Regional and National Cooperation for sustainable forestry represents a highlight of practical environmental management

Ministerial Conference on

Environment and Development

in Asia and the Pacific 2000

Kitakyushu, Japan 31 August - 5 September 2000

Regional and National Cooperation for sustainable forestry represents a highlight of practical environmental management.

Forestry Departments in the Pacific sub-Region, founded during the colonial period, were exclusively oriented to cutting and selling trees. In the 1990’s, the heads of forestry of the Pacific sub-region came under considerable pressure from the international community to implement sustainable management of forests. In the Heads of Forestry Meeting of 1992, the delegates resolved to:

(i) ensure the active participation by and equitable return of benefits to traditional landowners in forestry utilisation;

(ii) identify and designate areas of natural forest as conservation areas of ecological and cultural importance;

(iii) establish nationally representative systems of protected forest areas in ways that meet the tenurial, cultural, developmental and environmental requirements of the landowners and of the country;

(iv) promote the adoption of forestry practices to ensure the life supporting functions and long term productivity of the forest resources.

A regional “Code of Conduct for Logging of Indigenous Forests in Selected South Pacific Countries” was developed in collaboration with all parties and endorsed by the 26^th South Pacific Forum meeting in September 1995. At that time, only Fiji had developed its own national code of logging practice (launched in 1990 and fully implemented by 1996). PNG, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu subsequently developed their own national codes of logging practice (COLP) based on the regional code, and are now in various stages of implementing their national COLP.

The Vanuatu Code of Logging Practice, for example, was published in March 1998 with the assistance of the Vanuatu Sustainable Forest Utilisation Project and following extensive meetings with representatives of the Vanuatu forest industry, NGOs and other interested parties. The Code was formally accepted in November of 1998. It is a legally binding instrument for all parties operating under the authority of a Timber Licence in Vanuatu. The Code details exact procedures for sustainable logging and requires applicants for a Timber Licence to produce a suitable logging plan that meets the criteria. Violation of the Code will result in suspension or revocation of the Timber Licence. No logging will be allowed without a current forest operator licence.

The development of the regional and national Codes of Logging Practice illustrates a process of cooperation between international agencies, regional agencies, national agencies, provincial and community groups, NGOs, and industry. The sub-regional SPC/UNDP/AusAID/FAO Pacific Islands Forests and Trees Support Programme (PIF&TSP) helps facilitate cooperation in the Forest Sector. The key to its popularity and success with line ministries is that the programme itself has no projects on the ground. PIF&TSP does not implement or control projects but simply helps them along wherever possible.

How PIF&TSP leverages sustainable Forestry concepts.

In 1998 the Secretariat for the Pacific Community announced an annual Pacific Islands Community Forests and Trees Award Scheme. A scroll and cash prize will be given to the Pacific island community or person making the most useful and effective contribution in the use or management of forests and trees in the region. The origin of the award illustrates the philosophy of the Pacific Islands Forests and Trees Support Programme and why it is so successful. In 1997 FAO presented the co-ordinator, Mr. Tang, the B. R. Sen Award for 1996 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the countries of the South Pacific. Mr. Tang donated his US$5,000 award to the SPC to initiate the Pacific Islands Community Forests and Trees Award Scheme. The SPC, UNDP, and the Peoples Republic of China matched the donation bringing the fund to US$20,000. Other countries have been invited to contribute donations to this innovative scheme.

This orientation is a crucial factor enabling an extensive range of environmental management projects with minimum core funding. The program networks existing capabilities and interests – acting as a catalyst rather than a program manager. Activities include: (i) national/local level training workshops on codes of logging practice; (ii) regional training programmes on silvicultural and reduced impact harvesting techniques; (iii) forest certification workshops; (iv) watershed management projects such as preparation of local/community level watershed management plans; (v) bamboo utilisation workshop; (vi) regional training workshops on the construction and use of wood-fired drum ovens; (vii) organising the Heads of Forestry and the Tripartite Review Meeting once every two to three years, (viii) publishing the Quarterly Pacific Islands Forests & Trees Newsletter, Field Documents and Working Papers on forestry and meeting proceedings; (ix) administering a UNDP Small Grants Scheme.

The South Pacific Regional Initiative on Forest Genetic Resources (SPRIG), assists with practical aspects of forest and tree management. For example, in 1997, key forestry personnel from five countries attended a 4 week training course on “Vegetative Propagation of Tropical Forest Tree Species.” The participants of SPRIG are preparing a code of conduct for sharing tree germplasm among SPRIG partners and examine potential methods of improving tree husbandry. SPREP and the Pacific Islands Forests and Trees Support Programme collaborate with SPRIG.

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Last updated: May 18, 2000.