International cooperation and support

International conventions and agreements

Asia-Pacific countries have signed more than a dozen international treaties, conventions and protocols with the potential to directly impact on forest management. Those reflecting mainly environmental objectives include:

• International Convention for the Protection of Birds (ICPB), 1950;

• Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar Convention), 1971;

• Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (World Heritage Convention), 1972;

• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), 1973;

• Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, 1979.

• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), 1992;

• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 1992;

• United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), 1994;

• International Tropical Timber Agreement (ITTA), 1994;

• Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC, 1997.

Preliminary analysis for the State of the World's Forests (2003) indicates that, excluding small Pacific Island territories, a large majority of Asia-Pacific countries have ratified the conventions most relevant to forestry (Table 10). In addition, virtually all countries in the region have undertaken to adhere to Chapter XI of Agenda 21 and the non-binding Forest Principles elaborated at UNCED in 1992.

Outside of the environmental sphere, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Agreement has significant potential to influence forestry decision-making. Many countries in the region are signatories to the WTO agreement, with Bhutan, Cambodia, DPR Korea, East Timor, Lao PDR, Nepal and Viet Nam, the non-signatories from Asia, while Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands are signatories from the Pacific.

Table 10: Status of ratification of international conventions 2003

International cooperation

A number of Asia-Pacific countries have participated actively in the international dialogue on forests. This includes discussions initially in the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests (IPF), in the Inter-governmental Forum on Forests (IFF), and subsequently in the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF). For example, representatives of the following countries attended the Second Session of UNFF held in New York in March 2002:

Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, China, DPR Korea, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

A number of countries from the region have also been sponsors or hosts of initiatives, sub-processes and meetings directly contributing to this international dialogue.

Cooperation within the region takes place at a number of levels. Perhaps the most visible collaborative arrangements are sub-regional economic groups, the most significant of which include the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the South Pacific Forum (SPF). These associations encourage cooperation at a number of levels. For example, the ASEAN Declaration notes the aims and purpose of the Association are to:

accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development...(and) to promote regional peace and stability.

SAARC also proposes to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development, as well as objectives relating to promoting the welfare of people, strengthening self reliance among South Asian nations, and strengthening cooperation among member countries and with the international community. The SPF provides a forum to discuss a wide variety of issues of relevance to South Pacific countries. Forestry is of periodic interest in each of these forums. For ASEAN, the interest and focus on forestry is regular. The ASEAN Senior Officials on Forestry (ASOF) meet at least once a year. The Strategic Plan of Action on ASEAN Cooperation in Food, Agriculture and Forestry (1999-2004) has various Action Programmes related to forestry and in implementing the programmes ASEAN is currently supported by the ASEAN-German Regional Forest Programme.

The regional economic groups also play roles in facilitating transboundary cooperation on issues that may arise (or require mitigation) in one country, but impact on neighbouring countries through cross-border effects. In 2002, for example, the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution was enacted in response to problems created by forest fires. This Agreement provides a legal and institutional framework to tackle problems on a national as well as a regional basis, including prevention, monitoring, coordination, disaster relief, and research and development.

Transboundary cooperation on forestry-related environmental issues typically occurs in relation to major international river systems and waterways, adjacent parks and reserves, and wildlife corridors. For example, a transboundary partnership between the governments of Nepal and China (Tibet Autonomous Region) has been undertaken to jointly manage the Sagarmatha (Mt Everest) region.

In Asia, four of the world's leading rivers, the Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra and Mekong, originate in the Himalaya, but are international watercourses. These rivers are essential for some of the world's largest irrigation schemes and hydroelectric works and sharing their waters is often a source of political tension. Various mechanisms exist for cooperation on river management. One example is the Mekong River Commission (MRC) established in 1995. The MRC member countries are Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam. The MRC also maintains regular dialogue with the two upland states of the Mekong river basin - China and Myanmar. MRC member countries have agreed to cooperate in all fields of sustainable development, utilization, management and conservation of water and related resources of the Mekong river basin, including flood control, agriculture, hydropower and environmental protection.

A variety of other regional forestry agreements, institutions, and ad hoc meetings promote international cooperation on forestry within the region. In terms of global intergovernmental organizations, FAO, ITTO, World Bank, UNDP, IPGRI, International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR) and IUCN (among others) have strong forestry programmes or involvement in forestry. A number of regional institutions have important roles in promoting international cooperation on specific forestry themes and issues. These include the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asia Pacific Association of Forestry Research Institutions (APAFRI), Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), International Center for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF), Regional Community Forestry Training Center for Asia and the Pacific (RECOFTC), International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). A wide variety of forestry-related NGOs also operate in the region and play important roles in facilitating dialogue and change.

In terms of regional forums, the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission (APFC) provides a unique opportunity for discussion of forestry issues relevant to the region. Created in 1949, APFC is one of six FAO Regional Forestry Commissions that cover the world's major geographic regions. APFC activities are shaped by shifts in international forestry paradigms, priorities and practices. The APFC meets every two years in general session to review progress, discuss problems of mutual concern and set new agendas. A variety of other regional forestry meetings occur, often on an ad hoc basis. For example, in September 2001, a Forest Law Enforcement and Governance East Asia Ministerial Conference convened in Bali, Indonesia. The Conference issued a Ministerial Declaration on illegal logging, the intent of which is largely encapsulated in its first declaration to:

take immediate action to intensify national efforts, and to strengthen bilateral, regional and multilateral collaboration to address violations of forest law and forest crime, in particular illegal logging, associated illegal trade and corruption, and their negative effects on the rule of law.

In 2002, the Asia Forest Partnership (AFP) was launched by the governments of Japan and Indonesia as an outcome of the World Summit on Sustainable Development. The purpose of the AFP is to promote sustainable forest management in Asia, with a focus on forest law enforcement, good governance, illegal logging and rehabilitation and reforestation of degraded lands in ASEAN countries as well as in China, Korea and Japan. To date, 15 governments and 9 NGOs have become partners in the initiative.

A large number of bilateral and multilateral development projects are implemented in the region. Japan, Australia and New Zealand are the main donor countries based in the region. Japan is a major donor on a global scale, and contributes substantially to forestry projects in the Asia-Pacific. In 2001-2002 the Australian aid programme provided $11.1 million for sustainable forestry activities in the Asia-Pacific region. A further $31.7 million was provided to support activities with significant forestry components. New Zealand's aid programme focuses primarily on the Pacific Islands, and it funds several bilateral forestry projects in the Pacific and Asia.

Almost all developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region are implementing forestry development projects with international support and cooperation. These range across the entire spectrum of forestry from institutional strengthening and policy development, across the spheres of community and participatory forestry, and to projects directly funding reforestation, nursery development and monitoring illegal forest activities. The Vietnamese Forest Sector Support Programme (Box 12) provides a good example of international cooperation in forestry development.