By Mr Wulf Killmann, Director, Forest Products Division,
FAO
Distinguished Guests, ladies and gentlemen, dear colleagues,
On behalf of Mr. Hosny El-Lakany, the Assistant Director General, and Head of the Forestry Department of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, I welcome you to Rome, to FAO, and to the International Expert Consultation "Trade and Sustainable Forest Management - Impacts and Interactions". Unfortunately Mr. El- Lakany cannot be with us today, and I will therefore speak on his behalf.
It is a pleasure to have you with us - participants from government institutions, the private sector and their associations, NGOs and the research community to discuss and exchange views on this important topic.
FAO's mission in Forestry is to enhance human well-being by supporting member countries in the sustainable management of the world's trees and forests. We try to achieve this in close cooperation with other international organizations, NGOs and the private sector. One instrument we use is the provision and facilitation of neutral fora, where different stakeholders can freely exchange their views on forestry issues - Fora such as this one.
The UNCED Forest Principles aim is to promote better management and conservation, as well as sustainable development, of all types of forests. During the past ten years, the Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Poverty Reduction Strategies have been added.
In this context we have to ask ourselves whether economic growth through trade should be the only engine for meeting the UNCED goal.
We certainly need multi-perspective frameworks to accommodate diverging views and interests. The challenge is to balance trade with social and environmental aspects. These complex issues, as well as the increasing reliance on market-oriented approaches and the private sector, induce us to take a new look at governance, and in particular at
• the establishment of conducive and coherent policies and legislation;
• the steering of processes for public participation;
• the re-organisation of institutions; and
• a new definition of the roles and tasks of governments and civil society.
International and regional financing institutions, bilateral donor agencies and international NGOs support efforts to strengthen decision-making and overall governance at national levels, as well as to build capacity for participation in international debates. These include the implementation of the Doha Declaration of member states of the World Trade Organisation and the debates in the framework of the Committee for Trade and Environment of WTO.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we all know that the sustainability of forests is influenced by social, environmental and economic factors - but what do we know about the role of trade?
To take a closer look at the complexity of interaction and impact between Trade and Forest Management, the Project entitled "Impact Assessment of Forest Products Trade in the Promotion of Sustainable Forest Management" was set up.
Generously supported by the Japanese Government, this project enables FAO to provide information, analysis and a platform for discussion. Its implementation is guided by a Project Advisory Group consisting of eminent members of the international community. They are well-versed in issues related to forests and forest products trade.
This expert consultation is part of that Project and was prepared jointly by FAO and the International Institute for Environment and Development.
What is the objective of this meeting?
We want to contribute to a better understanding of how current trends in trade policy and market development will impact on and interact with forest management.
We do not seek to find consensus, but rather to reflect on diverging views and to identify potential for fruitful future collaboration.
As a result of this meeting, we expect to have some answers to two questions:
What are the impacts of more sustainable management of forests on trade patterns and market shares for forest products?
How can the trade of forest products contribute towards more sustainable management of forests?
Today's plenary presentations and tomorrow's working groups will address topics such as policies, agreements on multilateral trade and environment, governance, cross-sectoral influences and emerging markets for environmental services.
Issues emerging during this consultation will be further explored and analysed during the implementation of the Project. FAO will publish the results of this process on trade in forest products and sustainable forest management later on this year.
Moreover, the outcome of this consultation will guide future activities carried out by FAO and its collaborators.
We sincerely hope that our joint efforts will facilitate the discussion on how to address environmental and social concerns in trade negotiations at all levels.
I would like to put on record our thanks to the Japanese Government for making this meeting possible. I also want to acknowledge the work of our IIED colleagues and their collaborators from international institutions and national organisations, as well as that of the members of the project advisory group
Dear colleagues, please be reminded that you have been invited in your personal professional capacity.
Again, I welcome you on behalf of FAO and wish you success in an open and constructive dialogue on an interesting topic - the impacts and interactions between trade and sustainable forest management.
Thank you for your attention.1
1The expert consultation was covered by the Earth Negotiation Bulletin (ENB) of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). Their report is available online.