Within international environmental assessment initiatives networking is already one of the guiding principles. However, regarding the implementation of C&I processes and other forest-related initiatives, there is a great potential for more intense collaboration. In the last few years initiatives have identified promising opportunities for more intense and successful collaboration, i.e. between the Forest Resource Assessment and the forest-related components of IPCC (Schoene, 2002) or a closer linkage between the ITTO “target 2000” and the C&I initiatives as well as among the different C&I processes. At various levels committees and ad- hoc expert groups are working on the harmonization of terms, definitions and concepts (i.e. the “Kotka” process related to the improvement of FRA led by FAO; the UNFCCC/SBSTA process to develop definitions for afforestation and reforestation referring to the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM); the IPCC work to develop Good Practice Guidance for Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF); the IPCC work on developing definitions for human-induced `’degradation' of forests; the work of the CPF Task Force on harmonizing and streamlining forest-related reporting under UNFF; IUFRO's recent work on forest terminology; UNEP's work on low forest cover; the plantation typology undertaken by CIFOR, WWF, IUCN and so forth (FAO, 2002). Undoubtedly, these efforts will have positive effects on the implementation of C&I as well as the potential for data aggregation and joint analysis.
Even more effective assessment mechanisms may eventuate through harmonization. But there is a risk that these mechanisms could be centralized and contradictory to the existing diversity of views and values for forests and the frameworks in which forests are managed. Thus, the challenge is to achieve harmonization to facilitate the elaboration of good statistics at regional and global levels, while at the same time considering existing diversity and ensure ownership fundamental for collaborative learning processes at national and sub-national levels. A discussion about this requires a clear distinction between three action levels related to the application of C&I: the development, the assessment and the interpretation of results.
Hendricks (2003) maintains that the forest community has a poor understanding of sustainable development. ,The development of C&I sets was undoubtedly an excellent exercise to widen foresters’ perception of forests. The discussions helped to understand the interaction and dependence of sustainable forest management with social, economic and political elements. However, the national assessment reports show that the assessments focus on technical and quantitative forest parameters, while other aspects are considered more extensively. There is a danger of losing the integrative approach of C&I.
Considering the complexity of assessing sustainability and the related problems of gathering objective and valid field data for all dimensions of sustainability, this tendency is understandable. Nevertheless, the complete consideration of an integrative C&I set is fundamental to assessing the sustainability of forest management and to stimulating foresters’ integrative understanding of the role of forests. However, with regard to the existing technical capacity and expertise of foresters it may be useful to explore intensively the possibility of using information carried out by the numerous initiatives for assessing social and economic parameters. Also, to ensure interest and motivation for networking, harmonization efforts should concentrate on indicators directly related to forests, which provide the possibility for quantification and demonstrate clear benefits for the actors at international, national and sub-national levels. Thus, harmonized indicators should be defined by the international community in discussion with countries, forest managers and other interested parties. It may be also useful to discuss a legally binding agreement at international level (forest convention) on these indicators, which would facilitate the commitment of the countries to these indicators and their implementation.
For the systematic and comprehensive analysis of forest, social, economic and political indicators, networking with existing social and economic assessment processes is highly recommended. Only such a multidisciplinary framework would permit understanding and demonstrating the importance and relevance of forests for human well-being and the adequate consideration of forest conservation and sustainable forest management on international agenda. An interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral management of the available information is necessary. A fundamental prerequisite for this kind of cross-sectoral, multidisciplinary learning networks is that the information provided by the different environmental, social and economic assessment processes be transparent. Only then may a specific actor decide to make use of a specific assessment result, adapt own indicators to make them comparable, etc.
As mentioned above, the quality of forest assessment depends on what is happening in the countries. Also, decisions about forests depend directly on the national and, even more, the sub-national context. Thus, countries are the key actors in the quest for sustainable forest management. The application of C&I to in measuring sustainable forest management will surely contribute to improving decisions by politicians and forest actors, especially if they are actively involved in the development, assessment and interpretation of the C&I-based information. A multidisciplinary, cross-sectoral approach would generate even better results. However, the establishment of C&I- based assessment systems and collaborative learning networks is a complex task. Often, even the governmental authorities formally responsible for the implementation of C&I are not fully aware of the function and potential utility of the C&I tool. Special attention has to be given to stimulating their interest, understanding and political commitment to this endeavour. In particular, developing countries depend on massive external support at four different levels: (1) participatory development or adaptation of an integrative C&I set, (2) operationalization of the C&I sets under consideration of guidelines for harmonized indicators eventually defined at international level, (3) establishment of cross-sectoral information management, maybe by creating a kind of national information department responsible for the administration of social, economic and environmental information collected in the country (UN-DSP 2002), and (4) the establishment of collaborative, multidisciplinary learning groups to interpret and discuss the monitoring results.
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Table 1: International initiatives and processes on criteria and indicators
|
Initiative/process |
No. of involved countries |
Region (vegetation zone/geographic area) |
|
MCPFE (pan-European process) |
41 |
European boreal and temperate forests |
|
Montreal process |
12 |
Temperate forests in America, Asia, Pacific |
|
ITTO |
31 |
Tropical natural forests |
|
Tarapoto proposal |
8 |
Amazon Basin |
|
African Timber Organization |
14 |
Tropical forests of Africa |
|
African Dry-Zone process |
30 |
Sub-Saharan Africa |
|
Near East process |
30 |
Near East |
|
Dry Forest Asia initiative |
9 |
South Asia and Mongolia, China, Myanmar, Thailand |
|
Lepaterique process |
7 |
Central America |
|
Total |
149 |
World |
Figure 1: The two levels of C&I tools: The analytical level conformed by a C&I set as basis for analysis and understanding of the assessment goal (sustainability), and the operational level containing methods and thresholds for each verifier needed for assessment and interpretation of verifier related results.
(Modified from Pokorny et al. 2004)
Annex 1: Some of the most important international assessment initiatives with relevance for sustainable forest management and environment.
|
Initiative |
Objectives |
Level |
Obligate |
Public |
|
Forest-related initiatives |
||||
|
ATO (African Timber Organization) process |
To promote sustainable forest management in the
member countries |
Africa |
Voluntary |
Public |
|
Montreal process |
To promote sustainable forest management in the
member countries |
Regional |
Voluntary |
Public |
|
MCPFE (Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe = Helsinki = pan-European Forest process ) |
To promote sustainable forest management in the
member countries |
Regional |
Voluntary |
Public |
|
ITTO International Tropical Timber Organization |
To promote the implementation of criteria and
Indicators for sustainable tropical forest development. |
Global |
Voluntary |
Private |
|
Dry Zone Africa process |
To promote sustainable forest management in the
member countries |
Africa |
Voluntary |
Public |
|
Tarapoto proposal |
To promote sustainable forest management in the
member countries |
Amazon |
Voluntary |
Public |
|
Near East process |
To promote sustainable forest management in the
member countries |
Near East |
Voluntary |
Public |
|
Lepaterique Central American process |
To promote sustainable forest management in the
member countries |
Central America |
Voluntary |
Public |
|
Regional Initiative for Dry Forests in Asia |
To promote sustainable forest management in the
member countries |
Asia |
Voluntary |
Public |
|
ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) Timber Certification Scheme |
To develop a Pan ASEAN Timber Certification Scheme
|
South East Asia |
Voluntary |
Public |
|
FRA (FAO-Global Forest Resource Assessment) |
Regional and global assessments of forest
resources |
Global |
Voluntary |
Public |
|
GOFC (Global Observation of Forest Cover) |
To provide ongoing space based and in situ observations on forests and other
vegetation cover, for the sustainable management of terrestrial resources,
and to obtain an accurate, reliable, quantitative understanding of the
terrestrial carbon budget. |
Global |
Voluntary |
Public |
|
Earthwatch |
To coordinate, harmonize and catalyse environmental
observation activities among all UN agencies for integrated assessment
purposes. |
Global |
Voluntary |
Private |
|
GTZ (German Technical Cooperation) Forest Certification Project |
To promote forest certification in selected
developing countries and at international level, and to assist the
development and application of C&I . |
Global |
Voluntary |
Private |
|
LEI (Lembaga Ekolabel Indonesia) Forest Certification initiative |
To develop C&I at the management unit level,
and to develop a certification system for Indonesian forest products based
on sustaining economic, ecological, and social values. |
Indonesia |
Voluntary |
Private |
|
The PECF (Pan-European Forest Council) scheme |
To provide an internationally credible framework
for forest certification schemes and initiatives in Europe. |
Regional |
Voluntary |
Private |
|
FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) Certification initiative |
To support environmentally appropriate, socially
beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s
forests |
Global |
Voluntary |
Private |
|
Skal Sustainable Forest Management Certification Programme |
To promote the proper and appropriate use of text
and symbols that refer to sustainable production methods and to perform
independent and objective supervision, inspection, testing and
certification in accordance with the Principles and Criteria of the
FSC. |
Global |
Voluntary |
Private |
|
Initiatives related to climate change |
||||
|
Ozone Secretariat (Vienna Convention and Montreal Protocol) |
Systematic observation of the ozone layer,
monitoring of CFC (chloroflurocarbons) production. |
Global |
Obligatory for signatories |
Public |
|
WCRP (World Climate Research Programme) |
Studies of the global atmosphere, oceans, sea and
land ice, and the land surface, which together constitute the Earth's
physical climate system to better understand the physical climate system
and climate processes needed to determine to what extent climate can be
predicted and the extent of human influence on climate. |
Global |
Voluntary |
Private |
|
UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) |
A series of commitments requiring all Parties to
develop national inventories of greenhouse gas emissions; to formulate
national programmes to mitigate climate change; and to promote
technologies, practices and processes that control, reduce or prevent
emissions in all relevant sectors, including transport. |
Global |
Obligatory for signatories |
Public |
|
SCOPE (Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment) Rapid Assessment Projects |
Various assessment projects, such as the
development of Sustainability Indicators to rigorous scientific assessment
through agreed, transparent, and sufficiently broad criteria. Another
project is aimed at reviewing Global Change in Monsoon Asia. |
Global |
Voluntary |
Private |
|
GCOS (Global Climate Observing System) |
To ensure that the observations and information
needed to address climate-related issues are obtained and made available
to all potential users. |
Global |
Voluntary |
Public |
|
Marine initiatives |
||||
|
GOOS (Global Ocean Observing System) |
To provide a sustained, coordinated international
system for gathering data about the oceans and seas of the earth. |
Global |
Voluntary |
Public |
|
London Convention (Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution by dumping of Wastes and Other Matter) |
To contribute to the international control and
prevention of marine pollution, prohibiting the dumping of hazardous
materials. |
Global |
Obligatory for signatories |
Public |
|
LOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) |
To regulate all aspects of the resources of the sea
and the uses of the ocean, and thus bring a stable order. |
Global |
Obligatory for Signatories |
Public |
|
Initiatives on biodiversity |
||||
|
CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) |
To ensure that international trade in specimens of
wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. |
Global |
Obligatory for parties |
Public |
|
CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity) |
To ensure the conservation of biological diversity,
the sustainable use of biological resources and the equitable sharing of
the benefits of genetic resources. |
Global |
Obligatory for parties |
Public |
|
CMS (Convention on Migratory Species) |
To conserve terrestrial, marine and avian species
over the whole of their migratory range. |
Global |
Obligatory for parties |
Public |
|
DIVERSITAS |
To promote integrative biodiversity science,
linking biological, ecological and social disciplines to produce socially
relevant new knowledge, to provide the scientific basis for an
understanding of biodiversity loss, and to draw out the implications for
the policies for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. |
Global |
Voluntary |
Private |
|
PARC (Protected Area Resource Centres) |
To locate and compiles information on the protected
areas of the world. |
Global |
Voluntary |
Public |
|
Environmental related initiatives |
||||
|
IHDP (International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change) |
An international, interdisciplinary,
non-governmental science programme, dedicated to promoting and
coordinating research with the aims to: describe, analyse and understand
the human dimensions of global environmental change. |
Global |
Voluntary |
Private |
|
WHC (World Heritage Convention) |
To protect the World Cultural and Natural
heritage. |
Global |
Obligatory for parties |
Public |
|
CCD (Convention to Combat Desertification) |
To combat desertification, and to promote
sustainable development at a community level. |
Global |
Obligatory for parties |
Public |
|
RAMSAR convention on Wetlands |
To promote the conservation and wise use of all
aspects of wetlands |
Global |
Obligatory for parties |
Public |
|
Ecosystem Millennium Assessment |
To synthesize existing information about ecosystem services, to assess how changes in ecosystem services have affected human well-being, how ecosystem changes may affect people in future decades, and response options that might be adopted at local, national, or global scales to improve ecosystem management and thereby contribute to human well-being and poverty alleviation. http://www.millenniumassessment.org/en/ |
Global |
Voluntary |
Public |
|
Environmental and Sustainability Indicators |
To prepare indicators for monitoring development and the environment in Latin America and the Caribbean to assist decision- making and planning. |
Regional |
Voluntary |
Private |
|
Environmental sustainability index |
To provide the data and analysis needed to assist environmental decision-making to minimize pollution harms and to optimise the use of natural resources. http://www.ciesin.columbia.edu/indicators/ESI/ |
Global |
Voluntary |
Private |
|
To conduct a programme for observations, modelling,
and analysis of terrestrial ecosystems to support sustainable development,
and to facilitate access to information on terrestrial ecosystems so that
researchers and policy makers can detect and manage global and regional
environmental change. |
Global |
Voluntary |
Public | |
|
GFIS (Global Information Service) |
To develop a strategy for and implement an
Internet-based metadata system that will provide coordinated worldwide
access to forest information on forest resources, forest policy, criteria
and indicators for sustainable forest management, research
activities. |
Global |
Voluntary |
Public |
|
FAOSTAT |
To provide a statistical database covering
statistics on agriculture, nutrition, fisheries, forestry, food aid,
land-use and population. |
Global |
Voluntary |
Public |
|
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility) |
To discover and put to use the vast quantities of
global biodiversity data that exist and thereby to create an
Internet-based catalogue of known names of species. |
Global |
Voluntary |
Public |
|
Earth Trends |
To provide readily available environmental data in
the topic areas: water resources and fresh water systems; climate and
atmosphere; population health and human well-being; economics, business
and the environment; environment and resources; biodiversity and protected
areas; agriculture and food; forests, grasslands and drylands;
environmental governance and institutions. |
Global |
Voluntary |
Public |
|
GRID-Arendal |
To provide environmental information,
communications, and capacity building services. |
Global |
Voluntary |
Public |
|
Social and economic related initiatives |
||||
|
HDI (Human Development Indicators) |
To provide data about human-well being that are
most reliable, meaningful and comparable across countries. |
Global |
Voluntary |
Public |
|
IGBP’s (International Geosphere-Biosphere Program) |
To describe and understand the interactive
physical, chemical and biological processes that regulate the total Earth
System, the unique environment that it provides for life, the changes that
are occurring in this system, and the manner in which they are influenced
by human actions. |
Global |
Voluntary |
Public |
|
EIONET (European Environment Information and Observation Network) |
To provide information needed for making decisions
for improving the state of the environment in Europe and making EU
environmental policies more effective. |
Global |
Voluntary |
Public |
|
WFP (World Food Programme) |
To meet emergency needs and support economic and
social development, by put hunger at the centre of the international
agenda, and promoting policies, strategies and operations that directly
benefit the poor and hungry. |
Global |
Voluntary |
Public |
Annex 2: Some of the most important actors involved in the assessment of issues related to sustainable forest management and environment.
|
Organization |
Mission / goals |
Outreach |
Category |
|
ATO (African Timber Organization) |
To promote sustainable forest management in ATO
member countries |
Africa |
Policy development and planning |
|
CFAN- CIDA (Forestry Advisors Network of the Canadian International Development Agency) |
To stimulate thought on international forestry
issues, and to provide opportunity for Internet users to discover what
development issues CIDA has taken to meet the challenges facing the
world’s forests |
Global |
Forestry network |
|
CGIAR (Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research) |
To achieve sustainable food security and reduce
poverty in developing countries through scientific research and
research-related activities in the fields of agriculture, forestry,
fisheries, policy and environment. |
Global |
Research organization |
|
CIFOR (Center for International Forestry Research) |
To contribute to the sustained well-being of people in developing countries, particularly in the tropics, through collaborative, strategic and applied research and by promoting the transfer and adoption of appropriate new technologies and social systems for national development. http://www.cifor.cgiar.org/ |
Global |
Research organization |
|
CPF (Collaborative Partnership of Forests) |
To support the work of the UNFF in promoting the
management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of
forests and in strengthening of political commitment to this end. |
Global |
Forest information network |
|
Earthwatch |
To coordinate, harmonize and catalyse environmental observation activities among all UN agencies for integrated assessment purposes. http://www.earthwatch.org/index.htm |
Global |
Environmental network |
|
EC-JRC (European Commission, Joint Research Centre) |
To provide customer-driven scientific and technical support for the conception, development, implementation and monitoring of EU policies. http://www.jrc.cec.eu.int/ |
Europe |
Policy development |
|
ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council of the United Nations) |
To promote higher standards of living, full employment, and economic and social progress; to identify solutions to international economic, social and health problems; to facilitate international cultural and educational cooperation; and to encourage universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. http://www.un.org/esa/coordination/ecosoc/about.htm |
Global |
Policy development |
|
EDC (EROS (Earth Resources Observations Systems) Data Centre) |
Data management, systems development, and field
research for the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS)
National Mapping Division, accessible for scientists, managers and
technical users. |
Global |
Database centre |
|
EEA (European Environment Agency) |
To provide decision makers with the information needed for making sound and effective decisions to protect the environment and support sustainable development. http://org.eea.eu.int/ |
Europe |
Information network |
|
ESA (European Space Agency) |
To shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the people of Europe. http://www.esa.int/esaCP/index.html |
Europe |
Research organization |
|
ETC/LC (European Topic Centre on Land Cover) |
To provide users of land cover data from satellites, in a European perspective, with accurate data that corresponds to needs in a wide range of applications such as environmental monitoring, biodiversity measurements, creation of ecological corridors, nature resource inventories, environmental impact assessments etc. http://www.lantmateriet.se/index_eng.htm |
Europe |
Environmental information network |
|
ETFRN (European Tropical Forest Network) |
To promote the involvement of European research
expertise towards the conservation and wise use of forests and woodlands
in tropical and subtropical countries. |
Europe |
Forest information network |
|
FAO-COFO (Committee On Forestry) |
To identify emerging policy and technical issues,
seeks solutions and advice FAO and others on appropriate action. |
Global |
Policy development and forestry network |
|
FAO-Forestry Department |
To ensure the development of policies, strategies and guidelines and to provide advisory and technical services to FAO members and collects, analyses and disseminates information in relevant fields of competence. http://www.fao.org/forestry/index.jsp?lang=1 |
Global |
Forest policy and planning, forest information network |
|
FAO-Regional Forest Commissions |
To promote environmentally sound and economically
efficient technologies and to encourage appropriate policies in line with
changing trends in forestry at the regional level. |
Regional |
Forest policy and planning, forest network |
|
IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) |
To assist Member States, in the context of social
and economic goals, in planning for and using nuclear science and
technology for various peaceful purposes, including the generation of
electricity, and facilitates the transfer of such technology and knowledge
in a sustainable manner to developing |
Global |
Science and technology organization |
|
IIED (International Institute for Environment and Development) |
To promote sustainable patterns of world
development. |
Global |
Research and policy development organization |
|
IISD (International Institute for Sustainable Development) |
To make policy recommendations on international trade and investment, economic policy, climate change, measurement and indicators, and natural resource management to make development sustainable. http://www.iisd.ca/ |
Global |
Policy development and information network |
|
ILO (International Labour Organization) |
To promote social justice and internationally
recognized human and labour rights. |
Global |
Human rights |
|
INBio (Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad, Costa Rica) |
To promote a new awareness of the value of biodiversity, and thereby achieve its conservation and use to improve the quality of life. http://www.inbio.ac.cr/en/ |
Costa Rica |
Research organization |
|
INPE (National Institute for Space Research) |
To monitor the Brazilian Amazonian Rainforest by
satellite |
Brazil |
Monitoring |
|
ITC (International Trade Centre, United Nations Centre for Trade and Development and World Trade Organization) |
To support developing and transition economies, and
particularly their business sector, in their efforts to realize their full
potential for developing exports and improving import operations in
product and market development; development of trade support services;
trade information; human resource development; international purchasing
and supply management; needs assessment, programme design for trade
promotion. |
Global |
Technical cooperation agency or trade development |
|
ITTO (International Tropical Timber Organization) |
To promote sustainable development through
sustainable management, use and conservation of tropical forests. |
Global |
Policy development, database |
|
IUFRO (International Union of Forestry Research Organizations) |
To promote international cooperation in forestry
and forest products research. |
Global |
Network for science cooperation |
|
IUCN-FCP (World Conservation Union Forest Conservation Programme) |
To influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable. http://www.iucn.org/ |
Global |
Environmental policy development and advocacy |
|
ODI-FPEG (Overseas Development Organization, Forest Policy and Environment Group) |
To inform the processes of policy change in tropical forestry in ways that improve the livelihoods and well-being of the forest-dependent poor, whilst also securing the long-term future of forest resources. http://www.odifpeg.org.uk/ |
Global |
Policy development |
|
OECD- Environment (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) |
To provide governments with the analytical basis to
develop policies that are effective and economically efficient, including
through country performance reviews, data collection, policy analysis,
projections and modelling, and the development of common approaches |
Global |
Environmental information network |
|
OECD-DAC (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Development Cooperation Directorate) |
To increase the effectiveness of the major
bilateral donors common efforts to support sustainable development,
concentrating on how international development co-operation contributes to
the capacity of developing countries to participate in the global economy
and the capacity of people to overcome poverty and participate fully in
their societies. |
Global |
Information network |
|
PROFOR (Program on Forests of the UNDP) |
To provide participating countries with concrete
capacity building measures to assist the development of national
strategies for improved forest management, and to develop a conceptual
basis and instruments for achieving sustainable forest management. |
Global |
Development assistance |
|
RIC (Rainforest Information Centre) |
To protect the Earth's remaining rainforests and
the indigenous people who depend on them, and support campaigns and
projects, which protect rainforests and at the same time recognise the
legitimate development aspirations of rainforest peoples. |
Global |
Advocacy |
|
SPREP (South Pacific Regional Environment Programme) |
To promote cooperation in the South Pacific region and to provide assistance in order to protect and improve its environment and to ensure sustainable development for present and future generations. http://www.sprep.org.ws/programme/programme.htm |
South Pacific |
Environmental network |
|
TBI (Tropenbos International) |
To facilitate the formulation and organization of participatory, objective-oriented and multidisciplinary research and development programmes to meet the needs of policy makers and forest users. http://www.tropenbos.nl/ |
Global |
Research organization |
|
United Kingdom Tropical Forest Forum |
To strengthen the coherence and effectiveness of
British-based actions in support of the sustainable use and conservation
of forests and forest lands in tropical countries, for the benefit of
their peoples, and for the forest's global environmental values. |
Global |
Tropical forest information network |
|
UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) |
To help the UN system and its partners to raise awareness and track progress in reducing poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation and discrimination against women, while it connects countries to the knowledge and resources needed to achieve these goals. http://www.undp.org/ |
Global |
Information network |
|
UN-DSD (United Nations Division for Sustainable Development) |
To service the Commission on Sustainable Development for follow-up of the implementation of Agenda 21 as well as the Plan of Implementation (POI) of the World Summit on Sustainable Development. http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/ |
Global |
Policy development and information network |
|
UN/ECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) |
To encourage greater economic cooperation among its
member States by doing economic analysis, and providing information about
environment and human settlements, statistics, sustainable energy, trade,
industry and enterprise development, timber and transport by policy
analysis, development of conventions, regulations and standards, and
technical assistance. |
Europe and North America |
Policy development |
|
UNEP-DEC (United Nations Environmental Programme Division of Environmental Conventions) |
To identify synergies and promote collaboration
amongst international agreements, and to facilitate links between UNEP's
own programme and activities and those of the conventions |
Global |
Environmental network |
|
UNFF (United Nations Forum on Forests) |
To promote the management, conservation and
sustainable development of all types of forests and to strengthen long
term political commitment to this end |
Global |
Policy development |
|
UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) |
To fund population and reproductive health
programmes, and to help governments in the world's poorest countries, and
in other countries in need, to formulate population policies and
strategies in support of sustainable development. |
Global |
Policy development and planning |
|
UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlement Program) |
To promote socially and environmentally sustainable
towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for
all. |
Global |
Development assistance |
|
UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) |
To lead and co-ordinate international action to
protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide, in particular to
safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. |
Global |
Human rights |
|
UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) |
To ensure the basic needs of children and women as
well as protecting their fundamental human rights |
Global |
Human rights |
|
UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) |
To improve the living conditions of people and
promote global prosperity through offering tailor-made solutions for the
sustainable industrial development of developing countries and countries
with economies in transition. |
Global |
Policy development and planning |
|
UNSD (United Nations Statistics Division) |
To compile statistics from many international
sources and to produce global updates, and to provide unrestricted free
access to selected global datasets, inclusive the millennium indicators,
the social indicators data set and, in collaboration with
Inter-governmental Working Group on the Advancement of Environment
Statistics, environmental indicators. |
Global |
Information database |
|
WCFSD (World Commission on Forests and Sustainable Development) |
To achieve policy reforms aimed at reconciling economic and environmental objectives for sustainable management of global forests. http://www.iisd.org/wcfsd/ |
Global |
Policy development |
|
WCMC (World Conservation Monitoring Centre) |
To promote wiser decision-making and a sustainable future by providing information on the conservation and sustainable management of the living world. http://www.wcmc.org.uk/ |
Global |
Information network |
|
WHO (World Health Organization) |
To attain by all peoples of the highest possible
level of health defined as a state of complete physical, mental and social
well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. |
Global |
Development assistance |
|
World Bank/WWF Alliance |
To achieve a significantly reduced rate of loss and
degradation of all forest types by promoting forest conservation and
internationally recognized best practices in forest management |
Global |
Forest planning and management |
|
World Economic Forum |
To bring together global leaders, from all walks of
life, to pursue economic and social activity that will improve the state
of the world. |
Global |
Development network |
|
WRI (World Resources Institute) |
To create solutions to protect the Earth and improve people's lives by protecting Earth's living systems increasing access to information, creating sustainable enterprise and opportunity, reversing global warming. http://www.wri.org/ |
Global |
Research and policy development |
|
WWF (World Wildlife Fund, i.e. Forests Conservation Programme) |
T o stop the degradation of the planet's natural
environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with
nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the
use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the
reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/forests/index.cfm/index.cfm |
Global |
Policy development and advocacy |
