MAJOR PROGRAMME 2.4: FORESTRY

410.      Major Programme 2.4 assists countries to achieve the sustainable management of their forests. It was restructured in 2003 and the key dimensions of sustainable forest management were aligned to the following three programmes:

• Programme 2.4.1 Forest Resources, responsible for the environmental functions of forests;
• Programme 2.4.2 Forest Products and Economics, responsible for the economic functions of forests; and
• Programme 2.4.3 Forestry Policy and Institutions, responsible for the social functions of forests.

411.      The three Major Programmes are supported by a cross-cutting substantive programme: Programme 2.4.4 Forestry Information and Liaison.

412.      In view of this recent restructuring, no significant changes are proposed over the previous MTP. The Major Programme's main thrusts and priorities remain steady, while seeking to maximize results, particularly at country level. The strengthening of the regional forestry commissions as a mechanism to translate global policies into national actions will be given primary attention. As regards the economic dimension of forests, the main thrust will be to enhance small scale forest initiatives, including collaboration with the private sector. Forestry information, through FORIS and the Forestry Department Web site, will be enhanced.

PROGRAMME 2.4.1: FOREST RESOURCES

Prog. Entity	Time Frame	Title	PWB 2004-05	MTP 2006-07	MTP 2008-09	MTP 2010-11	MTP Total
241A1	2002-2007	Sustainable Management of Natural Forests and Woodlands	1,647	1,647	-	-	1,647
241A4	2002-2007	Conservation in Forests and Fragile Ecosystems	1,003	1,003	-	-	1,003
241A5	2002-2007	Forest Plantations and Trees Outside Forests	1,140	1,140	-	-	1,140
241A7	2004-2009	Forests and Water	865	865	865	-	1,730
241A8	2004-2009	Forests and Climate Change	482	482	482	-	964
241P1	Continuing	Assessment and Monitoring of Forests and Woodland Resources	1,449	1,449	1,449	1,449	4,347
241S1	Continuing	Technical Support and Advisory Services	2,072	2,072	2,072	2,072	6,216
Programme Reserve			-		3,790	5,137
Total Programme of Work			8,658	8,658	8,658	8,658	25,974
Less External Income			60	60	60	60	180
Net Appropriation			8,598	8,598	8,598	8,598	25,794
Real Growth				400	800	1,200	2,400
Net Appropriation with Real Growth				8,998	9,398	9,798	28,194
Growth in Net Appropriation (Percentage)				4.7%	9.3%	14.0%	9.3%

413.      The programme provides the technical basis to implement effective forest management and conservation strategies that facilitate social, economic and environmental benefits from forest resources (forests, woodlands and trees outside forests). It emphasizes the multiple functions of forests, providing sources of food and income to poor rural dwellers, wood and non-wood products from renewable sources, and environmental services to all. The programme also provides information about forest resources, their management and uses at the global level for the benefit of several international processes related to forests, and supports countries in developing related monitoring and assessment systems.

414.      Over the MTP period, the programme will consolidate the new entities brought into the previous plan, in particular Forests and water - the importance of trees and forests to supply clean water - and Forests and climate change, reflecting the key role of forest management in climate regulation and the possible effects on forests that climate change may have. These programme entities are also facilitating increased recognition of FAO as a major contributor in these fields.

415.      The programme will also emphasize the role of forest management and conservation in sustainable development, including linkages to the Millennium Development Goals and support to the implementation of major UN conventions on biological diversity, climate change and desertification. Taking agreed concepts of sustainable management of forests into action on the ground, and sharing the experiences widely among stakeholders, are very important in bringing international dialogue to bear on field level implementation.

416.      The programme will pursue FAO's leadership in global forest resources assessments. Following the 2005 assessment update, a comprehensive report on forest resources is envisaged during the plan period, laying a foundation for monitoring of progress towards sustainability at regional and global levels. At national level, attention will be given to monitoring and assessment systems that support policy processes - in particular with reference to other land use sectors and rural development.

Entity

A1

A2

A3

B1

B2

C1

C2

D1

D2

E1

E2

E3

241A1

241A4

241A5

241A7

241A8

241P1

241S1

Legend:

less than US$ 750,000

US$ 750,000 to US$ 2 million

more than US$ 2 million

Real Growth Proposal

Under Real Growth conditions, it would be possible to support more countries in translating agreed concepts of sustainable management of forests into action on the ground and sharing the experiences more widely among stakeholders. The programme would also expand the dissemination of new and innovative approaches to watershed management and prepare appropriate communication tools. Another area of expanded advice would be the sequestration of carbon and other carbon mechanisms linked to climate change.

PROGRAMME 2.4.2: FOREST PRODUCTS AND ECONOMICS

Prog. Entity	Time Frame	Title	PWB 2004-05	MTP 2006-07	MTP 2008-09	MTP 2010-11	MTP Total
242A3	2004-2009	Forestry Sector Outlook Studies	1,430	1,430	1,430	-	2,860
242A4	2004-2009	Economic Aspects of Forests	1,287	1,287	1,287	-	2,574
242P1	Continuing	Forest Products Information	2,411	2,411	2,411	2,411	7,233
242P2	Continuing	Appropriate Utilisation of Forest Products	1,657	1,657	1,657	1,657	4,971
242S1	Continuing	Support to Field Projects and Advisory Services	1,700	1,700	1,700	1,700	5,100
Programme Reserve			-		-	2,717
Total Programme of Work			8,485	8,485	8,485	8,485	25,455
Less External Income			34	34	34	34	102
Net Appropriation			8,451	8,451	8,451	8,451	25,353
Real Growth				600	1,200	1,800	3,600
Net Appropriation with Real Growth				9,051	9,651	10,251	28,953
Growth in Net Appropriation (Percentage)				7.1%	14.2%	21.3%	14.2%

417.      Programme 2.4.2 aims at enhancing the sustainable harvesting, processing and utilization of forest products to contribute to strengthening of national economies, as well as to poverty reduction at the sub-national level through employment and income generation. It will assess and disseminate best practices for the generation and use of wood energy, as well as the harvesting, processing and trade of non-wood forest products. The programme is the conduit of support to countries and the private sector in the development of voluntary codes of best practices in the harvesting, processing and trade of forest products.

418.      Through the collection, analysis and dissemination of data and information on past, present and anticipated production, consumption and trade of wood and non-wood forest products as well as on wood fuels, and the assessment of their economics, FAO will continue to provide countries with a wide range of data and background information necessary for policy decisions.

Entity

A1

A2

A3

B1

B2

C1

C2

D1

D2

E1

E2

E3

242A3

242A4

242P1

242P2

242S1

Legend:

less than US$ 750,000

US$ 750,000 to US$ 2 million

more than US$ 2 million

Real Growth Proposal

The additional resources would be applied to three major outputs. Under the study of forests and forestry for the 2030 horizon, more emphasis would be put on demographic changes, links between economic development of forests and the evolution of technologies, while an expert consultation on forest trends would be held.

The second major output pertains to the economic analysis of forestry in countries in transition, i.e. approaches to enhance economic benefits from forests and support to capacity building in economic analysis in these countries.

The third area would be the reduction of carbon emissions during harvesting operations. The programme would analyze the impact of forest harvesting techniques on carbon lost, determine the relationship between loss of biomass and carbon lost, quantify the amount of carbon sequestered due to reduction in harvesting waste, and conduct case studies to monitor the rate of change of carbon stores during harvesting operations.

PROGRAMME 2.4.3: FORESTRY POLICY AND INSTITUTIONS

Prog. Entity	Time Frame	Title	PWB 2004-05	MTP 2006-07	MTP 2008-09	MTP 2010-11	MTP Total
243A3	2002-2007	Strengthening National Institutional Capacities	1,852	1,852	-	-	1,852
243A4	2004-2009	Forest Policies and Governance	993	993	993	-	1,986
243A5	2004-2009	Forests, Poverty Alleviation and Food Security	632	632	632	-	1,264
243P4	Continuing	Participatory Forestry and Sustainable Livelihoods	629	629	629	629	1,887
243S1	Continuing	Interaction with Field Programmes and Advisory Services	1,318	1,318	1,318	1,318	3,954
Programme Reserve			-		1,852	3,477
Total Programme of Work			5,424	5,424	5,424	5,424	16,272
Less External Income			26	26	26	26	78
Net Appropriation			5,398	5,398	5,398	5,398	16,194
Real Growth				400	800	1,200	2,400
Net Appropriation with Real Growth				5,798	6,198	6,598	18,594
Growth in Net Appropriation (Percentage)				7.4%	14.8%	22.2%	14.8%

419.      Due to the importance of connecting FAO's activities to the Millennium Development Goals, the programme will emphasize the vital role that forests play in addressing poverty, food security, the needs of the poor for fresh water and renewable energy. FAO's support in addressing the social dimension of sustainable forest management will seek to consolidate the considerable achievements made in a number of countries that have reformed their institutional arrangements through increased participation of civil society, better engagement of local government and increased transparency in forest administration. Raising the profile of forests in national planning efforts and poverty reduction strategies, will be underscored. The constituent entities are all geared to this effort.

Entity

A1

A2

A3

B1

B2

C1

C2

D1

D2

E1

E2

E3

243A3

243A4

243A5

243P4

243S1

Legend:

less than US$ 750,000

US$ 750,000 to US$ 2 million

more than US$ 2 million

Real Growth Proposal

The increased level would allow enhancement of work on national policy frameworks and institutional arrangements for increased participation of civil society. Support would also be provided to improve forest law compliance and ensure transparency in the management of public forests at country level.

PROGRAMME 2.4.4: FORESTRY INFORMATION AND LIAISON

Prog. Entity	Time Frame	Title	PWB 2004-05	MTP 2006-07	MTP 2008-09	MTP 2010-11	MTP Total
244A1	2002-2007	International Forestry Processes	781	781	-	-	781
244P1	Continuing	Forestry Information	2,292	2,292	2,292	2,292	6,876
244S1	Continuing	Support to Statutory Bodies and Liaison with the Regional Offices	1,977	1,977	1,977	1,977	5,931
Programme Reserve			-		781	781
Total Programme of Work			5,050	5,050	5,050	5,050	15,150
Less External Income			5	5	5	5	15
Net Appropriation			5,045	5,045	5,045	5,045	15,135
Real Growth				-	-	-	-
Net Appropriation with Real Growth				5,045	5,045	5,045	15,135
Growth in Net Appropriation (Percentage)				0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%

420.      This programme will continue to cover FAO's key role in providing country-based forestry information at the regional and global levels, which will be further strengthened through partnerships with the countries themselves and other international and regional organizations. The reporting burden of countries will be reduced through improved technology. Synergies with other key organizations will be increased through the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (entity 244A1). The servicing of statutory bodies under 244S1 will retain due prominence. It is recalled that 244S1 covers servicing of the Committee on Forestry (COFO), other statutory bodies in forestry such as the Regional Forestry Commissions, the Advisory Committee on Paper and Wood Products, the International Poplar Commission, Silva Mediterranea, the Working Group of the African Forestry and Wildlife Commission, and the Panel of Experts on Forest Genetic Resources. It also provides a focal point for interaction with forestry officers in Regional and Subregional Offices, and seconded to other organizations.

Entity

A1

A2

A3

B1

B2

C1

C2

D1

D2

E1

E2

E3

244A1

244P1

244S1

Legend:

less than US$ 750,000

US$ 750,000 to US$ 2 million

more than US$ 2 million