REPORT OF FAO FORESTRY COMMITTEE 2003

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ROME 001320 SIPDIS FROM THE U.S. MISSION TO THE UN AGENCIES IN ROME USDA FOREST SERVICE FOR FOREST CHIEF BOSWORTH, V. MEZAINIS, J. LEVIY AND D. INGRAM STATE FOR IO/EDA KOTOK AND OES/ENV CASWELL, MCALPINE AND BROWN USDA/FAS FOR RICHARD HUGHES NAIROBI FOR UNEP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC EAGR SENV FAO SUBJECT: REPORT OF FAO FORESTRY COMMITTEE 2003 ¶1. SUMMARY. THE 16TH SESSION OF THE UN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION (FAO) BIENNIAL COMMITTEE ON FORESTRYS (COFO) FEATURED AN INNOVATIVE FORMAT THAT ALLOWED FOR GREATER EMPHASIS ON INFORMAL TECHNICAL EXCHANGES ON TECHNICAL ISSUES AND FORESTRY PROGRAM AREAS OF AND DISCUSSIONS ON ISSUES AND AREAS OF WORK OF INTEREST TO THE COMMITTEE AND FAOMEMBERS. THE MEMBER COUNTRIES SHOWED APPRECIATION TO FAO FOR PROVIDING DETAILED PROGRAMS OF WORK AND BUDGET THAT ALLOWED THE PROVISION OF DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE PROGRAM OF WORK AND BUDGET ALLOWED FOR THOUGHTFUL AND CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK ON MEDIUM AND LONG-TERM ACTIVITIES IN FORESTRY. THERE WAS STRONG MMEMBERS COUNTRY SUPPORTED FOR FAO'S NEW EMPHASIS ON ON THE ISSUES OF WATER AND FORESTS, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE AND FORESTS, FOOD SECURITY AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION. DELEGATIONS MEMBERS ALSO SUPPORTED APPLAUDED FAO'S EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN THE ROLE OF THE RREGIONAL FFORESTRY CCOMMISSIONS. THESE EFFORTS INCLUDED WITH A MULTIIT-REGION PANEL THAT DISCUSSED THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON FORESTS (IPF) AND THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL FORUM ON FORESTS (IPF/IFF) PROPOSALS FOR ACTION DURING PLENARY AND RECOGNITION AND SUPPORT AND TO RECOGNIZE AND SUPPORT THE PROCESS OF OF THE ROLE OF NATIONAL FOREST PROGRAMS AS A TOOL FOR HELPING COUNTRIES TO BE USED BY COUNTRIES AS ONE OF THEIR TOOLS FOR ACHIEVEING SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT. BRAZILIAN DELEGATE, MR. FLAVIO MIRAGAIA PERRI, BRAZIL, CHAIRED THE SESSION, AND ??? OF ??? WAS 1ST VICE-CHAIR. END SUMMARY. ¶2. THE 16THTH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION'S (FAO'S) COMMITTEE ON FORESTRY (COFO) HELD ITS BIENNIAL MEETING IN ROME, ITALY MARCH 10- 14, 2003, PRECEDED BY TWO, ONE DAY MEETINGS OF FAO'S RREGIONAL FFORESTRY CCOMMISSIONS AND THE COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP ON FORESTS (CPF). THE U.S. DELEGATION, HEADED BY THE USDA FOREST SERVICE CHIEF DALE BOSWORTH, COMPRISED AMBASSADOR THE HONORABLE TONY P. HALL, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UN AGENCIES IN ROME; VALDIS MEZAINIS, DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS; JERILYN LEVI, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR; DENISE INGRAM, ECONOMIC POLICY ADVISOR AND DONNA JANISCH, PROGRAM ANALYST OF THE USDA FOREST SERVICE; RICHARD HUGHES (USDA/FAS); STEPHANIE CASWELL, (STATE/OES); JAN MCALPINE (STATE/OES); ED BROWN (STATE/OES); JON ANDERSON (AID/AFR); ALTERNATE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVES LUCY TAMLYN AND ; KATIE NISHIURAXXXX; AND PRIVATE SECTOR ADVISORS GERALD ROSE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE FORESTERS AND MARVIN BROWN OF THE AMERICAN FOREST AND PAPER ASSOCIATION. ¶3. FAO DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL DAVID HARCHARIK OPENED THE MEETING WITH REMARKS ON THE ONGOING EMPHASIS ON IMPROVED STRATEGIC PLANNING WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION. MR. HARCHARIK HIGHLIGHTED FAO'S EXPANDED INCORPORATION OF INFORMAL SESSIONS AND SIDE MEETINGS WITHIN THE COFO AGENDA. NOTE: THE U.S. WARMLY ENDORSED THIS APPROACH AS IT THIS NEW APPROACH CONTINUES TO BE ENDORSED BY THE U.S. AS IT ENHANCEDS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE WEEK-LONG MEETING. END NOTE. ¶4. AMBASSADOR MR. FLAVIO MIRAGAIA PERRI (, BRAZIL),WAS ELECTED TO THE CHAIR. AND ???, TO FIRST VICE CHAIR. UNDER HIS PRODUCTIVE CHAIRMANSHIP, COFO DELEGATES ADDRESSED A NUMBER OF TOPICS FURTHER DETAILED BELOW. STATE OF THE WORLD'S FORESTS REPORT -------------- ¶5. STATE OF THE WORLD'S FORESTS REPORT DELEGATES APPLAUDED THE COMPREHENSIVE SCOPE OF THE REPORT AND ITS USEFULNESS AS A POLICY AND PLANNING TOOL FOR EFFORTS TO ADDRESS SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF FOREST RESOURCES. THE REPORT IS ONE OF MANY OUTPUTS THAT RESULT FROM ONE OF FAO'S CORE MANDATES TO PROVIDE TIMELY MANAGEMENT AND DISSEMINATION OF FOREST INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE. THE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS CRITICAL TECHNICAL ISSUES SUCH AS THE VALUATION OF HYDROLOGICAL AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION SERVICES FROM FORESTS. THE DDELEGATES ALSO UNDERLINED THE IMPORTANCE OF FAO'S CONTINUED WORK IN THE COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP ON FORESTS (CPF) AND JOINED THE COMMITTEE IN APPLAUDING APPLAUDED THE LEADERSHIP OF FAO ASSISTANT DIRECTOR GENERAL HOSNY EL LAKANY IN THE CPF AND THE UN FORUM ON FORESTS (UNFF),PARTICULARLY WITH REGARDS TO THE ROME 00001320 001.2 OF 004 NNN ROME 00001320 002.1 OF 004 MISSIONS -------------- ¶6. REGIONAL FORESTRY COMMISSIONS. THE UNITED STATES SUPPORTEDAPPLAUDED FAO'S EFFORTS TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF REGIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS IN THE ACHIEVEMENT OF SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF FOREST RESOURCES. THE COFO ELEVATED THE PARTICIPATION OF THE CCOMMISSIONS BY BRINGING THEM INTO INTERACTIVE DEBATE POSING A QUESTION TO THE COMMISSIONERS REGARDING THEIR ROLE IN IMPLEMENTING THE IPF/IFF PROPOSALS FOR ACTION IN ADDITION TO THEIR REGULAR REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COMMITTEE. COUNTRIES WELCOMED THE INNOVATIVE APPROACH OF USING A PANEL OF RREGIONAL CCOMMISSIONERS TO ADDRESS THE COFO. A VARIETY OF SUGGESTIONS SURFACED FROM THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT WOULD LEVERAGE THE RREGIONAL CCOMMISSIONS' COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGES OF BUILDING NETWORKS, FOCUSING TECHNICAL FOCUS ON SPECIFIC TECHNICAL ISSUES, AND ENHANCING CO-OPERATION AT THE NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS. IN CONNECTION WITH THE WORK OF THE REGIONAL COMMISSIONS, COFO SUPPORTED AUSTRALIA'S A SUGGESTION WAS PUT FORTH BY AUSTRALIA FOR FAO TO ESTABLISH A SMALL GROUP OF EXPERTS FAMILIAR WITH THE IPF/IFF PROPOSALS FOR ACTIONS TO ASSESS AND ASSIST THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROPOSALS WITH COUNTRIES. FORESTS AND FRESHWATER -------------- ¶7. FOREST AND FRESHWATER. WATER AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT ISSUES CONTINUE TO BE RECOGNIZED BY GLOBAL RESOURCE COMMUNITIES AS CRITICAL ELEMENTS OF SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. THE EMPHASIS ON WATER ISSUES REFLECTS PRIORITIES EXPRESSED BY THE U.S. DELEGATION IN 2001 DURING THE 15THTH SESSION OF COFO. IT ALSO ECHOES PARALLEL ATTENTION IN 2003 THROUGH FORUMS SUCH AS THE WORLD FORUM ON WATER BEING HELD IN JAPAN. THE DELEGATES APPLAUDED FAO'S RECOGNITION OF WATER ISSUES AND THE NEW ENTITY IN THE MEDIUM TERM PLAN FOR 2004-09. IN PARTICULAR, MEMBER COUNTRIES STRESSED THE NEED FOR CAPACITY BUILDING AND INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING FOR IMPROVED CROSS-SECTORAL PLANNING AND STRATEGIES TO MITIGATE THE IMPACTS OF DECISIONS IN OTHER SECTORS ON FORESTS AND WATER RESOURCES AND THE DELIVERY OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES FROM THEM. NATIONAL FOREST PROGRAMS -------------- ¶8. NATIONAL FOREST PROGRAMS. DURING THIS MEETING THERE WAS AN THE FAO PROVIDED AN UPDATE ON THE PROGRESS OF NATIONAL FOREST PROGRAMS (NFPSNFPSS) AND THE NATIONAL FOREST PROGRAM FACILITY (NFPF). THE PROCESS OF SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT OF NFPSNFPS HAS PROGRESSED CONSIDERABLY INTO EFFORTS TO PROMOTE AND DEVELOP PARTICIPATORY AND MULTI-SECTORAL PROCESSES BY MEMBER COUNTRIES AS PART OF THEIR OVERALL SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES. ALTHOUGH THE UNITED STATES HAS YET TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE FACILITY, THE FUNDING ARM OF THE NFPSNFPS, IT SUPPORTS THE STRATEGY OF LINKING NFPSNFPS TO BROADER COMMITMENTS SUCH AS THOSE FROM THE WORLD FOOD SUMMIT:FIVE YEARS LATER FIVE YEARS LATER AND THE WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. DELEGATES RECOGNIZED THE VALUABLE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE NFPSNFPS TO CONTRIBUTE TO ACHIEVEMENTS IN FOOD SECURITY, POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGIES. FAO FORESTRY OUTLOOK STUDY FOR AFRICA -------------- ¶9. FAO FORESTRY OUTLOOK STUDY FOR AFRICA. THE DDELEGATES PRAISED FAO FOR A HIGH QUALITY STUDY AND FOR PROVIDING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF TRENDS AND IDENTIFYING PRIORITY AREAS FOR EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS. THE U. ¶S. HIGHLIGHTED ITS MAJOR INVOLVEMENT IN INITIATIVES WITH PARTNERS IN AFRICA THAT IN SUPPORT OF NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS IN AN ARRAY OF ECOSYSTEMS. THESE INCLUDE SUCH AS THE CONGO BASIN FOREST PARTNERSHIP (CBFP) LAUNCHED AT THE WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN JOHANNESBURG IN SEPTEMBER 2002 AND A U.S.- FUNDED HOSTING A MINISTERIAL MEETING ON AFRICA FOREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AND GOVERNANCE, SCHEDULED FOR TO MEET IN CAMEROON APRIL 1-4, 2003. THE U.S. THROUGH USAID) CO- HOSTED A SIDE EVENT SATELLITE SESSION WITH THE CENTER ROME 00001320 002.2 OF 004 NNN ROME 00001320 003.1 OF 004 DRESSES THE LINKAGES BETWEEN NATURE, WEALTH AND POWER AND THE NEED FOR LOCAL, COMMUNITY-BASED PARTICIPATION IN NATURAL RESOURCES DECISION-MAKING. REVIEW OF PROGRAMS IN THE FORESTRY SECTOR -------------- -------------- ¶10. REVIEW OF PROGRAMS IN THE FORESTRY SECTOR. DELEGATES TO THE 16THETH SESSION OF COFO WERE ASKED TO COMMENT ON FAO'S IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND REQUESTS FROM THE 15THTH SESSION. MEMBERS COUNTRIES APPLAUDED WELCOMED FAO'S ATTENTION TO PRIORITY ISSUES AND EXPANDED COVERAGE OF THE ISSUES THROUGH SIDE EVENTS DURING THE CURRENT SESSION. FAO WAS ENCOURAGED TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON ITS ROLE AND MANDATE AS A NEUTRAL FACILITATOR AND LEADER IN GLOBAL FOREST RESOURCE INFORMATION AND ASSESSMENTS. IN PARTICULAR, MEMBER COUNTRIES STRESSED THE NEED FOR FAO TO CONTINUE AND STRENGTHEN ITS LEADERSHIP IN THE COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP ON FORESTS (CPF) AND RELATED WORK OF THE UNFF. FAO WAS COMMENDED FOR ITS WORK IN DEVELOPING THE NATIONAL FOREST PROGRAM FACILITY AS ONE TOOL FOR ASSISTING COUNTRIES TO DEVELOP PROCESSES FOR NATIONAL PLANNING IN THE FOREST SECTOR THROUGH PARTICIPATORY PROCESSES AND THE COORDINATION OF EFFORTS WITH CRITERIA AND INDICATORS OF SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT. MEMBERS ADDITIONAL EMPHASIDEMPHASIZEDS WAS GIVEN TO EDUCATION, TRAINING AND RESEARCH AS CRITICAL TO CAPACITY BUILDING AND THE NEED FOR STRENGTHENING ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS IN CROSS-SECTORAL STUDIES IN SUPPORT OF THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL DIMENSIONS OF FORESTS. DEFINING OBJECTIVES AND THE MEDIUM TERM PLAN AND KEY CROSS-CUTTING AREAS OF WORK -------------- ¶11. DEFINING OBJECTIVES AND THE MEDIUM TERM PLAN AND KEY CROSS-CUTTING AREAS OF WORK. DELEGATES APPLAUDED WELCOMED FAO ON THE INCREASED TRANSPARENCY AND DETAIL OF THE PROGRAM OF WORK AND BUDGET AS THIS THAT AFFORDED MEMBERS COUNTRIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO EVALUATE PAST RECOMMENDATIONS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR FORESTRY. ADDITIONS TO THE WORK PROGRAM INCLUDED ACTIVITIES RELATING TO FORESTS AND WATER,; FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE,; FORESTS AND , FOOD SECURITY AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION. THE U.S. STRESSED THE NEED FOR RE- DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS WITHIN CURRENT LEVELS OF BUDGET TO REFLECT NEW EMPHASIS AND PRIORITY. DELEGATES SUPPORTED FAO'S FOCUS ON HARMONIZING FOREST-RELATED DEFINITIONS, TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO COUNTRIES OF LOW FOREST COVER, WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT, EDUCATION, NON-WOOD FOREST PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, AND FOREST HEALTH ISSUES. IN PARTICULAR, SEVERAL DELEGATES RECOMMENDED THAT ELEMENTS OF THE FEBRUARY 2003 U.S.- SUPPORTEDGUATEMALA MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN GUATEMALA ON THE CONTRIBUTION OF CRITERIA AND INDICATORS FOR SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT (CICI) BE INCLUDED IN THE FINAL REPORT OF COFO. THE OUTCOME OF THE GUATEMALA CONFERENCE SHOULD TO FACILITATE THE COORDINATION OF C AND &I PROCESSES, TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND CAPACITY BUILDING AND TO IMPROVE NETWORKING AND COMMUNICATION AMONG THE VARIETY OF INTERNATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND PROCESSES THAT MEMBER COUNTRIES MUST PARTICIPATE IN AND REPORT ON. ¶12. WORLD FORESTRY CONGRESS. CANADA PROVIDED SIDE EVENTS, AN EXHIBIT AND PROMOTIONAL FILM AND DISCUSSION ON THIS YEAR'S WORLD FORESTRY CONGRESS, TO BE HELD IN QUEBEC CITY, CANADA 21-28 SEPTEMBER 2003. AUSTRALIA SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL TO HOST THE 2009 CONGRESS. COMMENT -------------- ¶13. FINAL THOUGHTS. THE U.S. IS QUITE SUPPORTIVE OF THE WORK OF FAO'S FORESTRY ADG, DR. HOSNY EL LAKANY AND HIS STAFF CONTINUE TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT IN FAO IN RESPONSIVENESS TO MEMBER STATES AND PROGRAM EXCELLENCE. 'S AND HIS EFFORTS IN THE FORESTRY SECTOR. THE UNITED STATES DELEGATION PARTICULARLY NOTED HIS APPRECIATES HIS COMMITMENT TO THE RREGIONAL FFORESTRY CCOMMISSIONS, INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO COFO AND HIS LEADERSHIP IN THE CPF FOR EFFECTIVE PROGRESS WITH THE UNFF. THE DELEGATION ALSO APPRECIATES FAO'S INCREASED BUDGET TRANSPARENCY AND ITS FAO'S ADHERENCE TO ITS ROLE AS A NEUTRAL FACILITATOR AND CONVENER ON CRITICAL TOPICS (E.G., C AND &I, NATIONAL ROME 00001320 003.2 OF 004 NNN ROME 00001320 004.1 OF 004 ELEGATION TO THE SIXTEENTH SESSION OF COFO, BENEFITED FROM THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE NON-GOVERNMENT AND USG AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE DELEGATION. NOTABLY, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE VALUABLE INPUT OF LUCY TAMLYN (STATE/FODAG),KATIE XXX (STATE/FODAG),RICHARD HUGHES (USDA/FAS),ED BROWN (STATE/OES),STEPHANIE CASWELL (STATE/OETS),JAN MCALPINE (STATE/OES)AND JON ANDERSON (AID/AFR). HALL ROME 00001320 004.2 OF 004 NNN 2003ROME01320 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED