agreed that, if circumstances warranted, a session should also be held in 1950. A number of new developments soon began to have a profound influence on FAO's activities - the crisis in international relations in the Far East, the Expanded Technical Assistance Program, and the prospect of the removal of FAO headquarters from Washington to Rome. Because of these developments and the need for policy decisions on many budgetary and administrative matters, a special session of the FAO Conference was held at Washington 3-11 November 1950, preceded and followed by meetings of the 18-nation FAO Council.
Landmarks in Forestry Work
In his fifth annual report on the Work of FAO, 1949/50, prepared for the information of governments and the public, the Director-General reviewed some outstanding achievements of the Organization's first five years of work, citing the following developments in forestry as important steps in the direction of FAO's objectives:
1. Forest policy. FAO has sought to have each country apply rational principles to its forest management, development, and utilization, and to base its activities on a national forest policy founded in law and soundly administered. Few countries have such a comprehensive policy. As a major undertaking, a statement of basic forestry principles is being put before the regional Forestry and Forest Products Commissions and then the FAO Conference for, it is hoped, adherence by all member nations.2. Forestry development in Europe. The Copenhagen Conference (1946) considered the postwar needs of Europe to be the most urgent. The European Forestry and Forest Products Commission, the Timber Committee of the Economic Commission for Europe, and other European forestry bodies established or serviced by FAO since the Marianske-Lazne Conference (1947) have been instrumental in improving the situation in so far as forest products are concerned. The granting of loans for timber production equipment by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development is an example of a successful project initiated by FAO.
3. Forestry development in other regions. The reports of the Teresopolis (1948) and Mysore (1949) Conferences are considered as charters for forestry activities in Latin America and the Far East. The Latin-American Forestry and Forest Products Commission, set up with headquarters at Rio de Janeiro, and the Asia and Pacific Commission, which held its first session at Bangkok in October 1950, now make it possible to extend the work of FAO to two of the most important forested regions of the world. A program for the Near East is under way.
4. Montreal pulp conference. This conference (1949), sponsored by FAO and the Canadian Government, was the first meeting to bring together important industry and government representatives from the major countries producing and consuming wood pulp. It allotted to FAO the task of keeping the wood pulp situation under continuous review.
5. Forestry mission for Austria. At the request of the Government, a mission has advised on the development and improvement of Austria's forest resources and industries. The mission's report is an example of a comprehensive investigation of the forestry and forest industries situation in a highly developed country.
6. Improved forestry and forest products statistics. FAO, as a regular part of its program, continues to publish and expand statistical series issued by various international bodies before World War II. Reviewed by special international meetings at Washington, Rome, and Geneva, the statistical program has led to a larger body of consistent and timely national statistics than has ever previously been available. These statistics are incorporated in the FAO report Forest Resources of the World, in the Yearbooks of Forest Products Statistics and in the ECE/FAO Statistical Bulletins.
7. Basic forestry studies. UNASYLVA, established in the early days of FAO, has been developed as a medium for discussion of problems of international concern. A new series of important and more intensive studies, basic to the Expanded Program of Technical Assistance, has been initiated - Planning a National Forest Inventory is published, Forest Policy, Law, and Administration is now in press; and others are being prepared.
8. Technical consultations on forestry and forest products. Among FAO's technical committees, the Wood Chemistry and the Mechanical Wood Technology Committees have achieved important results. Through its working arrangements with the International Union of Forest Research Organizations and the International Poplar Commission, its sponsorship of the Third World Forestry Congress, and its participation in the United Nations Conference on the Conservation and Utilization of Resources, FAO has done much to influence the direction of research and technical developments in many fields.
9. Rational utilization of wood. FAO's efforts to bring about more rational wood utilization and to standardize timber-testing methods, the sizes and quality of timber in international trade, and timber names should result in widespread improvements in these fields. The problems are difficult, but steady progress is being made, as evidenced by the results of the Mechanical Wood Technology Conference of 1949 and the technical meeting in Indochina in April 1950. The assembling of reference documentation on all types of modern mechanized forestry equipment is also a step toward encouraging rational development of forests and utilization of their products.
Factors That Will Shape the Future
In analyzing the present position of FAO in the light of recent world events the Director-General said that the work of FAO in the past five years had been reasonably successful, but the conditions that were responsible for the setting up of FAO still exist, and they underlie violent stresses and strains within and among nations. A third of the world's people enjoy health, wealth, and wellbeing to a comparatively high degree; the other two-thirds live on intimate terms with poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, and premature death. These bitter contrasts break out in discontent and rebellion because - and this is the most significant development of our time - every day more people realize that such conditions are no longer necessary. Today there is not less but more need for the kind of work that FAO was set up to do.
By any standards of historical perspective, FAO is still very young. This is a time, however, when events move at such a pace that we cannot indulge in the luxury of leisurely development. Experience must of necessity be speeded up even at the risk of making some mistakes. The permanent staff of FAO has gained a fairly extensive experience during the past five years. But it has taken almost this long for FAO to become fully staffed, to train the staff in the viewpoints, attitudes, and kinds of activities required of an international organization, and to build up the intricate network of relationships with member governments and their national institutions and with other organizations carrying on work related to that of FAO, which is necessary for an effective organization is only now getting into its full stride.
The move to Rome, to be spread over the early months of 1951, will involve the separation from FAO's staff of a considerable number of highly trained professional people who find it impossible for one reason or another to make the transfer. At the same time, the world today is very different from the days of the Quebec Conference (1945), when FAO was created. It is split politically into two worlds, and economically there are difficult problems to overcome between hard- and soft-currency areas. The world is also far less stable than it was even a very short time ago. All this makes it advisable to re-examine the functions and methods of the Organization.
Functions of FAO
The Special Session of the Conference under the chairmanship of André Mayer of France, requested the Council to set up a working party of individual experts to consider, with the Director-General the form and emphasis which the future activities of the Organization should be given, possibly including greater decentralization, more dependence on outside experts, and reorganization of the secretariat beyond that already contemplated by the Director-General The recommendations of this working party will be examined at the next meeting of the FAO Council before being passed to the Sixth Session of the FAO Conference in November 1951, when the program of work and budget for 1952 and 1953 will be approved. In the meantime, the Conference authorized the Director-General to carry out a program of work in 1951 based on a total expenditure of $4.5 million and, if contributions from member governments exceed this sum, to undertake additional projects up to a total cost of $5 million. For the Division of Forestry and Forest Products this means largely a continuation of the program already outlined in Unasylva, Vol. IV, No. 2, 1950, on a budget reduced by 16 percent.
Technical Assistance
The Conference and Council heard and discussed a report by the Director-General on developments in FAO's participation in the Expanded Technical Assistance Program. It was noted that early progress had been limited by the feet that usable contributions to the Technical Assistance Fund had not yet been made by many countries, and because many of the recipient countries were not fully informed of the conditions under which technical assistance can be granted (See Unasylva, Vol. IV, No. 4, October-December 1950). Despite this, a number of satisfactory arrangements are being made, and the Conference expressed the hope that this program will serve to strengthen FAO's practical activities and its general authority in the realm of food, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. All member countries were requested to collaborate in making available suitable technicians, equipment, and training facilities, and in undertaking the local responsibilities necessary to ensure that the rendering of assistance by FAO is fully effective and of continuing benefit. The Director-General was asked to give special attention, in the provision of technical assistance, to questions of land tenure and to problems of immigration and land settlement.
Commodity Problems
The Conference decided to continue the FAO Committee on Commodity Problems and to broaden its terms of reference, regarding it as the instrument of FAO to analyze and interpret the international commodity situations and to advise the Council on suitable courses of action.
International Plant Protection Convention
Final action on adoption of the proposed International Plant Protection Convention was put off until the 1951 session. Meanwhile, member governments were asked to submit amendments, and to give attention to establishing national and regional organizations for the protection of plants from insects and diseases.
Organization and Membership
consequent on the move to Rome, the Conference decided that FAO's European Regional Office should be absorbed into the headquarters organization with effect from 1 May 1951, and at the same time to create a new North American Regional Office. The form which regional organization should take in Latin America was left to the Director-General's discretion.
The Conference extended the appointment of Norris E. Dodd as Director-General until the end of the next regular session of the Conference and invited Lord Bruce to continue to serve as independent Chairman of the Council but at his urgent request agreed to seek actively for a candidate to replace him as early as possible.
The Conference admitted to membership Cambodia, the German Federal Republic, Jordan, Spain, and Viet-Nam, bringing the total membership of FAO to 66 nations, exclusive of Czechoslovakia and Poland, both of which have given formal notice of withdrawal from the Organization.
The Government of Chile was host to the third session of the Latin-American Forestry and Forest Products Commission at Santiago, 11-16 December 1950.
Previous sessions had been held at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and at Lima, Peru. This rotation of meeting places has enabled the functions and work of the Commission and the forestry activities of FAO generally to become widely known and understood in large areas of Latin America. For the future, the Commission has decided to reconvene once every two years, although it has empowered the Director-General to call special sessions should circumstances require. Between regular sessions, the continuous study of specific problems has been assigned to working parties of specialists.
At the opening meeting the members elected as Chairman the leader of the Chilean delegation, Victor Bianchi Gundian, Inspector of National Parks and Forest Reserves, Ministry of Lands and Colonization. Nations represented were Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Nicaragua, United Kingdom, Uruguay, and the United States. Observers attended from the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA), the International Labour Organisation, and the Organization of American States (Pan-American Union). Marcel Leloup, Director of the Forestry and Forest Products Division, represented FAO headquarters, while the Chief of FAO's Latin-American Forestry Office acted as Secretary.
Forestry Principles
The Commission approved the principles contained in the special statement laid before it by the secretariat. This statement, prepared by FAO in keeping with a recommendation of the Third World Forestry Congress, has now been accepted by all three of the regional Forestry and Forest Products Commissions established by member nations of FAO. It will be submitted to the Sixth Session of the FAO Conference at Rome in November 1951, for the purpose of securing formal support from all member nations.
For Latin America, considered that these principles should constitute the basis for the forest policy of each country, which must naturally be elaborated according to the special role of forests and forest products in the various national economies. It was remarked that technical assistance missions could suitably assist in laying the foundation for national forest policies, should recipient countries so desire.
Forest Research and Training Institute
The secretariat reported to the Commission on the latest developments concerning the project for a Latin-American Forest Research and Training Institute. An offer of collaboration made by the U. S. Government was noted with pleasure, and the Commission instructed the secretariat to maintain close relations with the Tropical Forest Experimental Station at Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, on all problems of general interest.
As regards the project as a whole FAO was asked to approach the several governments once more for an official statement of their intentions, a time limit of four months being set for replies. Where official proposals for establishing a regional station within a country can be immediately carried out, at least for certain types of research, the Commission requested FAO to furnish all possible assistance to that country in getting work started.
Standardization
Terminology. The Commission recognized with appreciation the past work of the Tropical Forest Experimental Station in Puerto Rico in preparing a Spanish-English glossary of forestry terminology. It was suggested that when the Station completes the definitions of 1,000 of the more important terms, the draft should be submitted to FAO, together with the 800 terms so far undefined, so that the glossary can be circulated to the different countries of the region for comment and addition of local synonyms. FAO is to arrange for the addition of synonyms in French, German, and Portuguese.
Forest types. A universal classification of forest types for Latin America, particularly of climax types, is greatly needed for the preparation of general maps of the region. The type classification developed by the Board for the American Tropics is considered the best, and should be adopted in forest surveys throughout the tropical areas. A similar classification for the temperate zones needs to be undertaken, and FAO was asked to investigate the possibility of assisting in this work.
Timber names. The Commission instructed the secretariat to continue its work of compiling standardized lists of timbers entering international trade correlating vernacular, trade, and scientific names, in co-operation with governments and recognized taxonomic institutions.
Statistics. The secretariat was also instructed to co-operate with the Tropical Forest Experimental Station in Puerto Rico in finalizing the Spanish version of the terms used by FAO in forestry and forest products statistics. FAO is to add synonyms in English, French, German and Portuguese. As regards the statistical programs of individual countries, the Commission recommended that furnishing statistical data on the production and trade of forest products should, within reasonable limits, be made compulsory by law. As the Commission had previously pointed out to governments, FAO can usefully furnish technical Assistance to countries in connection with the development of national statistical services and the special training of statisticians.
Forest Development
Manpower and immigration. As it had done at a previous session, the Commission drew the attention of member governments to the importance of settlement and immigration as frequently presenting the only means of fostering forest development. It suggested that studies be undertaken of specific projects involving technical, economic, financial, or manpower difficulties which cannot be solved by governments acting alone but which are within the competence of international organizations. These studies should be referred to the ECLA Committee on Economic Development and Immigration on which FAO, ILO, and other agencies interested in immigration are represented. The International Bank would also contribute in finding solutions.
The Commission considered that the concept of integrated forest industries as advocated by FAO, constitutes the most desirable approach to forest development from all points of view. The nature and extent of the movement of manpower required would vary in different eases. It may proceed from surrounding areas of the same country, or from other countries. Its character will depend on the physical, climatic, and social conditions prevailing, and the nature of the manpower needs. In the temperate and subtropical zones, the Commission believed that immigration from European countries could have a far-reaching effect on forest development, to the benefit of European and Latin-American countries. In the tropical and equatorial zones, European immigration would be limited in extent; the problems of obtaining manpower adapted to the prevailing climatic, conditions are quite complex. Intensive mechanization in such areas may be of particular importance in solving manpower shortages. Preparations for the settlement of new communities need the most careful study.
The whole matter will continue to receive the close attention of governments of FAO, and of other agencies concerned. Special missions under the Expanded Technical Assistance Program will be called upon to carry out particular studies.
Chemical utilization. The Commission was of the opinion that chemical industries would in many circumstances present the only possibility of profitably utilizing many types of forest in the region, particularly the heterogeneous mixtures of tropical and temperate hardwoods. Several processes now offer theoretical solutions, having been developed in the laboratory or in pilot plants. Maximum use was urged of research facilities existing in Latin America and of the services of technicians already experienced in the particular problems involved. The Commission believed that FAO should consider the allocation of technical assistance funds for research into appropriate manufacturing processes.
Although it is difficult to foresee industrial requirements decades ahead, forest management and silvicultural methods should take full account of the prospects opened up by chemical utilization. Clearly, the need of wood pulp for paper manufacture is greatly in excess of production and is likely to remain so. Everything possible should therefore be done by foresters and industrialists to facilitate an expanded production.
Equipment. The Commission took note of the work carried out by the FAO secretariat in assembling information from manufacturers on modern equipment and machinery, and in passing on this information to interested parties. It urged continuation of this work, indicating that there is a special need for investigation of the ways in which equipment should be adapted to the conditions in tropical regions.
Technical Assistance
The main theme of many of the Commission's discussions was the Expanded Technical Assistance Program. Requests for assistance are steadily being received by the Director-General from countries in the region, and formal agreements have already been concluded with Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, and Colombia. Other agreements are under negotiation with Brazil, Chile, and Mexico. Forestry experts have already accompanied FAO missions to Venezuela and Nicaragua, a United Nations' mission to Bolivia, and an International Bank mission to Uruguay.
The Commission urged all governments to take advantage of the expanded program, but stressed that, in all projects, due emphasis must be placed on sound forestry measures that ensure a continuous supply of raw materials while safeguarding the inherited forest wealth. The expansion of research in the various fields of forestry and forest products is essential.
Great importance was attached to the feet that recommendations of experts for forest development in ETAP projects must be accompanied by advice on suitable financing methods. The manner in which national financial resources can be utilized must be examined with the appropriate governmental agencies, and there is also a need for collaboration with ECLA, the International Bank, and other credit organizations.
AS reported in our last issue, the first agreement under the Expanded Technical Program between FAO and a member government was signed in September 1950. It was an agreement to furnish an expert to the Government of Burma to advise on the possibility and suitability of setting up integrated forest industries. The highly qualified Austrian expert entrusted with this task recently arrived in Burma. He will make local investigations, formulate an over-all development program, and prepare detailed plans for the industries proposed. At the same time, FAO is arranging for two forest officers from Burma to study integrated forest industries in Northern Europe and North America.
Shortly after the agreement with Burma was signed, a second agreement was completed with the Government of Guatemala, to advise that country on problems connected with forest conservation, and soil and water conservation. Two experts have been designated. One - a French forester - took up his duties in Guatemala in mid-November 1950, after having been briefed at Headquarters in Washington. The second expert - a German entomologist - will shortly leave for Guatemala. He will be concerned mainly with the protection of the pine forests against insect pests. Both experts will also be responsible for the training of forest staffs and personnel.
The following are other Technical Assistance agreements which have recently been signed with Latin-American countries:
Colombia: The FAO program for Colombia is being organized under three separate agreements, one of which is still being negotiated with the Government. The program will involve the services of ten experts working in the fields of forestry, technical agriculture, and food and agricultural planning. The tasks of these experts are based in part on the recommendations of the recent International Bank Mission to Colombia. A Netherlands forestry expert will shortly take up his duties in Colombia, and prepare a preliminary basic survey of the forest economy of the country, with particular attention to conservation, management, and the economic utilization of the forest resource. He will investigate the role of forests in soil stabilization and conservation, and in the protection of watersheds, rangelands and farmlands. He will also take into consideration the need for the expansion of supplies of primary and secondary products for internal consumption and for the export trade of the country, and advise on the recruitment of further technical experts for the implementation of any developments the Government decides to undertake.Honduras This agreement provides for the services of four advisers in the fields of forestry, agricultural planning, supervised credit, and grain storage. This is part of a broad program of development by the Government for which Assistance has also been sought from other international agencies. Honduras is a country rich in forest resources, consisting both of tropical hardwoods and extensive areas of pine. Honduras mahogany is a particularly valuable commodity, known in all the markets of the world. However, the existing system of agriculture is needlessly destroying forest areas. To help this situation, FAO is supplying a British forestry expert, who has just taken up his duties in Honduras. He will make an initial survey of the situation, with regard both to the needs of conservation and development for the forest resources and for the expansion of forest industries. He will also make specific recommendations for necessary legislative and other measures to implement the new national forest policy now under consideration by the Government.
Haiti: FAO is now assisting the Government of Haiti in carrying out certain of the recommendations of the United Nations' Mission to Haiti, in which FAO took part. The significance of forest areas for soil conservation and for providing local timber requirements was stressed in this report. The present agreement is designed to assist the Government in carrying out the particular recommendations made in this connection.
In the Far East, in addition to Burma further technical, Assistance agreements have been signed as follows:
India: FAO will supply three forestry experts and arrange two travel fellowships. One of the fellows will study problems of organizing woodworking industries, while the other will be engaged in termite control studies. Experts to be supplied are a sawmilling technician having special experience in the layout, organization, and management of hardwood mills; a pulp engineer to investigate the possibilities of a new newsprint mill and to study the raw material supply situation; and a wood technologist to carry out research assignments at the Forest Products Research Institute at Dehra Dun.
Indonesia: On the basis of the report of an exploratory group of United Nations' experts who made a preliminary survey of Indonesia's needs for technical assistance, a comprehensive agreement was signed between the Government of Indonesia and several United Nations' agencies. This agreement provided for a number of long-term experts, of which FAO will supply one in the field of forestry and one in the field of agriculture The special task of the forestry expert will be to advise on mechanical logging and extraction. He will also have to assist the Government in the planning of further technical assistance.
Ceylon: FAO has entered into an agreement with Ceylon to provide nine specialists to assist the Government in various phases of forestry, technical agriculture and agricultural economies and statistics. Ceylon has had a highly efficient forestry organization for many years but the utilization of forest Products could be considerably improved. The agreement provides for a forest engineer to advise the Forestry Department and to instruct local personnel in the best methods of conducting logging and extraction operations and in constructing forest roads, and a competent machinist to train local staff in research into the working qualities of local woods. A fellowship is provided for the training of a timber utilization research officer.
Thailand: The FAO Mission to Thailand in 1948 made a number of recommendations for developments based on a detailed examination of the country's economy. Close contact has since been maintained with the Government through
The regional office of the Organization in Bangkok. One of the main concerns of the Government is that the country shall maintain the prosperity and comparatively high standard of living it has enjoyed for many years. Four forestry experts will give advice and assistance on forest management, plantation practices, forest surveys and sawmilling techniques, and train local personnel. Five forestry fellowships have been requested for the study of modern and improved methods of forest management, silviculture, and sawmilling.
Pakistan: Four experts are to be supplied for varying periods to help plan and organize a forestry development program: a logging expert with specialization in mechanical extraction methods to plan improved and mechanized economic exploitation of the tropical forests of the Chittagong Hill tracts in East Pakistan, an expert in the development of integrated forest industries, to advise on a more complete and integrated utilization of these forests; a sawmill expert to advise on the development of a processing unit for this area; and a medicinal plant chemist to study the chemical and economic properties of forest herbs and plants, and advise on methods of improving their yield.
It is also proposed to establish five fellowships for the training of national personnel for future employment in the over-all Pakistan forestry development program.
In Europe, a Technical Assistance agreement has been signed with Austria. The Austrian request for Technical Assistance in forestry stems from the report of the FAO Forestry Mission in 1950. That Mission recommended a broad program of forest rehabilitation, including reafforestation of some 300,000 hectares of cut-over land and the construction of forest roads and cableways for the logging of hitherto inaccessible areas. It also proposed large-scale capital investment for the modernization of Austrian forest industries. The ECA special mission to Austria co-operated fully in the preparation of this report and is helping the Government to implement the recommendations contained in it. The Government of Austria has already established a Forestry Commission proposed by the Mission and, with the approval of ECA, has made large allocations towards the capital investments required for the modernization of its forest industries. It has now requested FAO to supply three forestry experts to assist in this program. The advisory services of two FAO technicians are desired on various phases of the forest development and investment program. The third expert is a sawmill technician to advise and train the country's technicians in plant modernization and efficiency, especially with a view to reduction of waste increasing productive capacity, and reducing processing costs of sawmilling operations.
A number of other Technical Assistance Agreements are now under negotiation and are expected to be signed in the near future. They will be reported in later issues of UNASYLVA. The expanded Technical Assistance program of the Division of Forestry and Forest Products is in charge of D. Roy Cameron, latterly Chief of FAO's European Forestry office and Director of the ECE Timber Division.
REGIONAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECTS
Latin-American Pulp Research Laboratory
Besides its activities in the field of technical advice requested by individual countries, FAO is also considering regional Technical Assistance projects, the most important of which is for the carrying out of research in Brazil on the possibilities of manufacturing chemical pulp from heterogeneous mixtures of tropical species. Part of the funds for this purpose might be made available from contributions to the Technical Assistance funds. The services of a laboratory and pilot plant of the type required would be of direct use to all Latin-American countries, as well as to Brazil.
International Training Center on Prevention and Fighting of Forest Fires
In response to requests received from a number of countries, the U. S. Forest Service, the Economic Co-operation Administration, and FAO are giving consideration to the organization of courses in the United States, and possibly Canada, in the prevention and fighting of forest fires. It has been ascertained that some forty countries are interested in the project. In many countries proper protection against forest fires is one of the fundamental requirements for improved forest management, and FAO lays great stress on the importance of this regional project.
Asian Training Center for Lumber Graders
The Forestry and Forest Products Commission for Asia and the Pacific made a definite recommendation for a regional lumber graders' training course. The object will be to train inspectors in lumber grading, so that they may, on return to their own countries, pass on their knowledge and experience.
Asian Forest Research Institute
The Government of India has informally proposed that the Forest Research Institute at Dehra Dun should be developed to service member countries in that area. It is willing to provide facilities, at the Institute for students and research workers from other countries in the region. This project is still in the preliminary stage.
The following meetings with which the Division of Forestry and. Forest Products is directly concerned, are scheduled for 1951:
· International Poplar Commission (Fifth Session), United Kingdom, 25 April-2 May.· Second Conference on Mechanical Wood Technology, Austria, August.
· Land Utilization in Tropical Regions, Ceylon, August. (Postponed from 1950.)
· European Forestry and Forest Products Commission, Rome, September.
· Technical Committee on Wood Chemistry (Fifth meeting), New York, U.S.A., September.
· FAO Conference (Sixth Session) Rome, November.
