In the foreword to this publication, Mr He Changhui writes, "Forestry is a sector undergoing dynamic evolution in a rapidly-changing world". As a consequence, drawing generalized conclusions on the state of forestry in the region is both difficult and fraught with hazard. Conclusions may only be applicable in certain instances and can be rapidly outpaced by sectoral change. Nonetheless, there presently appears to be good reasons for cautious optimism over the future of forests in the region, despite ongoing problems of deforestation and forest degradation.
The overall forest area in Asia-Pacific continues to decline, with many remaining forest areas being subject to degradation. Total net forest area in the region decreased by 10.5 million hectares during the 1990s. This trend is a serious concern. In many countries, particularly in South and Southeast Asia, stated commitment to sustainable forest management is not being translated into action on the ground. This ongoing destruction of forests, allied with policy inconsistencies and examples of patent cronyism lend weight to conclusions that some countries have lost their way in working towards forest sustainability goals - and that they are lacking in true political will to regain their path. However, a closer examination of forestry statistics reveals some positive messages. Almost a quarter of the countries in which significant changes in forest areas occurred during the 1990s reported an increase in forest cover. While the experiences of developed countries such as Japan and New Zealand mirror those of many other countries in Europe and North America, the examples set by developing countries such as China and Viet Nam, where dedicated efforts are being made to rehabilitate and expand forest areas, provide great cause for optimism that other countries in the region can and will similarly address their forestry challenges.
Most countries in the region have a relatively sound policy and legislative foundation from which to implement sustainable forest management. In some instances, policy frameworks are obsolete, but most countries are at least working to update their forest policies. In general, however, the major challenges are not with forest policies per se, but rather in terms of countries' capacities and commitment to implement them. Too often, policy recommendations are promulgated without adequate reference to requisite resources and capabilities for effective implementation. This is a thread that appears to run through all levels of forest policy debate including international dialogues, national policy development processes and individual meetings and workshops. A number of common themes are apparent in forest policies in the region. Almost all espouse an overarching drive towards sustainable forest management. A need for participatory approaches to forest management is a common plank for most countries. Conservation objectives maintenance of competitive forest industries and efforts to curtail illegal forest activities are other frequent themes.
Some of the weakest links in the chain toward sustainable forest management are institutional capacities in the region. The rapid changes that have been associated with policies that encompass participatory forestry, devolution and decentralization of forest management responsibilities have regularly outpaced the capacities of traditional forestry institutions to encompass change. Government institutions that have historically been responsible for direct management of forests are now being asked to undertake roles to facilitate other groups undertaking forest management. The skill sets between the historical and current roles are markedly different, institutional structures need to be revamped, and generally there are insufficient resources to effectively implement these changes. Similar challenges confront institutions involved in forest research, education and training as well as private sector agencies, environmental NGOs and forest communities.
The economic contribution of forests in the region remains substantial, but it is a major contributor to GDP and/or export earnings in only a handful of countries. The total volume of roundwood harvested in the Asia-Pacific region is estimated at 758 million cubic metres, or 22 percent of the world's total. Official production of industrial roundwood in the region has declined by around 50 million cubic metres during the past decade and there has been a significant shift towards plantation production. Nonetheless, illegal logging is widespread and it is believed that actual harvests are substantially higher than reported statistics in several countries. Apparent positive indications for forests, reflected in official claims of declining harvests in some countries, may not be born out by actual events on the ground.
The rise of participatory forestry in the region, during the past 20 years, offers considerable cause for optimism - particularly given the number of countries that are endeavouring to implement plans for extensive community-based forest management. Nonetheless, participatory forestry has so far yet to prove it is a panacea for national forestry sectors, even in leading countries. Shortages in resources to implement joint forest management schemes, allied with lack of training for communities and scepticism among government forestry staff, has meant that uptake of participatory forestry opportunities has been far less than the more optimistic forecasts of the early-1990s. In India, for example, Joint Forest Management has been applied to less than a quarter of the country's forests, while in Nepal only around 15 percent of forests have been allocated to Forest User Groups. In some instances, community forestry struggles to be financially viable. It can also be argued that community forestry efforts have not benefited the most impoverished. Participatory forestry offers an avenue of hope - but not a guarantee - for a bright future for forestry.
Considerable progress in demarcating conservation forest areas has been made in the region. As a whole, the region is close to meeting the IUCN target of 10 percent of forests under conservation status. There are, however, many challenges still to be addressed including ensuring that demarcated areas are also effectively managed, ensuring an even distribution of representative forest types in conservation areas, as well as making sure conservation areas are of sufficient size to provide a viable habitat for wildlife. Encroachment into conservation areas is a major problem in many Asia-Pacific countries, and few countries are finding satisfactory means of resolving this challenge.
Finally, several generic factors give rise to cautious optimism over the future of forestry in Asia and the Pacific. These broadly relate to levels of development, information sharing and international cooperation.
There is little doubt that developed countries have enhanced opportunities for forest conservation while, conversely, the process of development generally entails significant environmental degradation. For example, the FRA2000 reports that in Europe, during the 1990s, 27 countries increased their forest cover and only three countries reported declining forest area. By comparison, in the Asia-Pacific region, 7 countries increased forest cover during the 1990s, while forest areas in 20 countries were reported to have declined. During the past 20 years, however, there has been an enormous rate of development in many countries of the region. Wealth has increased, infrastructure has been built and, in a number of countries, a strong environmental conscience has evolved. This latter point is important, because there is a strong correlation between level of development and the strength of environmental movements in countries. Similarly, the openness and transparency of debate that characterize good forest management generally come about as countries become less defensive about their environmental records. In several countries in the region, discernable development, in tandem with a visible environmental movement and increasing levels of discussion and debate offer tangible hope for rapid improvement in forest management and conservation during the next decade.
The enormous increases in availability and accessibility of information implicit in technology developments such as the Internet, as well as a noticeable increase in the willingness of countries to share their forestry experiences, is also cause for optimism. Along with the developed countries in the region, countries such as Malaysia, China and India are showing leadership in sharing information and experiences, as well as encouraging international collaboration. There is a recognition that there are enormous efficiency gains to be realized through learning from others' experiences and that every country has valuable insights to share. There is notable enthusiasm to participate in international networks, collaborative workshops and conferences, and in comparative multi-country studies. This willingness to cooperate confers the greatest hope that forestry is finding a positive path for advancement.
