Regional Networks, Regional Activities and the Challenges of Sustainable Forest Management

1. Regional Networks, Regional Activities and the Challenges of Sustainable Forest Management David Cassells Director, TNC Asia-Pacific Forest Program & Chief of Party Responsible Asia Forestry & Trade (RAFT) Program

2. Scope of Presentation • Outline the range of regional networks currently operating in the Asia Pacific Region to promote sustainable forest • Outline some of the key challenges and gaps inhibiting SFM that an initiative like APFNeT might help to address

3. Context – The 2007 Sydney Declaration on Climate Change and Energy • “Forests play a critical role in the carbon cycle. Ongoing action is required to encourage afforestation and reforestation and to reduce deforestation, forest degradation and forest fires, including by promoting sustainable forest management, combating illegal logging and addressing the underlying economic and social drivers. We therefore: • agree to work to achieve a regional aspirational goal on increasing forest cover in the APEC region by at least 20 million hectares of all types of forest by 2020. • welcome the Global Initiative on Forest and Climate launched in Sydney in July 2007. • welcome the development of other instruments which may include continued work on a Legally Binding Instrument on Sustainable Forest management for those economies interested in pursuing this option. • agree to establish the Asia-Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation to enhance capacitybuildingand strengthen information sharing in the forestry sector. Collaborationbetween all regional initiatives on forests, including the Asia Forest Partnership will be important.” Forest and Climate ChangeSome basic figures • Environmentally sound • Economically viable • Socially responsible [insert photo or map here]

4. Existing Networks and Activities • Asia Pacific Forest Commission • ASEAN Forest Programs • Regional Community Forestry Training Centre (RECOFTC) • EA-FLEG Process • Asia Forest Network (AFN) • Asia Forest Partnership (AFP) • Responsible Asia Forestry and Trade (RAFT) Alliance

5. Asia Pacific Forestry Commission • Established in 1952 - provides a forum for advising FAO and taking action on key forestry issues in the region • Regional in scope – covers all aspects of forest management • Clientele mainly government forestry agencies • Has produced numerous technical guidelines and publications through FAO’s forest related work program in Asia-Pacific

6. ASEAN FOREST PROGRAMS • Forestry cooperation since the early 1970’s; ASOF established 1997 • Aims to promote the development of the forestry sector as a model in sustainable development • Regional in scope – covers all aspects of forest management in member states • Clientele mainly government forestry agencies • Has produced numerous technical guidelines and regional criteria and indicators for SFM

7. RECOFTC • Established in 1987 • Aims to assist Asia-Pacific countries integrate the well-being of local people and environmental sustainability into national forest programs and support the effective engagement of local people in forest governance and management • Core functions include facilitation of learning; promoting, testing and demonstrating practical application of knowledge and information; knowledge management and communication; and presentation of community perspectives at national, regional and international forums

8. ASIA FOREST NETWORK • Established in 1987 to support the role of communities in protection and sustainable use of forests in Asia • Regional in scope with a focus on regional exchanges, country working groups, cross-visits, development of field methods and documentation of case studies • Clientele is principally planners, policy makers, government foresters, researchers, NGO’s • Network covers 700 individuals in 30 institutions across in Asia and beyond

9. EA-FLEG PROCESS • Grew from the 2001 Bail Ministerial • Aims to intensify national efforts & strengthen bilateral, regional & multilateral collaboration to address forest crime & violations of forest law • Scope covers key regional forest producers and their trading partners • Clientele principally government officials and NGO’s • Produced the 2001 Bali Declaration and political leverage for national efforts to combat illegal logging

10. Asia Forest Partnership • Established at 2002 WSSD Summit to promote implementation of SFM in Asia through voluntary collaboration • Regional scope with focus on controlling illegal logging and forest fires • Multi-stakeholder clientele from both government and civil society • Has helped to maintain momentum on regional actions to control illegal logging though analytical work on legality standards, timber tracking and customs collaboration

11. RESPONSIBLE ASIA FORESTRY and TRADE (RAFT) • Established 2006 to promote regional trade in legal timber; improve forest management on the ground and strengthen regional cooperation on SFM and trade • MOU’s with 25 companies in four countries beginning improved forest management programs over 2.5 million ha; • Supports the pilot of regional participatory planning and conflict management learning network with RECOFTC • Analytical support for FLEG process and ASEAN Secretariat

12. KEY CHALLENGES “Every one is so busy networking, there is nobody left to do the work”Prof. Lawrence Hamilton, East-West Centre Forest Lands Program, 1988 “Looking round the room I see a lot of familiar faces. In fact, I see some of your faces more often than I see my wife”Patrick Durst, Regional Forestry Officer, FAO 2007

13. Key Gaps • Human capacity for all aspects of sustainable forest management at the policy, regulatory and field levels • Opportunities to move from abstract learning to learning by doing • Opportunities for mentorship and on-going professional learning beyond conventional training

14. SOME THEMATIC PRIORITIES • Forest policy development and analysis • Participatory planning and conflict management • REDD • Ecosystem based land use planning (HCVF) • Reduced Impact Logging (RIL) • Credible legality verification and certification auditing • Landscape restoration and effective protected area management

15. “Operation Desert Storm has shown how quickly the international community can act when it puts it’s mind to it – what we need is an Operation Tropical Forest Storm” Prof. Sampurno Bruijnzeel, ITTO Forest Management Update 1992 Thank You