In many countries, forest policies and climate-related policies are the competencies of different sections of government and involve different groups of stakeholders and experts. The exchange of information across administrative and sectoral boundaries on issues around forestry and climate change is often limited. In many countries climate change issues have not been fully addressed in national forest policies, forestry mitigation and adaptation needs at national level have not been thoroughly considered in national climate change strategies, and cross-sectoral dimensions of climate change impacts and response measures have not been fully appreciated.

Countries’ actions in mitigation and adaptation could have major implications on forest policy and on sustainable forest management. National forest programmes (NFPs) are frameworks commonly agreed by countries for developing and implementing comprehensive forest policies in pursuit of sustainable forest management. Without properly addressing and integrating climate change issues into their NFPs, it is unlikely that countries will achieve sustainable forest management.

The foundation of the approach was created through findings of national workshops in four pilot countries in 2009 and 2010. The findings as well as the approach under development was then discussed in an expert meeting organized in Rome, Italy in September 2010. This meeting at FAO Headquarters involved national and international forest policy and climate change experts, including a participant from each of the four national stakeholder workshops.

More information from the expert meeting can be found from Programme expert workshop 20-21 September 2010, List of Participants and Workshop report.

The approach can be used in different ways depending on the country’s particular needs and the stage of development of its climate change strategies. For example:

• Countries can use the approach to facilitate stakeholder dialogue on elements of climate change, as well as related challenges and opportunities, that should be addressed in the NFP or the forest policy framework.
• Countries that have not yet identified priority actions in the forest sector for climate change mitigation and adaptation may use the approach to develop a national forest and climate change strategy.
• Countries that already have a forest and climate change strategy or a REDD+ strategy may use the approach to identify and make needed adjustments to their national forest policy framework to facilitate strategy implementation.
• Countries may use the approach as a way to check that existing strategies in relevant sectors are comprehensive and consistent, and adequately take into consideration stakeholder interests and priorities.
• The approach can also be used at sub-national levels for similar purposes.

The approach outlined in Climate Change for Forest Policy-Makers provides a general frame of reference for the integration of climate change considerations into NFPs or forest policy frameworks. Each country will have to adjust the approach and decide how to carry out best the relevant actions, taking into consideration its particular needs.