agenda-21.pdf

b. Strengthen coordinating mechanisms between institutions that deal with land-use and resources management to facilitate integration of sectoral concerns and strategies;
c. Strengthen local decision-making capacity and improve coordination with higher levels.

Agenda 21 – Chapter 11 COMBATING DEFORESTATION PROGRAMME AREAS
A. Sustaining the multiple roles and functions of all types of forests, forest lands and woodlands

Basis for action

11.1. There are major we aknesses in the policies, methods and mechanisms adopted to support and develop the multiple ecological, economic, social and cultural roles of trees, forests and forest lands. Many developed countries are confronted with the effects of air pollution and f ire damage on their forests. More effective measures and approaches are often required at the national level to improve and harmonize policy formulation, planning and programming; legislative measures and instruments; development patterns; participation of the general public, especially women and indigenous people; involvement of youth; roles of the private sector, local organizations, non -governmental organizations and cooperatives; development of technical and multidisciplinary skills and quality of human resources; forestry extension and public education; research capability and support; administrative structures and mechanisms, including intersectoral coordination, decentralization and responsibility and incentive systems; and dissemination of informatio n and public relations. This is especially important to ensure a rational and holistic approach to the sustainable and environmentally sound development of forests. The need for securing the multiple roles of forests and forest lands through adequate and a ppropriate institutional strengthening has been repeatedly emphasized in many of the reports, decisions and recommendations of FAO, ITTO, UNEP, the World Bank, IUCN and other organizations.

Objectives

11.2. The objectives of this programme area are as follow s:
a. To strengthen forest -related national institutions, to enhance the scope and effectiveness of activities related to the management, conservation and sustainable development of forests, and to effectively ensure the sustainable utilization and productio n of forests' goods and services in both the developed and the developing countries; by the year 2000, to strengthen the capacities and capabilities of national institutions to enable them to acquire the necessary knowledge for the protection and conservat ion of forests, as well as to expand their scope and, correspondingly, enhance the effectiveness of programmes and activities related to the management and development of forests;
b. To strengthen and improve human, technical and professional skills, as well as expertise and capabilities to effectively formulate and implement policies, plans, programmes, research and projects on management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests and forest -based resources, and forest lands inclusive, as well as other areas from which forest benefits can be derived.
Activities
(a) Management-related activities

11.3 Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of regional, subregional and international organizations, should, where necessary, en hance institutional capability to promote the multiple roles and functions of all types of forests and vegetation inclusive of other related lands and forest -based resources in supporting sustainable development and environmental conservation in all sector s. This should be done, wherever possible and necessary, by strengthening and/or modifying the existing structures and arrangements, and by improving cooperation and coordination of their respective roles. Some of the major activities in this regard are as follows:
a. Rationalizing and strengthening administrative structures and mechanisms, including provision of adequate levels of staff and allocation of responsibilities, decentralization of decision-making, provision of infrastructural facilities and equipm ent, intersectoral coordination and an effective system of communication;
b. Promoting participation of the private sector, labour unions, rural cooperatives, local communities, indigenous people, youth, women, user groups and non -governmental organizations in forest-related activities, and access to information and training programmes within the national context;
c. Reviewing and, if necessary, revising measures and programmes relevant to all types of forests and vegetation, inclusive of other related lands an d forest-based resources, and relating them to other land uses and development policies and legislation; promoting adequate legislation and other measures as a basis against uncontrolled conversion to other types of land uses;
d. Developing and implementing plans and programmes, including definition of national and, if necessary, regional and subregional goals, programmes and criteria for their implementation and subsequent improvement;
e. Establishing, developing and sustaining an effective system of forest ex tension and public education to ensure better awareness, appreciation and management of forests with regard to the multiple roles and values of trees, forests and forest lands;
f. Establishing and/or strengthening institutions for forest education and traini ng, as well as forestry industries, for developing an adequate cadre of trained and skilled staff at the professional, technical and vocational levels, with emphasis on youth and women;
g. Establishing and strengthening capabilities for research related to t he different aspects of forests and forest products, for example, on the sustainable management of forests, research on biodiversity, on the effects of air -borne pollutants, on traditional uses of forest resources by local populations and indigenous people , and on improving market returns and other non - market values from the management of forests.
(b) Data and information

11.4. Governments at the appropriate level, with the assistance and cooperation of international, regional, subregional and bilateral agenci es, where relevant, should develop adequate databases and baseline information necessary for planning and programme evaluation. Some of the more specific activities include the following:
a. Collecting, compiling and regularly updating and distributing infor mation on land classification and land use, including data on forest cover, areas suitable for afforestation, endangered species, ecological values, traditional/indigenous land use values, biomass and productivity, correlating demographic, socio -economic and forest resources information at the micro- and macro-levels, and undertaking periodic analyses of forest programmes;
b. Establishing linkages with other data systems and sources relevant to supporting forest management, conservation and development, while further developing or reinforcing existing systems such as geographic information systems, as appropriate;
c. Creating mechanisms to ensure public access to this information.
(c) International and regional cooperation and coordination

11.5. Governments at the appropriate level and institutions should cooperate in the provision of expertise and other support and the promotion of international research efforts, in particular with a view to enhancing transfer of technology and specialized training and ensuring acc ess to experiences and research results. There is need for strengthening coordination and improving the performance of existing forest-related international organizations in providing technical cooperation and support to interested countries for the manage ment, conservation and sustainable development of forests.

Means of implementation

(a) Financial and cost evaluation

11.6. The secretariat of the Conference has estimated the average total annual cost (1993 -2000) of implementing the activities of this pro gramme to be about $2.5 billion, including about $860 million from the international community on grant or concessional terms. These are indicative and order -of- magnitude estimates only and have not been reviewed by Governments. Actual costs and financial terms, including any that are non -concessional, will depend upon, inter alia, the specific strategies and programmes Governments decide upon for implementation.

(b) Scientific and technological means

11.7. The planning, research and training activities speci fied will form the scientific and technological means for implementing the programme, as well as its output. The systems, methodology and know - how generated by the programme will help improve efficiency. Some of the specific steps involved should include:
a. Analysing achievements, constraints and social issues for supporting programme formulation and implementation;
b. Analysing research problems and research needs, research planning and implementation of specific research projects;
c. Assessing needs for human resources, skill development and training;
d. Developing, testing and applying appropriate methodologies/approaches in implementing forest programmes and plans.
(c) Human resource development

11.8. The specific components of forest education and training will e ffectively contribute to human resource development. These include:
a. Launching of graduate and post -graduate degree, specialization and research programmes;
b. Strengthening of pre -service, in-service and extension service training programmes at the technical and vocational levels, including training of trainers/teachers, and developing curriculum and teaching materials/methods;
c. Special training for staff of national forest -related organizations in aspects such as project formulation, evaluation and periodic al evaluations.
(d) Capacity-building

11.9. This programme area is specifically concerned with capacity -building in the forest sector and all programme activities specified contribute to that end. In building new and strengthened capacities, full advantage should be taken of the existing systems and experience.

B. Enhancing the protection, sustainable management and conservation of all forests, and the greening of degraded areas, through forest rehabilitation, afforestation, reforestation and other rehabilitative means

Basis for action

11.10. Forests world wide have been and are being threatened by uncontrolled degradation and conversion to other types of land uses, influenced by increasing human needs; agricultural expansion; and environmentally harmful misman agement, including, for example, lack of adequate forest -fire control and anti-poaching measures, unsustainable commercial logging, overgrazing and unregulated browsing, harmful effects of airborne pollutants, economic incentives and other measures taken b y other sectors of the economy. The impacts of loss and degradation of forests are in the form of soil erosion; loss of biological diversity, damage to wildlife habitats and degradation of watershed areas, deterioration of the quality of life and reduction of the options for development.

11.11. The present situation calls for urgent and consistent action for conserving and sustaining forest resources. The greening of suitable areas, in all its component activities, is an effective way of increasing public awaren ess and participation in protecting and managing forest resources. It should include the consideration of land use and tenure patterns and local needs and should spell out and clarify the specific objectives of the different types of greening activities.

Objectives

11.12. The objectives of this programme area are as follows:
a. To maintain existing forests through conservation and management, and sustain and expand areas under forest and tree cover, in appropriate areas of both developed and developing countries, through the conservation of natural forests, protection, forest rehabilitation, regeneration, afforestation, reforestation and tree planting, with a view to maintaining or restoring the ecological balance and expanding the contribution of forests to huma n needs and welfare;
b. To prepare and implement, as appropriate, national forestry action programmes and/or plans for the management, conservation and sustainable development of forests. These programmes and/or plans should be integrated with other land use s. In this context, country -driven national forestry action programmes and/or plans under the Tropical Forestry Action Programme are currently being implemented in more than 80 countries, with the support of the international community;
c. To ensure sustaina ble management and, where appropriate, conservation of existing and future forest resources;
d. To maintain and increase the ecological, biological, climatic, socio -cultural and economic contributions of forest resources;
e. To facilitate and support the effec tive implementation of the non -legally binding authoritative statement of principles for a global consensus on the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests, adopted by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Dev elopment, and on the basis of the implementation of these principles to consider the need for and the feasibility of all kinds of appropriate internationally agreed arrangements to promote international cooperation on forest management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests, including afforestation, reforestation and rehabilitation.
Activities

(a) Management-related activities

11.13. Governments should recognize the importance of categorizing forests, within the framework of long-term forest conservation and management policies, into different forest types and setting up sustainable units in every region/watershed with a view to securing the conservation of forests. Governments, with the participation of the private sector, non -governmental organizations, local community groups, indigenous people, women, local government units and the public at large, should act to maintain and expand the existing vegetative cover wherever ecologically, socially and economically feasible, through tech nical cooperation and other forms of support. Major activities to be considered include:
a. Ensuring the sustainable management of all forest ecosystems and woodlands, through improved proper planning, management and timely implementation of silvicultural operations, including inventory and relevant research, as well as rehabilitation of degraded natural forests to restore productivity and environmental contributions, giving particular attention to human needs for economic and ecological services, wood -based energy, agroforestry, non-timber forest products and services, watershed and soil protection, wildlife management, and forest genetic resources;
b. Establishing, expanding and managing, as appropriate to each national context, protected area systems, which i ncludes systems of conservation units for their environmental, social and spiritual functions and values, including conservation of forests in representative ecological systems and landscapes, primary old -growth forests, conservation and management of wildlife, nomination of World Heritage Sites under the World Heritage Convention, as appropriate, conservation of genetic resources, involving in situ and ex situ measures and undertaking supportive measures to ensure sustainable utilization of biological reso urces and conservation of biological diversity and the traditional forest habitats of indigenous people, forest dwellers and local communities;
c. Undertaking and promoting buffer and transition zone management;
d. Carrying out revegetation in appropriate moun tain areas, highlands, bare lands, degraded farm lands, arid and semi -arid lands and coastal areas for combating desertification and preventing erosion problems and for other protective functions and national programmes for rehabilitation of degraded lands , including community forestry, social forestry, agroforestry and silvipasture, while also taking into account the role of forests as national carbon reservoirs and sinks;
e. Developing industrial and non -industrial planted forests in order to support and pr omote national ecologically sound afforestation and reforestation/regeneration programmes in suitable sites, including upgrading of existing planted forests of both industrial and non - industrial and commercial purpose to increase their contribution to huma n needs and to offset pressure on primary/old growth forests. Measures should be taken to promote and provide intermediate yields and to improve the rate of returns on investments in planted forests, through interplanting and underplanting valuable crops;
f. Developing/strengthening a national and/or master plan for planted forests as a priority, indicating, inter alia, the location, scope and species, and specifying areas of existing planted forests requiring rehabilitation, taking into account the economic aspect for future planted forest development, giving emphasis to native species;
g. Increasing the protection of forests from pollutants, fire, pests and diseases and other human - made interferences such as forest poaching, mining and unmitigated shifting cul tivation, the uncontrolled introduction of exotic plant and animal species, as well as developing and accelerating research for a better understanding of problems relating to the management and regeneration of all types of forests; strengthening and/or est ablishing appropriate measures to assess and/or check inter -border movement of plants and related materials;
h. Stimulating development of urban forestry for the greening of urban, peri -urban and rural human settlements for amenity, recreation and production purposes and for protecting trees and groves;
i. Launching or improving opportunities for particpation of all people, including youth, women, indigenous people and local communities in the formulation, development and implementation of forest-related programmes and other activities, taking due account of the local needs and cultural values;
j. Limiting and aiming to halt destructive shifting cultivation by addressing the underlying social and ecological causes.
(b) Data and information

11.14. Management-related activities should involve collection, compilation and analysis of data/information, including baseline surveys. Some of the specific activities include the following:
a. Carrying out surveys and developing and implementing land-use plans for appropriate greening/planting/afforestation/reforestation/forest rehabilitation;
b. Consolidating and updating land-use and forest inventory and management information for management and land-use planning of wood and non-wood resources, including data on shifting cultivation and other agents of forest destruction;
c. Consolidating information on genetic resources and related biotechnology, including surveys and studies, as necessary;
d. Carrying out surveys and research on local/indigenous knowledge of trees and forests and their uses to improve the planning and implementation of sustainable forest management;
e. Compiling and analysing research data on species/site interaction of species used in planted forests and assessing the potential impact on forests of climatic change, as well as effects of forests on climate, and initiating in-depth studies on the carbon cycle relating to different forest types to provide scientific advice and technical support;
f. Establishing linkages with other data/information sources that relate to sustainable management and use of forests and improving access to data and information;
g. Developing and intensifying research to improve knowledge and understanding of problems and natural mechanisms related to the management and rehabilitation of forests, including research on fauna and its interrelation with forests;
h. Consolidating information on forest conditions and site-influencing immissions and emissions.
(c) International and regional cooperation and coordination

11.15. The greening of appropriate areas is a task of global importance and impact. The international and regional community should provide technical cooperation and other means for this programme area. Specific activities of an international nature, in support of national efforts, should include the following:
a. Increasing cooperative actions to reduce pollutants and trans-boundary impacts affecting the health of trees and forests and conservation of representative ecosystems;
b. Coordinating regional and subregional research on carbon sequestration, air pollution and other environmental issues;
c. Documenting and exchanging information/experience for the benefit of countries with similar problems and prospects;
d. Strengthening the coordination and improving the capacity and ability of intergovernmental organizations such as FAO, ITTO, UNEP and UNESCO to provide technical support for the management, conservation and sustainable development of forests, including support for the negotiation of the International Tropical Timber Agreement of 1983, due in 1992/93.