Joseph ANGWENYI (Kenya): The Kenyan delegation wishes to thank the Secretariat for a very comphrehensive Report on forestry. I have a few brief comments to make. First, we are delighted to note that the Report pays a lot of attention to the contribution of forest-based small-scale enterprises, especially in their role in stabilizing rural communities by offering employment. This is very much in line with our rural development strategy in Kenya.
There is a need to involve the local communities particularly in afforestation and conservation. We also noted that besides the traditional role of forestry in supplying industrial wood requirements, the role of supplying non-wood requirements, particularly in areas where we have a growing population, has been given prominence in this report. The role of forestry, particularly in watershed management, erosion control and the provision of habitat for wildlife, forestry also serves as a gene pool for a lot of flora and fauna. We welcome the suggestion to have the integration of wildlife and forestry. To achieve a balance it is necessary to invest more resources, particularly in surveys of both forestry resources and other natural resources in the area, in order to facilitate the drawing up of long-term programmes to achieve sustained yields.
The combination of the report on inter-sector approach to forestry planning is very welcome. In my own country we have just completed a forestry sub-sector review and the report has been published. In that report there is a lot of scope for integrating forestry planning together with agricultural development and other relevant sectors.
We would welcome very much the support of FAO, particularly in programmes to strengthen the local capability in resource survey and management. This is particularly crucial in marginal areas, the arid and semi-arid areas of, for example, the African region because with sustainable development in those areas we maybe able to overcome the problem of desertification. In other areas interventions on agro-forestry and farm-forestry will assist in giving the farmers in those areas some of the wood they require and will enable them to have an environment conducive to development.
We also note that the Tenth World Forestry Congress that Is being held in many regions of the world and at the moment there is a lot of interest in the Tropical Forestry Action Plan. We feel it would be helpful if this Congress is held in the Tropics. I would like to support the suggestion of the Colombian delegation that our sister state in East Africa, namely Tanzania, would be a good venue to hold this Congress. I would also like to note the support expressed by France to support the organization of this Congress. I hope that this support will be extended wherever the Congress is held.
Gerhard LIEBER (Germany, Federal Republic of): I apologize for being late. First of all I should like to thank Mr. Lanly for his introduction to the very informative and well-prepared report which is before us. We welcome the fact that the Ninth Session of the Committee on Forestry was attended by so many highly qualified representatives of Member States. This stresses the importance which is attached to forestry at national and international levels.
The Ninth COFO session dealt with important questions relating to the biological and technical forestry production, forest protection and in particular the further development of the Tropical Forest Action Plan. The most important issue in this connection proved to be the assessment of the planning concept of the Tropical Forest Action Plan and the state of its implementation in the individual Member States. As the TFAP endeavours to achieve a comprehensive and critical assessment of the forestry and forest product sectors of a country in its economic and social environment, all important questions of forest management and conservation have to be raised for discussion. We think that that is a great advantage of the plan.
My delegation welcomes the fact that, especially in view of the progressive decline in tropical forests, high priority is given to the question of the practical implementation of TFAP at the regional and national levels. I can assure you that the Federal Republic of Germany fully supports the current worldwide activities in this respect. This was also reaffirmed by our Minister for Economic Cooperation on the occasion of his recent visit to FAO ten days ago. Considering the tasks involved we feel that the strengthening of FAO's Forestry Department should receive the necessary priority so that the Department is able to respond to the challenges ahead.
Let me mention another aspect which was discussed by the Committee on Forestry, namely, the new types of forest damage occuring in the forests of the Nothern Hemisphere. My country welcomes the fact that a coordinated forest damage survey has led, in European countries, to an at least reasonable overview of the current state of forest damage thus providing the basis for appropriate measures to be taken. We also welcome the fact that forestry research is coordinated and speeded up at the same time in a European research network.
The Council also has to deal with the question of the site for the next World Forestry Congress in 1991. As you may well imagine my country supports the proposals to celebrate this important meeting in an EEC member country. As we, in Europe, enjoy a very close cooperation in European forestry, the Congress would have the full support of European forestry science policy bodies, administration and professional organizations. European forestry with its century-old traditions and experiences, with the beauty of its woodlands, would certainly be a fitting background for the Tenth World Forestry Congress.
Washington ZUÑIGA TRELLES (Perú): La presentación de los documentos y la exposición efectuada del tema, es muy buena. Hago llegar la felicitación de mi delegación por este hecho. No quiero repetir aquí las posiciones adoptadas por mi país cuando vimos estos temas en el Comité de Montes, el Perú había expresado ampliamente su apoyo y su decidida colaboración al Departamento de Montes de la FAO. Todos ellos saben, a través de nuestras exposiciones, a veces extensas y prolíficas, cuál ha sido nuestra posición respecto al desarrollo de la foresteria en el mundo, no solamente como un medio de ayuda económica para nuestros pueblos sino de mantenimiento y mejoramiento del ambiente y de los sistemas ecológicos que son tan necesarios para la supervivencia de la humanidad.
Solamente quiero referirme en esta oportunidad al hecho de que en mi país ya se ha preparado el Plan Forestal Tropical y también que contamos con el apoyo auspicioso del PNUD a cuyo delegado hago llegar nuestro agradecimiento, para que comiencen a prepararse los proyectos prioritarios contemplados en este Plan, a fin de poder iniciar los proyectos necesarios para cooperar con este esfuerzo mundial en la preservación de nuestros bosques y en la utilización racional de los mismos.
Quiero referirme también muy brevemente a las industrias forestales. Estamos a la espera de un proyecto, que debe ser apoyado posiblemente por los Países Bajos, sobre el desarrollo de industrias forestales. En nuestro país, desde hace muchos años sobre todo en las comunidades campesinas, hemos desarrollado acciones de forestación y estos árboles han crecido, y en estos momentos, los campesinos no saben qué hacer con los árboles porque antes se utilizaban en minería, y la minería en este momento atraviesa una grave crisis. Los minerales están con precios sumamente bajos y, por consiguiente, no hay demanda de estos árboles para utilizarlos en esta actividad económica. Entonces la industria forestal, que ya tiene cierta experiencia, necesita del apoyo de estos organismos internacionales y agradecemos a los Países Bajos el interés que ellos están tomando para que dentro de la Comunidad pueda ser aprobado este proyecto, que ya se ha presentado hace más de un año.
Asimismo, estamos haciendo proyectos de capacitación con Suiza, con especies nativas para utilizarlas como leña y evitar la depredación de algunos bosques naturales que existen.
Y en fin, venimos actuando con bastante entusiasmo en todo lo que se trate de la conservación y explotación racional del bosque y de la vida silvestre, nosotros siempre estaremos presentes para apoyar en todo lo que sea posible y positivo.
En cuanto al Décimo Congreso Forestal Mundial, yo quisiera manifestar que mi Delegación sigue el criterio de Cuba en el sentido de que sean los propios países que se han ofrecido como sede los que definan, porque nosotros tenemos igual simpatía por los cinco países y creemos que los cinco están en condiciones de realizar un evento de esta naturaleza, y la verdad, no sabemos por quién inclinarnos. Que sean ellos, quienes viendo sus posibilidades de último momento, definan dónde debe realizarse este importante certamen que, seguramente como los anteriores, va a generar la atención mundial.
András SZABO (Hungary): First, I want to declare our support for the Tropical Forest Action Plan. We are aware of the gravity of the problems concerned which by far exceed national, and even regional, frameworks which is why we treat these issues as a global problem calling for concerted actions by the international community as a whole. In these endeavours FAO would play a central and even more intensified role supported by appropriate financial appropriations. The Hungarian Government is ready to participate in the implementation of the action plan by making available the experience we have gained and sending our experts to the spot if our assistance is required.
As regards the place of the Tenth World Forestry Congress we see that countries from only two continents remain in the competition. In order to facilitate and alleviate our work we consider it would be desirable if countries of the same continent could agree firstly among each other (through informal discussions) which of them will host the Congress. Then our Council would be expected to choose from only two countries. Without final decision my country is inclined to see the place of the Congress in one of the African countries since Africa and its problems have been in the centre of our attention in recent years. We should also bear in mind that until now this continent has never had the opportunity to host such a Congress. However, we will be flexible and can accept the decision of the majority of the Council Members.
Taghi SHAMEKHI (Iran, République islamique d'): A propos des petites entreprises nous considérons que c'est une très bonne chose car, étant déjà une ressource économique pour les paysans, elle sont en outre importantes pour la conservation des forêts.
En République islamique d'Iran, la forêt est un patrimoine commun, en dehors de la propriété privée, tel que cela a été décidé par la Constitution. Le terrain est donc prêt pour déclencher le mouvement, et cela fait partie du programme du gouvernement.
A propos de la conservation de la forêt, je voudrais observer que dans les pays en développement la conservation de la forêt est avant tout un problème socio-économique et non pas un problème technique. La conservation de la forêt dans les pays en développement ne sera possible que si les problèmes de la pauvreté, de l'alimentation et de l'agricuture sont résolus. Les paysans pauvres n'ayant pas d'autre possibilité n'ont pour survivre que les ressources forestières.
Dans les pays en développement, il y a deux sources importantes de destruction de la forêt et donc de destruction de l'environnement. La première est l'exploitation industrielle qui ne tient pas compte des réalités socio-économiques et écologiques, surtout quand entre en jeu l'avidité des entreprises capitalistes étrangères. La deuxième raison est le fait que les paysans pauvres n'ont d'autres ressources que la forêt.
A propos de l'exploitation, j'insiste sur l'importance d'une activité plus intensive des recherches et des méthodes d'utilisation des forêts des régions sèches et demi-sèches du Proche-Orient qui ne produisent pas de bois, mais peuvent produire beaucoup d'autres ressources nécessaires, et la FAO peut avoir un rôle actif dans ce domaine.
En second lieu, dans l'exploitation de la forêt il faut donner une grande importance d'abord aux problèmes socio-économiques, puis aux problèmes de l'environnement et enfin à l'exploitation du bois.
Dans la République islamique d'Iran, après la révolution islamique, l'activité des entreprises capitalistes privées et des entreprises étrangères a été arrêtée. Nous avons accompli un dur effort pour résoudre des problèmes socio-économiques en insérant le plan d'aménagement forestier dans un plan plus vaste d'aménagement de ressources naturelles et même de développement régional, donnant une plus large place au rôle des paysans dans cet aménagement.
L'augmentation de la superficie forestière au nord du pays, où nous avons 2 millions d'hectares de forêt productrice de bois, a atteint 15 mille hectares par an, ce qui est encore très peu mais qui représente trois fois plus que le maximum atteint avant la révolution.
Le problème de la désertification et de l'érosion est important dans notre pays, comme dans la plupart des pays du tiers monde, et nous sommes en train de déclencher une vaste campagne nationale pour maîtriser ce réel fléau.
Roberto E.E. DALTON (Argentina): Debemos agradecer al señor Lanly su clara y concisa presentación del tema 6 de nuestra Agenda. Mi país participó activamente en los debates del 9° Período de Sesiones del Comité de Montes con una delegación encabezada por el titular del Instituto Forestal Nacional, órgano rector en la materia en nuestro ordenamiento interno.
La Delegación argentina reitera hoy, en este foro, su respaldo al Informe del Comité distribuido bajo las siglas CL 94/8.
Quisiera hacer una breve referencia a la realización los días 28, 29 y 30 de este mes, en la ciudad de Corrientes, de las Jornadas para el Desarrolo del Sector Forestal Argentino en el marco del Plan de Acción Forestal en los Trópicos. Esta reunión tiene por objeto someter a la consideración de países, Organismos multilaterales gubernamentales y no gubernamentales, los perfiles de proyectos que muestran las posibilidades de inversión así como las necesidades de cooperación técnica y de capacitación de recursos humanos que tiene el sector forestal argentino.
Para concluir, Sr. Presidente, quiero hacer publico el reconocimiento de mi Delegación al Departamento de Montes de la FAO por su invaluable asistencia en la organización de este evento al que mi Gobierno asigna alta prioridad.
Thana THONGTAN (Thailand): My delegation would like to express appreciation to Mr. Lanly for his excellent presentation of the document. My delegation would also like to comment on some of the crucial issues as follows.
As regards training, Thailand would like to draw the attention of FAO to give fuller support to high level training in wildlife management in developing countries, as proposed by the committees, because we believe that this type of specific training is needed in order to promote the development of a relevant approach to wildlife utilization and management.
Regarding forest harvesting, Thailand has the will to support and urge FAO to provide more technical assistance to developing countries in the planning and execution of a sound forest harvesting operation.
With regard to the Tropical Forestry Action Plan, Thailand would like to reiterate that my country strongly urges FAO to intensify its role as a leading international coordinating agency for the plan, because it will help to strengthen international cooperation in the field of forestry. In this sense it would be appropriate that our Council should invite regional development banks to particpate more actively in the Tropical Forestry Action Plan.
In regard to the Tenth World Forestry Congress, my delegation concurs with the previous speaker that the Congress should be held in 1991. As to the venue of the Congress, my delegation would like to draw to your attention that the African Region should be given favourable consideration to host. However, my delegation can go along with the will of the majority and would like to suggest that all the countries who offer to host kindly consult among themselves and come up with unanimous consent as to which country should have the honour of hosting the Congress.
Michael J. RYAN (Australia): Australia has in the past urged that FAO forestry activities be better prioritized and that these activities have appropriate linkages with other FAO programmes, particularly agriculture, and that they promote integrated land use systems through, for example, agro-forestry; we have urged this in the past.
The Committee on Forestry we believe is operated very constructively, with a minimum of political overtones. It has been well-supported at the technical level by Member States and with the co operation of the Secretariat. Thus we have seen some progress in recent years. Accordingly, Australia endorses the use of the medium-term objectives as proposed and set out in the document. We would point out, however, that it is important that FAO's work does not duplicate that of other bodies, such as the International Tropical Timber Organization and the World Food Programme.
Regarding the wildlife issue, as raised in the document, Australia supports the three proposals of the Committee on Forestry. Those proposals are in line with the sustainable use of wildlife and in keeping with broad conservation ethics. Thus, we support in principle the initiative to encourage the development of wildlife management plans but based on sustainable use principles, with the proviso that there will always be some species which will require total protection and in some cases manipulative population management to ensure that they continue in survival.
We believe that FAO should seek to conserve the diversity of wildlife through promoting the rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems and the conservation of representative samples of ecosystems within LDCs through a system of protected areas. Further we would suggest that FAO assist governments to identify how protected areas contribute to development objectives and should promote the establishment of such areas as integral parts of a nation's development plans. This will require major new approaches to management of protected areas, and those approaches should be far
more responsive to the needs of people in the surrounding land. FAO can assist governments also in conducting national level reviews of the adequacy of current protected area coverage with a view to continuing their protected area systems before land use options are foreclosed. A broad range of protected area categories could be used to give protected area systems greater flexibility to give at least some protection to areas that can never be acquired as totally protected areas and to help integrate conservation more closely with development and production. These reviews could be carried out as part of the process of preparing national development plans and conservation strategies.
To close, very briefly a couple of detailed comments. As the process of industrialization occurs the demand for wood fibre increases. The increasing demand and consumption patterns are likely to increase. The demand for fuelwood in poorer rural communities is also likely to continue.
The current shift to fossil fuels relates to their present low price, and would shift back to fuelwood were oil prices to rise. We learn that 13.3 million hectares of forest are lost each year for fuelwood and agricultural production. In this context Australia commends FAO on its continued co-ordination of the TFAP, and we believe it is important to extend the results beyond the boundaries of individual countries to maximise the effectiveness of the efforts in the international community.
Douramane MOUSSA (Niger): Je voudrais tout d'abord insister sur trois points concernant ce document.
J'aborderai en premier le rôle de la faune et de son aménagement. Notre pays, grâce â l'assistance bilatérale et multilatérale, a toujours accordé une place importante à l'aménagement de la faune dans le cadre de ses plans de développement économique et social. Ainsi, plusieurs projets dont le projet d'aménagement de la réserve de l'Aïre et du Ténéré, le programme conjoint Niger-Bénin-Burkina d'aménagement du grand parc du W, le projet d'aménagement de la réserve de Gadabedji, sont en cours de démarrage, traduisant ainsi la place que nous accordons â la faune dans l'équilibre de la nature et la recherche de l'autosuffisance alimentaire. Nous sommes donc favorables à la haute priorité que devrait accorder notre Organisation à la faune.
Toutefois, nous avons toujours soutenu que l'aménagement de la faune doit prendre en compte non seulement la gestion des animaux et l'amélioration de leur habitat, mais également le développement des populations humaines autour des parcs et des-réserves en vue de la prise en charge, par ces populations, de la protection et de la gestion de la faune.
S'agissant des points sur les petites entreprises forestières - les récoltes forestières, les plans d'action forestiers - notre pays approuve les positions du Comité sur ce point et souligne l'importance de l'intégration des actions d'agriculture, d'élevage et de foresterie dans une politique d'aménagement harmonieux des ressources naturelles.
Concernant la conservation des forêts, notre pays reconnaît l'importance du dépérissement des forêts attribué à la pollution atmosphérique ainsi que cela a été développé à la Conférence sur l'arbre et la forêt à Paris en 1986, et approuve la décision du Comité. Il convient néanmoins, pour ce qui concerne l'essentiel des forêts tropicales et les zones arides et semi-arides, de mettre l'accent sur le déboisement et l'importance des facteurs climatiques dans la dégradation des ressources forestières. Pour ce faire, la sécheresse, les feux de brousse, et l'érosion, doivent nécessairement être pris en compte comme facteurs de régression.
Masuhla LETEKA (Lesotho): Firstly, let me commend the Secretariat for the document before us and also Mr. Lanly for his far-reaching introductory remarks on the document. We are definitely in agreement with opinions already expressed by many delegations who have spoken before us on the role that forestry plays towards contributing to food security in the social and economic development of developing countries.
Lesotho is a member of the Southern African Development Co-ordinating Conference and, in this regard, has been charged with the role of soil conservation. We have since realized that forestry would be a major positive component of soil conservation. The Government of Lesotho is currently engaged in activities which would in future guarantee attainment of this objective.
After careful study of the document before us, we are also inclined to agree with the paragraph 20 conclusion that forest-based small-scale enterprises could play a crucial role in stabilizing rural communities by offering mainly offices and employment. Naturally, since this would mean the need to strengthen the national potential to benefit from and have market access for products of "'forest-based small-scale enterprises, we realize an increasing interest of IFAD to release funds for
projects associated with forest-based small-scale enterprise development. With an improved coordination between FAO and IFAD, we could optimistically utilize the potential which exists in developing countries.Food aid could be another resource which could be utilized to develop this potential.
Lesotho lacks experience with enterprise and would be happy to gather technical assistance from any source in this regard. We are therefore tempted to suggest that, in future, the topic activities of FAO and WFP should be extended to include IFAD. In this way IFAD's contribution in FAO and WFP and vice versa could be highlighted. After all, these three Organizations are involved in alleviating the plight of persons and small farmers. They are all based in Rome to ensure close coordination of activities. Their reports therefore should reflect this reality. We are using this occasion to convey the same message to IFAD and WFP.
We have already expressed our concern on the plight of developing countries vis-a-vis the servicing of external debt and other problems in our earlier interventions. Our views regarding this therefore remain the same. We agree with the conclusion that this continues to have a decisive/negative effect on forestry development, and on other natural resources of developing countries.
Last but not least, we wish to express some sentiment here that, while we support the TFAP and its implementation, we also want to stress that assistance in forestry's development should go beyond TFAP. Countries outside the tropics should be included as long as they have plans to develop their forestry. We would naturally also support the active participation of women in all stages of forestry development exercises, bearing in mind that in Lesotho, because of our political and socio-economic position, women are a measured component of labour for any economic activity.
We cannot conclude our intervention without making reference to the venue for the Tenth Forestry Congress. On the principle of rotation, which is highly respected in this Organization, and considering the multitude of problems of economic development in different regions, I believe Africa deserves a right to host this Congress and wish to express our gratitude to the Ambassador of Colombia and our colleague from Kenya, that the Conference be held in Tanzania.
Danilo VALLE (Nicaragua): Yo quiero felicitar primeramente a la Secretaría por la exposición del documento, el cual ha sido muy bueno, y por el que manifiesto mi agradecimiento. Apoyamos también el Plan de Acción Forestal en los Trópicos, por ser ésta una preocupación de primer orden dentro de nuestro país.
Sr. Presidente, la mayor parte de la población del trópico americano practica la agricultura principalmente para la subsistencia, y estos sistemas agrícolas constituyen una parte intrínseca de su cultura. A pesar de los esfuerzos por hacerles comprender a nuestros campesinos el concepto moderno de cosecha-venta, continúan considerando la agricultura como una ocupación de naturaleza tradicional, más que técnica comercial. Los campos y los bosques se han deteriorado y empobrecido, debido a que el campesino cree que cuantos más pastizales tienen los animales, mayor es su seguridad alimentaria. La implantación de programas que tengan como objetivos finales tierras más productivas y mejor conservadas de nuestros bosques y campos, no sólo depende de mejoramientos tecnológicos, sino que exigen, en primer lugar, una modificación de las costumbres básicas de nuestra gente, sobre todo en el aspecto de la ganadería. Es posible que si conjugamos conocimientos agrícolas tradicionales y modernos, además de un cambio en el proceso educativo general y en la dirección social, resulte ser altamente beneficioso para el diseño de nuevos sistema agrícolas. Cubrir la necesidad de alimentos y energía en una sociedad en continuo crecimiento es un tarea difícil. Las experiencias en décadas pasadas son altamente preocupantes, y definitivamente se debe procurar un cambio en el uso de la tierra si queremos evitar un mayor agotamiento en los recursos naturales, base de la existencia de la humanidad.
En las siguientes cifras se puede apreciar el perjuicio ecológico por prácticas del uso de la tierra incompatibles con la capacidad de sustentación de los suelos y de los recursos naturales. Alrededor del 20 por ciento de la tierra cultivada en el mundo está afectado por la erosión. Las tierras agrícolas con irrigación, cuya capacidad de producción está gravemente menoscabada o amenazada por la salinidad, se estima en alrededor de un 50 por ciento del área cultivable.
Nicaragua es todavía una sociedad principalmente rural, su supervivencia depende de lo que produce nuestra tierra. Uno de los problemas grandes en nuestro país y que afectan a nuestros bosques lo constituye el hecho de tener cerca de 20 000 familias que viven de la agricultura migratoria, afectando así de 40 000 a 60 000 hectáreas de bosques en nuestro territorio. Esto se ha visto últimamente agravado con el paso por Nicaragua del huracán Joan, el cual arrasó prácticamente 6 000 km2 de nuestros bosques. Pero, ante esta situación, ¿cuál es la alternativa? Nicaragua debe producir para cubrir sus necesidades internas y para poder exportar. Una solución podría ser
intensificar la producción en algunas zonas; pero nosotros consideramos que debe haber una integración entre la agricultura y la silvicultura a fin de obtener un sistema de producción más armonioso para nuestra población. Con la agrosilvicultura, nosotros tendríamos leña, productos agrícolas y carne en un solo terreno, y esto protegería nuestros bosques, nuestra flora, nuestra fauna·
La existencia también de sistemas agroforestales es otra forma de producción que se pratica en Nicaragua de acuerdo con las posibilidades que poseen el mediano y el pequeño productor. Los sistemas agroforestales tradicionales que ha utilizado nuestro país son, entre otros, la siembra de café con sombra, la siembra de cercas vivas, la agricultura migratoria y los huertos caseros o familiares. Estos últimos se pueden considerar como un caso ejemplar de un sistema agroforestal.
También hemos echado a andar varios proyectos desde 1979, con el componente agroforestal, pero de acuerdo a una problemática localizada, como parte de un proyecto específico, pero no de una forma integrada. Tenemos, por ejemplo, algunos de ellos, como son las plantaciones de cortinas rompevientos, para detener tolvaneras producto de la erosión eolica. Tenemos también proyectos de asociación de caña de azúcar con árboles productores de leña. Esto forma parte de un proyecto azucarero de 23 320 hectáreas de las cuales 4 828 están dedicadas a la siembra de plantaciones energéticas. Tenemos también un proyecto lechero integral, que contempla plantaciones energéticas, cortinas rompevientos, arborización, cercas vivas, frutales, viveros, etc. El uso del componente agroforestal forma parte de nuestra estrategia de desarrollo, ya que puede contribuir a solucionar problemas en el uso de los recursos naturales, debido a las funciones biológicas que puedan cumplir.
Al combinar la producción agrícola y ganadera con la producción forestal, se está cumpliendo un grupo de tareas de desarrollo simultáneamente, y se evitan así conflictos en el uso de la tierra.
La investigación en este campo está enfocada a resolver los problemas existentes en materia del uso de la tierra para su adecuada utilización; al desarrollo de sistemas silviculturales y de agricultura apropiadas a las condiciones locales y realización de estudios socio-económicos en la aplicación de distintos sistemas de desarrollo, y así determinar su rentabilidad. Los resultados de estas investigaciones nos darán la tecnología adecuada para desarrollarse en nuestro medio ambiente, la que deberá ser transferida a los sistemas rurales.
Sr. Presidente, dentro del interés que Nicaragua le da al sector forestal, podemos concluir que nuestro Plan Nacional de Desarrollo Forestal, constituye uno de los mayores esfuerzos de planificación, en el manejo ordenado de nuestros recursos, y contempla acciones a corto, mediano y largo plazo. Nuestros programas y proyectos se enmarcan dentro de los componentes del PAFT, coincidiendo con los conceptos y objetivos primordiales del mismo.
Para concluir, Sr. Presidente, deseo expresar que el 6 de febrero de 1988, el Presidente de Nicaragua declaró ante la Unión para la Conservación de la Naturaleza y los Recursos Naturales, que uniendo esfuerzos con los hermanos costaricenses se estaba trabajando y avanzado en el establecimiento de reservas naturales en la frontera común. Expresó también el Presidente, que consideraba que estos impresionantes sistemas naturales son patrimonio de la Humanidad y que deben ser protegidos por las generaciones futuras, ya que la naturaleza no reconoce las fronteras humanas y porque su conservación y protección es una responsabilidad de todos.
Naaukolo MUKUTU (Zambia): Zambia endorses fully the views and recommendations of the Ninth Session of the Committee on Forestry.
Wildlife and forest conservation demand the total attention of the international community. Without forest conservation and wise use of forest resources there can be no sustained agricultural development. Total world food production would decline and the world food security would be impaired and jeopardized permanently. The international community should join forces to preserve tropical forests which are so important for the global climate that they are now regarded as the lions of the world.
Under such circumstances my delegation eagerly awaits the preparation of the Regional Forestry Plan for Africa. FAO should be given all the necessary support for the preparation of the plan and implementation of the programme and projects which may arise therefrom.
My delegation is most delighted to learn of the support given to the FAO by the donor countries in the field of forestry. The support of the United States of America is most welcome and appreciated.
We support the recommendation to include wildlife management and its exploitation as part of the rural development thrust. The inclusion of wildlife management in rural development will be highly appreciated by the local communities who derive their livelihood more directly from wildlife and who will in turn be motivated to stop those who are bent on destroying wildlife for short-term benefits.
My delegation supports fully the redesignation of the Forestry Commission into the forestry and Wildlife Commission. In Zambia, and in Africa in particular, the forestry subsector has tremendous potential in generating rural development and rural employment. This point is well illustrated in the Committee's report and does not need to be over-emphasized.
Deforestation for fuelwood is the most vexing problem in Zambia and probably in many other developing countries. This deforestation is causing long-term devastation at the ecological base leading to increased soil erosion, increased silting of rivers, flooding and the eventual drying up of many rivers. Deforestation is now bringing about desertification. Deforestation occurs mainly for two reasons, (a) for agricultural development and (b) for fuelwood. It is the demand for fuelwood, both for the rural dwellers and for the peri-urban dwellers that is of great concern to most of us in Africa today. How can African countries address this subject sufficiently? It appears to my delegation that the evolution of a clear cut rural energy policy has not been addressed by the Ninth Committee on Forestry. What should African governments do to provide fuelwood to the rural people and to those in the peri-urban areas without worsening the deforestation gradient?
My delegation has noted the important role already being played by the FAO in preparing for the Tenth Forestry Congress. It is very reassuring to learn that arrangements are already in full swing and that an office has already been set up here at FAO Headquarters. The Zambian delegation wants to thank all those governments who have offered to host the Congress. It is Zambia's hope, however, that in view of the importance of the tropical forests, the Council might agree that Africa should host the Congress.
Achille RAHARISON (Madagascar): Mon intervention sera brève car la delegation malgache a participé intensément à la neuvième session du Comité des forêts et a fait part de ses avis et observations durant cette session. Aussi n'avons nous aucune difficulté à approuver les conclusions du rapport. D'ailleurs, actuellement, Madagascar entreprend une vaste action en matière d'environnement en mettant en oeuvre un programme national environnemental. Le gouvernement a entrepris, l'année dernière, d'inciter tous les malgaches à prendre une part active au reboisement par l'intermédiaire d'un projet intitulé "Zones d'action en faveur de l'arbre".
Je saisis cette occasion pour remercier la FAO de son intervention pour assurer la protection de la forêt dans la partie sud-est des hauts plateaux de Madagascar.
Pour terminer, je tiens â indiquer que la délégation malgache voudrait joindre sa voix à celle de toutes les délégations qui ont appuyé la candidature de la Zambie pour accueillir le prochain Congrès car ce serait la première fois que l'Afrique héberge celui-ci.
Antoine SAINTRAINT (Observateur de la Belgique): En tant qu'observateur de la Belgique, il nous appartient d'observer et c'est la première fois qu'au nom de mon pays je prends la parole â l'occasion de la 94ème session du Conseil.
Je voudrais tout d'abord dire combien nous apprécions le fait que le Conseil, qui se réunit à un moment important de la vie de la FAO, soit présidé par vous, Monsieur le Président, avec votre maîtrise et votre compétence.
En ce qui concerne le point que nous examinons maintenant, je serai extrêmement bref. Mais j'ai estimé devoir prendre la parole parce qu'il s'agit d'un sujet particulièrement important. J'ai eu l'occasion depuis déjà de nombreux mois de connaître la qualité des hommes qui s'occupent du Département des forêts à la FAO; je crois que c'est là un élément très important car, sans le dynamisme, la compétence et la volonté de l'équipe qui travaille à la FAO dans le secteur forestier, les résultats qui ont été obtenus jusqu'à présent n'auraient pas pu l'être. Je suis également convaincu que ces résultats sont insuffisants. Les spécialistes de la FAO le savent aussi. Mais n'y a-t-il pas, face à un problème de cette dimension gigantesque, un déséquilibre entre les moyens dont nous disposons et les objectifs qui devraient être atteints ?
La FAO touche à l'avenir de notre planète. Elle s'inscrit incontestablement dans une vision agro-sylvo-pastorale qui touche à beaucoup de secteurs de l'économie et une vision de développement où la forêt tient un rôle peut-être plus important que celui qu'on lui a accordé jusqu'à présent.
Elle nécessite non seulement une vision à court et moyen terme mais surtout une vision politique à très long terme.
J'ai suivi avec intérêt les débats. Plusieurs orateurs ont souligné l'importance de consacrer une plus grande part du budget ce secteur. Je partage entièrement cet avis et nous devons en tirer des conclusions opérationnelles concrètes lorsque nous discuterons de ce point plus tard.
Je sais aussi que, sur le plan opérationnel et sur celui de l'exécution des programmes, la FAO a incontestablement un rôle à jouer. Je pense aussi que dans d'autres enceintes, notamment au PNUD, à la Banque mondiale, dans les banques de développement - les banques africaine, interaméricaine et asiatique de développement - nos pays devraient insister davantage sur le rôle technique incomparable que le FAO doit jouer dans ce domaine. Et je crois que les organismes de financement -on a parlé du FIDA, du Programme alimentaire mondial, de diverses sources de financement - devraient prendre davantage conscience du rôle que la FAO a joué, joue actuellement et jouera à l'avenir.
On a parlé du problème du bois de feu. C'est un problème crucial dans un certain nombre de pays, notamment en Afrique. C'est un problème angoissant qui a déjà fait l'objet de très nombreuses discussions dans le passé. Mais je crois que les remèdes indispensables n'ont pas encore été apportés et qu'en ce qui concerne l'Afrique nous devons constamment avoir à l'esprit les besoins dans ce domaine.
Le Plan d'action forestier tropical est incontestablement une approche sérieuse de la politique forestière aux tropiques. Nous le soutenons mais nous voudrions également qu'à l'avenir plus que par le passé un certain nombre de projets-pilotes puissent être réalisés dans des zones écologiquement diverses, non seulement dans le monde en développement mais aussi dans le monde dit développé, projets dont nous pourrions tirer des conclusions qui serviraient à l'ensemble de la planète.
En terminant cette brève intervention, je ne puis que féliciter l'équipe des forêts de la FAO, lui dire merci de tout coeur et lui dire aussi que nous continuerons d'être exigeants à son égard parce qu'elle a une mission importante et que le monde a besoin qu'elle poursuive son travail dans les meilleures conditions.
Hamisi MWINYIGOHA (Observer for Tanzania): Since I am the last speaker I do not think I can put anything which is new to add to the previous speakers who have already spoken but I feel honoured and that I should make a few comments on forestry, about my country and what activities we are doing there. The Tanzanian delegation endorses the paper produced by the Secretariat and actually commends Mr. Lanly's introduction given on the document.
Tanzania attaches great importance to forestry and wildlife and actually our history tells of numerous actions to support this particular statement. The Government has launched programmes through bilateral and multilateral donors for the conservation of the natural resources. We have launched campaigns to reduce destruction by fire and human actions, campaigns which are difficult without the cooperation of the people themselves.
We have taught our people very seriously to respect the environment and not to destroy it, otherwise the environment will destroy them. This has actually been manifested by the areas which have been destroyed by erosion where no life can be supported. Our people are very much aware of the conservation of forests in Tanzania. Afforestation, therefore, is encouraged for every citizen in the country, and in particular we try to teach school-going children to get into the habit of planting and replanting trees so that they can make their environment more desirable.
In Tanzania, a good number of our people live through forestry. Forests are used for providing firewood; they provide building materials and also activities on the land through industry. Therefore, they provide employment to a good number of our citizens. Therefore, we very much respect the activities of forestry.
Unfortunately, our forests face tremendous natural catastrophes, particularly through fire and diseases, and also human activity. Efforts to fight these are being called upon consistently.
Another aspect that I would like to talk to here is that of the game reserve. We are conserving our wildlife. In fact, our game parks are amongst the best and the largest in the world, as those who have been to Tanzania will be able to endorse this particular statement.
Our natural forests offer some of the very rarest herbs which, if properly researched for medicinal value, can help cure man of some of his terrible diseases.
Tanzania is keen on the implementation of the Tropical Forestry Action Plan. We think that the Plan is very action-oriented and will lead us to very successful conclusions. Our thanks to UNDP and FAO who are commended for the efforts they have made for us in the forest sector.
Tanzania has set aside tremendous stretches of land to conserve nature. We have stretches of land to conserve wildlife as well as forestry, and so those places are actually out of bounds to the public. It is for the benefit of mankind that we preserve our heritage.
I would like to turn now to the subject of the Tenth International Congress on Forestry. My delegation thinks that it is now the turn of the African Continent since Africa has not hosted this Congress. I am making this statement as was decided by the Africa Group. It is important that this conference be held in Africa because it will help delegates to see the magnitude of the problems in forestry in Africa, and for Africa actually to act as a catalyst to make our people and our institutions more aware of the importance of conservation of forestry and wildlife.
Michel-Akis PAPAGEORGIOU (Observateur de la Grèce): Il y a seulement deux observations de la part de la Grèce qui occupe aussi, comme on le sait, la présidence à la Communauté européenne.
La première concerne tout simplement l'importance que nous accordons au vingtième Congrès forestier dans le cadre d'une mobilisation générale de tous les états et surtout des états européens. C'est un sujet sur lequel nous nous sommes mis d'accord lors de la récente Conférence régionale européenne à Cracovie, et cela pour conclure une stratégie appropriée de lutte pour le développement et la préservation des forêts.
La deuxième observation, c'est que, comme l'a très clairement indiqué notre cher collègue, le délégué de la République fédérale d'Allemagne, l'organisation d'un Congrès en territoire européen signifierait une mobilisation plus facile et par conséquent plus fructueuse de toutes les instances professionnelles et scientifiques des pays d'Europe qui sont liés au problème très important des forêts, et cela au profit de tous les pays membres de notre Organisation.
Naturellement et dans le sens, d'ailleurs, d'une coopération concertée indispensable vu l'ampleur et la complexité du sujet, nous pourrions envisager, entre autres mesures, des réunions préparatoires du Congrès sur le continent africain, avec la participation des principaux intéressés pour répondre à l'immense intérêt que les pays de ce continent portent aux forêts.
Gian Paolo PAPA (CEE): Je voudrais tout d'abord exprimer notre appréciation sur l'excellent rapport de M. Lanly sur le problème forestier qui nous préoccupe de plus en plus.
En effet, depuis quelques années, qu'il s'agisse des forêts tempérées ou des forêts tropicales, la Communauté Européenne consacre beaucoup d'attention à la forêt ainsi qu'à l'impact des politiques forestières sur le développement rural, sur la protection de l'environnement et sur l'économie en général· Les perspectives de coopération en matière forestière entre la Communauté et la FAO sont de ce fait plus larges que par le passé.
Dans la Communauté, la forêt a connu des fortunes diverses selon les pays. L'évolution de son état phytosanitaire, les effets de la pollution atmosphérique, les dégats occasionnés par les incendies, sont, à cet égard, préoccupants. Par ailleurs, ses capacités d'adaptation ne lui permettent pas toujours de répondre aux attaques multiples et pressantes dont elle a été l'objet.
Souvent éclipsée par l'agriculure au cours des années passées, elle volt à présent s'ouvrir de nouvelles perspectives du fait des problèmes que présente ce secteur agricole et des réajustements qui en découlent. Ces' perspectives sont d'autant plus intéressantes que le secteur forestier communautaire, loin d'être saturé, peut, par son expansion, contribuer à la solution de plusieurs problèmes auxquels la Communauté est à présent confrontée (chômage, protection de l'environnement, etc).
Dans ce contexte, une étude comparative des politiques forestières dans les pays d'Europe a été réalisée en étroite coopération entre la Communauté et la FAO. Cette étude constitue une référence utile pour la coordination des politiques forestières.
La Commission a transmis le 23 septembre dernier, au Conseil des Communautés Européennes, une communication sur la stratégie et l'action de la Communauté dans le secteur forestier, en vue de renforcer la protection des forêts, de favoriser le reboisement des terres délaissées par l'agriculture et de promouvoir le développement des zones rurales et d'améliorer la valorisation des produits forestiers. Par ailleurs il est prévu qu'un volet consacré à l'action forestière en faveur des pays en développement puisse venir s'ajouter à ces programmes.
Pour ce qui est des forêts tropicales, depuis la signature de la troisième Convention de Lomé en 1985 la Communauté a accru nettement son aide à la forêt dans les pays en développement. En termes financiers, cette aide a pratiquement doublé avec le dernier renouvellement du Fonds européen de développement (5ème FED), atteignant maintenant un montant d'environ 30 millions de dollars par an. La majeure partie de cette assistance consiste en des actions forestières intégrées dans des projets visant le développement rural ou la conservation de ressources naturelles.
Plus de soixante projets pluri-annuels de ce type sont ainsi concernés; ils correspondent à une aide communautaire globale de près de 185 millions de dollars en faveur de la forêt dans les pays en développement.
Par ailleurs, la Communauté soutient pleinement les objectifs du Plan d'Action Forestier Tropical auquel elle participe directement. Dans une résolution d'avril 1986 sur la protection des ressources naturelles et la lutte contre la désertification, elle considère qu'une coordination suivie entre les pays bénéficiaires, les donateurs et les organisations régionales actives dans ce domaine devrait assurer un maximum de cohérence et de complémentarité dans les problèmes existant et à développer. A cette fin elle participe aux réunions périodiques du groupe des Conseillers forestiers relevant de la Communauté des donateurs; elle a d'ailleurs accueilli la 5ème réunion du groupe à Bruxelles en décembre dernier. En outre, à la demande des pays en développement, elle a participé, par l'envoi d'experts, à quelques missions d'évaluation. Sa volonté est de poursuivre dans cette voie.
Enfin, la Communauté a contribué activement à l'établissement de l'Organisation internationale des bois tropicaux. Elle entend soutenir cette Organisation et contribuer à la définition de ses orientations futures.
Entré en vigueur le 1er juillet 1987 l'Acte unique européen, qui complète le traité instituant la Communauté Européenne, prévoit que la protection de l'environnement sera désormais une composante de toutes les politiques communautaires.
Ainsi, qu'il s'agisse des forêts tempérées ou des forêts tropicales, les points de concertation et en fin de compte de convergence entre la Communauté et la FAO sont nombreux. La forêt, les forestiers et les populations directement concernées devraient être tout naturellement les premiers bénéficiaires de cette coopération qu'il faudra non seulement maintenir mais, autant que possible, développer à l'avenir.
Tout ceci vous explique pourquoi la Communauté souhaite vivement que le 10ème Congrès Forestier Mondial puisse se tenir en 1991 dans la Communauté. La Communauté Européenne appuie donc la candidature de ces deux Etats membres.
J.P. LANLY (sous-directeur général p.a. du Departement des Forêts): J'ai écouté avec beaucoup d'attention toutes les interventions et j'ai recensé trois questions spécifiques posées au Secrétariat·
Une première question, posée par l'honorable Délégué de la Colombie, concernait le paragraphe 53 du Rapport de la 9ème Session du Comité des Forêts et questionnait ce qui était dit dans ce paragraphe concernant la mise en oeuvre du Plan d'action forestier tropical.
En fait la FAO, comme organisme de coordination, a aidé très activement le démarrage et la mise en oeuvre du Plan. Le Plan a rencontré l'adhésion de 56 pays jusqu'à présent et des activités de préparation des Plans nationaux, dans le cadre du Plan d'action forestier tropical, sont terminées ou en voie d'exécution dans 50 pays sur les 56. Ces plans nationaux sont terminés dans 16 pays. Ils sont dans un état plus ou moins avancé d'élaboration dans les 39 autres pays.
Je crois que le paragraphe 53 ne conteste pas que le Plan d'action forestier tropical est déjà une réalité, comme le prouvent les chiffres que je viens de citer. Je crois que ce qu'a voulu dire le paragraphe 53 est que le Plan d'action forestier tropical a été surtout actif jusqu'à maintenant dans la phase de planification des projets et des programmes de terrain dans les pays tropicaux. Ceux-ci devront être formulés et exécutés suite aux tables rondes des donateurs qui commencent à avoir lieu. Actuellement, au moment du COFO, une seule table ronde avait été tenue en Honduras, mais depuis d'autres tables rondes se sont tenues. Le Délégué de l'Argentine a mentionné en particulier la table ronde qui aura lieu en Argentine.
Donc, pour conclure, on peut dire que le Plan est déjà en exécution, mais qu'il a surtout été en exécution dans la phase de planification des programmes et des projets de développement forestier, et que la phase de réalisation des programmes et des projets forestiers, dans le cadre du plan, en est à ses debuts.
Le Délégué de la Colombie a également mentionné la recommandation de la Conférence régionale de la FAO à Recife concernant la formulation d'un projet régional en matière d'agro-foresterie pour l'Amérique Latine et les Caraïbes. Je voudrais indiquer au Conseil que ce projet est en voie de formulation, que nous en avons déjà pris acte, sur la recommandation de la Conférence de Récife, et que ce projet sera très prochainement soumis à des organismes de financement.
L'honorable délégué des Etats-Unis a posé une question sur la coordination du plan d'action forestier tropical et voulait savoir où en était la FAO en matière de renforcement de la coordination du PAFT. Un nouveau coordinateur a été choisi par le Directeur général qui entrera en fonction le 1er janvier. Par ailleurs, malgré les difficutés financières les postes des deux fonctionnaires régionaux du Plan d'action pour l'Afrique et pour l'Asie ont été dégelés et seront occupés au debut de l'année 1989. Enfin un projet de renforcement de la coordination est actuellement soumis aux pays donateurs intéressés pour un financement éventuel.
Voilà M. le Président ma réponse aux trois questions qui avaient été posées par le Conseil.
LE PRESIDENT: Je remercie M. Lanly pour ses explications.
Je voudrais à mon tour apporter ma contribution à ce débat. Je crois que nous pouvons considérer que le Conseil félicite le Comité des forêts pour l'excellent rapport qu'il a fait à l'occasion de sa 9ème session, et qu'il approuve ce Rapport.
Je pense que nous pouvons également considérer que le Conseil appuie fermement le Plan d'action forestier tropical, qu'il considère qu'il s'agit là d'une approche efficace de la perception intégrée de la forêt, qu'il constitue un cadre cohérent idéal pour la coopération internationale, qu'il reconnaît à la FAO la responsabilité de coordonner l'impulsion nécessaire à la forêt tropicale.
Je crois pouvoir dire que le Conseil recommande que des mesures de toute nature: réglementaires, financières, techniques, puissent être prises pour accélérer la réalisation et le financement de ce Plan d'action forestier tropical.
Je crois également qu'il y a une convergence pour considérer que le développement de la forêt et de la faune sauvage doivent être compris comme une composante importante et incontournable du développement agricole et rural, et qu'il constitue une conciliation entre les exigences du développement d'une part et celles de l'environnement d'autre part, certains Etats membres ayant cités le terme d'agro-forestier.
Le Conseil semble également avoir insisté sur l'intérêt attaché, comme l'a dit le rapport de la 9ème Session du Comité, au développement des petites entreprises forestières comme source de revenu et d'emploi pour les collectivités locales, et sur la nécessité d'amélioration des méthodes de culture, de collecte et d'utilisation des ressources forestières.
Je crois que la majorité des membres recommande qu'une plus large importance, au point de vue de la dotation budgétaire, puisse être réservée au secteur forestier dans les activités de la FAO, tout en demandant qu'une coordination au sein de la FAO soit réalisée entre le Comité de l'agriculture et le Comité des forêts.
En ce qui concerne le Congrès forestier mondial, beaucoup d'opinions ont été émises pour le choix du site, et peut-être pourrions-nous, si le Conseil en convient, suivre la recommandation de quelques délégués qui ont suggéré qu'on demande aux pays qui ont manifesté leur candidature (la France, l'Italie, la Tanzanie principalement) de voir dans quelle mesure on peut aboutir à un consensus pour que nous puissions dans les jours à venir prendre une décision. Une tendance s'est déja dessinée au sein de ce Conseil. J'ai noté qu'il y a 7 Etats Membres, qui, pour le moment, dans leurs interventions, ont suggéré que la réunion du Congrès forestier mondial ait lieu en Tanzanie, 4 Etats Membres ont suggéré que des contacts soient pris entre les candidats, et 4 délégations et l'Observatur de la CEE suggèrent que ce Congrès ait lieu en Europe. Pour éviter d'avoir recours à des recensements de ce genre je suggère que l'on donne suite à la proposition du Caméroun, du Perou et de la Thaïlande et qu'on laisse un peu de temps à ces pays pour se contacter. Nous pourrions peut-être d'ici quelques jours reprendre la question du lieu du Congrès forestier mondial.
C.H. BONTE-FRIEDHEIM (Assistant Director-General, Agriculture Department): The document before you, CL 94/6 on "Aspects of FAO's Policies, Programmes, Budget and Activities Aimed at Contributing to Sustainable Development" was requested by the FAO Conference in 1987, following a discussion on the Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development, better known as the Brundtland Report. In the English and Chinese versions of our document a small mistake has been made in paragraphs 7, 9 and 12. In these paragraphs we refer the reader to paragraph 4 for the definition. This should read, however, paragraph 5. Further reference in these to paragraphs 7, 9 and 12 should be to paragraph 5 instead of 4.
The document addresses one of the major issues of our time. An issue, moreover, which Mankind has had to face in the past, but on a much more limited scale. The failures in the past are best known and often cited, like in the ancient Kingdom of Mesopotamia, in ancient Egypt or North Africa, all once highly productive agricultural areas. In this century unsustainable development efforts are remembered by catchwords such as "dust bowl", "new land policy", and "Sahel".
The problem now, however, with sustainability is that in a number of respects it is a recent issue. It is so recent that it does not appear in many English dictionaries, and there is no equivalent word in French. But what is more important is that for many farmers in the Third World it is a new problem, and they do not know how to respond.
In the past, low population densities allowed sustainable production systems, such as those based on shifting cultivation, bush fallows or transhumance pastoralism. These traditional production systems are no longer possible in many areas. Rapid population growth has resulted in human and cattle population densities which exceed the supporting capacities of such systems. Within one generation, traditional systems which were developed over hundreds of years, have been made redundant. Neither research nor other agricultural services have evolved rapidly enough to provide farmers with viable alternatives.
Many farmers are therefore forced to over-exploit the land for food and fuel to achieve survival· The dilemma they face, and the issue which the international community must address, has been stated clearly by the World Commission on Environment and Development. The Commission has described sustainable development as a process of change in which the exploitation of resources, the direction of investments, the orientation of technological development, and institutional change meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
FAO fully supports this concept. For many years FAO has been actively engaged in finding ways of translating this concept into an operational reality. Consequently, in introducing this document, I will elaborate on three particular aspects. First, FAO's long involvement in what is now referred to as sustainable development. Secondly, the breadth of FAO's current activities on this issue. Thirdly, additional efforts FAO has under consideration for the next and future years.
Dealing with my first point, FAO's long involvement and the breadth of various activities in matters relating to sustainable development derives from its Constitution, which calls for the rational management and conservation of natural resources to increase agricultural production and improve the living conditions of rural people. The Organization's work programme and policies have evolved to address the multi-dimentional nature of sustainable development, particularly its ecological and socio-economic components, to respond to emerging problems such as those associated with pesticide use and to take account of new opportunities.
In the early 1960s, for example, there was increasing evidence of the accumulation of persistent pesticides in the environment, of pesticide-induced disruptions to ecological food chains and other adverse effects on non-target species, and of the emergence of pesticide resistance, which led to escalation in control costs. FAO consequently shifted its policy emphasis away from uni-component, pesticide based control strategies, to the analysis and promotion of multi-component, integrated pest management strategies based on the knowledge of population dynamics and damage thresholds and using suitable mixes of cultivation practices, pesticides and resistant plant varieties to achieve more effective control with less pesticide.
Another major change took place in the 1970s in the light of analysis showing the widespread failure of existing institutional mechanisms to reach the small farmers and to support their efforts to escape from the cycle of material deprivation and resource degradation. These policy changes are crystallized in the Plan of Action adopted by the 1979 World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development. The Plan of Action, like many of the recommendations of the World Commission on Environment and Development, is founded on the conclusion that rural poverty and the lack of support to the small farmer underlie much of today's unsustainable development.
For the sake of brevity, Document CL 94/6 focuses on FAO's Regular Programme in the present biennium, although selected examples of extra-budgetary funded field activities are also given. The total Regular Programme budgetary allocation for activities contributing to sustainable development in 1988/89 amounts to nearly $16 million out of a total budget for technical activities of $60 million. However, this figure should be considered conservative. It is difficult to identify precise proportions under specific activities in a programme element contributing to sustainable development. An analysis of allocations according to area of work is presented in Annex I of the document·
The activities are described under seven major headings, namely:
- natural resources conservation and management;
- genetic resources conservation;
- production systems management;
- technology development and application;
- pollution control;
- socio-economic aspects;
- information transfer and exchange.
Specific activities are listed in Annex II of the document. They indicate three important features of FAO's programme. Firstly, they demonstrate the breadth of FAO's current activities. Secondly, they show that the programmes go well beyond narrowly conceived conservation or environmental management efforts. Thirdly, that the environment is seen as a cross-cutting issue and not a sectoral or sub-sectoral one.
The latter aspect, namely, the environment as a cross-cutting issue, brings me to an important point I wish to make regarding the strengthening of FAO's activities on sustainable development. Consciousness cannot be imposed from above or introduced only by the activities of a specialized division. Each technical officer must be an environmental officer, and therefore in-service staff training will receive much greater emphasis in the future. In spite of our well known cash flow problems, we are filling the only additional professional post in the Agriculture Department authorized by the last Conference. This post is for an Environmental Officer and she will concentrate in the first instance on training our own staff.
These training efforts will be complemented by more analytical work. As the concept of sustainable development is still evolving, more analytical work is needed to translate the concept into practical and operational policy and programmes in the agriculture, forestry and fishery sectors. A first step in this direction is being undertaken through the inclusion of a special chapter on sustainable agricultural and rural development in "The State of Food and Agriculture 1988". The chapter will re-assess the past and present work of FAO that has, or could, contribute to sustainable development in the light of the conclusions and recommendations of the World Commission on Environment and Development, and the System-wide Medium-Term Environment Programme.
Weak policies and institutions, lack of awareness and trained personnel, and poor access to Information constrain the efforts of developing countries to integrate environmental considerations into their development programmes, to develop sustainable production systems, and to assist farmers to adopt them.
FAO consequently undertakes a wide variety of training activities related to sustainable development for policy-makers, for extension workers, for farmers and rural communities. These training activities can be in the form of fellowships at specialized institutions or special courses, in the form of short courses and study tours, or in the form of in-service training and as part of local project activities. Training activities are paid either from field projects or extra-budgetary sources or from our Regular Programme.
The constraints to action regarding sustainable development in developed countries tend to be different from those in developing countries, but the need for change is equally great. They must respond, for example, to problems of rising groundwater nitrate, acid precipitation and man-made climate change. The latter problem is, of course, of great importance to all countries. There is now broad consensus that man's activities are changing climatic conditions and these changes are likely to have both positive and negative effects on agriculture, forestry and fisheries as early as the first or second decade of the next century. Few countries are likely to remain unaffected.
Some of today's food deficit countries may suffer most, but certain food surplus countries could also be adversely affected.
FAO plans to include proposals in the Summary PWB 1990/91 for strengthening its current very limited work on the potential impacts of climate change. The strategy underlying these proposals is to concentrate on activities that clarify the issues and options, and alleviate or overcome present problems which would be intensified by the projected climatic changes. The justification for this strategy is that many developing countries find it difficult to provide sufficient manpower and financial resources to resolve their immediate problems. In view of the many demands, they are understandably reluctant to give priority to work or investments related to climate change when certain aspects of such changes are still a matter of conjecture.
Our proposed activities will basically be as follows:
(a) Watching brief on climatic modelling and the quantification of local temperature and rainfall changes with particular emphasis on seasonal and inter-annual variability, in view of its immediate impact on crop yields, water resources, fisheries, etc.
(b) Development of policies and technologies to increase resilience of production systems to inter-annual and within-season variability.
(c) Intensification of early warning and disaster prevention activities with respect to increased frequency of floods and droughts.
(d) Strengthening and harmonization of international cooperation within the framework of the Tropical Forestry Action Plan to speed up the afforestation to take up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
In conclusion, it is worth repeating that in the future FAO will emphasize the following in its activities aimed at contributing to sustainable development:
Firstly, assistance to countries to:
(a) establish or strengthen institutional capabilities;
(b) develop environmental policies for sustainable agricultural and rural development;
(c) integrate environmental concerns in the planning and development process;
(d) provide training in environmental impact assessment;
(e) promote environmental awareness at all levels.
Secondly, technical and policy analysis within FAO to identify more clearly the problems and options regarding:
(a) preservation of biological diversity;
(b) soil and water conservation;
(c) development of environmentally-sound sustainable production systems in agriculture, forestry and fisheries;
(d) climate change and its potential impact on food and agricultural production.
These activities will not be carried out in isolation from FAO's sister agencies in the UN system. FAO will continue to collaborate closely with UNEP on environmental issues and in the development of the System-wide Medium-Term Environment Programme. FAO will collaborate with Unesco and work closely with NGOs in the field of environment, particularly with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). FAO's active cooperation with other agencies of the UN system (WHO, WMO, ILO and UNIP) and national and international research institutions in the many individual subject-matter areas relevant to sustainable development will continue. Part of them are also recorded in the relevant sections of this report.
Finally, I must emphasize that it is not sufficient for FAO and its sister agencies to expand and coordinate better their efforts on sustainable development. Such efforts must be complemented, for example, by actions in many countries to slow down the rate of population growth and to give more time for new technological solutions to be found and for environmental wounds to heal. In order to
succeed many developing countries are heavily dependent on considerable support and assistance from the developed countries.
Poverty is the underlying cause of much unsustainable development, yet recent World Bank economic projections suggest that there will be little or no per capita income growth in many developing countries in the mid-term, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Consequently, progress on sustainable development will be dependent, in part, on improved aid and trade flows.
Hannu HALINEN (Finland): I have the pleasure of speaking on behalf of the Nordic countries. First, let me thank the Assistant Director-General, Dr. Bonte-Friedheim, for a very illusory introduction to this item. In the on-going discussion on environmental and agricultural policies, the report of the World Commission for Environment and Development, titled "Our Common Future" signifies the most important input. It has greatly increased our consciousness of the urgency of dealing with the expanding environmental declaration based on the fact that present development patterns are compromising the very possibilities of future generations to meet their needs. The report draws to our attention the merits or, rather, necessity of an alternative strategy to sustainable development which is already a widely known and accepted concept. The follow-up of the report requires prompt action on several levels. The United Nations itself has already taken notable steps. The most comprehensive expression of this is the environmental perspective of UNEP which, in tandem with the report, provides an analytical basis and direction for action.
Consequently the policies, programmes, budget and activities of the UN specialized agencies are to be scrutinized in order to promote sustainable development. In this context we note that in the Council document 94/6 a reference is made to the Oslo Conference in which it was decided to establish a task force under the authority of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to provide a framework, an overall guidance for system-wide activities aimed at sustainable development. Another detailed and systematic presentation on the world's environmental problems' strategies, strategies to alleviate them, and implementation of the strategies between different United Nations agencies is the system-wide, medium-term environment programme for 1990/95. The follow-up of the World Commission's report, both bilaterally and multilaterally, has been under active consideration in the Nordic countries. In the FAO context, an independent consultancy group has been studying the follow-up in FAO on the Commission recommendations to the Nordic countries, to whom sustainable development has a high priority indeed in the on-going review process of FAO.
The concept of sustainable development presents an increased challenge for FAO and other agencies. The close links which exist between environmental considerations, poverty alleviation, growth and equity issues make it necessary for all parties to review their policies and on-going programmes and projects. FAO's mandate and scope of responsibilities in the multilateral system makes it a key agency for the enhancement of sustainable development. We welcome the comprehensive and detailed description of FAO's activities in this field, as included in the Secretariat's report CL 94/6. It can now present a relatively long history of environmental work, and a considerable amount of on-going activities.
The Organization plays a leading international role in several important sub-sectors, inter alia soil conservation, watershed management and wildlife management. As mentioned in the Secretariat's report, the concept of sustainable development is multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary by nature, and it must be approached in an integrated manner. To that end, an Inter-Departmental Working Group on Environment and Energy has been established and many other multi-department working groups despatched with components of sustainable development.
However, as it is emphasised in the conclusion of the report, and we just heard from Dr. Bonte-Friedheim, the concept is still evolving and more analytical work is needed to translate the concept into practical and operational policy and programmes in the agricultural, forestry and fishery sectors. That is the urgent task for the Secretariat.
In this context, several questions need to be clarified. For example, how can FAO contribute to the implementation of the various recommendations contained in the World Commmission report and the environmental perspective, which programmes need to be reorientated; which priorities need to be adjusted; how can FAO become more efficient in promoting a sustainable development; how can principles of sustainable development be implemented in the field work; how can the contribution of various activities towards sustainable development be measured? Clearly, more information and discussion is needed on future strategies and policies for FAO to promote the concept.
FAO is in a better position to handle trans-boundary problems than bilateral agencies. It will therefore be natural for FAO to have a higher degree of concentration on problems which have
regional or global components. In this work FAO should reorient its activities towards giving higher priority to the provision of substantive sector inputs into the current processes of national environmental planning, in close cooperation with other UN agencies, bilateral donors, development banks and non-governmental organizations. In particular the World Bank and IUCN should be mentioned. A good example of cooperation between the donor countries is the one adopted for the implementation of the Tropical Forestry Action Plan.
FAO's ultimate aim, when setting priorities, should not be to create field projects as such, but to convince governments, and NGOs to take into account FAO's overall views. One efficient way of doing this, which is consistent with FAO's comparative advantages, is to participate actively in the global, regional and national planning processes. Sectors that FAO could consider giving higher priority to in dealing with environmental degradation, are fisheries, wildlife utilization, alternative pest control strategies, conservation of both plant and animal genetic resources, the promotion of sustainable tropical agriculture and land-use planning.
Forestry is, to the Nordic countries, a sector of special interest. We appreciate the concern and vision embodied in the 1985 Tropical Forestry Action Plan, and the approach to respond to them as part of the World Conservation Strategy. As we see it, sustainable development for the growing population in the world cannot be achieved without increased emphasis on forestry. More specifically, questions to be concentrated on could include: (a) management of natural tropical forests, aiming at a higher production of tangible benefits without fundamental changes in the ecosystem; (b) establishment of village wood lots, or community forestry - also, an improved system of agro-forestry; and (c) extensive programmes of forest plantation.
As the Secretary-General of the United Nations pointed out in Oslo last summer, a more deliberate and concentrated effort by the United Nations system towards sustainable development is needed. The link between deterioration of environment and poverty should also be given priority in the future undertaking. To carry out the task of coordination and guidance, effectively and without delay, we have to ask ourselves whether the present Organization and structure of FAO is appropriate and sufficient. The Inter-Departmental Working Groups, when properly addressing the issues, can go a long way in emphasising the need for interpretation of environmental consideration in the work of FAO and highlighting the environmental policies and priorities. Whether they can bring about a common overall view on environmental issues in all parts of the Organization, as needed, is another question.
Finally, Nordic countries stress that integration and implementation of sustainable development throughout FAO is a forward-looking and on-going process. We were gratified to hear from Dr. Bonte-Friedheim, just a moment ago, that the next biennium's programme of work and budget clearly reflects the promotion of environmental issues. Likewise, we expect this item to be on the agenda of the Ninety-fifth Session of the Council preceeded by a more elaborate and analytical report by the Secretariat in line with the United Nations General Assembly Resolutions 41/'87 and 42/'86. These measures we deem necessary and logical in preparing ourselves for the substantial discussion on this item during the 1989 FAO Conference. Mr. Chairman, we kindly ask these points on the follow-up of the sustainable development to be reflected in the report of this Session of the Council.
José Ramón LOPEZ PORTILLO ROMANO (Mexico): La Delegación de México, Sr. Presidente, agradece al Dr. Bonte Friedheim, por la extensa, clara y enriquecedora aportación que nos ha hecho, no sólo para definir mejor el concepto mismo de desarrollo viable sino también, las acciones que al respecto realiza la FAO.
La delegación de México se siente muy satisfecha de que este tema relativo a los aspectos de la FAO encaminados a contribuir a un desarrollo viable se haya puesto a la consideración de este Consejo, aunque, como se concluye en el párrafo 73, este concepto debe aún completarse, aclararse y perfeccionarse, si conlleva a una profunda meditación sobre el significado y las perspectivas del desarrollo mismo, y así como el distinguido delegado de Finlandia, nosotros consideramos que este tema debe seguirse tratando en las sucesivas agendas de nuestro Consejo.
Como bien se indica en el informe Brundtland la erosión de las tierras y otros fenómenos que contribuyen al deterioro importante del medio ambiente, son elementos relevantes que deben prevenirse y superarse. No obstante, rechazamos que este tipo de fenómenos sean la consecuencia exclusiva o principal de la acción depredadora de los pobres, como allí se cita. Los pobres son parte, y sobre todo efecto, de un sistema económico que postula la escasez como su principio motor y la explotación de las mayorías como medio de capitalización. Por eso las acciones de los así llamados pobres, sólo pueden entenderse y resolverse si se considera el contexto socioeconómico y la mecánica del orden internacional vigente.
Muchos habitantes rurales y urbanos se ven impelidos por desconocimiento y por simple necesidad de sobrevivencia, a tomar lo poco que la naturaleza y la sociedad les ofrece, al orillarlos a vivir en zonas deprimidas o bajo sistemas comerciales y de producción que implican y conllevan en sí mismos la depredación de los recursos naturales. Pero debe subrayarse aquí que las consecuencias de los actos de sobrevivencia de los pobres rurales y urbanos significan muy poco en el contexto del deterioro ambiental general y de los ecosistemas cuando se consideran los nefastos resultados de los deshechos de las grandes agroindustrias particularmente de empresas transnacionales, del uso indiscriminado de plaguicidas y agroquímicos de las emisiones de bióxido de carbono y otros productos de parte, principalmente, o mayoritariamente de países industrializados, de los constantes ensayos nucleares y accidentes de nucleoeléctricas y de la terrible erosión de la diversidad biológica; es decir, genes, especies y ecosistemas derivadas principalmente de la aplicación de. criterios comerciales y de rentabilidad alta y de reditualidad pronta que han desplazado y aniquilado tantas formas de vida.
En los países en desarrollo, y particularmente, después de años de crecimiento muy bajo, y hasta negativo, y de un grave empeoramiento en la distribución del ingreso, no puede esperarse que cuestiones relativas a la conservación de recursos naturales y del medio ambiente, se antepongan en la agenda política a las cuestiones mucho más potentes y elementales en el corto plazo, como la lucha contra el hambre y la sobrevivencia diarias. A pesar de que está demostrado que continuar así va en perjuicio de la viabilidad y sobrevivencia de generaciones futuras, la comunidad internacional no puede esperar que en el corto plazo, los países en desarrollo podamos organizar eficazmente, suficientemente, una lucha por la preservación de los recursos naturales de la diversidad biológica y de la mejora del medio ambiente si no se nos ofrecen soluciones macroeconómicas generales respecto de problemas tales como la deuda, el comercio, la tecnología y un financiamiento suficiente para apoyar este tipo de actividades.
Sr. Presidente, todo está en todo en el mundo actual. Este mundo, sus problemas y soluciones son interdependientes y en la balanza de las prioridades la sobrevivencia y la lucha eficaz y perdurable contra la pobreza absoluta, el hambre, la desnutrición y la seguridad alimentaria, están primero.
El paso primero para un desarrollo viable es, pues, precisamente, permitir el desarrollo de todos los pueblos y superar las condiciones y mecanismos de la pobreza absoluta. A fin de que los países en desarrollo tengan acceso a las técnicas más adecuadas para tratar sus cultivos y evitar la deforestación, la erosión de los suelos, la desaparición de ecosistemas y de la diversidad genética y otros efectos dañinos que sobre el medio ambiente pueden tener las prácticas agrícolas indiscriminadas, es necesario entre otras cosas que la FAO, junto con otros Organismos internacionales consideren los elementos arriba señalados al estructurar sus políticas y proyectos que se han de llevar a cabo.
La problemática que he planteado ciertamente no implica de ninguna manera que deban posponerse acciones hoy para coordinar y progresar en el logro de las condiciones para un desarrollo agrícola y alimentario viable y sostenido. Sí conlleva necesariamente a convenir que tal esfuerzo y su peso financiero debe ser compartido equitativamente y con gran realismo.
Me voy a referir ahora entre el cumulo de temas que toca el documento 94/6, a uno que considero elemental y muy promisorio. Este tema lo toco, porque además, la delegación de México considera que está muy vinculado a las actividades futuras que debe desarrollar la Organización, más que ninguna otra: y es el de la conservación de la diversidad biológica.
En los párrafos 11, 12, 17, 20 y en el capítulo sobre Recursos Genéticos, párrafos 39 a 43, así como en otras partes del documento, se describe la importancia y avances de la estrategia de la FAO en ese sentido a lo largo de más de 40 años. Hoy la comunidad internacional reconoce la seriedad del problema de la erosión, de la diversidad biológica, y la prioridad ineludible de concertar acciones entre todos los países y organismos concernientes, máxime que somos los países en desarrollo oferentes y donadores netos de tales recursos y de su diversidad. La extinción exponencial de recursos genéticos, de especies y de ecosistemas que ha ocurrido en las últimas décadas es alarmante e implica ya quizás más del 10% de tales recursos. Si las tendencias se mantienen a mediados del siglo próximo habrán desaparecido irreversiblemente más de una tercera parte de las especies que habitan nuestro planeta. El efecto combinado de este proceso con el del deterioro del medio ambiente hacen temer sobre la viabilidad, ya no digamos del desarrollo mismo sino de la sobrevivencia de la Humanidad misma.
Hoy especialistas y neófitos abogan por acciones inmediatas. Sin embargo, debemos reconocer con tristeza y con alarma que prevalece una gran desorganización y una apatía entre Organismos Internacionales, Regionales y Gobiernos.
Desde su fundación, la FAO inició algunos esfuerzos en materia de conservación genética y otras medidas relativas. Ha trabajado en parte en coordinación con otras Agencias de Naciones Unidas, instituciones públicas y privadas. Sin embargo, no ha sido sino hasta épocas recientes que se ha
establecido, así lo sentimos, un esquema global promisorio tanto en lo legal como en lo instrumental, financiero, informativo y de coordinación sobre un aspecto de la conservación genética prioritario. Me refiero al Compromiso Internacional de Recursos Fitogenéticos, la Comisión relativa y el Fondo Internacional y el Sistema de Información y Redes de Recolección Base que se trata de establecer bajo los auspicios de la FAO. 115 países son miembros de la Comisión y/o se han unido al Compromiso Internacional y sus avances han provocado una importante efervescencia en muchos países y muchas instituciones. En reuniones pasadas del Consejo y en la reciente del COFO de mayo de este año se propuso por parte de varios países, que el Compromiso Internacional y la Comisión de Recursos Fitogenéticos sean expandidos para comprender otros recursos genéticos y los ecosistemas en general.
El mérito de esta propuesta es evitar mayores gastos, duplicación de secretariados, de funciones y de órganos y mecanismos de acción, más otras complejidades que la arborescencia de unidades administrativas y parlamentarias puede provocar.
Dadas las técnicas modernas en materia de ingeniería genética y de biotecnología, todos los genes adquieren hoy potencialmente un interés comercial y estratégico para un desarrollo viable; y por tanto la conservación de la diversidad genética y más aún biológica que abarcaría especies y ecosistemas se hace indispensable.
Los países en desarrollo somos abrumadoramente donadores de tales recursos. Como lo he mencionado anteriormente, han sido y son las naciones desarrolladas que se ubican en las zonas templadas las máximas beneficiarlas de nuestras libres donaciones. Esos países han recibido ventajas comerciales y económicas inconmensurables con la explotación de variedades que nuestros campesinos, ganaderos y pescadores han mantenido, cultivado, respetado y mejorado durante miles de años.
En el futuro y dadas las nuevas tecnologías desarrolladas principalmente en países industrializados, serán estos últimos los que sin duda mayores ventajas obtendrán de una conservación de la diversidad genética y biológica en general.
Un mecanismo de compensación se hace prioritario e indispensable. Por lo anterior, hace sentido un llamado a la corresponsabilidad global y a esfuerzos equitativos de financiamlento y tratamiento comercial compartidos. En varios organismos se están haciendo diversas propuestas respecto a estos temas. Por ejemplo, en el PNUMA un país desarrollado muy importante y otros más, propusieron la formulación de una Convención paraguas sobre Diversidad Biológica y el establecimiento de mecanismos ad-hoc al más alto nivel para tratar estos asuntos. ·
Toda esta ebullición debe canalizarse para evitar su parcelación y feudalización de funciones y de manejos de recursos financieros así como la duplicación de órganos y de instrumentos legales y financieros.
La FAO, a diferencia de otras Organizaciones, ha dado ya pasos firmes en materia de la conservación de la diversidad biológica, particularmente repito en el área de recursos fitogenéticos.
Recientemente, 50 científicos de diversas agrupaciones y organismos se reunieron en Colorado, Estados Unidos, en agosto pasado bajo la presidencia del Dr. Swaminathan, ex-Presidente Independiente de este Consejo, y propusieron como lo hemos hecho aquí y se ha planteado en otros foros también, que la actual Comisión de Recursos Fitogenéticos evolucione gradualmente hasta convertirse en una Comisión sobre Diversidad Biológica. Nos parece ésta una propuesta inteligente y congruente con los estatutos, funciones y objetivos de nuestra Organización, y sobre todo porque evita duplicaciones, traslapes innecesarios, y se basa en un instrumento tanto administrativo, como financiero y parlamentario ya existente.
Por todo lo anterior, pedimos al Director General que los siguientes cuatro puntos se incluyan en el Programa de Recursos Fitogenéticos, en marzo de 1989, y luego en los trabajos de este Consejo en su 960 Período de Sesiones y en la 25a Conferencia de la FAO de noviembre de 1989:
1) Estudio sobre la forma de ampliar gradualmente la actual Comisión de Recursos Fitogenéticos hacia una Comisión sobre Diversidad Biológica.
2) Que proponga la evolución correspondiente del Fondo Internacional para Recursos Fitogenéticos hacia uno que incluya apoyos financieros para actividades vinculadas con la conservación genética en general, es decir que comprenda también animales, peces y microorganismos.
3) Que establezca contactos con otras Agencias del Sistema de Naciones Unidas como el PNUMA, UNESCO, UICN, OMS y otras, así como con las instituciones nacionales y las ONG's interesadas implicadas en estos asuntos para proponer un sistema de coordinación efectivo tanto para evitar duplicación y traslapes como para vincular las respectivas actividades en un todo congruente en lo que podría ser, como ya se ha propuesto en el PNUMA, un Convenio Internacional sobre Diversidad Biológica.
4) Y con esto termino, Sr. Presidente. Respecto a tal Convenio, estudiar los avances que ha logrado el PNUMA en este sentido y promover la consolidación de esos esfuerzos a partir de un Proyecto de Convenio Internacional sobre Diversidad Biológica que podría someterse a la consideración del próximo Consejo de la FAO con alguna fórmula de coordinación y corresponsabilidad con el PNUMA y otras Organizaciones concernidas.
Igor MARINCEK (Suisse): J'aimerais d'abord remercier Monsieur Bonte-Friedheim pour les clarifications qu'il a apportées au sujet de cet important point de l'Ordre du jour, clarification que nous aurions aimé trouver dans le document qui nous est soumis. L'environnement et la nature sont les ressources sur lesquelles se construit notre existence; c'est un capital énorme et limité à la fois, qui nous est confié, un capital qui produit de l'intérêt. Grâce à une bonne gestion de ce capital, nous pouvons même arriver à augmenter les intérêts rendus par celui-ci.
Afin de ne pas mettre en péril cette source si vitale, si précieuse et qui nous est si nécessaire, nous devons cependant veiller à n'utiliser que les intérêts sans toucher au capital; concrètement, nous avons l'obligation de restituer ce capital, sans pertes, à nos enfants et aux générations futures, afin que ceux-ci puissent continuer à en retirer les intérêts: tel est le principe du développement durable.
Ce principe n'est pas toujours bien respecté ni au nord ni au sud, c'est pourquoi mon pays a salué le rapport de la Commission Brundtland qui met ces problèmes dans une perspective globale et qui a grandement contribué à promouvoir la notion et le concept du développement durable. Nous apprécions donc que la contribution de la FAO à la mise en application du concept de développement durable, fasse l'objet d'un rapport et d'un point particulier de l'Ordre du jour de ce Conseil.
Le document remis nous semble cependant trop restrictif; nous savons bien qu'il s'agit d'un début -et nous l'apprécions - mais nous aurions souhaité un document plus analytique, faisant ressortir davantage les problèmes. Je remercie donc Monsieur Bonte-Friedheim d'avoir attiré également notre attention sur ce point.
Nous aurions aussi souhaité que le document tire, pour la FAO, des conclusions spécifiques du rapport Brundtland et qu'il nous permette d'aboutir à des conclusions concrètes. En effet, la lecture de ce document donne l'impression que la quasi-totalité des activités de la FAO favorise d'une manière ou d'une autre le développement durable; cependant, cette impression n'est pas du tout confirmée par les chiffres; ceux-ci nous indiquent que les activités de la FAO en faveur du développement durable n'occupent qu'un maigre 3,2% du budget ordinaire du biennium en cours.
Ma délégation n'est sans doute pas la seule a avoir été frappée par cette divergence.
Un mot maintenant concernant la responsabilité de la FAO dans les questions dont nous discutons ici. Il nous semble que la FAO doit en premier lieu jouer à la fois le rôle d'expert et de conscience commune, et attirer l'attention sur les problèmes qui se posent aux niveaux global, régional et des pays.
Deux difficultés en relation avec le développement durable nous semblent mériter une attention particulière.
- La première, c'est l'explosion démographique dans certains pays, qui hypothèque lourdement les possibilités de développement de leurs enfants;
- la seconde, c'est le fait que plus les biens environnementaux se raréfient, plus la lutte pour leur distribution s'engage. Les pauvres sont les perdants dans cette lutte, ils deviennent marginalisés et sont les premières victimes écologiques.
Permettez-moi, Monsieur le Président, de faire encore quelques commentaires sur des paragraphes spécifiques du document soumis à notre considération.
Paragraphe 15. Il est fait constat que les intéressés n'adopteront durablement des pratiques respectueuses de l'environnement que si elles sont économiquement viables. Il faut donc des politiques favorisant cette viabilité au niveau des exploitations, et il faut faire des efforts pour sensibiliser les individus à l'écologie qui, en vérité, n'est rien d'autre que l'économie à long terme.
Paragraphe 26. Le travail de la FAO dans l'évaluation de la capacité de la charge démographique des terres, mérite d'être salué; nous proposons une poursuite de ces travaux au niveau des pays individuels.
Paragraphe 28. Est-ce que le Secrétariat pourrait nous informer davantage sur ses procédures d'évaluation de l'impact écologique des projets, et nous remettre éventuellement un exemplaire du document eventuel y relatif. A quels projets s'appliquent ces procédures ? Quels sont les critères pour l'identification de ces projets ? Est-ce que les projets PCT font l'objet d'un tel examen ?
Paragraphes 32, 33 et 34. Quel est le succès remporté dans l'utilisation des directives et manuels mentionnés ? Est-ce qu'on a entrepris des efforts pour vendre ces documents - je dis bien vendre -à des entreprises d'ingénieurs-conseils, tant locales qu'internationales ? et si tel est le cas, avec quel succès ? Nous avons observé que la valeur des documents est parfois mieux appréciée quand ceux-ci ont un prix.
Paragraphe 50. L'affirmation que "presque toutes les activités menées par la FAO en vue d'améliorer les techniques dans les secteurs de l'agriculture, des forêts et des pêches concourent d'une certaine manière au développement durable" nous paraît un peu prétentieuse.
Paragraphe 64. La FAO a raison de nous rappeler que les régimes fonciers peuvent empêcher un développement durable. L'examen des politiques agricoles des pays individuels par la FAO doit aussi porter sur l'aspect de la pérennité.
Le Document soumis à notre examen ne consacre qu'un bref paragraphe, le paragraphe 66, à la participation des populations à leur propre développement, alors qu'il s'agit, en fait, des acteurs sans lesquels aucun développement n'est possible à long terme.
Ma délégation est convaincue que tant la FAO que les pays membres ne sont pas suffisamment informés du potentiel énorme de connaissances, de capacité de réflexion, de travail et d'investissement que représentent ces populations ainsi que leurs organisations locales. C'est pourquoi nous proposons que la FAO réalise une étude permettant de typifier les organisations rurales, le rôle qu'elles jouent dans leur cadre social et les relations qu'elles entretiennent avec les Gouvernements.
Enfin, cette étude devrait également contenir des recommandations sur les formes possibles de mobiliser davantage le potentiel de ces Organisations, sur les possibilités de les renforcer afin d'en faire de vrais partenaires des gouvernements et à travers eux de la FAO. Nous avons été informés qu'un des points de l'Ordre du Jour du prochain COAG devrait traiter de la participation des populations.
Nous souhaitons que les pays membres de notre Organisation soient renseignés le plus complètement possible sur les expériences faites par la FAO, le FIDA, le BIT et les Gouvernements, dans la coopération avec les Organisations rurales. A notre connaissance, divers services de la FAO, comme la Division des Ressources Humaines, la CMCF etc. ont des activités en relation avec des organisations rurales. Nous croyons savoir que beaucoup d'informations écrites existent déjà à ce sujet à la FAO, au FIDA, au BIT et peut-être ailleurs. Si les ressources de la FAO ne sont pas suffisantes pour réaliser une telle étude, mon pays serait disposé à la financer, si possible en collaboration avec d'autres donateurs, la responsabilité de l'étude restant bien entendu à la FAO. Pour terminer, j'aimerais souligner l'importance d'une bonne intégration du concept du développement durable dans les travaux de notre Organisation. Nous espérons que le Programme de travail et de budget pour le prochain biennium et les décisions sur les réformes lors de la prochaine Conférence, marqueront la réalisation d'une importante étape dans cette direction.
Passer au crible toutes les activités et projets de la FAO sous l'aspect de l'environnement et de la pérennité serait un tel pas, ainsi que le passage obligatoire des projets plus importants par une procédure de l'évaluation de l'impact écologique, tel que décrit dans le paragraphe 28.
Nous attendons également avec intérêt le chapitre spécial sur le développement agricole durable annoncé pour le document "Situation mondiale de l'alimentation et de l'agriculture 1988".
Finalement, j'aimerais rappeler que le respect de la nature va de pair avec le respect de l'homme. Le respect des droits de l'homme est indispensable si l'on veut ariver à un développement porté par des citoyens responsables. Les élites des pays ont une responsabilité particulière à cet égard.
D. MAXWELL (United States of America): The United States has studied with interest document CL 94/6, the Report on Aspects of FAO's Policies, Programmes, Budget and Activities Aimed at Contributing to Sustainable Development. We also appreciate Mr. Bonte-Friedheim's introductory comments on this item.
The United States has an historical commitment to environment and natural resource conservation which is pursued through domestic and international, private and public agencies. We agree, therefore, that sustainable development, whilst given a wider dimension by the World Conference on
Environment and Development, is not a new concept. We do, however, share the growing consensus in the international community that past efforts have not dealt adequately with the problem of environmental degradation. For that reason, and in view of the importance of this issue to the future of all who share our planet, to the lives and livelihood of millions, my delegation will comment at some length on this topic. I regret that we share certain views with other delegations that there is not enough time to look at our statement in the light of other delegations' statements. We are pleased to see that there is a great consensus in this area. We will continue with our statement in this regard.
First of all, I would like to make a few general remarks. We encourage FAO to proceed with efforts to translate the sustainable development concept into practice and look forward to further action by FAO in this regard. At the same time, we request that FAO look for methods of containing programme costs - for instance, by shifting funds to cover more adequately the more critical areas in terms of sustainable development, for example forest and wildlife conservation.
We encourage FAO to continue to increase its collaboration with others working in this area and to continue to strive for more effective execution of its coordination role.
Also, we urge FAO to continue its efforts to improve its own internal coordination mechanism, including cross-departmental, cross-sectoral consultation within the ID (inter-departmental) working group format.
FAO as well as other bilateral and multilateral agencies has long acknowledged and attempted to address the essential features of natural resource conservation that impact on rural development, yet past efforts have not dealt adequately with the problem. Short-term planning horizons and risk-aversion production strategies in combination with increasing demographic pressures may in the long run lead to a deterioration of production potential. Long-term economic development strategies must focus more sharply on natural resource management as well as on those forces which generate poverty.
We note with optimism the general convergence of FAO's agricultural programme in the 1988/89 Programme of Work and Budget with WCED's concept of sustainable development. We applaud FAO for bringing to its policies and programmes a sustainable development focus and commend FAO's operational definition of sustainable development - paragraph 5 - as one of the best produced so far. We suggest, however, that critical problems which remain obscured must still be addressed, including inadequate direction of private and public investment towards rural development, poverty and the pressures of poverty and population growth on the environment; the lack of grass roots participation in technology, research and in planning resource use and maintenance.
We recommend that FAO refine or expand its definition and operationalize a sustainable development strategy that takes into account the following key areas: (i) natural resource management and conservation; (ii) technological development and delivery; (iii) private and public investment in the rural sector to promote economic growth beyond the subsistence level; (iv) policy reform such as reform of land access, land tenure and pricing policies; (v) grass-root participation in development planning and management; (vi) human resources development and social, cultural and institutional change.
The United States encourages FAO to continue work in such critical areas as the testing of guidelines for land-use planning (paragraph 14); the implementation of the WCARRD programme for anti-poverty-focussed rural development (paragraph 17); furthering soil conservation, particularly in Africa (paragraphs 31 and 36), and water resources management (paragraphs 32-34); strengthening networks for wildlife protection and management (paragraph 35); providing technical assistance on the socio-economic aspects of sustainable development, including the integration of women in development and agricultural extension; supporting grass-roots participation, and promotion of land access/land tenure policy reform (paragraphs 64-66); facilitating the analysis and planning of population, environment, and energy components of rural development efforts particularly at the district and project levels; coordinating national fisheries programmes; and ensuring the dissemination of technical information on subjects that directly impact on sustainable development jointly with other agencies with technical expertise which, in addition to WHO, WMO, ILO, includes IFAD, UNEP, IBPGR, the World Bank and the Regional Multi-Development Banks.
We observe that US$15.8 million, although a conservative estimate, is not much to devote to sustainable development over a two-year period relative to the assessed budget for the biennium 1988-89. We wish to know how much more the 88 TCP projects (paragraph 10) would add to the total investment in sustainability-related activities. How much more do Trust Fund Projects add? We request additional information regarding the type and location of these projects as well. As much as possible, the establishment of accounting measures to readily access this financial information when needed would be very helpful for future review purposes. Furthermore, we would like to see the Programme of Work for the 1990-91 biennium now in preparation, integrate sustainable development and environmental concerns with the core of FAO's work and give it high priority.
Given the critical role of afforestation in achieving ecological solvency, we applaud FAO's work in forestry under Trust Fund auspices. We suggest that Tropical Forestry Action Plan would benefit by increasing its focus on the agricultural sector, and emphasizing agroforestry as a major activity for mitigating shifting cultivation which accounts for nearly half of tropical deforestation (paragraph 22), as has been mentioned by some delegates in the discussion on the previous agenda item. Increased agroforestry would also make an important contribution to combating the global warming effect brought on by increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Moreover, we believe that work in this critical sector should be funded through FAO's regular programme budget.
We note another point of general consensus in FAO's use in paragraph 45, page 9 of Gordon Conway's terminology regarding farming systems. Conway's "agroecosystem analysis" approach, for instance, forms the basis for recent US Agency for International Development training courses in agriculture and natural resources management. Conceptualization of the farming systems paradigm is evolving, however, as farming systems research continues, and we encourage FAO's collaboration with those working on the further development of this model.
The Report mentions FAO's "pioneering work" on agro-ecological zone analysis (paragraph 26, page 5). It also states that FAO has just begun the introduction of routine environmental impact assessment procedures (paragraph 28, page 6) in the development of agricultural production projects. We view these FAO initiatives with cautious optimism and urge FAO to coordinate and collaborate with others in the community - IFAD particularly - who are working to standardize, on an internationally acceptable basis, indices for measuring agroecosystem stability and sustainability.
There is a perception in the community that greater collaboration and coordination among international and bilateral agencies is necessary to ensure consistency of policy recommendations on rural poverty and the environment. We listened with interest to the previous delegations' comments. We urge FAO to continue efforts to improve coordination: at the international level, consulting with other multilateral and bilateral agencies as FAO considers how it may further promote environmentally-sound agricultural and rural development; at the regional level, advising regional, political and economic organizations in planning sustainable development. In doing so it should accept also a supporting role as well as taking the lead role with other multilateral organizations. Consideration should be given at the national and local levels, to support and strengthen national and local capacity to collect and analyse environmental data, strengthening monitoring and evaluation activities, and strengthening national and local planning capabilities. FAO's efforts in this respect should involve NGOs in problem identification, strategy formulation and project presentation.
While we recognize rural poverty as a major impediment to sustainable development, we take exception to the statement in paragraph 16, that it is a major cause of unsustainable development. Such a statement directs attention incorrectly and unprofitably toward the symptom, namely, poverty, rather than towards the forces which generate poverty. Research founded on a misapprehension of this issue is unlikely to lead to positive results. FAO is urged to continue its research on socio-economic and institutional prerequisites to sustainable development, taking into account the research of others in the community.
We believe that FAO's role in the area of plant genetic resources, as stated in paragraph 20, is highly overstated. The United States supports the IBPGR as the best instrument for international germplasm coordination, and believes that FAO's role must complement, not duplicate, the work of the IBPGR. The United States does not adhere to the international undertaking, does not belong to the Commission, and does not subscribe to FAO's management of the International Fund relating to plant genetic resources. We note FAO's reference to biotechnology in paragraph 51 as a means of improving production and post-harvest processing, and request that FAO outline the role it plans to perform in biotechnology development application.
We are puzzled that the current list of sustainable development activities in Annex II includes no mention of FAO's activities under SACRED (the Scheme for Agriculture Credit Development). There is a dependent relationship between access to credit, access to land, and income generation. Income -cash and non-cash - is a major determinant of human choices that affect sustainability of economic growth. Increasing the incomes of the rural poor is essential to long-term environmentally-sound economic development. We request that FAO supplement document CL 94/6 with a report on FAO's current and planned activities aimed at facilitating credit access for rural communities, and on FAO's current and planned activities aimed at increasing private and public investment in rural sectors, including micro-enterprise.
We applaud the interest of FAO to include a special chapter on sustainable agricultural development in the 1988-89 State of Food and Agriculture Report. This important document can be a means for carrying forward the dialogue and sharpening international community's perceptions regarding this critical issue. We suggest that many Members will want to contribute to the discussion of the issues related to natural resources management for sustainable rural development based on lessons from their experiences, and to the analysis of changes required to translate the sustainable
development concept into practice. We request that FAO dialogue with international agencies such as the World Bank, IFAD, IΒPGR and UNEP, as well as with bilateral agencies, as it considers how it might contribute further to the achievement of these changes.
In closing, I would support Mr. Friedheim's comments that the integration of sustainable development and environmental concerns must be an ongoing process. We expect that future FAO reports will contain more analysis and fuller indications of future directions as suggested by UNGA resolutions 42/186 and 41/187. We look forward to further consideration of these issues in future sessions of FAO 's Governing Bodies.
Ms Patricia WEST (United Kingdom): I assure you I will be brief. The United Kingdom welcomed the report of the World Commission on Environment and Development. Indeed, we were one of the few countries to have published a government response to the report and we are committed to the concept of sustainable development. We recognize the importance of sustainable use of resources in agricultural development and are pleased to see FAO focussing on sustainability in the agricultural context (CL 94/6).
We agree with the previous speaker that paragraph 5 of that document contains a useful working definition of sustainable development. FAO's earlier document "Agriculture towards 2000" also set the scene for environmental responsibility in this sector. However, we would urge FAO to exercise caution in what appears to be attempts to differentiate sustainable development activities under a separate sub-head of projects or programmes because we believe all development activity should be geared to sustainability criteria.
We support fully the view of the integration of sustainable development, and that environmental concerns must be an ongoing process. As with the Finnish delegation we are glad to hear that the Programme of Work and Budget for the biennium 1990/91 can be expected to reflect the concept that sustainable development and environmental concerns have a prominent role in, and form an integral part of, all FAO's work.
The UK also expects this item to be on the agenda of the Ninety-fifth Session of Council preceded by a more analytical and forward-looking report by the Secretariat in line with the United Nations General Assembly resolutions 42/186 and 41/187. We hope that this will lead the way to a more substantial discussion on the whole framework of sustainable development during the Twenty-fifth Conference.
Jean Pierre POLY (France): La delegation française a pris connaisance avec intérêt du rapport préparé par le Secrétariat sur le thème de la pérennité du développement, abordé certes pour la première fois par notre Conseil, mais très souvent déjà présent à l'arrière plan de nos débats. Ne s'agit-il pas d'ailleurs de l'un des concepts fondamentaux sur lesquels repose l'Acte constitutif de l'Organisation, à la fois pour répondre aux exigences du court terme et ménager l'avenir par un développement équilibré qui favorise la croissance éconmique, le progrès social et la conservation des ressources naturelles.
La notion de développement durable n'est donc pas nouvelle en soi mais ses objectifs essentiels se trouvent sans cesse renforcés par une prise de conscience plus algue de la complexité et de la fragilité des écosystèmes et donc de la vulnérabilité de l'intégrité écologique de notre patrimoine.
Dans ce contexte, la délégation française considère qu'il est peut-être illusoire et artificiel de chercher à évaluer l'effort au demeurant incontesté accompli par l'Organisation pour la promotion d'un développement durable en disséquant le Programme et le budget car c'est précisément de la complémentarité et de la synergie des actions entreprises que dépend la pérennité du développement.
Seule l'analyse globale du Programme permet de mesurer l'effort accompli, même si certains domaines s'inscrivent plus particulièrement dans la perspective du rapport établi par la Commission mondiale de l'environnement et du développement. A cet égard, la délégation française se félicite de l'attention particulière accordée par la FAO à des secteurs aussi essentiels à la pérennité du développement que la conservation des terres et des eaux, la mise au point de systèmes intégrés de protection et de nutrition des plantes, la promotion d'une recherche agronomique adaptée aux besoins de la petite agriculture, la conservation des ressources génétiques, forestières, zootechniques, phytotechnlques et halieutiques.
Dans une conjoncture difficile pour l'Organisation, la France a décidé d'apporter sa contribution volontaire à la poursuite et au renforcement des programmes engagés en faveur d'un développement durable. Pour un propos concret et illustré, qu'il me soit permis de rappeler en cette occasion quelques projets particuliers en faveur desquels s'établit le programme des fonds fiduciaries français.
Mon pays a décidé d'apporter sa contribution pour un montant de 200 000 dollars au Programme d'évaluation des ressources forestières des pays tropicaux, exercice nécessaire à l'amélioration de la gestion de ces ressources. Les autorités françaises sont prêtes à renouveler l'aide volontaire apportée en son temps à la mise en oeuvre du Plan forestier tropical désormais inscrit au programme ordinaire afin de permettre à ce programme prioritaire dont les moyens de coordination seraient ainsi renforcés de mieux répondre à la demande exprimée.
Toujours dans le domaine forestier, mon pays apporte son concours soutenu au Programme sous-régional de mise en valeur des ressources génétiques de ligneux à usages multiples.
Le Programme de collaboration France-FAO dans le domaine de la télédétection s'inscrit, lui aussi, dans la perspective d'un développement durable grâce aux projets pilotes engagés notamment pour une cartographie pédologique, pour l'étude des phénomènes d'érosion, pour une meilleure maîtrise des eaux. Un accord de principe a été donné pour la mise en oeuvre d'une nouvelle composante de ce programme qui permettra l'utilisation de l'image satellite â haute résolution pour les études d'inventaire de potentialité et de suivi des ressources forestières.
Depuis plusieurs années, la France apporte sa contribution aux programmes que mène la FAO dans la domaine de la fixation de l'azote à travers un ensemble diversifié d'interventions: renforcement des moyens du siège, programmes de formation, mise en place de cadres associés, au Rwanda notamment, projets sur les espèces ligneuses fixatrices de l'azote en Chine. Il s'agit là de l'exemple type d'un ensemble d'actions de développement entreprises pour une croissance économique sans préjudice pour l'environnement.
Enfin, dans le domaine du stockage et du conditionnement, mon pays, soucieux d'améliorer les systèmes après récolte et de limiter les pertes importantes trop souvent constatées, a décidé de soutenir le programme conduit par l'Organisation.
D'autres projets de collaboration France-FAO témoignent d'une préoccupation partagée de mieux valoriser les sous-produits de l'agriculture. Un programme d'action pour une meilleure utilisation de la paille pour l'alimentation animale en zone méditerranéenne est à l'étude. La collaboration de la France, enfin, est acquise pour promouvoir l'information nécessaire à la conservation des sols et des eaux en zones semi-arides.
Toutefois, ma délégation, qui vient donc de porter témoignage à travers maints exemples concrets de l'intérêt qu'elle accorde, pour un développement durable, à l'intégration des considérations d'ordre écologique dans les politiques agricoles, forestières et halieutiques, souhaite faire observer que l'activité agricole n'est qu'un élément de dégradation de l'environnement qui s'inscrit très certainement bien après les activités industrielles et domestiques. Peut-être cet objectif de pérennité pour un concept de développement qui ne cesse lui-même d'évoluer doit-il faire l'objet d'une analyse plus systématique et plus sélective dans les politiques et programmes opérationnels de l'Organisation afin d'éviter la récurrence de projets trop souvent semblables et de permettre de mieux valoriser le capital d'expérience et de données de l'Organisation. Pour cela, la gestion des programmes devra être améliorée et la FAO devra se doter des moyens de suivi et de contrôle nécessaires. Mais il s'agit là d'un autre débat.
Sra. Ma. Josefina FERNANDEZ ALVAREZ de ARDIZONES (Cuba): En relación con el documento 94/6, que se debate, mi delegación agradece a la Secretaría por la clara ampliación que ha hecho del mismo, así como por la elaboración cuidadosa de un documento tan importante como éste.
Mi delegación, Sr. Presidente, después del estudio de este documento, tiene la sensación de que el concepto de desarrollo viable aún no está bien definido, como no lo están tampoco los objetivos en relación con la FAO; sin embargo, no nos cabe la menor duda de que los objetivos de la FAO sí están bien definidos y siempre han estado dirigidos a lograr el desarrollo de los países menos adelantados.
Estamos de acuerdo, Sr. Presidente, con lo expresado en los párrafos 6, 11, y 12 del documento en cuestión, por la actualidad que mantienen esos principios, a pesar de haber transcurrido 40 largos años de trabajo. La FAO siempre ha estado en vanguardia por la lucha por el desarrollo, aunque ahora se le cuestione la palabra "viable", lo cual no es más que el producto del propio desarrollo, porque sin desarrollo no hay contaminación ambiental, ni de aguas, ni destrucción de bosques a causa de la propia contaminación. Es una paradoja, pero realmente es necesario lograr primero, al menos, el desarrollo para después hacerlo viable, sobre todo cuando se tienen pocos recursos para ello, y es necesario priorizar su utilización. Nos preocupa la referencia de los párrafos 9 y 10 al presupuesto y a la asignación total para estas actividades, ante la incertidumbre de la contribución del gran deudor, pues son muchas las políticas de la FAO relativas al desarrollo viable que están en juego. El párrafo 17 apenas resume las más importantes y multidimensionales, pues como se conoce, la política de la FAO ha estado siempre orientada a asegurar el desarrollo agrícola, rural, pesquero y social de los países en desarrollo. Para nadie es un secreto los esfuerzos que realiza
la FAO por la conservación de los recursos genéticos, por el desarrollo y la preservación del hombre y del medio ambiente. Como principal exponente, lo es entre otros, el Código de Conductas sobre la Utilización de Plaguicidas aprobado en 1985.
Apoyamos totalmente la declaración del Embajador López Portillo, de México, quien nos ha ahorrado muchas palabras y apoyamos también su propuesta específica en el sentido de que los instrumentos actuales relativos a recursos fitogenéticos evolucionen hacia la integración de todos los recursos biológicos, dada su vinculación con la producción de alimentos, que por tanto deben concentrarse en la FAO.
Para concluir, Sr. Presidente, mi delegación apoya las propuestas de la FAO, y sus esfuerzos por alinear sus políticas con la ejecución del desarrollo viable y espera que la Organización pueda disponer en breve de los recursos financieros necesarios para que pueda continuar contribuyendo al desarrollo viable y sostenido de los países del Tercer Mundo.
Gerhard LIEBER (Germany, Federal Republic of): May I first, through you, Mr. Chairman, thank Mr. Bonte Friedheim for his very thorough and clear introduction to this important paper.
The document before us reflects how the World Commission on Environment and Development defined the concept of sustainable development at its meeting in Oslo in July this year. FAO has now put this definition, which applies more to the general economic development, in concrete terms in a very complete way in order to meet the needs of the agricultural sector.
The definition states that sustainable agricultural development Is to ensure soil conservation, to conserve water and genetic resources; in addition, it should also be environmentally non-degrading, technically appropriate, economically viable and socially acceptable. My delegation supports this definition.
The document then describes and analyzes the programmes, activities and policies which already make a contribution to the concept of sustainable development in FAO's work. This stocktaking gives us a good overview and shows approaches to the implementation of the concept.
In the view of my delegation the concept, however, for the time being is just an enumeration of individual measures, which does not allow us fully to recognize how far connections and linkages exist between individual programmes in order to fulfil all the above cited criteria of sustainable development as defined. We believe that the development of an overall concept is important, in order to, in future fully assess the individual activities of FAO within the framework of the definitions mentioned. This would also be commensurate with the decisions of the Sixteenth FAO Regional Conference in Cracow which also called for a greater integration of environmental aspects in the development process of agriculture, forestry and fisheries.
Allow me now, Mr. Chairman, a few remarks about some individual proposals which are of special interest to us. As far as the special chapter on policy and planning is concerned, my delegation supports entirely what our Finnish colleague already stated for the Nordic countries.
On the chapter on genetic resource conservation it is rightly stated that due to the rapid depletion of the genetic resources, there is urgent need for establishing a network of gene banks and gene collections. This is not only of great importance in view of the heavily damaged forest areas in Europe, but also in view of the shrinking number of cultivated plant varieties as well as related plants which have so far not been recognized as valuable genetic types. Close cooperation with other organizations in this field is in the opinion of my delegation a prerequisite for any success.
In the chapter on technological development and application it is stated that almost all of FAO's activities for technological improvement could be included under the broad definition of sustainable development, above all because these technological developments help to create income, provide food security and protect natural resources.
That is certainly true for the described methods and programmes of integrated plant, nutrition systems and for integrated pest management which are promoted and propagated by FAO. These methods cannot only contribute to food security, but also help to secure the efficient use of pesticides and fertilisers, as well as, hopefully, the environment against harmful effects.
With regard to the achievements of biotechnology, a comprehensive assessment of the compatibility with the enivronment and, in addition, an intensive follow-up assessment should be envisaged. We welcome the fact that FAO gives support to the use of technologies of energy conservation as well as to the use of energy from renewable energy resources in agriculture. Resource conserving methods of energy production and energy conserving technologies are not only gaining momentum in developing countries, but also in the industrialised countries.
The over-exploitation of tropical rain forests already today affect the world climate. Further negative implications are already noticeable, such as large-scale degradation and erosion. A drastic reduction of ruthless exploitation and the introduction of conservation logging technologies should therefore be given highest priority in FAO's work, in particular in connection with the promotion of sustainable development.
In the chapter on pollution control, I particularly welcome FAO's work on the guidlines on proper pesticide application practices and prevention of ground-water contamination. In Europe these problems attract intensive public attention, despite the existence of already far-reaching regulations. In my country, for instance, we are engaged in developing a new principle of good technical practice in plant protection, with the aim of avoiding the wrong application of pesticides.
Finally, in the chapter on conclusions, I particularly support the statement that sustainable development can only be realised through international co-operation and multi-disciplinary approach. FAO is in a unique position to develop this approach. We are looking forward to further action and pledge our support.
Muhammad Saleem KHAN (Pakistan); We cannot refrain from complimenting FAO on producing an extremely useful and comprehensive paper on the activities which fall within FAO's definition of sustainable development. The concept is not new, but it is still evolving, and more analytical work is needed to translate this concept into practical and operational policy programmes in the field of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. It requires processing in the desired directions. Since the subject itself is multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary, by its nature it requires an integrated approach. We appreciate FAO's collaboration with all other agencies of the UN, and other working groups to develop strategies on environment, energy, rural development etc.
I would like to comment on a few of the specific aspects of the document. In the context of paragraph 56 and energy efficient decentralized technologies for agricultural mechanisation, we would like the inclusion of the displacement effect of mechanisation on rural labour and examination and development of alternative sources of employment in the rural areas to arrest large-scale rural to urban migration and creation of urban slums with all its concomitant problems. This need becomes particularly pronounced in low income developing countries with poor industrial bases and inadequate urban capacity to absorb this migration.
In the context of paragraph 57 and the development of low-cost alternate renewable energy resource development such as biogas production, solar and wind energy systems, these need more impetus to reduce the pressure on the ecological systems in the context of paragraphs 22 and 35, pertaining to forest ecologies and watershed management.
We would also like to see, with reference to paragraph 32, increased emphasis on soil and land reclamation. Countries in Asia of late have made considerable progress in their efforts towards increased production of food and other agricultural products. This is largely thanks to development of large-scale irrigation networks like our own Indus-Basin Water System. However, an accompanying unfortunate aspect of such irrigation system has been a considerable increase in loss of land to water logging and salinity. The problem is now acquiring alarming magnitude. We would like to see more emphasis on, and concrete plans for, control and elimination of water logging and salinity and for soil and land reclamation schemes. Irrigation methods also need to be looked into, and effective and cheap replacement for flood irrigation needs to be worked upon. This would not only enable optimization of the use of scarce water to increase land under irrigation and hence production, but would also be an effective control measure against water logging and salinity, as flood irrigation has been identified, inter alia, as one of the causes of water logging and salinity on lands with poor drainage subjected to flood irrigation over long periods of time.
The delegate of Switzerland has now requested the examination of the population explosion on environment and sustainable development. We would like inclusion in this sphere of trans-regional demographic transfers, whether due to natural reasons, as recently in Africa, or due to human enforced causes as in the case of millions of refugees in Pakistan, Iran, Thailand, etc. We would like to see action plans for rehabilitation of the damage done to the environment, social and economic infrastructures in the host countries.
The representative of the Director-General mentioned coordination with other UN agencies. We would appreciate more information about coordination in this respect between FAO and other UN agencies - WFP, IFAD, and WFC - with similar objectives, roles, and methods of work.
Sir, land and water are the basic resources of agriculture. The development of these resources is the prime objective of our national development efforts. The National Commission on Agriculture in Pakistan has taken serious note of constraints on development of these resources and has recommended creation of a Federal Watershed and Arid Land Development Authority in the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture with the following main functions: to evolve a long-range policy for conserving the country's land, water and forest resources, to undertake or promote appropriate research activities in co-operation with the Federal and Provincial agencies in the field of watershed management, range management and development of arid areas, and to co-ordinate and financially support, to the maximum extent possible, the activities of all Federal and Provincial agencies dealing with the subjects entrusted to the Authority.
The Commission has emphasised overcoming the existing financial constraints, and earmarking financial resources in the plans. Further increases in our agricultural production will come from more increase in land productiveness both in terms of higher yields and cropping intensities for which vast scope exists in the country. Achievement of this goal will, therefore, depend crucially on national land improvement policies, increasing supply of water, and better planning and policy mechanisms. One of the main elements of our agricultural strategy for the seventh 5-year plan is also to move in a big way in launching a comprehensive programme for afforestation, watershed management, range management and resource conservation to improve and conserve land and water resources. Social forestry and energy plantations would be promoted on private lands. In rainfed areas research and promotional activities will be carried out through the auspices of agencies for arid and rainfed areas development, set up in each of the four provinces of the country.
Before I end, my delegation, whilst once again appreciating the quality of the report, wishes to emphasize that FAO should extend such activities in developing countries, including Pakistan, that possess considerable renewable and non-renewable resources, but that are constrained by financial stringencies and lack of technical experise from developing and adequately exploiting these resources.
A.K.M. Fazley RABBI (Bangladesh): We join other delegates in congratulating Mr. Bonte-Friedheim for an excellent presentation of the report. The document under discussion is a report on policy programmes by activities of FAO aimed at contributing to sustainable development pursuant to the Conference Resolution 9/87. As stated in the conclusion of the document, the concept of sustainable development is still' evolving. The definition adopted by the Working Group in FAO, as given in paragraph 5 of the document, is well conceived and comprehensive.
It is important to note that the policies and activities of FAO, based upon its mandate and techniques have been providing and taking care of many of the components of what is now termed as "sustainable development". FAO's activities relating to food production and elevation have contributed in a general way to sustainable development. The report gives details of such policies and activities undertaken by FAO in this regard.
While expressing our satisfaction of, and our commendation for such an excellent report, we would like to make one observation, and a request: that there should be an immediate solution to the problem - or should I call it a dilemma - that crops up from the urgent need of increased production and the need for preservation of political balance. In this regard, may I refer to paragraph 17 of the document on the report of the Thirteenth Session of the Committee on World Food Security. It has been stated that some developing countries had been obliged to expand frontiers beyond what was desirable for the environment in their efforts to increase production owing to a number of factors, such as the pressure of the debt burden, inadequate financial and technological assistance and an unfavourable international economy order. This is a hard reality, a problem which needs to be attended to by all who work on the promotion of sustainable development.
We appreciate the hard work undertaken by the Secretariat in listing the activities and policies of FAO, which have directly or indirectly helped achieving sustainable development, but one cannot rule out the possibility of the presence of some other activities which might have gone or might go to known or unknown dimensions of the concept of sustainable development. The introduction of environmental impact assessment by FAO, as stated in paragraph 28 of the document, is a positive sign in this regard. We would request the Organization to give the message to expedite the review and assessment of the past, and on weighing projects, and come up with suggestions for avoiding or mitigating negative environmental consequences, if any. The outcome of such an assessment would be obviously a guidance for future activities.
Premananda TRIPATHY (India): I must at the outset state that the Document CL 94/6 gives a very comprehensive account of FAO's active involvement on several aspects of sustainable development since its very inception. In fact, if we may say so without belittling the importance of other world organizations, FAO has been perhaps the single most important agency at the world level for sustainable development which, essentially, is developing-while conserving. This is clearly borne out by the Basic Texts delineating the functions and responsibilities of the FAO.
It is a fact that the concept of sustainable development is not a new one but the emphasis presently given to it by the World Commission on Environment and Development and FAO is very much desirable in the context of large-scale degradation of ecology and environment, not only for human beings but also for the entire surroundings, useful for the survival of human beings.
In this context I would mention here that in India the direction of planned development in the country since a very early period of the plan era has taken note of the important ingredients of the present concept of sustainable development. These include conservation of natural resources, including flora and fauna, raising levels of nutrition and standards of living of its population, particularly the small marginal and tribal farmers and other weaker sections of the population, land and water conservation, development of forestry and fisheries wealth, development of rural energy and non-conventional sources of energy, and above all, eradication of poverty and laying emphasis on human resource development.
The total outlay provided for all these items in the current 7th Five-Year Plan for the country is very sizeable indeed and here we are at one with you and the members of this august body that these matters need attention from all governments in the world.
I would bring to your notice one important point of relevance to a large number of Member Nations. Most developing countries, as you are aware, find themselves considerably strained in arranging resources for the ongoing programmes of development in their countries and provision of additional funds for environmental upgradation and schemes of relevance to protection of the ecosystem would put further additional strain on their limited resources. In this light, we would appeal that adequate funds from international sources be arranged and be made available for the purpose on a priority basis to those countries having less capability to spare funds for this purpose. We are aware that funds with FAO are limited. These are tied to existing projects, technical cooperation projects, and approved programmes under the Trust Funds. We are of the view again that topmost priority in the matter will have to be accorded to removal of rural poverty as one of the most important components of sustainable development as mentioned in paragraphs 6 and 16 of the document. Funds therefore will have to be presumably augmented substantially by contributions from donor organizations if some realistic steps in environmental upgradation are to be taken. We do hope that funds of substantial magnitude would be forthcoming for this very laudable objective.
Finally, we congratulate you and the FAO for the keen interest they have taken and they have been evincing in the implementation of this very important concept of sustainable development.
Angel BARBERO MARTIN (España): Antes de entrar propiamente en el contenido del documento CL 94/6, nos gustaría hacer una observación sobre el término viable aplicado al desarrollo, tal como se hace en el documento al que se ha referido el Sr. Bonte Friedhelm en su exposición.
Sin pretender hablar aquí como expertos en lenguaje, sin tener a mano tampoco diccionarios autorizados que nos iluminen sobre la cuestión, nos parece Sr. Presidente, que el término "viable" en nuestro idioma se refiere a todo aquello que es factible cuando se aplican los medios normales y adecuados, pero sin tener en cuenta el tiempo que puede transcurrir; es decir, algo puede ser viable pero en un determinado plazo que hay que fijar a corto, medio o largo plazo.
En la propia definición contenida en el párrafo 5 del documento se alude claramente al factor tiempo. Se dice: "Se asegure la continua satisfacción de las necesidades humanas para las generaciones presentes y futuras". Asimismo, en las versiones francesa e inglesa leemos las palabras equivalentes: "pérennité" o "sustainable" que aluden claramente a estas ideas de continuidad y futuro. Quizás la opción más precisa fuera decir "desarrollo sostenido y viable" pero entendemos que el uso de los dos adjetivos resultaría más enojoso. En este caso, nos decantaríamos por utilizar sólo el término "sostenido" que en nuestra opinión se adapta mejor a esta idea temporal.
Y fuera ya de esta disquisición que nos permitimos hacer, en cuanto al contenido del documento y en aras de la brevedad, nos referiremos a aquellos aspectos que más nos han llamado la atención en él.
En primer lugar, las actividades relativas a los inventarios de los recursos naturales y su adecuación. Entendemos que malamente se pueden conservar los recursos que no se conocen ni en su cantidad ni en su calidad. Por eso, la actualización del Mapa Mundial de Suelos nos parece de gran
importancia aunque entendemos también que resultaría de gran utilidad conocer la sensibilidad de los suelos a la erosión para poder evaluar en este sentido el impacto de las actividades que se realizan sobre ellos.
Respecto a la conservación de los recursos genéticos, estamos de acuerdo con lo que dice el principio del párrafo 39 en el sentido de que son una herencia para la humanidad y se encuentran en regiones tropicales y subtropicales del mundo. Por ello, muchos países situados en estas zonas y que no disponen de otros recursos dinerarios o de productos básicos en cantidad que les permita el desarrollo, tienen en la diversidad genética un caudal potencial del que deben beneficiarse de alguna manera, porque con ello se va a beneficiar el total de la comunidad del planeta.
Respecto a las actividades e iniciativas de FAO en estas áreas como el Compromiso Internacional de Recursos Fitogenéticos, la Red de Coordinación de Programas, el Consejo y el Fondo Internacional para los Recursos Fitogenéticos, iniciativas que España aprobó, impulsó desde su inicio y que sigue impulsando y participando en ellas activamente, en especial en los cursos de capacitación y extensión sobre manejo de estos recursos y en la disponibilidad del espacio y la infraestructura para albergar bancos de germoplasma, creemos que merecen ser ampliadas en su alcance y abarcar también las especies del reino animal; de manera en fin, que constituyan una auténtico instrumento de salvaguarda de la diversidad biológica en general, capaz de responder a cualquier iniciativa que en este aspecto surja en las instancias internacionales. Y es por ello que apoyamos lo expresado por la Delegación de México referente a la reciente propuesta del PNUMA sobre la racionalización de un Convenio Internacional sobre Recursos Biológicos.
Noburo SAITO (Japan): My country considers that cooperation between the present framework is essential in order to accomplish sustainable development. It is appropriate that much attention has been paid to the coordination of present FAO programmes and framework and the coordination not only within FAO but also with international organizations, as stated in Document CL 94/6. Also stated in the conclusion of the document is that the concept of sustainable development is still evolving and more work is required before putting the concept into practice. It should be noted that research results already obtained in this field and the experience and knowledge which the international organizations possess are to be incorporated and, at the same time, that efforts for further study in international institutes for agricultural study are anticipated. My delegation feels it is appropriate that FAO activities in this field should be promoted by assuring the coordination with present relevant programmes through further review and by strengthening coordination and cooperation with other international organizations. It is deemed important that FAO should accomplish the efficient and effective use of funds by these measures.
Earl W. WEYBRECHT (Canada): We welcome the document provided by the Secretariat on FAO's Policies, Programmes, Budget and Activities Aimed at Contributing to Sustainable Development in responding to Conference Resolution C9/87. Also we thank Dr. Bonte-Friedheim for his very comprehensive and thought-provoking remarks on this item. In the interest of time, my delegation would simply wish to say, for the record, that it associates itself with the views expressed by the Finnish delegate on behalf of the Nordic countries and advocates that the next biennial Programme of Work and Budget closely reflect the promotion of environmental issues.
It is our conviction that given FAO's vast experience, a large proportion of the Organization's work, by its very nature, is now already dedicated to sustainable development. Articulating the environmental implications of the programme elements may very well reveal further action desirable in terms of reallocation of resources and cooperation with other United Nations partners.
Not only will this facilitate discussions in conference, it will also constitute a forward-looking response to UN GA Resolution 42/186 and Resolution 42/187.
Vanrob ISARANKURA (Thailand): My delegation accepts that farmers' organizations can play an important role in supporting sustainable development. In the current round of development the active participation of rural people can be brought about by farmers' organizations representing the real interest of the rural population. Therefore, my delegation fully supports the proposal made by our neighbour here, the distinguished delegate of Switzerland, that FAO should make a study of the role of existing farmers' organizations in the world, and further to promote cooperation between them and this Organization. We are of the opinion that this study closely relates to people's participation activities which were introduced in all relevant FAO programmes and projects a long time ago as contained in paragraph 66 of the document CL 94/6.
My delegation would also like to suggest that the proposed study include an evaluation of the possibility of people's participation in the process.
Gonzalo BULA HOYOS (Colombia): Los representantes de Colombia deseamos destacar la actitud positiva de los países nórdicos en este asunto, que preocupa tanto el futuro de la condición de vida de la humanidad. Queremos reconocer expresamente a los países nórdicos esa preocupación sana, altruista, generosa, con un objetivo social, económico y humano realmente loable. La actitud de esos países ha sido constante y coherente. Ya les acompañamos a adoptar una resolución en la ultima reunión del CPA del PMA. Toda esa preocupación ha llegado a muy alto nivel, como lo indica el párrafo 3. La señora Brundtland, Primera Ministro de Noruega, convocó esa importante reunión en Oslo, reunión que concluyó con la idea, muy satisfactoria y adecuada, de establecer un Grupo de Acción en las Naciones Unidas. Nuestro colega y amigo López-Portillo, de México, hizo una declaración docta, documentada, fundada, científica. Apoyamos los cuatro puntos específicos citados por México, que deben incluirse en el informe.
Nuestro amigo Bonte-Friedheim, en su magnífica presentación, destacó, entre otros aspectos, las dificultades que tienen los países en desarrollo. Creo que corresponde a la FAO intensificar lo que ya viene haciendo para estimular y asistir a los países en desarrollo, a fin de que éstos puedan suministrar información adecuada y suficiente. Algo de esto se dice ya en el párrafo 72.
Nos complace también que el Consejo haya reconocido, a través de todas las declaraciones hechas hasta ahora, que la pobreza, la pobreza absoluta, es un factor determinante en el desarrollo no viable. Por lo tanto, convendrá que la FAO siga promoviendo proyectos que puedan ser financiados por donantes y organismos internacionales. También estamos de acuerdo con Estados Unidos sobre la cooperación importante de las Organizaciones No Gubernamentales. Creemos que esas ONG generalmente sienten preocupaciones que pueden ir en esta buena dirección.
Nos complace también, Sr. Presidente, reconocer el alcance generoso de los ofrecimientos concretos que hicieron Suiza y Francia, y también el hecho de que entre los observadores que han pedido la palabra esté el del PNUD; el PNUD, cuyos recursos, afortunadamente, han venido aumentando ultimamente; está en condiciones adecuadas para cooperar en el tratamiento y la solución de estos problemas, sobre todo ahora, cuando las relaciones entre el PNUD y la FAO son excelentes.
Quisiéramos preguntar al amigo Bonte-Friedheim si el Grupo Interdepartemental sobre Medio Ambiente y Energía, que ya viene funcionando en el seno de la FAO, ha tenido ya algún contacto directo y específico con el Grupo de Acción de las Naciones Unidas. Sé que está establecido muy recientemente -en julio pasado-; pero se dice que ese Grupo de Acción tendrá como objetivo principal dar orientaciones generales al sistema. Deseamos saber algo más sobre ese Grupo de Acción: si ya comenzó a funcionar, si ha definido algunos objetivos y cómo está dando esas orientaciones a los organismos, concretamente a la FAO, y las reacciones de nuestra Organización.
Queremos apoyar lo que dijo el representante de Estados Unidos y también otros colegas acerca de la coordinación. Pensamos que es necesario que la FAO relacione directamente sus trabajos con el PNUMA con otros organismos, evitando duplicaciones. Y, dentro de todo esto, debe preservarse la función de la FAO, que durante 40 años se viene ocupando de estas cuestiones.
Sobre el concepto del desarrollo viable, la colega de Cuba, mi amiga y vecina de la derecha, y también el colega Lieber, de la República Federal de Alemania, expresaron algunas consideraciones, en el sentido de que se trata de un concepto que no está todavía muy definido, diríamos que, sobre todo, en el seno de la FAO; porque, como lo dice el párrafo 5, ese concepto va más allá del mandato y las actividades de nuestra Organización. Por ello tal vez convendría que, al ocuparnos por primera vez de este asunto en el Consejo, se incluyera la definición del concepto que aparece en el párrafo 5 y que ha sido acuñado por el grupo especial de acción sobre el desarrollo viable. Este podría ser un punto de partida, una primera idea preliminar para que allí fueran surgiendo aquellos elementos que tengan relación directa con los programas y las actividades de nuestra Organización.
En el párrafo 72 se habla de que se ha preparado un manual de instrucciones sobre el medio ambiente para Zambia. Creemos que esto es muy positivo, que es una realización concreta, y quisiéramos preguntar a la Secretaría si hay posibilidades de que se haga esto o algo semejante para otros países. Creemos que es una asistencia concreta benéfica para los países en desarrollo.
Apoyamos lo que dijeron México, Estados Unidos y Francia, entre otros, sobre la necesidad de que la FAO reoriente ciertas actividades, adapte algunos aspectos de su estructura, si es necesario, para que vaya, a través del tiempo, poniéndose al día en todas estas actividades.
El colega de Pakistán hizo algunas consideraciones sumamente importantes, que nosotros apoyamos también. Con esto terminamos nuestra declaración, Sr. Presidente.
Paul R. BRYDEN (Australia): The Australian Government commends the approach taken by the FAO and the UN system in general in adopting the principle of sustainable development and in treating it as a multi-factor problem requiring a systems approach. Document CL 94/6 provides a comprehensive outline of FAO's activities on the issue of sustainable development.
FAO's operational definition is contained in paragraph 5 of document CL 94/6, but we do wonder how it is to be applied given the state of knowledge in many areas where FAO is working. We feel that FAO's approach remains overly compartmentalized. This comes through with the mention of agriculture and forestry sectors in the report, and the neglect of agroforestry and integrated land use systems despite some attention given in paragraph 48: the basic causes of the destruction of natural ecosystems should be addressed; the application of the concept of reducing post-harvest losses to forestry (paragraph 58) is worthwhile, with the inclusion of lesser known species.
With regard to forestry policy in Australia, the policy statement of the Australian Forestry Council's National Forest Strategy is based on the premise that the management of forests involves a commitment to their stewardship for the benefit of present and future generations. The strategy aims to ensure that forests will be protected and managed scientifically for sustained production of resources such as water, wood and other forest products; for soil conservation and protection of the forest environment; to maintain genetic diversity of flora and fauna; and to provide opportunities for wilderness experience, recreation, education and scientific research.
The FAO Tropical Forestry Action Plan proposes the formulation of national forestry reviews, national forestry plans, identification of new projects, enhanced cooperation between development and agencies at work in the forestry sector, and increased flows of technical and financial resources into forestry and related fields such as smallholder agriculture. FAO states that its wildlife and protected area management activities seek to promote the participation of local communities in national resource management. This approach is supported. Programmes to preserve forest resources must start with the local people who are both the victims and the agents of destruction and who will bear the burden of any new management scheme. They should be at the centre of integrated forest management, which is the basis of sustainable agriculture.
FAO must take a supportive role in the establishment and management of protected areas and in demonstrating to developing communities that portions of forests will need to be designated as protected areas which could be set aside from agricultural exploitation to conserve soil, water and wildlife. They may also include marginal lands whose exploitation accelerates land degradation through erosion or desertification. In this connection, the reafforestation of degraded forest areas or national parks can also conserve genetic resources in their natural habitats. Undisturbed forests protect watersheds, reduce erosion, offer habitats for wild species and play key roles in climatic systems. They are also an economic resource providing timber, fuelwood and other products. The crucial task is to balance the need to exploit forests against the need to preserve them. Australia does not think it appropriate to take any firm standpoint at this stage, but reiterates its concern that a positive approach be maintained and that funds be made available by member countries to facilitate domestic research into these issues, including climatic change and environmental degradation.
Australia is taking many steps to address its own challenges in conserving the land base, including water and energy resources strategies.
Australia has recognized that land degradation is its major environmental problem and that this is a problem with the most serious economic consequences for its national well-being. Over the past few years several initiatives have been directed towards the establishment of policy guidelines for the alleviation of the Australian land degradation problems. During 1988 the Australian Soil Conservation Council adopted a national soil conservation strategy. This is expected to lead to the development of measurable goals and actions leading to the advancement of soil conservation practices throughout Australia. We are proposing to declare 1989 as National Soil Conservation Year and 1989 to 1999 a decade of soil conservation for Australia.
Sustainability has become a major consideration by Commonwealth and State Authorities with respect to land use development proposals. A major conference programme on sustainable dryland agriculture is being planned for 1989.
During 1988 Australia has held a coordinated series of public-awareness conferences on the issue of climate change - the greenhouse effect - and proposes participation in the International Biosphere and Geosphere Programme on Global Change. The issue of global climate change and the greenhouse effect is attracting a great deal of international attention and has sparked increasing scientific and public debate. Issues linked with these concerns include: changing atmospheric compositions, ozone depletion; acid rain; deforestation/land use; energy use; and sustainable development.
The United Nations provides a major international focus through which these issues can be discussed. The issues of climate change and sustainable development have been receiving attention at UN GA 43, in response to the report of the Commission of Environment and Development (the Brundtland Report). The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have held the first session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on 9 to 11 November 1988.
The suggested work programme for the WMO/UNEP Panel is to provide a coordinated international assessment of the scientific evidence for climate change, its potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts and realistic response strategies. It is intended that the WMO/UNEP Panel report to the Second World Climate Conference in 1990. We would be interested in the perceptions other UN bodies, such as FAO, have of the role and function of the WMO/UNEP Panel. We believe the Panel's emphasis should be more on the scientific than on policy aspects. It is unclear at this stage what the outcome of the WMO/UNEP Panel session and UN GA 43 deliberations will be, but the key issue is the need to ensure adequate data collection and processing on all of these issues. We see an important role for FAO in assisting in this regard.
I have two final points. My delegation supports the suggestion made by Finland regarding the ongoing and integrated approach FAO should take to the issue of sustainable development. My delegation notes the proposal of the Mexican delegation concerning the development of FAO's efforts in plant genetic resources. We consider it premature for any decisions to be taken by this Council given current ongoing work on these issues in other fora and the need for fuller and more mature consideration by this body of the issues raised.
Taghi SHAMEKHI (iran, République islamique d'): L'attention et l'insistance de la FAO sur les problèmes de développement durable dans le plan de production agricole, qui garantissent la protection des ressources naturelles, représentent une lueur qui peut créer de l'optimisme sur l'avenir de notre environnement et de notre existence. Cette idée est prise en compte maintenant dans le plan d'aménagement de beaucoup de pays mais la manière dont elle est définie dans les paragraphes 4 et 5 en particulier du document CL 94/6 est complète et parfaite.
On sait maintenant que beaucoup de pays en développement satisfont leurs besoins agricoles au risque de perdre les ressources vitales du sol et de l'eau, c'est-à-dire la destruction de leur environnement, et pour beaucoup de pays en développement qui exportent leurs produits agricoles la perte de la richesse écologique est plus importante que la recette des exportations. On sait encore que dans une telle situation beaucoup de pays en développement n'arrivent pas à couvrir leurs besoins alimentaires et sont de plus en plus en proie à la pauvreté et à la malnutrition et n'ont plus la possibilité d'investir pour leur développement.
On constate que maintenant l'aménagement pour un développement durable est à l'ordre du jour et qu'il demandera beaucoup plus d'investissements. Donc s'il n'y a pas une réforme de principe de structure dans les échanges internationaux, comme la Délégation de la République islamique d'Iran l'a déjà dit, comment va-t-on déclencher ce mouvement? Comment les pays en développement, qui sont déjà à genoux, pourront-ils se lever avec un plan de développement beaucoup plus sophistiqué?
Dans la République islamique d'Iran, depuis des années, nous avons essayé d'appliquer l'idée de développement durable dans différents plans comme le Plan compréhensif régional, le Plan intégré d'aménagement des bassins versants, le Plan de conservation du sol, le Plan de désertification, le Plan intégré d'aménagement des forêts et le Land Use Plan.
Il faut dire que sauf pour la désertification les progrès ont été très relatifs.
Nous avons dans ce domaine un plan à l'étude avec l'aide de la FAO pour quatre provinces dans trois régions écologiques différentes.
La délégation de la République islamique d'Iran, en approuvant les principes d'un développement durable, demande: premièrement, un effort intensif de la part de la FAO dans l'enseignement, l'information et l'éducation dans ce domaine, et ce à haut niveau, en mettant l'accent sur les conditions socio-économiques, culturelles et historiques, pour ne pas imiter le modèle des pays développés qui n'ont pas abouti au succès; deuxièmement, la formation de groupes de consultation régionaux pour acquérir l'expérience des autres et enrichir les plans d'action.
D'ailleurs, comme l'exécution de tels plans demande beaucoup de possibilités et une grande harmonie des différents organes exécutifs du pays, nous proposons que la FAO, au lieu de se charger de l'étude et de l'exécution de ce plan, consacre en premier lieu son aide et son soutien aux pays qui ont déjà entrepris l'étude et l'exécution de tels plans.
Enfin, nous appuyons la proposition du délégué du Pakistan visant à intensifier les activités de la FAO dans ce domaine dans les pays hôtes de réfugiés.
Joao Augusto de MEDICIS (Brazil): I would like to congratulate the Secretariat on document CL 94/6 which briefly and concisely tables FAO actions which respond to the request of contributing to sustainable development, and also on the presentation of the same document by Mr. Bonte-Friedheim.
I was a little surprised to hear from some delegates (including the US representative) that the sums earmarked for environmental issues in the FAO budget were modest. I could not agree more with their statements. Nevertheless, I just wanted to ask those delegates how could this Organization cope with a larger expense in the midst of an agonizing financial crisis, the causes of which are well known.
My delegation studied carefully the operational definition put forward in paragraph 5 of the document. In that regard I cannot but agree that the concept of sustainable development is rather new and still evolving. On the other hand, I do not consider it adequate for each and every organization working in this field to create a particular definition for sustainable development, because the proliferation of definitions would pose the risk of diluting the effects of actions in that direction, and of creating confusion as to the real meaning of the concept.
The United Nations General Assembly, in its 42nd session, adopted resolution 42/186, whose annex is very clear on the subject. It states "Development is sustainable when it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generation to meet theirs."
My delegation is quite happy with that definition and considers that until new issues are brought to light it should suffice. In the same text we read "to meet this challenge the very survival of life on our planet, the overall aspirational goal must be sustainable development on the basis of prudent management of available global resources and environmental capacities and the rehabilitation of the environment previously subjected to degradation and misuse".
It is the view of my delegation that we should stick to the contents of that resolution as a guideline for actions also in FAO. The main concern of my delegation is related to paragraphs 73 to 77 of document CL 94/6 since we feel that they should be more comprehensive and include some other concepts mentioned in the Brundtland Report such as the need for the establishment of a more equitable trade system as a factor to improve food security. The Brundtland Report further acknowledges that environmental policies and priorities are sovereign decisions of Member Governments to which recommendations could be addressed and, even though that must have been considered by the Secretariat as an implicit issue in the conclusion presented in the document, my delegation would rather have it explicitly mentioned therein.
The Brazilian Delegation wishes to recall that, always according to the Brundtland Report the roots of poverty and its degrading effect on the environment are in: "an International economic system which widens instead of reducing inequalities among nations". That same adverse international climate which fosters the expansion of poverty also presses developing countries to over-utilize their natural resources; this fact is also recognized in the UNEP's report "Environmental Perspectives to the year 2000 and beyond".
Therefore, it would be adequate to mention in the conclusion of the document that there is a need for political will on the part of all countries so as to find permanent solutions for the financial and economic problems faced by developing countries which drain their economies and do not allow them to channel enough money to the preservation of natural resources and recovery of the environment. Fair and transparent trade conditions, as well as a long-term solution for the external debt crisis, are urgently needed to allow developing countries to cope with the basic needs of their people and also to preserve their natural resources for future generations.
Yousef Ali Mahmoud HAMDI (Egypt) (original language Arabic): I would like to thank Mr. Bonte-Friedheim for his excellent preparation and presentation of this document. We would like to welcome the enlarged definition of sustainable development as mentioned in paragraph 5. It is an inter-disciplinary and inter-sectoral definition by its very nature and it should be tackled in an integrated fashion.
We would also like to welcome and express our support for the programmes of the Organization in the field of sustainable development for the period 1988-89. This concept should be translated into a concrete reality. This has been highlighted by Table 1, in Annex 1, and there are eight major fields of activity in this regard. Here, we should like to highlight the importance of studies in
the fields of natural resources and water resources with regard to the defence and protection of the facilities of our land. We should also like to highlight the importance of studies on the quality of water and the necessity to develop irrigation schemes and maintain our water resources.
With regard to the promotion of technology and its applications we should like to underline studies in the fields of information and the utilization of computers and remote sensing technologies, as well as bio-technology and new and renewable sources of energy. We should also like to express our support for the remark made by the Assistant Director-General when he said that US$16 million is a very modest budget indeed. We hope that it will be increased in our next biennium and that there will be more projects in the fields that I have mentioned before.
We should also like to express our satisfaction of the strong cooperation that exists between FAO and other specialized agencies as well as non-governmental organizations, in the fields of sustainable development. Indubitably, the Organization can play a pioneering role among various organizations concerned.
Sra. Doña Laurie CORDUA CRUZ (Nicaragua): La delegación de Nicaragua desea agradecer al Dr. Bonte Friedheim, por la presentación de este importante tema, el cual consideramos de suma importancia, pues de ello depende, como ya ha sido mencionado por todos, el futuro de la Humanidad.
En aras de la brevedad, quisiera unicamente expresar que mi delegación apoya en su totalidad el documento 94/6, y al mismo tiempo desea apoyar también la propuesta de México relativa a que la Comisión de Recursos Fitogenéticos de la FAO evolucione para cubrir todos los aspectos de la diversidad biológica.
Amador VELASQUEZ (Peru): Ante todo, nuestro agradecimiento por el informe presentado. De otro lado, y sin perjuicio de las loables iniciativas, sugerencias, comentarios y ofrecimientos concretos hechos por las distinguidas delegaciones que han hecho uso de la palabra sobre este tema, y siguiendo el buen ejemplo de algunos colegas en su concreción y precisión, mi delegación no desea ser repetitiva, pero en cambio, sí considera importante hacer explícito endoso de las cuatro importantes propuestas hechas por la distinguida representación de México, dentro de las cuales estimamos se inscriben las atingencias a las ONGs, a la no duplicidad y a la reorientación del trabajo, vertidas, tanto por la distinguida delegación de EE.UU. como de Francia.
Por ultimo, para referirnos puntualmente y compartir la necesidad de seguir tratando el tema del desarrollo viable o sostenido, el mismo que si bien ya ha sido aceptado, requiere ser permanentemente complementado. Al respecto, y para no ser reiterativa, mi delegación coincide con lo expresado por la distinguida delegación de Brasil, al igual que por lo señalado por esta misma delegación sobre las raíces de la pobreza.
Assefa YILALA (Observer for Ethiopia): As delegates who have spoken before, I would like to say our delegation also has examined the document concerning FAO's policies and programmes, budget and activities which are contributing to sustainable development. We have also had a chance to listen to the clear and excellent introduction which was provided by Mr. Bonte-Friedheim and we would like to thank both the Secretary and Mr. Bonte-Friedheim for that contribution.
First, we should like to welcome the establishment of the Task Force under the authority of the Secretary-General of the United Nations which will provide overall guidance for the UN system towards sustainable development. After the widely accepted recommendations of the World Commission on Environmental Development, the criterion of sustainability should influence the range and patterns of the entire development process. As each of the UN agencies is established for a specific mandate (and some of the recommendations embodied in the Commission's report extend beyond this mandate) the establishment of the Working Group within FAO in order to establish operational divisions (such as the ones established by FAO) is also a move that needs to be supported. This will enable activities to be directed towards the overall accepted trend of sustainable development.
As was expressed in paragraph 7 of the document our delegation also feels that the cross-sectoral linkages might be improbable due to inherent and established structures as we tried to state during the deliberations on the State of Food and Agriculture. As a part of our observations on matters raised under the headings "Global Issues" paragraphs 75 to 77 headings, we strongly feel that those FAO activities summarized in the document have their share of contribution towards the sustainable developments being discussed. In Annex I of the document it is indicated that US $ 15.8 million are generated towards this end. Given the prevailing financial constraints it might be difficult to
channel more resources without reducing and changing of programmes which are also equally important for the critical area of food production. We feel that an understanding should be established that most of the environmental degradation emerges from meeting the basic conventional daily needs of the population of the developing world and is not a deliberate motive to destruct.
Improvements in this regard would therefore require participation and involvement over a wide range of population in the globe and requires alternative substitution for eliminating some of the underlying causes and therefore resources required will extend much beyond what could be obtained through changes and modifications of programmes. In connection with this our delegation would like to make a mention of the fact that the discussion and conclusion on this particular deliberation should focus on this aspect perhaps a possibility of establishing a source of international fund, because the momentum and awareness of the need of sustainable development has reached far and wide in as much as the presently prevailing understanding of the definition of the sustainable development. In stating this we also admit that a further possibility of generating FAO resources, even though insignificant, and involving the concept of sustainable development will of course increase the requirement. In relation to this concept, an integrated plan in agriculture, forestry, natural resources conservation and development in Ethiopia was formulated in 1986 and the prior years. Technical and material assistance to finalize the formulation was provided by FAO, for which we would like to indicate our tribute.
Here is one example where the awareness and momentum for a take-off has developed towards fulfilling some of the objectives towards sustainable development and yet held back due to limitations of resources required.
Development and implementation of the concept being discussed will require both external and internal resources, both at the initial stage and also during the process of its implementation and development. Cooperation in this regard between the developed and developing countries would contribute to our sustainable development at the individual country level and sum total towards the global concern.
Finally, I would like to express the similarities of our views and concerns with those summarized in paragraphs 73 and 77 of the document and indicate our agreement though we are of the belief that these conclusions can only form a small component of what is required for achieving the overall ultimate objective of the concept embedded in the sustainable development concept.
E. Wayne DENNEY (United States of America): Our sincerest apologies for having to intervene a second time but the proposals made by Mexico regarding plant genetic resources deserve a response.
As the delegate of Australia observed earlier, this was a complicated and detailed proposal that we may not have completely understood. In any event, it was sprung on us without warning and we are unable to respond fully at this Council Session. We are aware of a draft treaty on biological diversity being prepared by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, as well as the UNEP consideration of biological diversity at an ad-hoc working group meeting in Geneva this week. Additionally, we know that animal genetic resources will be discussed during next year's COAG. For all these reasons my government must reserve on the Mexico proposal at this time.
Dong QINGSONG (China) (Original language Chinese): Document CL 94/6 is very complete and very informative.
I will just make a few comments on the problem of the environment. At present the global environment is facing a very grave situation. Every year large tracks of forests have been felled, which is giving rise to very serious water erosion. Large tracks of arable land have become deserts and air and water resources have been polluted. All these factors have proved the gravity of environmental degradation. This is very shocking to us.
In the final analysis the conservation of the environment has some bearing on the human existence. Therefore the Chinese delegation at the Conference in 1985 made a proposal that FAO should put the conservation and renewal of agricultural resources as one of the items of his Programme of Work. We appreciate the effort that FAO has put in in this regard. At the same time we hope that the Organization will in the future continue its efforts in this direction.
José Ramón LOPEZ-PORTILLO ROHAHO (México): Sólo para hacer una aclaración. Nosotros al hacer la propuesta quisimos ciertamente enunciar un conjunto de razones por las cuales la hacíamos. Quizás al mencionarlas complicamos nuestra exposición, pero es muy sencilla.
Simplemente le pedimos al Director General que estudie la forma de prever que la Comisión de Recursos Fitogenéticos evolucione hacia una sobre Diversidad Biológica. A eso se reduce la serie de enunciados que hicimos, y consideramos que esto está mucho en sintonía con lo que muchos países, sobre todo desarrollados, han venido exponiendo en otros foros. Por ejemplo, la distinguida Delegación de Estados Unidos en el seno del PNUMA fue una de las delegaciones que apoyaron la idea de una Convención paraguas en materia de Diversidad Biológica que contendría además de este elemento de carácter legal que ligaría el conjunto de actividades en esta materia, también la de promover o identificar los mecanismos para su realización.
En vista de que aquí, en la FAO, existe ya este órgano que es la Comisión de Recursos Fitogenéticos y que mucho ha contribuido a ese tema y que la FAO, por otra parte, está ligada a otros aspectos de la conservación de recursos genéticos y de ecosistemas, nosotros consideramos que para evitar duplicación y para avanzar en este sentido tan positivo, que ahora en la Comunidad Internacional ha despertado, se puede estudiar que esta Comisión evolucione hacia una sobre Diversidad Biológica.
Este es básicamente el sentido de nuestra propuesta que no pudimos negociarla anteriormente pero esperamos que se entienda que no se pide que se tome ahora una decisión en ningún sentido. Simplemente que se presenten los puntos de vista, el estudio del Director General respecto a esta propuesta, y será luego el Consejo y la Conferencia de la FAO los que decidirán.
Evlogui BONEV (UNDP): At the outset I should like to join the previous speakers in commending FAO and Mr. Bonte Friedheim for the document presented and the illuminating introductory statement.
The Mandate of UNDP as the central funding body for technical cooperation for development in the UN system determines a certain role and responsibility of this Organization in the field of environment and sustainable development as well. Technical cooperation and pre-investment activities relative to policy formulation, implementation and management for sustainable development are at the core of the UNDP's decentralized programme operations in 152 countries and territories through more than 1800 projects. Environment and related aspects are an integral part of the formulation and the monitoring of country and inter-country programmes and projects - commencing with the assessment of needs through the formulation of programmes and technical design of projects, their monitoring, reviewing and evaluating, until their full implementation.
The amounts earmarked for environmental projects financed by the UNDP have almost trebled over the last ten years. FAO is UNDP's major partner in implementing these projects, be they national, regional or inter-regional, be they in the field of natural resources conservation and management or in genetic resource conservation of plant, forestry, animal or fisheries resources or in production systems management and technology development and application.
During its Thirty-fifth Session in June of this year, the Governing Council of the UNDP adopted a decision 88/57 in response to the report of the World Commission on Enviroment and Development. In this decision, the Governing Council requested the Administrator and I quote:
"To assist recipient countries at their request and in accordance with their national development plan priorities and objectives in enhancing their capacity to integrate environmental concerns into their development strategies and programmes; to continue to review the programming instruments of the United Nations Development Programme, such as the Programme Advisory Note, the country programme format, mid-term reviews and evaluations, with a view to ensuring the appropriate treatment of the sustainability issue in development programmes, to pay attention to the need for education training and research on the two-way relationship between environment and development as well as for the promotion of international exchange of experience, knowledge and technology concerning the protection of the environment; to report, and I draw your attention to this, on the manner in which the relevant executing agencies that design, implement and evaluate projects funded with the United Nations Development Programme resources, take environmental aspects into account, where relevant, in the development of these resources".
The Governing Council will consider, during its Thirty-sixth Session next year, a report of the Administrator on the progress of the implementation of this decision. Evidenced from the text of the decision, the UNDP will rely on the close cooperation and efforts of its partners, governments and specialized agencies. Evidence is also that a coordinated and coherent approach is a must in this process. FAO's efforts and its endeavours will be highly appreciated.
Horacio CARANDANG (Philippines): The Philippine delegation welcomes the report of FAO on those aspects of its policies, programmes, budget and activities aimed at contributing to sustainable development. The Philippines is committed to the goal of safeguarding the environment and supports
the actions of FAO related to this objective. The emphasis now being given to sustainable development is justified, because of the increasing evidence of the damage done by man to its environment in the form of contamination of water supplies, eroded lands, deforestation and so forth.
The conclusion of the paper, that the concept is still evolving and more work is required to translate the concept in practical and operational programmes, is justified. We cannot agree more with such conclusions.
The FAO is in a very strategic position to make an impact in this field. Greater effort and greater resources are required. The present FAO liquidity crisis does not help at all. Greater awareness of the problem, the solution, the causes and of the high decisions required and of the disastrous consequences of non-decision have to be made, therefore, on the part of those who make decisions to provide more resources towards this effort.
LE PRESIDENT: Nous arrivons à la fin de ce débat sur ce sujet extrêmement intéressant et je vais maintenant passer la parole à Monsieur Bonte-Friedheim qui va répondre aux différentes questions posées ·
C.H. BONTE-FRIEDHEIM (Assistant Director-General, Agriculture Department): I think the Secretariat enjoyed the discussion, the comments, the questions and the different views, and would like to thank all who participated in the discussion. The Secretariat will certainly study very carefully the records of this meeting, especially since one or two members put their prepared statement into the records and we will have to look at those as well.
I would also like, at the outset, to thank those past, and as we have heard, future donors of extra budgetary resources, who are willing to assist FAO in doing more and, what it does, doing better.
During the discussion, many - maybe too many - new ideas, new priorities, new programmes have been mentioned which FAO should undertake in the next year, and in the next biennium. Without extra budgetary resources for the next year, it will be impossible to do most of what has been mentioned and, for the next resources based on the many ideas, I will have to propose to the Director-General a large increase in the budget of the Agriculture Department, and I hope this will be supported by Council and Conference.
There is, in the introduction of our paper, a statement that the Conference, in this paper, requested the Director-General to report to this Council on those programmes, budget and activities aimed at contributing to sustainable development. I want to repeat this for those who fear that we have not done enough in this report on what FAO should be doing in the future. This is the report of what we are doing and not a report of what we plan to do.
Requests have been made that we should continue this discussion, and we are certaintly ready and look forward to it. There will be a separate chapter, as I have indicated, in the next SOFA. There will be a separate chapter in the review of the Regular Programme which will be looked at by Council, a year from now, and by Conference, which deals with the natural environment, and introduction of environmental consideration into FAO's projects and programmes, and there will be a summary Programme of Work and Budget, or a proprosai for the programme of work and budget 1990/91, which gives Council and Conference a large number of opportunities to discuss sustainable development. I hope that Council will not insist on preparing special papers now for next year.
I have two more words on the outset. I would like to appreciate the delegate from Spain clarifying, in his mother tongue, the proper interpretation and translation of "sustainable". As I said in my introduction, it is a new word and most dictionaries do not have it; in French it does not even seem to exist.
Finally, in my introduction, I have heard here a lot of requests to FAO to avoid duplication to ensure coordination. We will certainly take this to heart and will do it.
Mr. Chairman, allow me a personal note on this one. FAO, in this particular field, I think has the oldest mandate and has existed the longest, and has worked the most in most of these fields related to sustainable development. I hope - and that is a private wish - that those who remind us all the time that we should avoid duplication, coordinate, cooperate with others, will say that to the other bodies who are entering or have entered this field as well.
I have one other word on the discussion. Whether the FAO statement that rural poverty is a major cause of unsustainable development is correct or not. We are willing to admit that, over time and in different regions, the definition of sustainable development has changed and will change. We are also willing to admit that, besides rural poverty, there are other causes for unsustainable development like population pressure, like wrong technologies or unsuitable technologies, like human greed and like nature. However, FAO still would like to have proof that rural poverty is not a major cause of unsustainable development in many areas.
We appreciate especially Finland's call for more discussions. We especially appreciate the offer of Switzerland for special extra budgetary funds to undertake a study on farmers' organizations, and I hope that the call by Switzerland for other donors to contribute to this as well will not go unheard in this Council and outside.
I have said already, and this is in answer to Finland and Canada, that the next PWB will show where FAO is going. We have been requested in future reports - if there are any - to identify the activities by FAO in TCP projects, in Trust Fund projects, and other field projects, the type and location should be included and we will try and see what we can do. We are cooperating with NGOs in this one, we are cooperating with regional banks, with IFAD, with the International Agricultural Research Institute, and we will continue to do this.
A question has been made: "how about biotechnology"? by the united States. I hope that we will be able when we discuss the Programme of Work and Budget in COAG or the ideas for a Programme of Work and Budget in COAG, that we will have a draft policy paper on biotechnology, which will identify FAO's thinking in this very important future field.
The united States has also requested that we should supplement our own report on what is SACRED doing, what are we doing in the field of rural finance and credit. I hope that we will be able to have that in the next SACRED meeting, and the report from the SACRED meeting will be made available to all those who are interested in this.
There was a special plea by the United Kingdom that the Twenty-fifth Conference should discuss sustainability. I repeat what I said before: I hope there will not be a request for a special paper, but that this will be done in line with the discussion on the Programme of World and Budget from FAO.
Let me take up a few other points we consider important. First, the task force which has been mentioned at the meeting in Oslo. This has been discussed at the ACC last month (ACC is a meeting of the Heads of the UN agencies) it will be taken up at the next Spring meeting of the ACC next year. Therefore, as such, it is not yet working.
Mr. Chairman, I would like to give you an example of our cooperation. At the moment there is a working group on biological diversity convened by the Executive Director of UNEP and, in spite of the discussion today here, the two FAO specialists dealing with plant genetic resources and animal genetic resources are not here, but are in Geneva to attend the meeting of selected government experts of both developed and developing countries, and of FAO and other UN organizations invited as observers.
I can promise to our governing bodies that the question of biological diversity, of an umbrella convention, will certainly be discussed by them in future, but it is a long way to go before we have a generally agreed convention with a special mandate for all participants.
Mexico has asked some specific questions which I will try to answer in the way I put them down. The request to the Director-General to look into enlarging Plant Genetics Resources Commission will certainly be looked at by us, it will be looked at by the next meeting of the Commission and it will certainly also be discussed, hopefully when we discuss in COAG animal genetic resources.
The agenda for the next meeting of the Plant Genetic Commission is fixed and we are more or less completing the background papers so I think at this time it is very difficult to introduce new items especially if they require new funds to prepare for it.
I have answered on our contact with others, with the NGO's and with UNEP.
Finland has said something which we would like to stress and Finland has requested that FAO should participate fully in the planning processes at international and regional and national levels. This FAO has attempted to do; this FAO will attempt to do, and this FAO hopes the other partner in this planning process will also accept.
I would like to make one comment on a very specific proposal by Pakistan, Pakistan has made two questions which I think deserve an answer. First is the effects of mechanization on employment.
First we believe it is a misunderstanding if one generalizes and says that there is at all times, in all rural areas, in all developing countries a labour surplus. This is not correct. There are certain times where there is a shortage of rural labour and one of the limitations to increased production is this shortage of human labour, therefore one has to be very careful and we will certainly consider how, at a different fora, we can deal with this question which we think is of great importance but it is not a global statement which must be looked at by different regions with different crops and different ecological zones.
The other interesting question or proposal which has been raised is what are the effects of refugees on the environment. This is something where I cannot give any answer on how we are going to handle it. This is certainly not only FAO's, but also FAO's mandate and we will have to think about it but I just did not want to let this go by because we believe it is an important question in many many countries.
Some people have said that 2.5 percent of the resources are used for sustainable development. My percentage, and I said it in my introductory remarks, are a little bit different. I said, and I quote, "The total Regular Programme budgetary allocation to activities contributing to sustainable development in 1988/89 amount to nearly 16 million out of a total budget for technical activities of 60 million." That to me is on the other side of 25 percent. I agree it is not enough but it is also a long way away from 2.5 percent.
I appreciate the comments we have heard about the first steps we have done with the IDWG within the FAO structure to be more efficient; we are trying. We are trying also to work with others and that is the answer to Switzerland on what are the procedures in the World Bank, in IFAD on environmental impact assessment. We had hoped to be much further along on this one. We have some graphs, we are willing to make them available to anybody who would like to have them. We had hoped that we could strengthen the people working on environment. We have requested extra budgetary funds to strengthen this little unit but our pleas so far in this particular field were not very successful.
I would like to end this short reply, and in many cases too short, and I accept this and I am willing to discuss with any member individually, but I would like to end with the plea which has been made also by the delegate from India. He has said that poor countries cannot afford to spend the necessary resources on sustainability on environmental affairs, more funds are needed and funds are needed from the outside.
LE PRESIDENT: Je remercie M. Bonte-Friedheim en votre nom pour sa réponse très précise et documentée.
Je voudrais conclure en disant que cette question de développement durable a suscité beaucoup d'intérêt puisque 25 délégués ont bien voulu prendre part à la discussion et l'enrichir. Je crois que cet intérêt est à souligner. Le Conseil a été unanime à reconnaître l'importance attachée á ce concept de développement durable qui, comme l'a dit le Représentant de l'Allemagne, est viable sur le plan économique, acceptable sur le plan social, et transmissible et durable sur le plan technique. Ce concept, dont l'intérêt est évident, mérite d'être affiné avant d'être traduit en programme concret. Mais je suis persuadé qu'implicitement une partie importante de travaux et des activités de la FAO vont dans cette direction. Le rapport qui nous a été présenté souligne cette identité de vues entre les efforts de la FAO et ce concept de développement durable.
Bien sûr de nombreux sujets ont éte proposés pour être inventoriés sous le terme de développement durable. Beaucoup de délégués l'ont proposé, comme l'agroforesterie, la réduction de CO2 dans l'atmosphère, comme l'énergie renouvelable, la conservation des eaux et des sols, la protection des plantes et beaucoup de sujets de recherche et de réflexion comme la diversité biologique et l'étude de sensibilité des ressources naturelle au travail de l'homme. Tout cela ce sont des sujet extrêmement intéressants qui pourront être analysés et étudiés.
Le Conseil a noté avec beaucoup de satisfaction que quelques pays développés ont fait part de leurs disponibilités spontanément pour coopérer avec la FAO et la soutenir financièrement pour entamer des études sur ce thème. Je crois que la FAO sera très heureuse de pouvoir animer ce travail qui suscite beaucoup d'intérêt de la part des pays dévéloppés.
Mais il faut admettre qu'il ne faut pas perdre de vue dans ce sujet l'aspect socio-économique comme l'ont souligné les délégués du Brésil et le délégué de l'Inde. Il faut penser à la pauvreté, à la démographie et à tous ces problèmes, ainsi qu'à la manière de les éradiquer.
Je crois que tout le monde ici convient qu'il s'agit d'un virage important et qu'il serait bon que dans le Programme de travail et budget de l'Organisation on puisse, de manière ou d'une autre trouver une trace de cet intérêt qui, d'ailleurs, répond aux soucis de l'ensemble de la famille des Nations Unies.
Je dois dire que le Conseil a insisté sur cette coordination de part et d'autre de la FAO et des autres organisations de la famille des Nations Unies, des autres organisations internationales et surtout des ONG, car si l'on veut aboutir dans ce domaine il faut faire participer les populations par des actions de sensibilistion et d'incitation. On pourrait peut-être même, dans le Programme de travail et budget de la FAO, imaginer des séminaires, des actions d'incitation des populations. Je crois que c'est la manière la plus efficace pour habituer peu à peu les gens à cette notion de conservation du patrimoine et de l'héritage de l'humanité.
J'espère que nous n'avons pas abusé de la patience de nos éminents délégués. Avant de lever la séance je donne la parole au Représentant du Mexique.
José Ramon LOPEZ-PORTILLO ROMANO (Mexico): Perdone, Sr. Presidente, que intervenga en este momento, para prevenir y facilitar el debate del proximo tema, el numero 8, porque la Delegación de México, junto con otras Delegaciones, habíamos copatrocinado una resolución al respecto.
En pláticas que hemos tenido con la Secretaría, y para afinar ciertas cuestiones que de otra manera podían hacerse quizás improcedentes o engorrosas -y les pedimos a todos que tomen nota, porque, hasta donde sabemos, el proyecto de resolución ha sido distribuido entre todas las Delegaciones, en el documento CL 94/LIM/2- hemos convenido lo siguiente:
En el párrafo numero 1, en la tercera línea, donde dice "presentado por el Director General", luego se diría: "y lo insta a que las unidades técnicas ejecuten estas tareas", en vez de "e insta a las unidades técnicas a ejecutar".
Espero que alguien pueda tomar nota. De todas maneras, la Secretaría lo ha hecho, y seguramente nos presentará para el lunes las correcciones. Pero, en vista de que los países, seguramente, enviarán este proyecto de resolución a sus respectivos Gobiernos, deseamos que sepan qué modificaciones estamos presentando.
En segundo lugar, en el punto 2 c) dice: "Diseñar un programa de capacitación", y luego hay unos puntos suspensivos. A pesar de que todavía no está precisada la disponibilidad para realizar este programa bianualmente, por lo pronto introducimos la palabra "Manual", y luego diría "para el personal profesional de la FAO concerniente" ("concerned staff members", en inglés); porque no sería, evidentemente, esta capacitación para todo el personal. Perdone, Sr. Presidente, que esté abusando de su paciencia.
Luego, en el punto numero 3, en congruencia con el 2 c), donde están los puntos suspensivos, debería decir "el año de 1991", porque el programa de capacitación, en caso de que se apruebe, tendría término en 1991.
Y luego, en el punto numero 4 dice: "Pide a los Comités principales de la FAO que incluyan en las agendas" de su próximo período de sesiones. Es decir, no serían todos los períodos de sesiones, sino solamente aquel período de sesiones posterior a la aprobación de esta Resolución, quizás por la Conferencia de 1989. En todo caso, debería decir "el próximo período de sesiones", no los futuros porque esto podría implicar, repito, que pretendiéramos que se trate este asunto en todas las reuniones, lo cual no es así.
Espero que hayan podido tomar nota, Sr. Presidente, y esto facilite la aprobación de esa Resolución. Debo advertir también, para que tome nota la Secretaría, que la Delegación de Filipinas, igualmente, patrocinará este proyecto de resolución.
LE PRESIDENT: J'aimerais que vous nous répétiez la première modification que vous proposez.
José Ramón LOPEZ-PORTILLO ROMANO (México): Señor Presidente, es en el párrafo número 1 de la parte dispositiva, que decía: "Adopta el Plan de Acción para la Integración de la Mujer en el Desarrollo en las áreas sustantivas de competencia de la FAO, presentado por el Director General", y luego diríamos "y lo insta a que las unidades técnicas ejecuten estas tareas", etcétera, etcétera.
The meeting rose at 19 h 30.
La séance est levée à 19 h 30.
Se levanta la sesión a las 19 hs.30.
