I. Criteria and Indicators for CILSS countries
II. Criteria and Indicators for SADC countries within the framework of the Dry-Zone Africa Process
Description: The Process identified 7 criteria and 47 indicators for sustainable forest management at the national level.
Initiated: In Nairobi, Kenya, in November 1995, under the coordination of FAO and UNEP
Member Countries: Dry-Zone Africa Process (30 countries). CILSS[2] (9 countries): Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chad, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal. IGADD (7): Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, and Uganda. SADC (14): Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
www address: (under preparation);
SADC-FSTCU: http://www.fstcu.org/fstcu.htmPartner organisations: The African Forestry and Wildlife Commission and the Secretariats of three subregional groupings - the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC)
CILSS: www.cilss.org <http://www.cilss.org>
Southern African Development Community initiative:
The original set of criteria and indicators was thoroughly re-reviewed and discussed by the National Coordinators. The only change introduced was the addition of another indicator: Criterion V; Indicator 28: Changes in water yield and quality. The name of the set of CRITERIA AND INDICATORS was also chanced to “The SADC Initiative on Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management in the Framework of the Dry-Zone Africa Process”
Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel:
National Co-ordinators reviewed the set of Dry-Zone Africa criteria and indicators and in general, except for some minor changed in wording and the addition of three more indicators. They also recognised that such set could only act as the framework for CILSS to continue assisting member countries to further develop their own set according to each countries overall conditions. Participants concluded that the set of criteria and indicators of the Dry-Zone Africa Process is only an “umbrella” to which countries should relate to develop their own national set according to each country's conditions.
Criterion 1: Maintenance and improvement of forest resources including their contribution to global carbon cycles
Indicators:
1.1 Total area and percentage of forests, plantations and other wooded lands (and their changes over time)
1.2 Biomass (and its changes over time)
1.3 Available carbon stock
Criterion 2: Concervation and enhancement of biological diversity in forest ecosystems
Ecosystem indicators:
2.1 Areas by types of vegetation (natural and man-made)
2.2 Extent of Protected Areas
2.3 Fragmentation of forests
2.4 Area cleared annually of forest ecosystems containing endemic species
Species indicators:
2.5 Number of forest-dependent species
2.6 Number of forest dependent species at risk
2.7 Number of forest dependant species that have disappared
2.8 Number of species that have reappeared
Genetic indicators (fauna, flora):
2.9 Average number of provenances
2.10 Number of forest dependent species with reduced range
2.11 Population levels of key species across their range
2.12 Management of genetic resources
Criterion 3: Maintenance of forest ecosystem health, vitality and integrity
Indicators:
3.1 Areas and percentages of forest (natural and man-made) modified, with the indication of severity of damage by such agents as: fires (including frequency), storms (e.g. windthrow, flooded areas), insects and diseases, damage by wild and domesticated animals, competition from introduced plants, drought, damage by wind erosion)
3.2 Percentages of forest ecosystems with or without regeneration
3.3 Changes in nutrient balance and soil acidity
3.4 Bush encroachment
3.5 Trends in crop yields
3.6 Percentage of the population employed in crop and livestock farming
Criterion 4: Maintenance and enhancement of productive functions of forests and other wooded lands
Indicators:
4.1 Percentage of forests and other wooded lands managed according to a management plan.
4.2 Growing stock
4.3 Annual balance between growth and removal of wood products (and its change over time)
4.4 Average annual consumption of wood for energy per capita
4.5 Managed and sustainable extraction of non-wood forest products (and its change over time), incl.: fodder (grass layer and fodder from trees/shrubs), consumptive wildlife utilisation, honey, gum, misc. fruits, roots, edible leaves, medicinal substances, fibres for handicrafts etc.
Criterion 5: Maintenance and improvement of protective functions in forest management
Indicators:
5.1 Areas and percentages of forests and other wooded lands managed mainly for the protection and/or rehabilitation of agricultural or range lands, and/or rehabilitation of degraded lands and relevant important infrastructure works
5.2 Areas and percentages of forests and other wooded areas managed mainly for the production of water, protection of watersheds, riverine zones and for flood control
5.3 Areas of forests and other wooded lands managed for scenic and amenity purposes.
Criterion 6: Maintenance and enhancement of socio-economic benefits
Indicators of economic benefits:
6.1 Value of wood products
6.2 Value of non-wood forest products
6.3 Ecotourism (incl. hunting, recreation)
6.4 Share of forest sector in GNP
6.5 Value from primary and secondary industries
6.6 Value from biomass energy
6.7 Forest sector trade balance
6.8 Investment in forests and forest industries
Indicators of distribution of benefits:
6.9 Employment generation and other social advantages
6.10 Degree of satisfaction to which social, cultural and spiritual needs are met
Indicators of sharing of benefits:
6.10 Share of the forestry sector in the formation of local communities incomes (rural households, women and youth)
6.11 Level of contribution to food security.
6.12 Employment, opportunities and other advantages created notably in rural areas.
Criterion 7: Adequacy of legal, institutional and policies frameworks for sustainable forest management.
Indicators:
7.1 Existence of a national forest policy that ensures the integration of forest management in rural land use planning and to the economic and social development strategic framework as well as to the Convention on Deversification control and Bioeversity.
7.2 Existence of a comprehensive legislative and regulatory framework providing for equitable access to resources, alternative forms of conflict resolution and consideration of land occupancy and cultural rights of local populations
7.3 Institutional, human and financial capacity to implement the national forestry policy, and relevant national and international laws, instruments and regulations
7.4 Research and development capacity
7.5 Existence of incentives for investments in the forestry sector
7.6 Valorisation of local expertise, knowledge and technologies
7.7 Existence of measures to facilitate the transfer and adaptation of appropriate technologies.
7.8 Existence of an administrative, policy and legal framework for the effective participation of local communities, NGOs and the private sector in forest policy formulation, implementation and monitoring.
Source: Anon. 1999. National level criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management in CILSS member countries within the framework of the Dry-Zone Africa. UNEP/FAO/CILSS/CSE National Coordinator Meeting 14-17/12/1999. Dakar, Senegal.
Criterion 1: Development, maintenance and improvement of forest resources, including their contribution to global carbon cycles:
Indicators:
1.1 Total areas of natural forests, plantations and other wooded lands[3]
1.2 Biomass
Criterion 2: Conservation and enhancement of biological diversity in forest ecosystems:
Ecosystem indicators:
2.1 Areas by types of vegetation
2.2 Extent of protected areas
2.3 Conservation areas outside protected areas
2.4 Area lost annually of forest ecosystems containing endemic species
Species indicators:
2.5 Number of forest-dependent species (and its change over time)
2.6 Number of forest dependent species at risk
2.7 Resources exploitation systems[4] used
Genetic indicators (fauna, flora):
2.8 Average number of provenance (and its change over time)
2.9 Number of forest dependent species with reduced range
2.10 Population levels of key species across their range
2.11 Degree of management of genetic resources
Criterion 3. Maintenance and enhancement of forest ecosystem health and vitality
Indicators:
3.1 Areas and percentages of forest (natural and man-made) modified, with the indication of severity of damage by such agents as:
3.2 Percentages of forest ecosystems with or without regeneration
3.3 Changes in soil fertility
3.4 Encroachment by invasive plants
3.5 Trends in yields of forest and agricultural produce
3.6 Percentage of forest area encroached by human activities
Criterion 4. Maintenance and enhancement of productive functions of forests and other wooded lands
Indicators:
4.1 Percentage of forests and other wooded lands managed according to a management plan
4.2 Growing stock
4.3 Periodical balance between growth and removal of wood products
4.4 Average annual consumption of wood for energy per capita
4.5 Managed and sustainable extraction of non-wood forest products of:
Criterion 5. Maintenance and improvement of environmental and conservation functions of forests and other wooded lands and combating desertification
Indicators:
5.1 Areas and percentages of forests and other wooded lands managed mainly for the Protection and/or rehabilitation of agricultural or range lands, and/or rehabilitation of degraded lands and/or areas prone to desertification and relevant important infrastructure works
5.2 Areas and percentages of forests and other wooded areas managed mainly for the Production of water, protection of watersheds, riverine zones and for flood control
5.3 Change in water yield and quality
5.4 Areas of forests and other wooded lands managed for scenic and amenity purposes
Criterion 6. Maintenance and enhancement of socio-economic benefits of forests and other wooded lands
Indicators of Economic benefits:
6.1 Value of wood products
6.2 Value of non-wood forest products
6.3 Ecotourism (incl. hunting, recreation)
6.4 Share of forest sector in GNP
6.5 Value from secondary industries
6.6 Value from biomass energy
6.7 Forest sector trade balance
6.8 Investment in forests and forest industries including informal sector
Indicators of Social benefit:
6.9 Number of people employed in forest sector
6.10 Degree to which social, cultural and spiritual needs are met
6.11 Benefits accruing to local communities (with particular emphasis on women and youth)
6.12. Contributions to food security
Criterion 7. Adequacy and effectiveness of legal, institutional and policies frameworks for sustainable forest management
Indicators:
7.1 Existence of a national forest policy in harmony with other sectoral policies
7.2 Existence of a comprehensive legislative and regulatory framework providing, e.g. equitable access to resources, alternative forms of conflict resolution and consideration of land occupancy and cultural rights of local populations
7.3 Existence of institutional, human and financial capacity to implement the national forestry policy, and relevant national and international laws, instruments and regulations
7.4 Existence of research and development capacity
7.5 Existence of incentives for investments in the forestry sector
7.6 Valorisation of local expertise, knowledge and technologies
7.7 Existence of measures to facilitate the transfer and adaptation of appropriate technologies
7.8. Existence of an administrative, policy and legal framework for the effective participation of local communities, NGOs and the private sector in forest policy formulation, implementation and monitoring.
Source: Anon. 1999. Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management in SADC countries Within the Framework of the Dry-Zone Africa Process. UNDP/FAO/SADC meeting, Lilongwe, Malawi 12/98.
