Forestry in economic/political regional groups¹

¹ Unless otherwise stated, all data on forest cover and forest products cited are from FAO databases: Forest Resources Assessment and the FAO Yearbook of Forest Products. 1994.

This section presents summary information on the eight economic/political regional groups listed below, together with data on forest resources, production and international trade in forest products. In each case, the figures for imports and exports take into account the value of international trade with all countries, including those within the regional group.

The economic/political regional groups covered here are:

· The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

· Comisión Centroamericana de Ambiente y Desarrollo/Central American Commission on Environment and Development (CCAD)

· Comité permanent inter-Etats de lutte centre la sécheresse dans le Sahel/ Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS)

· European Union (EU)

· Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD); formerly the Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD)

· Southern African Development Community (SADC)

· South Pacific Forum (SPF)

· Tratado de Cooperación Amazonica/Amazon Cooperation Treaty (TCA)

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

Members (7): Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam
Established: 1967
Headquarters: Jakarta, Indonesia

General description

ASEAN was formed to: (i) accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region; (ii) promote collaboration in economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific and administrative fields; (iii) provide mutual assistance in training and research facilities in the educational, professional, technical and administrative spheres; and (iv) promote Southeast Asian studies. Five summits have been held, the last one in Bangkok in 1995. Establishing the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) is currently one of ASEAN's primary activities for which it enacted the Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT) in 1993. This will eventually reduce tariffs on intra-regional trade to between 0 and 5 percent by 2008.

Description of forestry sector

Forest resources

ASEAN countries are rich in tropical forest resources which cover almost half of the land area. They are important in terms of biological diversity. The annual rate of forest resource loss is relatively high across the region, particularly in Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand.

Forest products

ASEAN is an important timber producing region, especially for tropical hardwoods. Malaysia and Indonesia are major producers of sawnwood and plywood, and the region is rapidly developing a substantial pulp and paper industry. Rubber, rattan and bamboo are important exports.

Trade

Indonesia and Malaysia are major exporters of forest products. ASEAN nations together supply 65 percent and 46 percent of the world's total plywood and tropical industrial roundwood exports, respectively. Malaysia is the second largest exporter of logs in the world. A significant proportion of trade in Asia is with Japan and China. Trade patterns have been changing, however, most notably with the emergence of Thailand and the Philippines as importers of sawnwood.

Forestry-related activities

Forestry issues are addressed by the ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environment (ASOEN). In 1993, ASEAN Ministers signed the ASEAN Cooperation in Food, Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF). This initiative addresses several themes related to forestry including: (i) promotion of forest products; (ii) technology generation and transfer; and (iii) natural resources management. ASEAN recently convened a meeting of private business representatives that resulted in an Action Plan for the promotion of forest products. One of its top priorities is promoting an increase in product quality and diversification.

Environmental protection and promotion of the principle of sustainable development are among ASEAN's top priorities. ASEAN supports UNCED principles on sustainable management of all forests and has called for new and additional financial resources to meet incremental costs of protecting the global environment as well as the transfer of appropriate technologies. It also supports, in principle, sustainable forestry certification for all types of timber, not only tropical. ASEAN is involved in a few regional projects involving forestry. The Mekong Basin Development Cooperation may result in an increased focus on riparian forests in efforts to improve the quality of the Mekong River.

Forest resources
land area (thousand ha)	328 055
total forest, 1995 (thousand ha)	153 212
percent forest land	46.7
forest hectares per person	0.4
annual change in forest area, 1990-95 (thousand ha)	-2 214
percent annual change, 1990-95	-1.2

Wood-based products	production
fuelwood and charcoal (m3)	252 755 000
industrial roundwood (m3)	85 207 480
sawnwood (m3)	18 948 500
wood panels (m3)	17 029 000
paper (tonnes)	6 035 000
pulp for paper (tonnes)	2 055 700

International forest products trade (Including between ASEAN countries)

product	exports		imports
	quantity	US$ thousand	quantity	US$ thousand
fuelwood and charcoal (m3)	1 793 948	70 961	259 650	6 170
industrial roundwood (m3)	9 735 975	1 054 063	2 461 747	396 007
sawnwood (m3)	5 808 391	2 279 154	3 512 684	904 409
wood panels (m3)	13 034 960	5 649 049	905 566	364 428
paper (tonnes)	1 298 098	947 886	2 983 167	2 168 772
pulp for paper (tonnes)	220 589	146 333	1 192 908	569 191

Comisión Centroamericana de Ambiente y Desarrollo/ Central American Commission on Environment and Development (CCAD)

Members (7): Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Nicaragua
Established: 1990
Headquarters: Guatemala City, Guatemala

General description

CCAD is not only a coordinating body, but the highest regional political entity in matters related to environment and development in member countries. It is currently the only regional group that has signed the UNCED convention and has begun a process of implementation through the relevant departments in each member country. CCAD was created through a legally binding charter that establishes conditions for coordination and implementation. The Commission is composed of the heads of each member's Ministries of Natural Resources and Environment, who have been active in promoting sustainable development within its region and internationally. Because of its strong collaborative leadership for the region, it is seen as a model organization around the world. Funding and technical assistance are of national, bilateral and multilateral character.

Description of forestry sector

Forest resources

Forest resources in the CCAD region are limited in size but very rich in terms of biological diversity due to a diverse topography. Although nearly 40 percent of the area remains under forest cover, the annual rate of loss is high.

Forest products

Most of the wood from the region's forests is consumed as fuelwood and charcoal. The largest producers of wood products among the member countries are Costa Rica and Guatemala. A variety of non-wood products such as fruits, nuts, and medicinal plants have important values in rural households as well as global markets.

Trade

In this region, Panama and Costa Rica are the largest importers of most products and exporters of paper. Leading exporters in other products are Honduras and Guatemala.

Forestry-related activities

The Central American Council of Forests and Protected Areas, CCAB-AP, is responsible for the implementation of the CCAD policies and strategies related to the sustainable use of forest resources and the conservation of biological diversity. The CCAB-AP is composed of the heads of the Forest Services and National Parks Departments, and the Coordinators of the National Forest Action Plans of the member countries.

CCAD uses the strength of its charter to develop regional programmes and negotiate funding from donors. Among the main activities carried out are: a study of the regional forestry policy; regional forest fire control; establishment of a regional biological corridor; study on the agriculture frontier; promoting participation in forestry by indigenous groups, rural communities and the private sector; and listing plants and animals in danger of extinction. Efforts to improve the forestry sector within each member country continue.

CCAD was instrumental in creating the Central American Alliance for Sustainable Development, Natural Resources, Biological Diversity and Environmental Legislation, a regional and national strategy containing the principles and commitments of actions on environmental matters. CCAD is also promoting the extension and sharing of the Alliance principles and establishing collaborative agreements (Alliances) with other countries, including the USA, Mexico, Canada, and the European Union.

Forest resources
land area (thousand ha)	51 073
total forest, 1995 (thousand ha)	19 631
percent forest land	38.4
forest hectares per person	0.6
annual change in forest area, 1990-95 (thousand ha)	-2 254
percent annual change, 1990-95	-2.1

Wood-based products	production
fuelwood and charcoal (m3)	32 477 000
industrial roundwood (m3)	2 967 800
sawnwood (m3)	1 762 500
wood panels (m3)	147 400
paper (tonnes)	79 400
pulp for paper (tonnes)	9 800

International forest products trade (including between CCAD countries)

product	exports		imports
	quantity	US$ thousand	quantity	US$ thousand
fuelwood and charcoal (m3)	1 102	133	n.a.	474
industrial roundwood (m3)	78 060	13 867	n.a.	2 806
sawnwood (m3)	139 779	38 731	n.a.	9 031
wood panels (m3)	19 834	8 807	n.a.	21 716
paper (tonnes)	8 952	6 354	n.a.	387 843
pulp for paper (tonnes)	1993	612	n.a.	7 559

Comité permanent inter-Etats de lutte contre la sécheresse dans le Sahel/ Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS)

Members (9): Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chad, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal
Established: 1973
Headquarters: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

General description

CILSS brings together technical leadership and experience to combat the causes of food insecurity and desertification in the Sudano-Sahelian region. Since its inception, much of CILSS' work has focused on forest resources. CILSS works at two levels: (1) within member countries to coordinate monitoring, training, and research activities; and (2) with multinational institutions to negotiate funding. CILSS and its member countries are primarily supported by the Club du Sahel, a sub-group of OECD countries.

Description of forestry sector

Forest resources

CILSS countries have limited forest resources. Only 7.5 percent of the land area is forested, mainly with dryland forests. The area in plantations increased by about 15 percent between 1990 and 1995, but they remain a small proportion of the total forest cover. Deforestation is currently estimated at 0.7 percent per year.

Forest products

In CILSS countries, the wood from forests is predominately used as fuelwood and charcoal. The current rate of fuelwood/charcoal use exceeds the long-term resource supply. Forests are extremely important sources of fodder, foods, and other non-wood forest products, such as gum arabic and shea nuts. Trees play a critical role in providing protection against desertification and enhancing farming systems through agroforestry.

Trade

CILSS countries do not produce sufficient wood to meet demand and are therefore highly dependent upon imports of wood products.

Forestry-related activities

Current activities focus on how economics and policies influence the demand and supply of forest resources and, ultimately, the state of soil fertility, fuelwood supply and land use management. CILSS analyses these issues and helps institutions at the village level to promote more sustainable development. CILSS will further develop its approach as it assists member countries to formulate a National Action Plan to Control Desertification, an initiative arising out of the recent United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

CILSS sponsors a number of regional activities, such as the Forest Seeds Programme, which began in Burkina Faso and is being introduced in Senegal, Mauritania and Mali. Other activities include coordination of reforestation programmes, a regional programme for environmental management and natural forest management programmes.

Forest resources
land area (thousand ha)	527 959
total forest, 1995 (thousand ha)	39 826
percent forest land	7.5
forest hectares per person	0.8
annual change in forest area, 1990-95 (thousand ha)	-1 473
percent annual change, 1990-95	-0.7

Wood-based products	production
fuelwood and charcoal (m3)	26 225 000
industrial roundwood (m3)	2 801 900
sawnwood (m3)	60 350
wood panels (m3)	0
paper (tonnes)	0
pulp for paper (tonnes)	0

International forest products trade (including between CILSS countries)

product	exports		imports
	quantity	US$ thousand	quantity	US$ thousand
fuelwood and charcoal (m3)	168	11	162	9
industrial roundwood (m3)	5 271	552	67 957	8 200
sawnwood (m3)	629	272	25 130	4 700
wood panels (m3)	903	434	9 317	5 624
paper (tonnes)	897	657	24 361	21 088
pulp for paper (tonnes)	0	0	23	27

European Union (EU)

Members (15): Austria (1995), Belgium, Denmark (1973), Finland (1995), France, Germany, Greece (1981), Ireland (1973), Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal (1986), Spain (1986), Sweden (1995), United Kingdom (1973)

Established: Originally Treaty of Rome, 1957; Maastricht Treaty, 1992, established current relationship.

Headquarters: EU institutions, including the Council of Ministers, the European Parliament, the European Commission and the European Court of Justice, are located in a number of cities, including Brussels, Strasbourg, and Luxembourg.

General description

The integration of European countries into the EU has been the goal of the many treaties signed since the Treaty of Rome, 1957. The Maastricht Treaty marked a new period in the development of a closer union by furthering economic integration, an international identity and foreign policy, and a common protection of rights through EU citizenship. The European Commission, restructured by the 1992 Treaty, functions as a policy/planning body, mediator, and executant of many decisions. The Commission governs independently in the common interest of the EU and through coordination with member countries. For example, issue-specific Directorates (e.g. agriculture, transportation) work to build regional consensus for common actions and laws. The European Commission also takes political positions in specific international fora such as the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Forests.

Trade

EU countries are major international traders in forest products. Finland, Sweden, France, Germany and Austria rank among the world's top exporters. Germany, the UK, Italy, France, The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg are among the top ten importers.

Forestry-related activities

The EU has no forest policy as such. However, forest related activities are carried out under other headings, notably agriculture (support for afforestation and forest improvement, action against forest fires), environment (forest protection, survey of forest condition), industry and development aid. A European forest sector information system is being built.

Description of forestry sector

Forest resources

Almost one-third of EU territory is covered with forests ranging from boreal to Mediterranean scrub. With the joining of Finland, Sweden and Austria in 1995, forest area in the EU nearly doubled. France, Germany and Spain also have large areas under forest cover.

Forest products

The EU as a whole is a leading producer of wood-based products, particularly panels, pulp for paper, and paper.

Forest resources
land area (thousand ha)	313 232
total forest, 1995 (thousand ha)	102 797
percent forest land	32.8
forest hectares per person	0.3
annual change in forest area, 1990-95 (thousand ha)	1 696
percent annual change, 1990-95	0.3

Wood-based products	production
fuelwood and charcoal (m3)	36 122 000
industrial roundwood (m3)	216 863 000
sawnwood (m3)	66 409 000
wood panels (m3)	31 197 000
paper (tonnes)	68 948 000
pulp for paper (tonnes)	31 134 900

International forest products trade (including between EU countries)

product	exports		imports
	quantity	US$ thousand	quantity	US$ thousand
fuelwood and charcoal (m3)	789 460	39 940	2 035 112	103 355
industrial roundwood (m3)	19 227 780	1 188 433	42 984 620	2 913 443
sawnwood (m3)	27 532 970	6 447 097	34 982 360	9 373 908
wood panels (m3)	10 898 640	4 179 405	12 854 670	5 165 063
paper (tonnes)	37 130 950	28 482 460	32 401 120	24 496 240
pulp for paper (tonnes)	7 407 934	3 524 081	13 233 380	6 681 577

Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD); formerly the Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD)

Members (7): Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda
Established: 1986
Headquarters: Djibouti, Djibouti

General description

IGAD is a relatively young organization and is still evolving. It was established largely in response to the 1983 drought with the intention of assisting member countries combat the effects of drought and further their overall development. IGAD is currently focusing on creating broad-scale economic development. Norway and Sweden are IGAD's largest financial supporters.

Description of forestry sector

Forest resources

IGAD's forests are varied across member countries. There is heavy pressure on resources, and the annual rate of forest loss is relatively high.

Forest production

The most important use of wood is charcoal and fuel. An important non-wood forest product in this region is gum arabic. The region has limited capacity for production of higher value goods. Kenya and Uganda benefit the most from forest resources as they contribute 19 percent and 23 percent to their GDPs respectively.

Trade

Trade in forest products is relatively low. With a few exceptions, (such as Kenya and Ethiopia in sawnwood), countries in this region are net importers of most products.

Forestry-related activities

IGAD's primary activities in forestry are addressed within its medium- to long-term integrated development programmes that aim to re-establish a productive and sustainable ecological balance in the region.² IGAD has also played an important coordinating role for regional initiatives, such as a project on the conservation of biological diversity in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania (sponsored by the Global Environmental Fund). IGAD assists member countries in policy development such as the National Action Plans to Combat Desertification as agreed to in the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

² IGAD also assists communities in emergency situations as well as providing other short-term assistance.

Forest resources
land area (thousand ha)	489 631
total forest, 1995 (thousand ha)	63 464
percent forest land	13.0
forest hectares per person	0.4
annual change in forest area, 1990-95 (thousand ha)	-2 394
percent annual change, 1990-95	-0.7

Wood-based products	production
fuelwood and charcoal (m3)	97 553 980
industrial roundwood (m3)	8 230 000
sawnwood (m3)	317 900
wood panels (m3)	68 700
paper (tonnes)	189 500
pulp for paper (tonnes)	90 000

International forest products trade (including between IGAD countries)

product	exports		imports
	quantity	US$ thousand	quantity	US$ thousand
fuelwood and charcoal (m3)	252	12	736	32
industrial roundwood (m3)	2 980	192	427	21
sawnwood (m3)	6 194	1 136	36 955	7 038
wood panels (m3)	159	62	9 139	4 156
paper (tonnes)	1 051	709	38 441	28 970
pulp for paper (tonnes)	180	188	4 261	1 976

Southern African Development Community (SADC)

Members (12): Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius (1995), Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa (1994), Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Established: 1980 (as Southern African Development Coordination Conference, SADCC); 1992 (as SADC) Headquarters: Gaborone, Botswana

General description

SADC replaced its predecessor, SADCC, to form a stronger commitment and binding obligations towards promoting economic integration into a common market. Its areas of activity include: culture and information; energy; food; agriculture and natural resources; industry and trade; human resources development; mining; tourism; and transport and communications. The coordination of each of these areas of regional cooperation, as well as the sub-activities within them, is being done by the individual member states which are expected to play a leadership role in developing and managing the respective areas of cooperation. The SADC Secretariat and the coordinating units in the individual member states are supported financially by the states; the SADC Programme of Action, which is in the form of regional projects, is primarily dependent on external support.

Description of forestry sector

Forest resources

SADC encompasses a large and diverse forest area. This region includes both tropical and temperate forest cover.

Forest products

Much of the harvested wood is consumed by households as fuelwood and charcoal. However, compared to other developing regions, SADC produces a substantial amount of industrial roundwood- Non-wood forest products resources, such as honey, medicine, caterpillars, thatch grass, truffles, etc., are also important for household use and rural incomes.

Trade

SADC is a net exporting region in most wood-based forest products, with the exception of paper. Trade is largely dominated by South Africa.

Forestry-related activities

SADC develops and implements specific projects in forestry through the Forestry Sector Technical Coordination Unit (FSTCU) in Malawi. In 1990, the FSTCU developed the Forestry Programme of Action that comprises a portfolio of projects which have been approved by SADC. This programme is based on six general areas: (i) forestry training and education; (ii) improved knowledge of the forest resource base; (iii) focused forest research; (iv) improved forest resource management; (v) forest products utilization and marketing; and (vi) integration of environmental protection with forestry development. FSTCU received direct funding of US$ 117 million (US$ 50 million secured) for 16 forestry-related projects. This sum is equivalent to about 1 percent of the total SADC budget of 1994.³

³ SADC's Transport and Communications Office receives more than 80 percent of the US$ 8 500 million total budget to spend on the improvement of the region's roads and railways.

Forest resources
land area (thousand ha)	679 934
total forest, 1995 (thousand ha)	149 973
percent forest land	22.1
forest hectares per person	1.2
annual change in forest area, 1990-95 (thousand ha)	-5 863
percent annual change, 1990-95	-0.8

Wood-based products	production
fuelwood and charcoal (m3)	84 994 200
industrial roundwood (m3)	26 391 900
sawnwood (m3)	2 357 000
wood panels (m3)	497 890
paper (tonnes)	1 793 000
pulp for paper (tonnes)	1 397 000

International forest products trade (including between SADC countries)

product	exports		imports
	quantity	US$ thousand	quantity	US$ thousand
fuelwood and charcoal (m3)	187 410	13 339	1 682	95
industrial roundwood (m3)	2 132 298	172 278	16 307	1 394
sawnwood (m3)	92 203	27 526	67 799	1 394
wood panels (m3)	69 976	25 170	30 013	17 667
paper (tonnes)	230 376	121 886	305 943	333 881
pulp for paper (tonnes)	353 799	130 873	72 230	36 227

South Pacific Forum (SPF)

Members (16): Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Western Samoa

Established: 1972; established as a Trade Bureau', and later became the South Pacific Bureau for Economic Cooperation (SPEC). The current name was approved in 1988.

Headquarters: South Pacific Forum Secretariat (which carries out daily activities of the Forum) is based in Suva, Fiji

General Description

The South Pacific Forum is the political grouping of 16 independent and self-governing states in the Pacific. Its political leaders meet annually at Head of Government/Head of State level under a rotating chairmanship arrangement. Issues of economic and political importance are often discussed. SPF is not governed by a specific constitution nor are there rules relating to purpose, membership or conduct of the meeting. Decisions are always reached by consensus. Recently, some important activities have related to nuclear test bans, fishing regulations and incorporation into the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

Description of forestry sector

Forest resources

Forest resources are highly variable between nations. The countries best endowed with forest resources are New Zealand, PNG, Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Forest cover in Australia and New Zealand increased between 1990 and 1995, partly due to active plantation programmes. The forests in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and some others are undergoing substantial timber harvesting.

Forest Products

Processed wood products are almost entirely produced by Australia and New Zealand. The small island nations have abundant coconut tree resources; these are main sources of wood, coconuts, copra and palm oil for local residents.

Trade

Australia and New Zealand together account for at least 75 percent of the region's export and import trade. Industrial roundwood exports of Papua New Guinea are also significant, ranking high in quantity and value.

Forestry-related Activities

The 25th Forum, held in 1994, was focused on developing a management response to the loss of natural resources. Forestry issues included both the depletion rate and lost revenue due to poor control and enforcement of illegal harvesting by foreign companies. Since then, forum members have imposed stricter controls on the exploitation of forestry resources and begun negotiations to standardize monitoring of the region's resources. In this regard, SPF published the 'Code of Conduct for Logging of Indigenous Forests in Selected South Pacific Countries' in 1995.

Forest resources
land area (thousand ha)	842 828
total forest, 1995 (thousand ha)	89 997
percent forest land	10.7
forest hectares per person	3.3
annual change in forest area, 1990-95 (thousand ha)	-451
percent annual change, 1990-95	-0.5

Wood-based products	production
fuelwood and charcoal (m3)	8 552 000
industrial roundwood (m3)	38 784 390
sawnwood (m3)	6 621 489
wood panels (m3)	2 197 600
paper (tonnes)	3 092 000
pulp for paper (tonnes)	2 351 000

International forest products trade (including between SPF countries)

product	exports		imports
	quantity	US$ thousand	quantity	US$ thousand
fuelwood and charcoal (m3)	6 766	478	2 959	156
industrial roundwood (m3)	16 875 160	1 603 688	15 349	2 168
sawnwood (m3)	1 135 227	361 655	1 149 865	1 148 627
wood panels (m3)	810 296	236 508	235 565	97 073
paper (tonnes)	644 229	354 068	1 226 045	464 656
pulp for paper (tonnes)	667 700	310 199	240 700	114 174

Tratado de Cooperación Amazonica/Amazon Cooperation Treaty (TCA)

Members (8): Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela
Established: 1978
Headquarters: Lima, Peru

General description

Tratado de Cooperación Amazonica (TCA) fosters collaboration among member countries on policies and activities in agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and the environment within the Amazon watershed, in an effort to generate sustainable development. TCA implements work through specific Commissions of: Environment; Science and Technology; Indigenous Issues; Tourism; Health;

Transportation and Infrastructure; and Education. Each Commission coordinates work with government counterparts in each member country. FAO provides technical assistance to the Commissions of Environment (CEMMA) and Science and Technology (CECTA).

Description of forestry sector⁴

⁴ Data refer to forest resources in the entire country, not just the portion of each country in the Amazon watershed

Forest resources

TCA member countries contain nearly half of the earth's tropical forests. This region witnesses the largest absolute decrease in total forest cover, although the rate of change is not greater than in other developing countries. Both land and forest areas are dominated by Brazil.

Forest products

Brazil dominates production of all forest products, producing not less than 75 percent in any category. Colombia and Peru produce most of the rest. In all countries, fuelwood is the most important use of wood from forests.

Trade

Brazil is the major exporter in the region and a significant importer of certain products. Colombia and Venezuela are major importers of paper and paperboard products and pulp. NWFPs are important in the region, and Brazil nuts, rubber, and medicinal and oil products are exported in significant quantities.

Forestry-related activities

Nearly all of TCA's areas of focus involve forests. Most direct policy statements and activities are coordinated through CEMMA and CECTA. Recently, TCA produced a statement of purpose (the Declaration of Lima, 1996) that renewed its commitment to sustainable forestry as outlined at UNCED. In this regard, TCA has helped make progress on defining indicators for sustainable forest management (prepared at a regional workshop in 1995). TCA plans to coordinate designs for better soil use and management throughout the region. TCA also supports the principles of the Convention on Biological Diversity and will promote joint discussion for its implementation.

Forest resources4
land area (thousand ha)	1 337 133
total forest, 1995 (thousand ha)	808 429
percent forest land	60.5
forest hectares per person	3.1
annual change in forest area, 1990-95 (thousand ha)	-17 394
percent annual change, 1990-95	-0.4

Wood-based products	production
fuelwood and charcoal (m3)	190 442 000
industrial roundwood (m3)	87 346 300
sawnwood (m3)	21 068 000
wood panels (m3)	3 451 100
paper (tonnes)	7 517 900
pulp for paper (tonnes)	6 311 000

Forest products trade with all countries, 19 94⁴

product	exports		imports
	quantity	US$ thousand	quantity	US$ thousand
fuelwood and charcoal (m3)	89 607	3 761	4 768	211
industrial roundwood (m3)	1 750 572	104 647	31 322	2 520
sawnwood (m3)	1 667 115	465 342	179 849	16 232
wood panels (m3)	1 308 561	509 751	53 621	22 215
paper (tonnes)	1 369 545	781 195	1 388 578	821 386
pulp for paper (tonnes)	2 169 703	923 578	416 370	214 788