FO:AFWC/2004/3

AFRICAN FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION

FOURTEENTH SESSION

Accra, Ghana, 18-21 February 2004

REVIEW OF FAO REGULAR AND FIELD PROGRAMMES,
INCLUDING FOLLOW-UP TO THE REQUESTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
OF THE 13th SESSION OF THE COMMISSION

Secretariat Note

1. This note informs the Commission about FAO forestry activities of interest to the region, including activities funded under the Regular Programme budget and FAO-executed projects funded through TCP and donor trust funds in 2002-2003.

2. During the biennium, a shift was noted toward more activity at the sub-regional and regional levels. This enabled increased exchange of experience and collaboration among countries, as well as establishment of partnerships between FAO and sub-regional institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international organizations.

CODE OF PRACTICE FOR REDUCED IMPACT FOREST HARVESTING

3. A Code of Practice for Reduced Impact Forest Harvesting for Central and West Africa initiated by FAO with support from the European Commission (EC), in collaboration with the African Timber Organization (ATO), the Association for the Development of Environmental Information (ADIE), the International Technical Association for Tropical Timber (ATIBT), the Tropical Forest Foundation (TFF), the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the CIRAD-Forêt, FORAFRI, the World Conservation Union (IUCN), the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) was developed and published in September 2003. A Regional workshop was held in March 2003 in order to train trainers on improved forest harvesting practices, using the new code as a guide.

FAO/NETHERLANDS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMME

4. The FAO/Netherlands Partnership Programme (FNPP) supported a series of activities in search of excellence in forest management practices in Central Africa. This activity was conducted in collaboration with ATO, IUCN, IFIA, the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and the International Model Forests Network Secretariat (IMFNS). It culminated with a regional workshop organized in Kribi, Cameroon, in September 2002. The workshop was attended by 68 participants from nine countries, 11 NGOs, three private companies and eight international organizations.

5. Following completion of studies in West Sahelian Africa, the FNPP is supporting elaboration of country profiles on Forest Genetic Resources in Central and West Moist Africa. This will further serve as the baseline for a Regional Plan of Action for Forest Genetic Resources.

6. Under the framework of the Low Forest Cover Countries (LFCCs) and Dry Zone Process on Criteria and Indicators (C&I) for Sustainable Forest Management (SFM), the FNPP has supported the organization of technical workshops in Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Senegal to discuss implementation of C&I at national level.

7. In collaboration with the Government of Netherlands and with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), FAO also organized, for English-speaking countries, a Regional Workshop on the Management of Secondary Forests, which took place in December 2002 in Nairobi, Kenya. A similar workshop was further organized for French-speaking countries in Douala, Cameroon, in November 2003.

8. In collaboration with IUCN and UNEP, two regional workshops on modalities and definitions for forestry projects under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol were held for climate change negotiators and forestry experts.

9. A publication on the “Instruments related to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and their potential for sustainable forest management in Africa”, provided a detailed overview on the opportunities and risks that economic instruments could provide for African countries development efforts.

CENTRAL AFRICA STRATEGY

10. FAO has been an active participant in the forest policy dialogue in Central Africa. In particular, the Forestry Department has strengthened the capacity of selected FAO Representatives in the forest sector; the conclusions of the Forest Sector Outlook Study for Africa (FOSA) were the basis for developing a focused FAO forestry strategy for Central Africa; and FAO is working with selected countries to develop strategies and action plans for the bush meat issue.

FORESTS, MOUNTAINS AND WATER

11. FAO supported the participation of African countries in the International Year of Mountains 2002, including the establishment of 22 national committees on the continent. Subsequently, a number of African countries have joined the International Partnership for Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions (the Mountain Partnership).

12. In collaboration with ICRAF, FAO organized a Regional Workshop for Africa on Watershed Management in Nairobi, Kenya, in October 2003. The workshop provided an opportunity to share experiences and to develop guidelines for future watershed management projects in Africa.

13. A new programme entity, Forests and Water, has been included in the new FAO Programme of Work and Budget, providing higher visibility and focus for this important issue.

14. A number of African countries, including Angola, Mali, Burundi, Tunisia, Senegal and Namibia, are participating in special initiatives by FAO to promote trees outside forests, including urban forestry. FAO has undertaken a number of case studies, a workshop has been sponsored to promote trees outside forests, and guidelines have been developed to highlight the role and conservation of trees to soil fertility, urban environment and sustainable livelihoods.

FOREST RESEARCH AND EDUCATION

15. Support to Forestry Research has been strengthened through the Forestry Research Network for Sub-Saharan Africa (FORNESSA) which developed strong Partnership with Sub-Regional and National Forestry Research Institutions, the African Academy of Sciences (AAS), as well as with international organizations: the International Union of Forestry Research Organizations (IUFRO), CIFOR, and the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF). Specific accomplishments include:

• A FORNESSA Website [www.fornessa.org] was developed in order to made forestry research activities in Africa more visible through the Internet.

• Databases for African forestry research institutions, scientists and projects, have been initiated and linked to the FORNESSA Website mentioned above. These databases are being populated with country-level data. At the moment, data from the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana and other forest-related national institutions in Ghana have been entered. Data from the Association of Forestry Research Institutions in Eastern Africa (AFREA) member institutions have been entered as well.

• In collaboration with IUFRO-SPDC (Special Programme for Developing Countries), within the Global Forest Information System (GFIS) Africa project, RAFO has co-organized and mobilized African forest scientists for a 3-week electronic discussion on the topic “Rehabilitation of degraded lands in Sub-Saharan Africa”. A synthesis document on the above topic is currently under preparation with the participation of four scientists from Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania, and under RAFO coordination.

16. Forestry education was supported in collaboration with regional networks,Réseau des institutions de formation forestière et environnementale en Afrique Centrale (RIFFEAC,)and the African Network for Agroforestry Education (ANAFE), ICRAF and IUCN.

FAO FIELD PROGRAMME

17. GCP/RAF/354/EC: “Sustainable forest management in African ACP countries” was completed in April 2003. New Regional projects were approved: EP/INT/108/GEF « Aménagement Intégré du Massif du Fouta Djallon »,UNO/RAF/381/FIP“Central Africa World Heritage Forest Initiative, CAWHFI”which is being implemented by UNESCO, IUCN, WWF among other partners, under the Coordination of FAO; TCP/RAF/2919 “Appui au renforcement institutionnel de la COMIFAC” which is expected to strengthen institutional capacities of COMIFAC and enable its Secretariat play greater role in the implementation of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership; GTFS/INT/902/ITA“Acacia operation: Support to food security, poverty alleviation and soil degradation control in the gums and resins producer countries”.

18. Several individual projects have been also approved at country level in Angola, Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, Mali, Mauritius, Namibia. Most of these projects are supported by the FAO Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP).

19. FAO supports the Mgahinga Bwindi Forest Conservation Trust for community-based enterprise development in Uganda, funded by the United Nations Foundation. With the support of the Forests, Trees and People Programme (FTTP), FAO organized an international workshop on sustainable livelihoods in Tanzania.

20. FAO, through its TCP/NER/0066 project, supported the Government of Niger in its efforts to revive the production and commercialization of acacia gum. The evaluation carried out in this context has led to the elaboration of a National Strategy.

NATIONAL FOREST PROGRAMMES

21. The modalities and procedures to access the National Forest Programme Facility (the Facility) have been disseminated worldwide to all the eligible countries. So far, 26 countries in the African Region have submitted Concept Notes, and 17 have signed a cooperation agreement, as follows:

22. Technical support missions have been provided to the Facility’s partner countries, either to launch project activities, or to perform follow-up work. Inclusion of diversified stakeholders in the process of sustainable forest management, incorporation of cross-sectoral issues and capacity building related concerns, and focus on poverty reduction continue to be the hallmark of Facility activities in these countries.

23. Additional activities implemented under the FAO-EC Partnership Programme included:

24. FAO has been providing support to countries in Africa through its Regular Programme, including the development of forest policy and legislation, capacity building, governance, and participatory forestry. Recent projects include TCP projects to support forestry and wildlife legislation in Mozambique, a project to support decentralization in Mali, a project to support community-based enterprises in the Gambia, and a review of the national forest policy of Mauritius.

FORESTRY OUTLOOK STUDY FOR AFRICA (FOSA)

25. As reported to the 13thsession of the African Forestry and Wildlife Commission in 2002, FAO led the Forestry Outlook Study for Africa (FOSA) in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), European Commission, World Bank, and all the FAO member countries of Africa. The challenge now is to use the results and recommendations of FOSA to strengthen the forest sector in Africa.

26. FOSA analysed the status, trends and driving forces which are shaping African forestry, and developed a prognosis for sustainable development in the sector to the year 2020. FOSA portrays alternative scenarios based on the interplay between the different visions of stakeholders, offering policy options and investment strategies through which forestry may contribute towards a better future in terms of poverty alleviation, food security and sustainable development.

27. FOSA produced a regional overview report for Africa, along with five sub-regional outlook reports reflecting the specificity, challenges and potentials for forestry development in North, West, East, Central and Southern Africa. These are encapsulated in a synthesis booklet, and all may be viewed on the FAO website atwww.fao.org/forestry.

28. Given the broad participatory approach used to develop FOSA, it is well suited to place forestry in the context of poverty alleviation and food security. The sub-regional FOSA Reports are highly relevant to sub-regional planning, which should provide focus and perspective for development strategies for the forestry sector in the sub-region.

29. The FOSA reports have proved to be timely and essential inputs into the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), which FAO has been requested to augment by incorporating the Forestry, Fisheries and Livestock sectors.

30. Partnerships with sub-regional economic organizations with mandates for forestry, natural resources and the environment need to be strengthened. Such an effort should be of immense value to these organizations in developing their strategies and activities in service of their members, and towards the implementation of the CAADP. FAO, along with AfDB and the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) undertook a joint mission to the Secretariat of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to discuss possible follow-up activities in the context of FOSA conclusions and recommendations. Similar joint missions to other sub-regional organizations are proposed to be fielded.

31. FOSA follow-up has been formulated to increase the involvement of sub-regional economic organizations to strengthen national and sub-regional capacity to carry out long term strategic planning based on the outlook approach; to understand and anticipate change, to identify long term opportunities and constraints, and to adjust and adapt to an uncertain future.

INTERNATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

32. FAO continues to support the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) and the global conventions related to forests, including the Convention to Combat Desertification; the Framework Convention on Climate Change; and the Convention on Biological Diversity.

33. FAO chairs the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), which has expanded to include 14 member organizations that work on forests. One of the important accomplishments of the CPF is agreement among the CPF members to harmonize and streamline country reporting on forests.

ANNEX A

FOLLOW-UP TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE THIRTEENTH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION

The recommendations of the 13th session of the African Forestry and Wildlife Commission in Libreville, Gabon, 25-29 March 2002, and a brief summary of actions taken, are provided in the following table:

RECOMMENDATION

ACTION TAKEN OR PROPOSED

Perspectives of forestry and wildlife in the region(Item 3)

  

Delegates considered that the underlying causes of deforestation and forest degradation were basically related to poverty, lack of access to modern technology, and the debt that impedes efficient allocation of resources, andrecommendedthat FAO forestry programmes in the region address poverty alleviation as a priority (para. 9).

    The Forestry Policy and Institutions Service has emphasized this issue through case studies, publications and meetings. The NFP Facility is directly assisting countries in addressing these issues. The AFWC Technical Committee has also included this in its inter-sessional activities

Forests have always contributed directly and indirectly to food security and the well-being of rural populations. Often, indirect contributions of forests to food security have not been accounted for, hence, the Commissionrecommendedthat FAO and governments address more explicitly forest and food security issues in their national programmes and develop methods for assessing and reporting the contributions of forests to food security (para. 10).

    Food security is included in the Concept Notes prepared by countries that wish to participate in the NFP Facility. More collaboration is also sought with the FAO-supported Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS). This issue is also being addressed through FAO work on Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFP), including the development of regional and national action plans for bushmeat.

The Commission concluded that training and education were crucial for the enhancement of capacities to achieve sustainable forestry development in the region. Therefore, the Commissionrecommendedthat FAO assist academic institutions in the region in revising their curricula and adapting their programmes to emerging needs in the region, including decentralization and participatory processes, management of forest resources for multiple uses and cross-sectoral planning (para. 11).

    An expert consultation on training needs for Africa was organized in Morocco. Furthermore, several academic institutions established cooperation agreement with FAO to undertake revision/updating of forestry curricula and analyse training and education needs.

RECOMMENDATION

ACTION TAKEN OR PROPOSED

Review of FAO Regular and Field Programmes(Item 4)

  

The Commissionrecommendedthat countries fully tap the limited resources available, especially under the FAO Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP). It reiterated the need to streamline the process of TCP proposal development in order to fully use the opportunities available, especially country-led initiatives in critical areas (para. 14).

    During the biennium, an increase of forestry TCP projects has been noted, both at national and regional levels. The evaluation and approval processes also have improved noticeably.

Forest Resources Assessment(Item 6)

  

The Commissionrecommendedthat FAO provide assistance to countries in order to strengthen their capacities to update national inventories through technical workshops, to harmonise their approaches and to share understanding on forest terminology and methods of resources assessment (para. 21).

    Support is being provided to individual countries including South Africa, Cameroon and Zambia. In West Africa, FAO is supporting six countries: Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mali and Senegal on capacity building for integrated management, assessment and monitoring of forest resources and trees outside forests.

National Forest Programme Facility(Item 7)

  

Delegates commended FAO for the Facility initiative, and highlighted the need for more to information about the facility and funding opportunities as well as requirements for country involvement. The Commissionrecommendedthat FAO should assist the countries of the region to better understand the procedures and provide information on access the Facility (para. 22).

    The modalities and procedures to access the nfp Facility have been broadly disseminated and so far 26 countries in the Region have submitted Concept Notes, and 17 have signed a cooperation agreement.

The Commission expressed concern about the number of national planning and strategic frameworks which never reach the implementation stage, andrecommendedthat FAO and cooperation partners put appropriate mechanisms in place to ensure effective implementation and coordination of these frameworks (para. 24).

    FAO and the Members of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) are working hard under the framework of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF), towards addressing this issue. This issue will be addressed in the Workshop immediately prior to the 14th session of the Commission in Ghana.

RECOMMENDATION

ACTION TAKEN OR PROPOSED

The Forestry Outlook Study for Africa (FOSA): major outcome and strategy for implementation(Item 9)

  

The Commission appreciated the quality of the reports, which were found to be very comprehensive and informative. Itrecommendedthat FAO finalize the regional and sub-regional reports taking note of: (a) the comments made during the in-session seminar; and (b) written submissions from member countries which were not able to attend the Session (para. 30).

    The Regional report, including one main report, one regional synthesis, and five sub-regional reports was officially released in March 2003 and widely disseminated throughout the Region.

Delegates stressed the need to work with their relevant subregional organizations and with FAO to overcome the inadequacies. In this context, delegatesrecommendedthat FAO assist countries to become effective participants in United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) by making all pertinent information available to countries, including providing synthesis of the numerous IPF/IFF proposals for action (para. 33).

    FAO arranged a side meeting with UNFF Secretariat for African Delegates to the Committee on Forestry (COFO). It was furthermore decided that the Regional Forestry Group in Accra would disseminate in the Region all UNFF papers as widely as possible in various formats (email, hard copy, etc.).

While delegates recognized the challenges in terms of time and funding, of fuller participation in the international forestry debate, they also highlighted the opportunities for the region to play a proper role in shaping the global agenda in order to reflect African priorities and realities. The Commission further expressed concern about the number of UNFF meetings. In order for African countries facing economic and staff problems to be able to effectively participate in the international debate on forests, the Commissionrecommendedthat these meetings be organized in reasonable time-frame, and that they take into consideration the forestry agenda in the Region (para. 34).

    The concerns of the AFWC were forwarded to the UNFF secretariat, noting that countries, and not FAO, are responsible for the frequency and scheduling of UNFF meetings.

RECOMMENDATION

ACTION TAKEN OR PROPOSED

Key issues emerging from side meetings(Item 13)

Side Meeting 1 (a): Sustainable Forest Management and Reduced Impact Logging

  

Many countries, and some international organizations, indicated an urgent need for enhanced training and knowledge sharing in the principles and application of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM). Whilst FAO’s current role was well appreciated, it wasrecommendedthat activities in this field should be expanded (para. 45).

    With support of the FAO/Netherlands Partnership Programme, FAO has initiated a major initiative on Sustainable Forest Management in Africa in partnership with the IMFNS, CIFOR, ITTO, ATO and IUCN. Regional Workshops have been held on model forests and best practices in forest management. A Forestry Paper highlighting the results of case studies has been published and distributed in French at the World Forestry Congress (Quebec City, Canada, Spetember 2003), and it will be available to the next AFWC meeting also in English.

Side Meeting 1 (b): Reduced Impact Logging in the Africa Region

  

Statements to the Commission were made by delegates from the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), the International Technical Tropical Timber Association (ITTTA) and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) concerning the mandate and role of their organizations. The Commission commended their activities in developing forest management in Africa, andrecommendedto identify mechanisms for further collaboration between them and FAO in this regard. A common theme, which was strongly emphasised, is the need for knowledge and skills transfer in order to successfully implement sustainable forest management (para. 49).

    The Regional code of reduced impact forest harvesting was published by FAO in collaboration with ADIE, ATIBT, the EU, TFF, WWF, CiRAD-Forêts, FORAFRI, IUCN, ATO, ITTO, and USDA which provided valuable inputs.