Key aspects of sustainable forest management Herbert Christ, International Forest Policy Programm, GTZ 02.07.2009 Seite 1
Forest management - What is at stake? The international community has recognized the global importance of forests especially for climate protection, biodiversity conservation and water supply. Forests underpin the livelihoods of 1.6 billion people and provide a wide range of economic benefits. But: the world s forests are continuing to disappear at a rate of 13 million hectares lost each year. Scarcely more than 10% of the world s forests are under under some form of protection. Good forest governance has been identified as a prerequisite for achieving sustainable management of all types of forests. 02.07.2009 Seite 2
Globalization advances, conflicting trends and trade-offs emerge: Deforestation is major source of greenhouse gas emissions, but forests are also cleared to make way for biofuel plantations. Rising global demand for timber and timber prices incentives for sustainable forest management and for short-term exploitation. Conservation efforts often fail to meet income and livelihood needs lack of acceptance by local people / communities. Profit from forests social and ecological services does not outweigh profit from converting forests and illegal logging. National development policies and strategies most often do not prioritise the forest sector lack of public financial resources Legal uncertainty and political risks in producer countries private investment often cannot be mobilised. 02.07.2009 Seite 3
Deforestation and forest degradation Causes Ecological, economic and social consequences International conventions and processes Common objective Large scale land use change (agriculture, biofuels) Illegal and/or unsustainable logging Fuelwood, subsistence farming Infrastructure (e.g. road building) Loss of forest cover Forest degradation Loss of trees outside forests Loss of biological diversity Loss of Carbon stocks Loss of regulating function for water and soil Loss of habitats and livelihoods Loss of private income and public revenues CBD UNFCCC / REDD UNCCD UNFF / NLBI FLEG- Processes Sustainable management of forests Protected areas in forests 02.07.2009 Seite 4
Definition of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) Sustainable forest management, as a dynamic and evolving concept, aims to maintain and enhance the economic, social and environmental values of all types of forests, for the benefit of present and future generations. (Definition included in the Non Legally Binding Instrument on all Types of Forests (NLBI), negotiated and agreed by UNFF 7 in April 2007 and approved by the UN General Assembly on 17.12.2007) http://daccess-ods.un.org/tmp/779038.3.html Seven thematic elements have been identified as key components of SFM: 02.07.2009 Seite 5
Thematic elements (1) Extent of forest resources (2) Biological diversity (3) Forest health and vitality (4) Productive functions (5) Protective functions (6) Socio-economic functions (7) Legal, policy and institutional framework SFM measures have significant forest cover, including trees outside forests, reduce deforestation, restore forests conserve / manage biological diversity at the ecosystem / landscape, species and genetic level, includes prot. areas minimize risks and impacts of unwanted disturbances (e.g. wildfires, invasive species, pests, diseases, insects) maintain high / valuable supply of primary products from forests / trees without compromising future options help moderate soil, hydrological and aquatic systems e.g. to maintain clean water and to reduce risks / impacts of floods, avalanches, erosion droughts contribute to the overall economy (employment, production, trade, investment), host and protect sites / landscapes with high cultural, spiritual, recreational values, including aspects of land tenure, indigenous / community management systems, traditional knowledge strengthen arrangements necessary to support themes 1-6 through e.g. participatory decision making, governance, law enforcement, address fair and equitable use of forests research, education, infrastructure arrangements 02.07.2009 Seite 6
NLBI 25 policies and measures on national level 19 measures on international / regional regional level, covering: Development and implementation of NFPs or equivalent strategies Cross-sectoral policy and programme coordination Governance Forest law enforcement in line with national legislation International trade in forest products Stakeholder participation Strengthening of Science and research Public awareness and education Means of implementation, in particular finance. Integration of priorities and programmes of CPF Criteria and indicators for SFM Monitoring and Assessment and Reporting 02.07.2009 Seite 7
Measures to implement SFM Specified measures were agreed in more than 270 IPF / IFF proposals for Action: http://www.profor.info/profor/documents/pdf/ipf_ifftext.pdf Proposals for Action are consistent with measures agreed in the CBD Expanded programme of Work on Forest Biological Diversity: http://www.cbd.int/forest/pow.shtml 02.07.2009 Seite 8
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Three Elements of CBD - Expanded programme of Work on Forest Biological Diversity 1. Conservation, sustainable use and benefit-sharing with 5 Goals: 1.1 Apply Ecosystem Approach 1.2 Reduce threats and mitigate the impacts of threatening processes 1.3 Protect, recover and restore forest biodiversity 1.4 Promote sustainable use of forest biodiversity 1.5 Access and benefit-sharing of forest genetic resources 2. Institutional and socio-economic enabling environment with 3 Goals: 2.1 Enhance institutional enabling environment 2.2 Address socio-economic failures and distortions 2.3 Increase public education, participation and awareness (CEPA) 3. Knowledge, assessment and monitoring with 4 Goals: 3.1 Characterize and analyse classification of forests 3.2 Improve knowledge on status and trends of forest biodiversity 3.3 Improve understanding of forest biodiversity and ecosystem functioning 3.4 Improve data and information management 02.07.2009 Seite 10
SFM is relevant in several international processes CBD COP 9 (Bonn): reach the 2010 biodiversity target and the 2010 target of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, through sustainable forest management and the ecosystem approach as well as other tools; NLBI GoF 1 and 3: Reverse the loss of forest cover worldwide through sustainable forest management, increase significantly the area of protected forests worldwide and other areas of sustainably managed forests and proportion of forest products from sustainably managed forests; UNFCCC COP 13 (Bali): identify options / undertake efforts to address drivers of deforestation with a view to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and enhancing forest carbon stocks due to sustainable management of forests; FLEG: implementation of sustainable forest management incorporates measures to improve forest law enforcement and forest governance 02.07.2009 Seite 11
Sustainable forest management including effective forest conservation cannot be achieved with a no touch approach: prevents local stakeholders from assuming responsibility in forest management and conservation keeps them from increasing their incomes and improving their livelihoods 02.07.2009 Seite 12
Efforts to promote SFM must focus on the following key subjects: improve forest management systems / forest conservation, contribute to poverty reduction participatory approaches, benefitsharing schemes conduct land titling and transfer of long-term use rights develop / apply innovative financing mechanisms based on forests ecological services improve law enforcement fulfillment of commitments to combat illegal logging and poaching develop / promote credible and independent certification schemes cooperate with the private sector to tap its potential as powerful partner in forest management, employment and income generation 02.07.2009 Seite 13
Capacity development is crucial enabling people, organisations societies to manage change processes in a self-determined way and empowering diverse stakeholders to develop and apply technical solutions and gain competence in negotiation and decision-making processes assist organisations to improve their structures and operational processes design and facilitate stakeholder participation and negotiation processes at all levels as the essence of good governance 02.07.2009 Seite 14
Global cooperation in sustainable use of forest resources needs to focus on finding practical solutions for: implementation of SFM and participatory forest policy processes access to and use of sustainable financing mechanisms development / implementation of strategies to conserve and sustainably use forest biodiversity in an equitable manner formulation / implementation of climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies efficient use of global markets for timber and NTFPs planning of sustainable production and efficient use of wood energy and biofuels guided by ecological / social standards 02.07.2009 Seite 15
For more information: IWP International Forest Policy Programm GTZ, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit Eschborn, Germany http://www.gtz.de/en/themen/laendliche-entwicklung/1822.htm www.gtz.de herbert.christ@gtz.de 02.07.2009 Seite 16