PROMOTING INTER-REGIONAL COOPERATION: NEFC EXPERIENCE

NEFC PROMOTING INTER-REGIONAL COOPERATION: NEFC EXPERIENCE Pape Djiby Koné NEFC Secretary Hoda S. Rashed NEFC Chair

NEFC THE NEAR EAST REGION NEFC RELATION WITH OTHER FAO SM RELATION WITH NERC MAIN RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS JOINT SESSIONS LESSONS LEARNT

THE NEAR EAST REGION NEFC • 80% LFCCs • 70% Rangelands • Water deficient • Desertification • 85% Wood energy • NWFP contribution to rural livelihood

NEFC ABOUT NEFC • Near East Forestry Conference (Amman, 1952) • Establishment of Near East Forestry Commission (Rome, 1953) • First Session of NEFC (Teheran, 1955) • 18TH Session (Khartoum, 2008)

NEFC MEMBERSHIP NEFC • Central Asia 6 countries • Western Asia 11 countries • Mediterranean 1 country • North Africa 9 countries • Total: 27 out of the 30 N.E. member countries

NEFC

NEFC HOW DOES IT FUNCTION? • Regular sessions • Inter-sessions • NEFC Task Force • NEFC Secretariat

NEFC RELATIONS WITH OTHER STATUTORY MEETINGS • AFWC • (9 Countries) • EFC • (1 Country) • APAFC • (1 Country) • SM • (13 Countries)

NEFC RELATIONS WITH NERC NEAR EAST REGIONAL CONFERENCE NEAR EAST REGIONAL CONFERENCE ALAWUC NEFC

NEFC NEFC MAIN RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS • ASSESSMENT OF OVER 50 YEARS • POSITION PAPERS • TECHNICAL BROCHURES • VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES • FOREST HEALTH NETWORK • FORESTRY AND RANGE SECTORS DIALOGUE

NEFC JOINT SESSIONS • Participation of Chairpersons (Khartoum, 2003; Accra, 2004) • Joint inter-sessions meeting (Rabat, 2007) • Joint AFWC-NEFC sessions (Khartoum, 2008) • - joint preparatory visit • - pre-session meetings • - joint official functions • - Secretariat coordination • - joint regular sessions

NEFC LESSONS LEARNT • Selection of host country • Official arrangements with host country • Preparation of agenda and side events • PREPARATIONS • HOST COUNTRY INPUTS • PARTICIPATION • COORDINATION • REPORTING • FOLLOW-UP

LESSONS LEARNT NEFC • PREPARATIONS • HOST COUNTRY INPUTS • PARTICIPATION • COORDINATION • REPORTING • FOLLOW-UP • Meeting facilities (Joint & separate mtgs…) • Official functions (opening/closing, etc…) • Official delegation • Chairmanship

LESSONS LEARNT NEFC • PREPARATIONS • HOST COUNTRY INPUTS • PARTICIPATION • COORDINATION • REPORTING • FOLLOW-UP • Registration of dual members’ delegations • interpretation • Side events

LESSONS LEARNT NEFC • PREPARATIONS • HOST COUNTRY INPUTS • PARTICIPATION • COORDINATION • REPORTING • FOLLOW-UP • Secretariats respective prerogatives • Lines of communication • - with host country • - with common members • Logistical inputs

LESSONS LEARNT NEFC • PREPARATIONS • HOST COUNTRY INPUTS • PARTICIPATION • COORDINATION • REPORTING • FOLLOW-UP • Common and separate chapters • Timing for release • Language (ex: North Africa)

LESSONS LEARNT NEFC • PREPARATIONS • HOST COUNTRY INPUTS • PARTICIPATION • COORDINATION • REPORTING • FOLLOW-UP • Common and separate recommendations • Recommendations to COFO • Recommendations to countries

CONCLUSIONS NEFC • NEFC is the only regional mechanism on forestry (and range) • Support by member countries resemble to support to Forestry Institutions (very Weak) • Expectations on Secretariat higher than in other regions • Secretariat under staffed and under funded • Most countries unable to attend meetings without sponsors

NEFC CONCLUSIONS • Increasing interest and commitment of regional foresters • Growing interest on regional platform for forestry dialogue • Emerging inter-regional collaboration (LFCC, FNPP…) • Real opportunities through silva mediterranea committee and inter connections with AFWC and EFC

NEFC THANK YOU

PROMOTING INTER-REGIONAL COOPERATION: NEFC EXPERIENCE