CHAIRMAN (interpretation from Arabic): This morning we resume discussion of sub-item 6. 3, namely Ebrestry-the "Jakarta Declaration". I believe delegates know that the pertinent document is C 79/22.
The Vice-chairman, the delegate of Indonesia, has informed me that discussion was intensified at the last meeting and that this item met with considerable enthusiasm on the part of all delegates. Naturally we welcome such enthusiasm and consider it an excellent sign. Delegates know, however, that the Commission is almost one meeting behind in its agenda and I must therefore stress that this sub item should be completed this morning. Delegates will also know that there is a long list of speakers for this morning and will undoubtedly recall that the Chairman of the last meeting closed the list of speakers. However, should there be anybody who wishes his statement to be put into the record of the meeting he is kindly requested to informus accordingly. The Secretary will read the list of countries who wish to have their statements on the record.
SECRETARY: Statements by Israel, Iraq, Kenya, Mauritania, El Salvador, India and the Philippines on this item, that is the Jakarta Declaration, have been received by the Secretariat for inclusion in the record of the proceedings of the Commission. In addition a statement by the delegation of the Philippines on the item concerning Fertilisers has also been received by the Secretariat for inclusion in the discussion.
A. RODRIGUEZ PIRES (Cap-Vert): Ma délégation appuie sans réserve la Déclaration de Djakarta. Mon pays, la Pémiblioue du Cap-Vert, membre du Comité inter-Etats. connaît très bien l'action hélas catastrophique de la sécheresse sur l'écologie. Depuis l'indépendance nationale, nous avons mis surpied un vaste programme au niveau national qui répond parfaitement à la Déclaration de Djakarta. C'est ainsi que grâce à la particiaption massive de notre peuple laborieux une aide importante nous a été fournie par la FAO et le Gouvernement de la Belgique. Nous avons pu mener, en dépit de beaucoup de difficultés une campagne de plantation d'arbres. Nous avons réussi à en planter plus d'un million cette année. D'autre part, nous avons réalisé des travaux considérables dans le domaine de la conservation des sols et de l'eau et de la lutte contre la désert if ioat ion et l'érosion.
Pour terminer, je voudrais féliciter le Dr. RODAS pour son brillant exposé et nous souhaitons que la FAO. plus précisément la Division des Forêts, appuyée par tous les Etats Membres assure la mise en pratique au niveau mondial de la Déclaration de Djakarta.
A. ACUÑA (Panamá): Señor Presidente: sobre el tema en discusión, permítaseme, antes de continuar, expresar nuestro sincero reconocimiento al Dr. Flores-Rodas, Jefe del Departamento de Montee de la FAO, por su presentación introductoria sobre el tema, que se caracterizó por su forma sucinta, pero abarcadora y completa como abordó la cuestión forestal en general y en particular lo referente al contenido que recoge la Declaración de Yakarta.
Panamá posee dentro de su territorio importantes áreas de bosques tropicales (del cual nos habla el punto 13 de la Declaración de Yakarta) y dentro de estos bosques tropicales contamos con bosques homogéneos de cativa y prey que representan un verdadero recurso natural renovable, con producción potencial, a perpetuidad, siempre y cuando se les someta a un ordenamiento forestal.
Por estas particularidades concretas y porque existe una identificación de propósitos y objetivos entre la Declaración de Yakarta y nuestras políticas, planes, programas y proyectos es por lo que la delegación de Panamá apoya esta Declaración.
Sobre este particular, permítame hablarle, Señor Presidente, de la elaboración del Plan Nacional de Desarrollo Forestal preparado con la asesoría de la FAO, así como del proyecto: Desarrollo Forestal de Panamá, realizado con la contribución y participación del PNUD y FAO, que se complementan e implement an, actualmente, y que consideran una secuencia de proyectos hasta el ano 2005 dentro de una perspectiva que conlleva la incorporación de áreas forestales a la producción y economía nacional, mejora en los sistemas de manejo, de extracción, de procesamiento, de clasificación, comercialización y uso de maderas y productos forestales, así como aspectos de política y legislación forestal, Centro para la Formación de Obreros Forestales y de investigaciones y demostración silviculturales, al igual que el establecimiento de un Banco de Semillas Fbrestales y un Centro de Tecnología Aplicada a la Madera. Aspectos, todos éstos, abordados por la Declaración de Yakarta y particularmente tratados en sus puntos 24, 25 y 26·
Pero, hay algo más, Señor Presidente, dentro de todos estos Proyectos y es que uno de ellos reviste importancia estratégica para Panamá, como es el del Ordenamiento y Manejo de las Cuencas Hidrográficas de los Lagos Artificiales que nutren y alimentan el Canal de Panam. Canal éste cuyo funcionamiento no deja de verse amenazado por el inadecuado manejo de los bosques. Estos son los problemas remanentes de las explotaciones coloniales y neocoloniales que sufren nuestros pueblos. Y frente a ello, nos toca tomar las medidas para buscarles soluciones definitivas y duraderas a los problemas de la conservación de nuestros propios recursos naturales y renovables.
Y para terminar, Señor Presidente, apoyamos la Declaración de Yakarta por su visión de conjunto y por su identificación con el desarrollo rural, y conforme a lo aprobado por la pasada Conferencia Mundial sobre Reforma Agraria y Desarrollo Rural, que bien puede resumirse en la aceptación de una plena y total participación del pueblo en el uso y disfrute de sus recursos naturales, conllevando este uso y disfrute la insustituible necesidad de o ambio e estructurales, entre ellos el de la distribución de la tierra, tal como se señala en los puntos 7 y 17 de la Declaración de Yakarta.
WU TIAN-XI (China) (interpretation from Chinese): Mr. Chairman in October last year the Chinese foresters were sent to attend the Eighth World Forestry Congress during which they exchanged experience with foresters from various countries. We considered this exchange of experience most beneficial. The Jakarta Declaration on Forestry for the People adopted by the Congress stresses the important role of forestry in preserving the environment for agriculture, promoting food production, increasing rural employment and providing abundant forest products.
In view of the current state of forestry in the developing countries the Declaration recommends such policies and measures as preservation of forestry resources, afforestation and regeneration, rational logging, multipurpose use of forest products, all of which are feasible in our opinion. We would like to express support for the positive and constructive spirit of the Declaration.
My Government has paid close attention to forestry development since the Congress. The first forestry-law was promulgated by the Standing Committee of the Fifth National People's Congress on February 23, It contains provisions on forest management and protection, logging, exploitation of forest resources and affo rest at ion·
The people of the whole country are called upon to implement these provisions conscientiously. As usual in spring and again in autumn, manifold activities were organized in tree planting and afforestation with the emphasis on afforestation or the regeneration of existing forests as the local conditions dictate.
We are making a big effort to bring about a substantial change in forestry development which we regard as an essential element in the capital construction of agriculture, and for those implications to future generations we shall be fully responsible. All this we believe is in line with the spirit of the Jakarta Declaration. In this connection we would like to stress that practical action is needed to implement the positive spirit of the Congress.
R. IBAROUREN (Argentina): Deseo, an nombra da mi delegación, felicitar a usted, al Vicepresidente y demás miembros de la Mesa.
Ni gobierno apoya y valora decididamente la Declaración de Yakarta y en virtud de ello mi delegación desea hacer concoer parte de lo que se está desarrollando en el orden nacional dentro del marco de referencia de dicha Declaración.
Al respecto ι nuestro Instituto Nacional Forestal ha iniciado un amplio programa de plantaciones leñosas forrajeras en zonas áridas y s emi áridas; simultáneamente interviene en un plan de manejo silvo-pastoril de la región boscosa del noroeste argentino.
Les subsidios fiáosles por medio de créditos que se otorgan para implantación de cortinas protectoras en las áreas de alto riesgo son contribución del sector forestal a la mejor producoión de alimentos y a la racionalización del uso de las tierras.
En orden al mejoramiento del medio ambiente está contribuyendo con subsidios para la formación de bosques comunales, así como para la implantación de espacios verdes, arbolado y en el caso de cinturones ecológicos de la ciudad de Buenos Aires y otras ciudades del país.
La producoión de combustible en las actividades forestales y la generación de energía con idéntico origen son motivos de atención y estudio mediante la colaboración entre diversas instituciones nacionales interdisciplinari as especialisadas en el tema.
La identificación de recursos forestales por medio de inventarios, algunos de los cuales se hicieron en conjunto con FAO y en los que me ha tocado personalmente intervenir, ha sido encarada como tarea prioritaria de cultivo.
Con la iniciación y revelación de bosques nativos y especialmente en las sonae de mayor interés forestal y en donde existe creciente demanda en materiaprima leñosa para atender industrias instaladas y proyectos de nuevos establecimientos el Instituto Forestal también ha reforzado la tarea de investigación silvícola por medio de sus estaciones experimentales distribuidas en todo el territorio nacional y ampliando los programas de estudio tecnològico maderero en cooperación con otras instituciones, especialmente el Centro de Investigación de Celulosa y Papel con el Centro de Investigación Tecnológica de la Madera.
La pelítioa forestal argentina está encuadrada en la ordenación de la ley 1 2 3 7 3 y sus normas modificadores y reglamentarias. Esa política presenta definida coincidencia con la que postula la Declaración de Yakarta que asegura, a nivel de nuestro país, una acción sin pausa para el logro de los objetives comprendidos en esa Declaración.
T. J. SHO-SAWYERR (Sierra Leone): My delegation supports the Jakarta Declaration as contained in document C 79/22. However, my delegation feels that more attention should be paid to the follow-up of the recommendations in the Declaration. We wish therefore to offer some suggestions on follow-up measures.
On the production of fuel wood we would like to see more identification of adaptable, fast-growing species of wood locally and internationally, possibly at regional level, for fuel wood production as an alternative source of energy; also the establishment of national nurseries of these woods species on a revolving basis for dissemination.
Existing integrated agricultural projects should be annexed to some of these projects on fuel wood as components to rèduce the time constraints involved with project identification, formulation and preparation prior to implementation. Moreover this approach will reduce the overall cost of such a forestry project, particularly on the administration aspects.
On forest industries: it is an open secret that forest industries are lucrative business and handled at hight altitudes far beyond the scope of the average village carpenter. Against the background of rural development and the reference may by the Declaration on forest industries in paragraph 15, my delegation is of the opinion that a reorientation of programmes is necessary to involve the rural carpenter, the one or two-man carpentry workshops in the rural areas. In this area we feel FAO can be of considerable assistance, particularly in the organization of workshops for small-scale industries as well as cottage industries, not just teaching basic principles but using local forest materials. Borrowed experiences from developing countries of identical resources, including expertise from these countries, should form part of these workshop programmes.
It is imperative that an effective follow-up programme to such workshops be included in the overall preparation, to monitor the progress and impact of the programme.
We listened with interest to the introduction of the paper by Mr. Flores-Rodas during which he referred to wood chemistry as one of the programmes for implementation. We welcome the idea and would like to stress that on request by Governments appropriate studies should be done on the qualities of local species of wood for various uses including paper manufacture and veneer production. This exercise will link squarely with forest inventory programmes which need immediate additional financial support. FAO’s programme of Forestry for Community Development and Forestry in Symbiosis with Agriculture should be further strengthened as part of a follow-up to the Declaration. At a time when more land is being cleared for food production there has never been so urgent a need to implement conservation programmes. For this reason we look forward to a more successful implementation of the recommendations contained in the Declaration which we once again support.
F. A. del PRADO (Suriname): I should like to mention that the delegation of the Republic of Suriname joins with the others in congratulating you and the vice-chairman on your election to these important positions. Our appreciation is expressed to Dr. Flores-Rodas for the clear presentation of his document. We should also like to congratulate the Government of Indonesia for the organization of the Eighth World Forestry Conference held in Jakarta during October 1978.
Suriname fully endorses the Jakarta Declaration and its emphasis on forestry matters in order to improve the quality of life in general and in rural areas in particular. Suriname is a forest-rich country which places great hopes on further development of its forest resources to better the standard of living of its people. The past and continuing assistance of UNDP/FAO in the assessment and development of the potential of these natural resources as well as in its management for sustained production is gratefully acknowledged.
Suriname with its relatively small population but vast forest resources needs assistance in the proper development and management of its forests. Therefore we wholeheartedly endorse the call on international organizations and developed countries to assist us in inventorizing and managing this resource as phrased in paragraph 10 of the Jakarta Declaration. We specifically would like to receive assistance with regard to associate experts or volunteers in the field of reforestation, forest management and wild life management with emphasis on game species.
Energy from biomass, especially wood and wood residues, is of special concern to my country which possesses no hydrocarbons of any sort. but a large forest estate. Of special interest are wood and charcoal for domestic use, cooking in the forest areas and small-scale power generators for villages in the interior and small industry.
The rather young University of Suriname, especially the Polytechnical Faculty and the Faculty of Natural Resources, has recently embarked on a modest energy research programme to seek, among other things, simple workable intermediate-technology solutions to the problems mentioned above. These faculties of the university have indicated their great interest in mutual exchange of information with foreign countries and institutions in pursuing such research as well as actual outside research assistance in these fields. Recognizing that the forest management authorities should play a leading part in the evaluation of proposals for forest industry development Suriname has incorporated relevant sections to this effect in the draft forest legislation.
My delegation wishes to point out that for Suriname with its restricted scientific manpower and research facilities ready access to documentation is essential. For that reason we strongly support the recommendation to strengthen existing forestry information and documentation services and to coordinate their activities.
Of special interest in this respect is the Instituto Forestal Latino Americano de Investigación y Capacitación (IFLAIC) at Merida, Venezuela, a joint institute of Venezuela and a number of Latin American and Caribbean countries, among them Suriname, established under the auspices of FAO.
Over the years IFLAIC has concentrated on regional forestry documentation and information, a function that is most important for a country like Suriname for reasons stated above. Therefore Suriname requests as a matter of urgency both FAO and the developed countries to consider favourably measures to strengthen IFLAIC in its role as a regional forestry documentation center.
Mr. Chairman, from the foregoing it will be clear that Suriname not only endorses the Jakarta Declaration but is actively developing its forest resources in line with the recommendations contained in the Declaration, with the valued assistance of bilateral aid and international organizations, UNDP, FAO and the Organization of American States. My country, Suriname, sincerely hopes, however, that our specific requests for assistance in relation to items 10, 12 and 23 of the Declaration will be favourably considered and duly honoured.
A. LOPES RIBEIRO (Portugal): Because we are very short of time, I will be brief in spite of the great importance that our delegation attaches to the problem under discussion. First of all we would like to congratulate Dr. Flores-Rodas for the excellent presentation made to us earlier. We think that the subject was presented just as it is.
Mr. Chairman, there is no doubt, at least among the agricultural people, that forestry plays an important role today and one can easily envisage its great importance in the future. We are all quite aware that forestry is vital for the human being. No need to stress this in our Commission. Of course, Mr. Chairman, for many reasons and, also, because my country is from the ecological point of view primarily a forestry country, we fully endorse the Jakarta Declaration. We think that forestry problems merit more attention in the future than they have received in the past. Being so we urge FAO to pay as much attention as possible to the forestry problems of the world, if we really look for a better way of life for humanity.
S. SAITO (Japan): Thank you Mr. Chairman. I would like to make brief comments on this item. First of all my delegation would like to take note of the Jakarta Declaration. My delegation is of the view that forestry development should be continued not only by increasing its production, but also by creating comfortable living conditions for the rural population.
In order to achieve those objectives I think that the following points should be emphasized, as seen in the Jakarta Declaration:
1. Adoption of appropriate land use programmes including reforestation.
2. Levelling up of forestry workers’ conditions and enlargement of forestry training programmes.
3. Better management and renewing of forestry resources.
4. Strengthening of forestry administration.
In major wood consuming countries in the world, including Japan, a situation of insufficient wood supply is forecasted in the future. Bearing this in mind my Government is now making every effort to conserve forestry resources through increasing the ratio of artificial forestry and implementing other relevant programmes, taking into account environmental conditions and in conformity with long-term afforestation programmes. Those efforts aim at achieving domestic supply of forestry products as much as possible.
On the other hand, my Government has cooperated in the forestry development in the area of forestry techniques·upon the request of developing countries, and is also ready to cooperate to every possible extent in the future.
S. HANPONGPANDH (Thailand): Like all other speakers before I will try to be brief. Being a country which has faced serious problems of deforestation, Thailand is now trying her best to reserve and build up forests to the level considered optimal. Beside all the relating work carried out by the Government, His Majesty the King of Thailand himself also places much concern on the Government programme for reforestation. His Majesty the King does not only support it but also provides additional funds and supervises the programme himself.
Hill tribe people who in the past dealt very much with shifting cultivation now turn the deforested land into productive orchards and new forests. With such awareness of deforested problems in mind we wholeheartedly support all the valuable substances contained in the Jakarta Declaration. In addition my delegation would like to propose that the Jakarta Declaration be added to the report as appended so that Member Governments would have the benefit of having the whole facts rather than the benefit of discussion only.
ALI BEN-RAMADAN (Libya) (interpretation from Arabic): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We wish to give a quick review of the document C 79/2 concerning the Jakarta Declaration on forests. We consider that this Declaration is of considerable importance. Moreover, the most important points thereof should be the fact that we should consider forestry protection and traditional exploitation thereof all within the framework of an integrated activity and complementary to the general agricultural activity, and as a part of the development of the agricultural community as a whole. Integrated through the development we consider grazeland and forestry activities and activities in other conventional sectors, as an integral part of the activity for increasing food supplies and agricultural produce. The Jakarta Declaration, with its emphasis that forestry should be a part of the general effort for the service of makind can well be considered asa positive development in considering this vital sector as one of the important sectors in the world. This Declaration clearly shows what measures and policies should be adopted by the various governments so that forests will be at the service of people and as a part of agricultural land and rural development. And it also emphasized the wide part forestry can play in conservation of the environment, the control of floods and desertification. Naturally every country will take such measures as it finds suitable to its own conditions and policies. We, in the Libyan Jamahiriya, consider that forests have their own particular attention. Afforestation programmes have a considerable share in the various integrated agricultural and rural development programmes for we find the number of trees planted annually can be counted in scores of millions and by way of example I can only say that we expect to be planting around 70 million trees within the next two years.
Afforestation in Libya bears in mind protection of agricultural land, protection of land against erosion, control and avoidance of desertification providing sources of animal fodder, maintenance of environmental balance through the evaluation of protected areas, plus the fact that there is regional cooperation among the African countries for a Green Belt that would control desert creeping.
Yet considerable technical problems and difficulties are met with in these activities. We therefore favour cooperation on an international basis in order to overcome the problems and difficulties. Such cooperation will be insufficient if it exists only among favoured countries. International institutions and organizations also should be involved. Here we see eye to eye with the views of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kenya and others regarding the necessary research that should be undertaken for the afforestation of desert and semi-desert land.
The Jakarta Declaration did not call on FAO to do anything in particular, yet the message as a whole is crystal clear. We believe that FAO has already played an important part in the forestry sector and we are therefore fully convinced that it can fulfill the new requirements and address itself to those requirements, making whatever modifications are necessary to meet them, be they infrastructural changes or the formulation of programmes, and above all for creating a new framework covering the concept of the role of the Organization in the forestry sector.
However, in our discussion today we should go far beyond the Jakarta Declaration and avail ourselves of this opportunity to endorse whatever FAO is doing at present and whatever it will be able to do in the forestry sector, thus flinging the doors open for our Organization to do anything it can in the light of the new concepts of the Jakarta Declaration.
In conclusion, the delegation of the Libyan Jamahiriya supports the requirements of the PLO in calling on FAO to protect deserts in occupied lands from the spoilage done by the intruders.
M. DIB (Syria) (interpretation from Arabic): The Jakarta Declaration contains twenty-six recommendations on forestry and the role it plays in rural development. Most of those recommendations are of considerable inportance, particularly those from 4 to 9 and 12, 17 and 24. Our present policy agrees totally with those recommendations, because they insist on the protection of forestry resources, be it from the economic, touristic or aesthetic points of view. We are contemplating considerable activity in this sector.
In our Forestry Department we have a special department for the regulation and protection of watersheds. We have also formulated our plans for artificial lakes in forests in order to profit from rain water. Last year we started our green belt programme which extends from South to North and has a total length of 1, 2000 kms with a 20 km wide road to separate the urban areas from the desert and thus control desertification and desert creeping. I leave it to you to consider the economic and social benefits to be derived therefrom. The implementation thereof is being followed very closely by both FAO and the World Food Programme. Other control belts are being established in order to guarantee the products.
Our Five-Year Plan covers the afforestation of 12, 000 hectares in semi-arid land and we shall be planting over 22 million trees this year. The implementation of the Plan is receiving considerable attention on the part of the Government and of the President himself in particular. However, we still lack applied research on forestry agriculture. Our continued activity in this sector and the achievement of the results aspired for depend on the availability of technical personnel and material resources for the protection of forestry against fire, which occupies the greater part of our activities.
Our delegation supports the Declaration and calls upon FAO to undertake a technical training and extension programme, in cooperation with all possible world institutions. We hope that the programme will be crowned with all possible success.
G. A. STENEKER (Canada): Our delegation would like to congratulate you, Sir, on you election as Chairman of this Commission and also to thank Dr. Rodas for the excellent way in which he introduced the Declaration to the Commission. On behalf of Canada I would like also to thank the Indonesian Government for hosting the Eighth World Forestry Congress.
Canada supports the Jakarta Declaration and recognizes the full endorsement given by FAO to the Declaration, as reflected by the establishment of the new programme 2. 34, Forestry for Rural Development. The favourable reaction to the Declaration last Friday and this morning by numerous delegations has demonstrated the important role of forestry throughout the world, something which has not always been recognized by governments both in developed and in developing countries. The Declaration has emphasized that trees, apart from their role as a source of fibre and for conventional wood products, play a vital role in both food production and proper land management. Forestry should therefore not be seen as a competitive activity to agriculture but, as many delegates have pointed out, as an activity without which agriculture would in many instances be impossible. In this light we would like to stress the importance of agro-forestry and urge that FAO’s sub-programme 2. 34. 2, Agro-silveral Pastoral Development, be strongly coordinated with that of other agencies in the same field.
We would particularly like to underline Article 9 of the Declaration, dealing with the question of energy and the important role of fuel wood in food production. Furthermore, we strongly endorse Article 21, dealing with the protection of representative areas, and we recognize that it will require cooperation among FAO, Unesco, RUCN and UNEP.
Finally, we urge that FAO cooperates fully with UNEP in the preparation of the planned meeting to deal with the problems of the degradation of tropical forests to be held in Libreville, Gabon in 1980.
P. KANGA (Angola): Nous ne voulons pas répéter tout ce qui a été largement abordé par différents délégués dont nous partageons l'opinion. Le document de la Conférence de Djakarta présente des recommandations et des orientations très fondées. Aussi il est du devoir des pays en développement de le mettre en pratique et la FAO devra jouer un role très important pour la concrétisation de ces recommandations tant scientifiques que techniques. Ainsi ma délégation confirme son appui total à toutes les suggestions et recommandations de la Déclaration de Djakarta.
Si YOUCEF (Algérie): Les orientations contenues dans la Déclaration de Djakarta constituent un tournant dans l'histoire de la foresterie. La délégation de mon pays a approuvé et soutenu cette Déclaration. Nous saisissons cette occasion pour remercier le Gouvernement d'Indonésie des efforts déployés pour la réussite de ce congrès, et la chaleur de leur accueil. Nous voudrions aussi féliciter le Dr. Rodas pour la clarté avec laquelle il a introduit le sujet et posé le problème.
Les forestiers ont jusqu'à présent considéré l'homme comme le principal ennemi de la forêt. C'est lui qui défriche la végétation; c'est lui qui laboure; c'est lui qui brûle. Il était alors évident d'interdire à cet homme l'accès à la forêt. C'est ainsi que nous avons hérité d'une législation forestière qui se base sur une farouche répression des délits.
Mais la force, c'est un fait connu, ne peut mener au règlement d'un problème. Bien au contraire!
De nouvelles techniques d'aménagement et de gestion doivent pouvoir être testées et mises en oeuvre pour intégrer l'homme dans tous les programmes d' aménagement, en essayant de répondre particulièrement à la satisfaction de ses besoins alimentaires.
L'homme en effet défriche et laboure pour avoir de nouvelles terres de culture; il incendie pour avoir de nouveaux parcours. Comment donc ignorer ses besoins?
La nouvelle vision de l'aménagement doit intégrer la forêt dans le cadre dfun plan global de dévelopement qui tienne compte des objectifs du pays, mais aussi des ressources disponibles et des besoins des populations.
Les besoins de mon pays en matière de bois et dérivés sont énormes. La situation des forêts algériennes n'est pas aujourd'hui en mesure de répondre à la satisfaction des besoins. Il faut absolument utiliser d'une façon efficace et rationnelle toutes les ressources en bois disponibles et particulièrement les bois de petite dimension provenant des branchages et des maquis.
Un effort dans ce sens doit être fait pour recourir à des techniques de transformation de ces petits bois. La FAO peut jouer un rôle dans ce sens.
Notre inquiétude c'est cette tendance d'aborder les questions relatives à la forêt d'une façon sectorielle.
La forêt ne doit pas être considérée comme seule source de production de bois. C'est aussi une réserve de fourrage pour les animaux et un facteur de production agricole et animale. C'est enfin un facteur d'équilibre biologique et écologique qu'il faut absolument préserver et développer.
La gestion de la forêt doit ainsi se fonder sur des bases à la fois économiques et écologiques et, à ce titre, notre délégation insiste auprès de la FAO pour que toutes les expériences qui tendent vers la recherche du développement des zones forestières sur ces bases soient aidées particulièrement dans les zones arides et semi-arides.
L'Algérie ne peut participer à ce débat sans évoquer les importantes décisions arrêtées au cours du Séminaire de Nairobi sur la désertification et sans rappeler la nécessité et l'urgence de mettre en oeuvre le programme d'étude et de recherche arrêté. Nous appuyons les propositions du délégué de la Jamahiriya arabe de Libye qui vise à renforcer la coopération internationale en la matière.
Nous félicitons à cet effet le délégué de l'Espagne pour les dispositions que son pays vient de prendre et qu'il nous a communiquées.
Directement concernée par les problèmes d'érosion et de désertification, l'Algérie affecte d'importants moyens matériels, financiers et humains pour la lutte contre ces fléaux.
L'édification du Barrage Vert et la création d'un SEFOR traduisent cette volonté.
Mais si la préoccupation est grande, il n'en demeure pas moins vrai que la situation demeure alarmante.
Le problème n'est pas un problème d'investissement. C'est surtout un problème de technique et de méthode. Le reboisement ne peut constituer à lui seul la solution. Il reste insuffisant. Seule une mise en valeur intégrée répondant aux besoins fondamentaux des populations et une gestion rationnelle et polyvalente de l'espace forestier permettent d'apporter un élément de réponse.
Ces observations nous semblent importantes. Elles posent néanmoins un autre problème lié aux structures même de gestion.
L'Algérie entend trouver une réponse à ce problème structurel grâce à la révolution agraire appliquée aux forêts et aux terrains de parcours qui permettra d'améliorer les conditions de vie et de travail des populations concernées.
Nous terminons notre intervention en attirant l'attention de la Communauté internationale sur la déclaration du délégué de l'Organisation de libération de la Palestine qui présente la situation des forêts des Territoires arabes occupés. Cette situation est d'ailleurs la même pour les forêts des pays qui luttent encore pour leur liberté.
E. K. SERWANGA (Uganda): The Uganda delegation endorses the Jakarta Declaration, and our country will do its best to implement most of the 26 points presented in so far as they are applicable to our local conditions. The document is refreshing and highly interesting. It should take its place as one of the most important and possibly revolutionary records in the annals of world forestry. It is a challenge to traditional foresters the whole world over to involve rural communities with forestry practice and to assist them to incorporate it as an important item in the strategy for their future development. To traditional foresters, the idea is rather novel and promotes much thought.
Uganda has a relatively long tradition of forestry practice. Like many other countries of the world, our forests are of the traditional type. We are used to spending large sums of public funds to manage the Uganda Natural Forest Estate as practicably as possible, and in this Estate we produce timber and fuel wood on an economic basis. They have had little time to get out of the woods and go to the people and to help them to build up forestry as part of their rural community development strategy. Uganda is endowed with a fairly rich cover of natural vegetation, most of which is tropical highforest, rich in valuable timber trees. We have extensive savannah woodlands which can be successfully forested with exotic and indigenous quick growing trees. The climate is good. Therefore, the problem of diminishing fuel products has not yet arisen. But we now realize that with a rapidly growing population this problem will face us in the near future if we do not do something about it now.
The Forestry Department of our country has as a result created a fully-staffed section of forest public relations and extension services. One of its major responsibilities is to work among the rural communities and persuade them to grow trees and wood lots on their own land holding for their future use.
On the global scale, our delegation wishes to lay emphasis on the need to arrest the threatening "poor man's crisis", to quote from the Declaration. This is the impending world shortage of fuel wood and charcoal. Our delegation associates itself fully with every effort made by this Organization to assist the world's rural communities to be self-sufficient in these valuable forest products.
Our delegation however notes that the Jakarta Declaration was not directly addressed to the FAO Council: the message was apparently aimed at the national Governments. But in spite of this, our delegation would be very grateful to FAO and its related Agencies if it could increase its efforts in assisting member governments to achieve the idea highlighted in the Declaration, particularly in promoting forestry in the rural community development strategy. We are fully aware of the valuable work already done by FAO/SIDA in organizing seminars on forestry and rural development. For this, we are deeply grateful to FAO and the Swedish Government, but it is our humble opinion that their efforts could be improved upon a little more.
Many of the tropical countries, of which my own country is one, are now fully convinced of the great value of these seminars to their rural communities. Our observation is that the mumber admitted to the seminars should be increased at any one course. If they are not increased, this often creates a rather long waiting-list. All the same, the cooperation and hospitality of various member governments in organizing these seminars is highly commended by our delegation. We are for example very grateful to the Governments of Thailand and India for offering to host and organize the next seminar to be held in Thailand and India from November 25 to December 15 this year. Unfortunately, Uganda will not be represented: our application was delayed owing to circumstances over which we have no control, and we are now on the waiting list.
Our delegation therefore requests FAO/SIDA to examine the possibility of organizing another seminar in the future on the same lines for those countries on the long waiting-list, and also the possibility of organizing similar seminars in future, in suitable countries of the African continent.
Referring again to the Declaration in the context of global forestry strategy, our delegation gives particular support to Point 6 of the Declaration, which makes special recommendations to control the spread of desertification, flooding, and soil erosion in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Uganda is rather sensitive on this issue, because we are not very far south of the Sahara Desert. We recommend that FAO makes a great effort in assisting the various national schemes engaged in this work at the moment.
In conclusion, our delegation wishes to express our sincere thanks to the Government of Indonesia for hosting the Eighth World Forestry Conference, to the President of the Conference, Mr. Soedjarwo, and to the FAO Council for putting in such a vast amount of effort and work which resulted in this very valuable historical document.
G. CONSTANT (France): Pour répondre à votre demande, je vais limiter mon intervention à deux points précis qui intéressent non seulement mon pays, mais un certain nombre d'autres et notamment les pays du bassin méditerranéen. Je m'explique:
Je voudrais rappeler l'attention de nos collègues et, plus spécialement encore de la FAO sur l'intérêt qui nous paraît très vif, quant à nous, de recevoir l'appui de la FAO pour la réanimation de deux groupes d'étude d'objet forestier et d'un intérêt absolument certain; ces deux groupes sont les suivants:
Le Groupe qu'on a coutume d'appeler "SILVA MEDITERRANEA" et qui regroupe-ce nom doit évoquer chez certains de mes collègues des souvenirs précispratiquement l'ensemble des pays qui bordent la Méditerranée. C'est une vieille institution qui a rendu dans le passé de grands services et qui s'était un peu assoupie, mais qui vient de reprendre une certaine vie puisqu'elle s'est réunie à plusieurs reprises et que notamment, en septembre dernier, ce n'est pas vieux, une rencontre qui a eu lieu à Lisbonne a permis précisément aux pays méditerranéens de souligner l'intérêt qu'il y aurait à réanimer ce groupe.
Les événements récents d'ailleurs, je crois, nous y incitent puisqu'on notera que des incendies particulièrement sérieux se sont déclarés tout autour du bassin au cours de ces dernières années, et que nous avons intérêt, je pense, dans l'esprit même des conclusions dé Djakarta, a faire revivre ce groupe.
Ma demande est concrète, nous demandons que l'OAA nous aide à pouvoir faire redémarrer ce groupe qui intéresse, je le dis encore une fois, l'ensemble des pays méditerranéens et qui ne sont pas tous, évidemment, des pays riches pouvant même poursuivre cette action.
Le deuxième groupe que nous souhaitons, quant à nous, voir également reprendre vie, mais qui ne peut le faire que s'il reçoit là aussi une aide en valeur limitée, mais une aide de la FAO, est le Groupe de travail dit. "DÉS BASSINS VERSANTS". La Commission européenne des forêts-ceci intéresse il est vrai spécialement les pays européens-avait pris une décision également de faire revivre ce groupe de travail qui avait une activité tout à fait concrète et qui fonctionnait jusqu'ici, sous l'autorité du professeur roumain Munteanu.
En 1980, la France se propose de tenir une réunion sur son sol à Grenoble, dans les Alpes, mais nous avons constaté avec un certain étonnement, je dois dire, que dans l'état actuel du projet-je vais souligner la chose à la Commission de la salle d'à coté-on n'avait pas prévu à cet égard, un crédit de soutien qui pourtant, jusque-là, avait été toujours maintenu. Là aussi, -M. le Président et M. le Directeur général, je saisis cette occasion pour vous dire que, moi aussi, j’ai beaucoup apprécié la synthèse lumineuse que vous avez faite des travaux de Djakarta-uia question, mon observation plutôt est très concrète et je la présente non seulement je crois au nom de la délégation française mais d'un certain nombre de collègues car j'ai eu des conversations à cet égard: nous souhaitons qu'un crédit de soutien soit prévu pour la réanimation de ce Groupe de travail des "Bassins versants".
Je limiterai là mon propos, non pas que l'ensemble des problèmes évoqués autour de la foresterie ne jufieraient pas, de la part d'un pays qui a la tradition que vous savez dans cette matière, une pluslongue intervention, mais vous avez rappelé que nous étions en retard et je me borne donc, suivant votre conseil, à souligner à nouveau ces deux points concernant deux groupes de travail tres positifs et très concrets et pour lesquels il me semblerait tout à fait normal et logique, dans l'esprit de la Déclaration de Djakarta, que l'OAA veuille bien nous apporter une aide en valeur limitée, mais qui aurait pour nous une valeur de symbole.
J. DOORENBOS (Netherlands): The Jakarta Declaration accepted by the Eighth World Congress, and even more specifically its recommendations, are not directed directly to FAO. However, these recommendations agree to a large extent with the existing concepts within the Forestry Department of FAO. These programmes not only concern forestry production per se but also the combatting of erosion, the management of water resources, improving the rural energy situation and the lack of rural employment, to mention just a few of the aspects. In fact it is so much an integrated part of rural development. For these reasons the liks with FAO should be very firmly maintained and, as the delegate of Libya has already said, when he expressed it in this way, FAO's role is crystal clear. We should like to support this.
As already expressed in the Plenary, the Netherlands fully endorses the Declaration and emphasizes again the importance of placing forestry as an integrated part of rural development.
With our discussion almost finished, the Declaration as such is now a fact. The time is now here to implement and follow through our recommendations. For this action international cooperation will be required and, as already stated in the Plenary, my country is ready to take its share.
J. J. CABRERA MALO (Venezuela): Señor Présidente, señoree delegados: la delegación de Venezuela quiere agradecer muy especialmente la deferencia de darle la palabra, ya que por deber partir muy pronto a mi país, no le es posible esperar al final del debate.
La delegación de Venezuela quiere dejar constancia de su adhesión a las resoluciones de la Conferencia de Yakarta. Durante esta mañana hemos oído con verdadera satisfacción cómo los distinguidos representantes de los diferentespaíses han manifestado, digámoslo así, toda su identificación con el concepto emitido en Yakarta y que, prácticamente, ha invadido el mundo entero, si pudiéramos usar esta palabra.
El distinguido delegado de Argelia ha sentado muy claro que el hombre no puede ser considerado como un enemigo del bosque; yo diría que en realidad el hombre no lo ha sido, simplemente no ha sabido cómo manejar el bosque o no le hemos ensenado cómo manejar el bosque y de allí ha venido esa separación, esa lucha entre el campesino que necesita comer y el bosque que aparentemente constituye un obstáculo quehay que derribar para poder obtener austentos de esos suelos.
Mi país ha decidido definitivamente inioiar la política de plantaciones con fines de aprovechamiento y participación de toda la comunidad; ha querido en esta forma eliminar las barreras que venían existiendo entre agricultores y bosques para integrar ambos esfuerzos y lograr así que la sumatoria de todas estas acciones permita un verdadero desarrollo armónico. Eh tal sentido, me es sumamente satisfactorio indicar que para el próximo ano han sido destinados 30 millones de bolívares, es decir 8 millones de dólares aproximadamente, para la primera etapa de plantaciones con participación de la comunidad en aldeas rurales deprimidas por la erosión de los suelos y ouya agricultura prácticamente ha quedado reduoida al mínimo con el agravante de que aquella población tiende a emigrar a las ciudades prinoipalés, ya que es la únioa forma de conseguir un sustento.
Estos planes prevén la plantación de 15 000 hectáreas para un turno de siete anos y cuyo producto será destinado a la satisfacción, en primer lugar, de las necesidades de los campesinos en cuanto a lena y carbón que aunque pudiera parecer extraño porque en el país hay petróleo, para el campesino no es fácil usar el petróleo y prefiere derribar el árbol que lo tiene más oerca.
En segundo lugar, estos productos serán destinados a satisfacer las necesidades de industrias que puedan utilizarlos en ciclos relativamente cortos. Todo ello seguido de plantaciones permanentes de tal forma que aquel ciclo continuará, esperamos, que para siempre.
Quiero en esta oportunidad dejar especial reconocimiento a las declaraciones del distinguido representente de Suriname, aceroa de los servicios y asistencias prestadas por el Instituto Universitario de la Región de Mérida en nuestro país. Por mi parte debo declarar que buena parte de los prinoipalés problemas que confrontamos al iniciar planes de reforestación en nuestro país, fueron resueltos y encontramos soluciones en la excelente investigación que Suriname ha llevado a cabo en su Instituto de Blakawatra y en las demás regiones de ese distinguido país.
Finalmente, me es grato indicar, como identificación de mi país a los programas forestales y a las normas indicadas en Yakarta, que por primera ves ha sido oreado un fondo de 100 millones de dólares, 400 millones de bolívares, para destinarlos al final en forma decréditos de plantaciones industriales con forma mixta de participación privada, participación oficial y participación campesina.
Venezuela empezó hace algunos años un programa de aprovechamiento de suelos marginales completamente desertioos. para plantaciones con fines industriales. Este uso, este programa, ya lleva 10 anos y actualmente oubre unas 100 mil hectáreas aproximadamente.
Quisiéramos en la forma más olara, más franca y más espontánea o freo er la experiencia que hemos tenido aquí a otros países que en condiciones similares quisieran aprovecharla.
(iligibul)ZUKI BIN HAJI KAMALUEUDI (Malaysia): This is the first time that the Malaysian delegation has intervened in Commission I. As seoh, I would like to congratulate you, Mr. Chairman, on your election.
Malaysia would also like to place on reoord its thanks to Indonesia for work well done in hosting the Eighth World Forestry Congress.
The item under considerati on is important to us in Malaysia as we are a major exporter of tropical hardwoods. In 1978 we exported 16·1 millions cubic metres of saw logs and 2. 8 millions cubic metres of sawn timber.
Consequently, the Jakarta Declaration has our full support. This support was first expressed by Malaysia at the Eighth World Forestry Congress, from which emanated the Declaration now before the Commission. At that Congress the Director-General of Forestry of Malaysia was elected co-President
I am pleased to inform the Conference that Malaysia is already in the process of implementing the Jakarta Declaration on Forestry. We hare recently declared a National Forestry Policy which simply incorporates the relevant points of the Jakarta Declaration on Forestry. Under this policy two types of forest land have been declared, namely the Permanent Forests and the Permanent Forest Estate. The former constitutes the area required for watershed protection, coastal protection, shelter belts for wild animals, and erosion control. The forest in this area will be permanently maintained in its virgin condition. On the other hand, the permanent forest estate will constitute the economic exploitation zone and the source and sustenance of the timber industry.
A total of 12. 8 million acres has been designated as the Permanent Forest Estate. As exploitation proceeds a cess would be collected to be used for forest rehabilitation and reafforestation of this area so that Malaysia will be able to continue as an exporter of tropical hardwoods in the future. Besides the area earmarked as the Permanent Forest Estate there is at present a substantial area under forest, which once exploited for its timber potential will be converted to agricultural land for crop and livestock production. However, the very success of the implementation of the national forest policy depends to a great extent on the success of our efforts to improve and develop our existing farmland so as to increase its productivity and the income of the farmers. In this way there will be no encroachment into the areas designated as forest lands and the degree of competition for the use of land between forestry and agriculture is thus reduced. Our in situ development programme is so orientated. The improvement in the productivity of the land through the development of irrigation facilities, provision of credit, expansion of marketing facilities and better extension services would lead to higher output and income of the farmers. We are now in the process of promoting development of integrated timber complexes so that more value can be added to our forest products. We intend to reduce our exports of sawlogs while expanding our output and exports of sawn timber and moulded timber as well as timber items intended for consumer utilisation such as furniture. In this respect we would like to urge the developed countries to help us help ourselves. We are not interested in aid per se. rather we want trade. And in the case of the forest and timber industry Malaysia would like developed countries to reduce if not totally remove their presently high tariff rates against imports of process ed timber products from Malaysia and other developing countries.
Let me conclude by reiterating Malaysia's support for the Jakarta Declaration and also call upon FAD to assist those Member Countries requiring technical aid in preparing their national forest policy along the relevant principles of the Jakarta Declaration.
F. LEGAULT (Gabon): La delegation gabonaise se joint aux autres delegations pour vous féliciter à l'occasion de votre élection à la Présidence de cette Commission. Notre pays appuie la Déclaration qui doit servir de ligne directrice aux objectifs forestiers de la FAO car elle traduit les soucis de la communauté forestière mondiale. C'est pourquoi, notre délégation-notre pays étant couvert à 80 pour cent par la forêt-retrouve dans les différents sujets évoqués dans cette déclaration un écho des problèmes préoccupant la politique de développement de notre pays. Nous retenons particulièrement dans cette déclaration l'importance qui doit être accordée aux inventaires forestiers, notamment dans les pays tropicaux, car il est difficile d'assigner à une forêt inconnue des objectifs de production. C'est malheureusement la situation qui est la notre dans nos forêts tropicales.
La FAO a contribué à la réalisation des programmes d'inventaire dans plusieurs régions du monde. Cet effort n'a pas été suffisant et mérite d'être poursuivi. Les opérations d'inventaire nécessitent souvent la mobilisation de moyens matériels et techniques très importants qui ne sont malheureusement pas dans nos possibilités locales. C'est pourquoi, nous souhaitons que la FAO et les autres organismes internationaux apportent un appui plus important et plus soutenu pour renforcer ou améliorer les structures nationales existantes dans les domaines des inventaires, accélèrent le processus de la vulgarisation des nouvelles techniques et mettent tous ces moyens en oeuvre pour aboutir à leur application rapide. C'est seulement à partir d'une connaissance parfaite des différents écosystèmes que nous pourrons envisager la possibilité de conférer à nos ressources forestières leur vocation de production en harmonie avec les différents intérêts qui s'y rattachent. Nous considérons donc l'inventaire comme étant l'une des mesures efficaces et indispensables à prendre dans l'immédiat. Entre autres, la Déclaration de Djakarta a mis en évidence à juste titre le rôle de la forêt dans le développement rural. La délégation gabonaise partage parfaitement ce point de vue, ayant l'expérience de cinquante années de programmes de reboisement. Ces chantiers de reboisement représentent de véritables poles d'attraction dans les milieux ruraux et constituent un support réel à tout projet de développement intégré. En effet, les populations peuvent être associées aux activités forestières par la création de centres agrico-sylvicoles, et d'industries artisanales utilisant des techniques intermédiaires à la portée des masses rurales.
Ce sont là des opérations limitées. Seul un plan d'aménagement global, établi sur la base dféléments réels, peut donner à la forêt sa capacité de production et de régénération. C'est pourquoi, une fois de plus, nous réitérons notre appui total à la Déclaration de Djakarta.
F. BARRIENTOS FERNANDEZ (España): Muchas gracias, señor Presidente por autorizarnos a hacer esta intervención adicional.
La delegación de España desea expresar que apoya vivamente la propuesta de la delegación de Francia en favor de la vitalizacion por FAO de la silva mediterránea y del grupo de trabajo de cuencas hidrográficas. Con ello reiteramos nuestra posición expresada ya en las reuniones de la Comisión Forestal Europea y del Comité de Montes de FAO, posición que hemos compartido prácticamente con todos los demás países del Mediterráneo.
CHAIRMAN (interpretation from Arabic): We have listened to almost the last of the speakers today, and in addition to those countries mentioned as having presented their written statements to be incorporated in our proceedings I am now adding the names of El Salvador, Mauritania, and Zambia who have requested us to incorporate their written statements with our proceedings. I wish to assure all those who have presented these written statements that their statements will be taken into full consideration upon preparation of the report of our Committee. Should there be no other speaker who wishes to take the floor I will then give the floor to Mr. Flores-Rodas who will comment on Friday's and today's discussions on this important subject.
M. A. FLORES-ROPAS (Subdirector Generali Departamento de Montes): Gracias señor Presidente, quisiera en estos momentos hacer un resumen del gran apoyo hacia la Declaración de Yakarta.
Durante esa Asamblea y la discusión que la Declaración de Yakarta ha provooado se me ocurre una idea y una reacción; la reacción, al comparar les dos cuerpos directivos de la FAO que tienen que ver con el Departamento de Montes que son: el Comité de Montes y, por supuesto, esta magna Conferencia.
Durante las sesiones y las deliberaciones que ocurren en el Comité de Montes se disouten obviamente problemas puramente forestales; ee la primera vez que al nivel mas alto de loe miembros de gobierno de la FAO, como es la Conferencia, se discuten problemas que no sólo conciemen al sector forestal, sino también conciernen a todas aquellas instituciones y personas que tienen que ver con el desarrollo rural. Esto para el Departamento de Montee es de suma importancia porque, como dije al discutir este problema al nivel de COFO, digo de Comité de Montes, es obvio; pero no lo es, y tiene mucha significación que se discuta este problema en la forma tan honesta y abierta que lo hemos discutido durante el viernes pasado y el día de hoy.
La Declaración de Yakarta y también vuestro apoyo a ella significa un estímulo muy grande y un apoyo también a los programas de trabajo y de presupuesto que el señor Director General ha sometido a la consideración de la Conferencia para el próximo bienio 1980-81.
En este momento quisiera leer o citar en una forma literal dos contribuciones de países miembros de esta Conferencia que, a mi modo de ver, resumen nuestro interés sobre el asunto. Cito: "Si los bosques han de ser alguna vez beneficiosos al pueblo, muchos aspectos y cuestiones tendrán que involucrarse; algunos de ellos conectados con la agricultura, otros con la industria y otros con la protección del medio ambiente. Hay una necesidad muy fuerte para que las agencias nacionales e internacionales responsables por los asuntos forestales adopten aproximaciones balanceadas y comprensivashacia el desarrollo forestal basado en políticas que armonicen los factores de producción, de protección ysociales".
Otro país que también se refiere a este asunto dioe lo siguiente: "Era ya tiempo de llamar la atención a este cuerpo gobernante más alto de la FAO sobre la importancia de los asuntos forestales para la vida de los pueblos en general.
Los forestales del mundo probaron en Yakarta que tienen una olara visión del impacto potencial que los forestales pueden tener sobre el bienestar de la humanidad. La decisión política es ahora necesaria para hacer que esto sea posible.
La Declaración de Yakarta debe ser estudiada no sólo por los forestales, sino especialmente por los políticos, aquellos que están a los niveles decisorios de los países y porlos plani fi cado res del uso de la tierra.
Aunque no hace ninguna recomendación específica a la PAD la Declaración, esto también es obvio que la FAO no puede evitar ser instrumento en guiar al mundo forestal sobre la implantación seria de propuestas que hagan honor a la Declaración de Yakarta".
Refiriéndome específicamente a la Declaración de Yakarta, y después de leer estas dos citas que resu-men, a mi modo de entender, el sentimiento de esta Asamblea, muy poco más puedo decir sobre tal Declaración.
Para terminar, señor Presidente, querría referirme específicamente ala demanda de las honorables representaciones de Francia y de Espana referentes a silva mediterránea y al grupo de trabajo sobre cuencas de montana. Para hacer esta referencia quisiera hacer, con su permiso, señor Presidente, un poco de historia sobre este desarrollo.
Durante el año pasado hubo una reunión del Grupo de trabajo sobre cuencas de montana, aquí en la sede de FAO. Esta reunión también era consecuencia de algunas disposiciones de COFO 4, celebrada aquí en Roma en mayo de 1978·Sobre este punto la Recomendación de COFO) fue la inclusión en los grupos de trabajo, específicamente el de cuencas de montana, de países en desarrollo con problemas similares. Tal grupo, haciendo honor a la solicitud de COFO, tuvo por primera vez tal reunión en FAO aquí en Roma, con la inclusión de miembros de países en desarrollo con problemas similares.
Posteriormente, durante la reunión, a mediados de este ano, en la Comisión Forestal Europea, se discutieron los asuntos del reavivamiento de este Grupo detrabajo y la ampliación del Grupo de trabajo referente a la silva mediterránea. Había, a propuesta de la Secretaría, algunos problemas de tipo legal para poder ampliar tales Grupos de trabajo. Se presentaron a la Comisión Forestal Europea tres alternativas por parte de la Secretaría. La Comisión Europea, haciendo oídos a la solicitud de la Secretaría sobre estas tres alternativas, decidió resolver el presentar al próximo COFO, que se celebrará en mayo del próximo ano, aquí en la sede de Roma, algunas soluciones sobre cómo la FAO puede seguir apoyando tales grupos de trabajo.
Quiero hacer constar que la FAO sigue apoyando las ideas y los trabajos de silva mediterránea y del Grupo de trabajo sobre cuencas de montana. Como dije, existen algunos problemas de tipo legal, de tipo presupuestario y de tipo de prioridades de los trabajos de FAO, que tendrán que ser analizados y recomendados por COFO el próximo ano de 1981, ante los cuales la Secretaría, indiscutiblemente, los tomará muy en cuenta.
Creo que al hacer esta última intervención he llegado al final.
CHAIRMAN (interpretation from Arabic): Thank you, Mr. Flores-Rodas, it seems we have completed our discussion on this special Agenda Item 6. 3, namely, Forestry, the Jakarta Declaration. I wish to thank you all, in particular for having responded to my appeal at the beginning of the meeting concerning the shortage of time and the necessity for being brief in our discussion of this item.
I do not wish to attempt to summarise the discussions, because these will be very efficiently covered by the report. However, I may try to summarise, and I wish to point out that the discussion on the subject was of the highest standard. As far as the number of speakers were concerned, that went totally beyond expectations. We had 46 speakers in addition to 5 other delegations, who have submitted their written statements on the subject. There is no doubt that this is a clear indication of the importance of the subject, and that the Jakarta Declaration with its perception and keen imagination deserves all support and agreement on the part of the participants in the discussion.
Once again, I say I shall not attempt to summarise the excellent discussion but will confine myself to discussing the major points.
The first, the Jakarta Declaration seems to have won unconditional support. Second, the concept of forestry to mankind seems to win support and complete understanding on the part of all participants, and there is a very clear appeal for magic forestry in the rural development, along with whatever requirements or policy decisions may be required to be taken by the other organizations.
It was also clear from the discussions that adoption of the principles of the Jakarta Declaration requires a definite political intention. It became clear that both this Declaration and its adoption require a new outlook on the part of countries and governments as far as forestry is concerned for the implementation of the Jakarta Declaration recommendations.
It was also evident from the discussion that most, if not the majority, of the speakers have mentioned that the Jakarta Declaration does not refer particularly to FAO, yet all those speakers have clearly shown that there is a mission or a task, though this is not written, that should be undertaken by FAO. It is evident that it is up to FAO, sometimes in cooperation with other specialized agencies, to intensify the present programmes and to continue with them, in addition to the opening of new horizons and the adoption of new concepts that will bear in mind the futuristic outlook of the Declaration.
There is clear understanding, likewise, that the Forestry Department at FAO deserves all support and strengthening so as to face the new challenges. It became evident from the discussions, also, that there was a clear appeal for the strengthening of international cooperation on a regional level, or at other levels within the forestry sector, particularly with respect to desertification and erosion.
It was natural that considerable specialised aspects of the discussion, particularly on certain details of the Declaration, or because of the special conditions in the countries of the speakers, and all the other points, are reflected seriously in the report.
I need not reiterate also that there was unanimity of opinion on the necessity of thanking the Government of Indonesia and the efforts which gave the Conference its success, appreciation to the other countries which enabled certain delegations to participate, or for their assistance and participation towards the success of the Conference. To my mind, these are a few of the main points on which the discussion has centred.
Naturally, there is a host of other points which the report will bear in mind when it is prepared by the Drafting Committee, and which will be examined by you for adoption later on.
With this said, we conclude the discussion of this agenda item on Forestry, and before adjourning I shall give the floor to Mr. Dutia, the Secretary of our Commission, for a few remarks which he wishes to give.
SECRETARY: After consultation with various delegations which the Chairman of the Commission has held, the following composition of the Drafting Committee, which will prepare the draft report for Commission I, has been decided upon: Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Federal Republic of Germany, France, Czechoslovakia, Japan, Kuwait, Mali, Mexico, Pakistan, South Yemen, Uganda and the United States of America.
The first meeting of the Drafting Committee will be held today, after the close of the afternoon session, in the Malaysia Room, B227.
CHAIRMAN (interpretation from Arabic): We shall proceed this afternoon to deal with item 7, which is dealt with in the Director-General's Report on the Implementation of the Plan of Action on World Food Security. The Director-General himself will be here to deliver a statement on this important item on our agenda. I remind delegates of the various documents on the subject. There is C 79/23 and C 79/23-Corr. 1, in Arabic and English only. Then there is C 79/23-Sup. 1(Arabic only), C 79/23-Sup. 2 and C 79/LIM/34. The last mentioned contains the Draft Resolution presented by Colombia, Guinea, India, Tunisia, Uruguay, Yugoslavia and Zaire.
O. M. MBURU (Kenya): My delegation would like to commend FAO for bringing to the attention of the Conference the Jakarta Declaration which represents an expression of all the Foresters, and not only National Forest Administrations, represented at the 8th World Forestry Congress.
The very worthy recommendations contained in that Declaration need. support of all nations. FAO has given a lead in increasing the resources for the programme Forestry for Rural Development which was a major aspect of discussions at the Jakarta Congress whose theme was "Forests for People".
The energy crisis cannot be over-emphasized. The great majority of the world's low income groups depend on fuel from wood for cooking their food. There is a great need to intensify afforestation and tree planting, both in and outside the Forest reserves to meet their demand for fuel. This could also have the additional benefits of soil stabilization and providing fodder for livestock.
To realize these aims, there is need for intensified research in afforestation and land and forest management and in particular afforestation and tree planting in marginal and arid lands such as the Sahel. We feel that FAO and other agencies have a role to play in this. We in Kenya have started with the assistance of IDRC of Canada, research in afforestation of semi-arid lands. The greater part of Kenya is either arid or semi-arid and we therefore greatly appreciate the need for this research.
One thing to bear in mind is the environmental impact resulting from the increasing demand for wood and food. We therefore urge FAO to continue cooperation with UNDP and other bodies such as ICRAF (International Council for Research in Agro-Forestry) in order to ensure balanced development without ecological damage.
The role of women in rural development should also be accorded adequate recognition. We in Kenya have experienced the impact that women can make in rural tree planting. The National Council of Women of Kenya have embarked on an ambitious tree planting scheme and establishing a green belt that is having a very favourable effect in the rural areas. The Forest Service is doing its best to support this.
It is difficult to emphasize too strongly the importance of training. Many developing countries have tended to concentrate on training of professional and technical grades but not enough has been done for vocational training. It will be difficult to realize the recommendations contained in the Jakarta Declaration without adequate training at all levels and we look forward to assistance from the international community to bring this about, and FAO has an important role to play in this. . 1/
R. C. SOOD (India): Mr. Chairman, the Eighth World Forestry Congress with the theme "Forests for People" reaffirmed the formal declaration of the Seventh World Forestry Congress, which had as its theme 'The Forest and Socio-Economie Development’. The Eighth Congress examined in depth as to how forestry might best serve human beings individually and collectively.
The 74th Session of the FAO Council (November-December 1978) considered the "Jakarta Declaration" adopted at the Eighth World Forestry Congress held in Jakarta in October 1978 and has decided to refer it to the 20th Session of the FAO Conference for its consideration.
The Indian delegation to the Eighth World Forestry Congress, led by the Inspector-General of Forests in the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, took active part in the celebrations of the Congress as well as in the formulation of the "Jakarta Declaration". This Declaration deals innovatively with a number of issues of direct concern to all authorities including Governments, National and International Organisations, etc. concerned with the development of various aspects of forestry especially in relation to rural development. At the 74th Session of the FAO Council also, the Indian representative along with other delegates appreciated the basic tenets of the Declaration.
The Jakarta Declaration has made a number of very weighty recommendations, which are unexceptionable if the problem of forestry is to be satisfactorily solved. Forestry is an important requirement for maintaining nature's ecological balance but seems unfortunately to go by and large by default. This is due primarily to pressure of population, lack of discipline in regeneration of forests, and lastly a lack of appreciation of the need for forests by the average policy-maker, resulting in starvation of funds. What is needed perhaps is a practical, economical, down to earth answer based on identification of species which can be grown from seeds rather than seedlings, need no irrigation and can survive drought, are fast growing and are not browsed by stray cattle. The Jakarta Declaration comes not a day too soon, particularly because of its innovative approach of "Forests for the People".
The principles enunciated in the Jakarta Declaration are unexceptionable and are wholly accepted in India's forestry development plans.
The Congress declared that the World's forestsmust be maintained on a sustainable basis for the use and employment of all people. In the forest management and planning activities, India's policies are directed towards this goal.
1/. Statement inserted in the verbatim records on request.
In India since the inception of the Second Five Year Plan, efforts have been directed towards increased forest production by reaching hitherto inaccessible forests and also by resorting to man-made forest plantations. At the end of 1979, India will have an aggregate of 3. 4 million ha. of man-made forests raised during the successive development plans. The potential for sustained growth and production and expansion of man-made forests particularly in non-forest lands is still vast and efforts are being made to utilise this potential both in the short and long run.
India has launched a massive Community Forestry Programme to benefit the rural poor by providing them fuel, fodder, food, nuts, etc. within a short period. The programme envisages growing fuel wood and fodder trees along with fruit bearing trees on village common lands, canal banks, road sides and railway lines. During the 6th Plan a sum of Rs, 1150 million has been set aside for this programme. Two World Bank aided projects in social forestry, one in the State of U. P. and the other in the State of Gujarat, have been formulated.
India possesses 500 species of mammals, 2100 species of birds and over 30, 000 species of insects. To preserve the wild life, 6 national parks, 13 game sanctuaries and 24 zoological gardens have been established in India. To protect the magnificent tiger and his habitat, 9 areas have been declared as 'Project Areas'under the Project Tiger. The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 is meant for the protection and conservation of wild life.
The Congress drew attention to the necessity for the increasing needs in scientific, technological and managerial information to be met efficiently. To train Indian forestry personnel in the modern business aspect of forest resources management, the Institute of Forest Management has been established in India with assistance of the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA). FAO also is likely to be involved in this work.
As will be seen, Mr. Chairman, we, in India, have accepted the principles enunciated in the Jakarta Declaration, and would like to lend our wholehearted support to the same 1/.
R. MAROUF (Iraq): My delegation expresses its full support f or the "Jakarta Declaration' which explained the methods of utilizing forests and forestry products for the benefit of the people, in addition to raising several important issues and concepts. We hope that FAO and its member countries will cooperate to implement the concepts and ideas of the "Jakarta Declaration' for the benefit of mankind.
In this context, ι would like to draw attention to Iraq's efforts in protecting and developing forests, orchards and palm trees in recent years. With the support of the Government, and under its supervision, 10 million seedlings of forest trees and about 7 million seedlings of fruit trees and ornamental plants were produced last year, in addition to protecting and developing natural and man-made forests over an area of 30 000 hectares. Afforestation activities were expanded to conventional and desert areas for sand-dune fixation over more than 6 000 hectares. Large areas of the farm and projects owned by the Socialist Sector were covered with fruit trees. All these activities correspond with the "Jakarta Declaration''1/·
M. BCOUM (Mauritanie): Le Gouvernement de la République islamique de Mauritanie approuve et appuie la "Déclaration de Djakarta" sur la foresterie.
Mon pays est aux trois-quarts désertique et connaît depuis plus de dix ans les effets de la sécheresse qui sont venus accélérer la désertification.
Grâce à l'assistance des Etats-Unis d'Amérique et de la Fédération luthérienne mondiale, des projets de reboisement sont en cours. Le Gouvernement mauritanien a organisé une campagne de plantation d'arbres pendant les mois d'août et de septembre 1979; les couches populaires y ont participé. Malheureusement l'insuffisance des pluies a limité la portée de cette campagne.
Parmi d'autres actions entreprises par le Gouvernement mauritanien, il a été systématiquement interdit la coupe d'arbres et des sanctions très sévères sont prévues à cet effet. Mais l'ampleur de la désertification est telle en Mauritanie que le Gouvernement mauritanien envisage d'intégrer dans les projets de développement rural des actions de reboisement et de protection de la nature. Il compte également sur une assistance extérieure plus soutenue pour faire face à la désertification dévastatrice 2/.
1/ Statement inserted in the verbatim records on request.
2/ Texte reçu avec demande d'insertion au procès-verbal.
I. A. RONQUILLO (Philippines): The Philippines is one of the participating countries of the Eighth World Forestry Congress which fully subscribes to the mandates of the 'Jakarta Declaration'. There were a number of issues tackled in the Declaration which highlight the need for urgent action to safeguard the world's forest resources, among which were: ensuring the forest resources continued contribution to the control of floods and desertification; regulating water supplies for biological production; maximizing their support and important role in environmental stability; promoting the use of wood as a renewable source of energy; providing employment opportunities and contributing to rural development. The Declaration likewise called upon Governments to adopt proper land use; including reforestation;, improve the status of forest workers and expand forestry training programmes at all levels; introduce forest resource conservation; renewal and expansion programmes in order to meet growing world wood needs; and provide support and political backing to forestry administrations.
The Philippines today, with 57 percent of the total land area being forest lands are still ecologically healthy, and the plan to retain at least 40 percent of our total land area as forest lands will not alter this condition. But this does not suggest however, that we are exempted from problems brought about by forest destruction. It was because of the alarming rate of rapid depletion of our forest resources which resulted in loss of lives, destruction of property, floods and other damages that the government, through the Ministry of Natural Resources, intensified its programs for forest conservation and management.
We have around 13 million hectares of forest lands which are managed under the sustained-yield concept of forest management. In line with the State adopted policy of multiple-use sustained yield management, the government has provided for an effective system of natural regeneration thru selective logging in dipterocarp forest and seed tree method in pine forests. Activities are also conducted to regulate water supplies for biological production. There are watershed rehabilitation and selective logging.
The principal reason for the formulation and implementation of the watershed programme is to provide and safeguard the quality of water which emanates from the watersheds. Watershed rehabilitation involves vegetative and structural measures. Vegetative measures minimize erosion caused by heavy rainfall. On the other hand, the structural measures, allow silted water to settle, thereby minimizing sediments entering bigger bodies of water. They also help minimize bottom scouring and stream bank erosion, due to high stream flow.
Selective logging which is the systematic removal of mature and over mature trees is designed to leave undamaged sufficient numbers of healthy residuals to provide future harvest and prevent excessive soil erosion and surface run-off during heavy rains.
In line with this, is the limitation on log export which started in 1976 expansion of the local processing of logs and slow down in log production to slaken the pace of deforestation.
Activities presently undertaken in support of this are range management, food production in forest lands by holders of pasture leases and timber licenses. The range management activity involves the development and management of all rangelands throughout the country in support of the national drive for self-sufficiency in meat, milk and other livestock products. Most of the existing pastures are not properly utilized and developed. Some pasture areas are either understocked. Taking cognizance of this, our government has launched a programme to develop and properly manage all lands suitable for range purposes. The range management project seeks to evaluate 969, 000 hectares of forest lands covered by pasture leases in order to place them under intensive range management or to find suitable land uses for them. The Forest Industries Food Production Program, by virtue of PD 472, requires timber licenses and pasture lessees to set aside a certain portion of their area for food production for the consumption of their employees.
On maintaining their important role in environmental stability, we pursue the watershed rehabilitation, reforestation and kaingin management programs. The government has embarked on the Program for Forest Ecosystem Management (PROFEM) which is a holistic ecosystem approach to forest management. It aims to prevent irreversible consequences of destructive human activities on the forest ecosystem, renewal of degraded forest areas, increase public participation in agro-forestry activities for the production of food and wood, conservation of water and power irrigation and domestic use, minimize the effects of floods, droughts, soil erosion and other destructive factors on the ecosystem. On June 6, 1977, the President issued PD 1153, requiring every citizen, ten years old and above and not physically or mentally disabled, to plant one tree every month for five consecutive years.
In 1976, the government succeeded in reforesting 31 734 hectares of denuded forest over three times more than the previous annual average. The 1977 effort showed a reforested area increasing to 52 506 hectares level. In 1978, we have reforested around 78 425 ha. As of the middle part of this year, our reforested area reached 20 140 hectares.
Forestry statistics show that the No. 1 destroyer of forests are the shifting cultivators. Since this problem is socio-economic in nature, the government opted to harness the shifting cultivators in forest development activities rather than prosecuting them through the Forest Occupancy Management. Forest Occupancy Management aims to contain shifting cultivation thru rural development. This program involves the introduction of improvement and physical development of selected sites inside forest lands. Demonstration farms appropriate for upland agricultural production with emphasis on soil erosion control are likewise introduced to forest dwellers.
Another remedy is the "Slash and Burn" Project of the FAO/UNFPA, a multi-country project being implemented in the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Thailand. The main objective of which is to prevent further destruction of our forest resources by shifting cultivators and at the same time formulate policies/programs for the upliftment of the economic and social status of shifting cultivators.
The activities undertaken in support of this are the establishment of communal tree farms, foreign-assisted tree farm projects and studies on the feasibility of utilizing logging and millwastes for fuel. The Communal tree farming program basically involves the mobilization of families, barangays, and/or communities and local government units in each applicable city/municipality to set-up, operate and manage community tree farms/piantations to generate enough wood and other forest products to supply industries using these resources aside from providing added means of employment for thousand of Filipinos. Since the program specifies giant ipil-ipil as the species to be planted, the planting of said trees will accelerate fuel wood production needed for our energy consumption.
The establishment of energy farms in two-hectare plantations in each barangay is being specifically undertaken to generate fuel wood as a dendrothermal energy source.
The utilization of logging wastes for fuel is a project of the government which will be implemented within this year. The project is aimed at finding ways by which the amount of wood wastes available can be commercially utilized. Considering that wood wastes can be properly utilized as additional source of energy and as fuel wood and materials for secondary wood processing, foreign exchange earnings, and labor employment can be easily generated as well as conserve the fast diminishing timber resources.
There are also the on-going foreign assisted projects on Small Holders Tree Farms. Under these, farmers are given loans to start the farms of Giant ipil-ipil trees for fuel.
The Kaingin Management Program through the intercropping method practiced would provide additional income to forest dwellers. An increase in agricultural productivity would then decrease the need of forest dwellers for additional clearings in nearby forested lands. The forest occupancy program would alleviate and ameliorate conditions of forest dwellers which is part of the rural development program of the government.
The Communal Tree Farming Program is also designed to involve people in food production through agroforestry for their cash crop production and food consumption. Through this program, immediate generation of employment and additional income to the countryside is ensured while giving more meaning to government-to-people relationship.
The government is pursuing various training programs for forestry personnel. Among these are the RP-German training on reforestation and soil erosion control under which, ten training sessions have already been conducted involving about 260 BFD field personnel; the UNDP-FAO-RP training on multiple-use forest management have also been conducted for district and assistant district foresters; graduate fellowships, local and abroad, and observation and study tours.
The above activities are merely enumeration of what we in the Philippines are doing. We have formulated a forest development plan, involving other forestry activities which encompasses the means by which we can judiciously utilize, conserve and manage our forest resources for the benefit of our people 1/
1/ Statement inserted in the verbatim records on request.
Α. Ε. MARTINEZ (El Salvador): La Delegación de El Salvador desea en primer término expresar su satisfacción por la magnífica exposición que hiciera el Dr. Marco Flores Rodas sobre la Declaración de Yakarta, tema que abordó con claridad y conocimiento.
El Salvador cuenta con proyectos de desarrollo forestal localizados en la zona norte del país, áreas que han estado sometidas a procesos de degradación, originados en su mayor parte por la intervención del hombre, en unos casos por motivos de subsistencia, en otros donde ha sido necesario efectuar obras de ingeniería indispensables para el desarrollo rural. Dentro de este contexto la Dirección General de Recursos Naturales Renovables a través de su departamento Forestal y el Proyecto sobre Ordenación de Cuencas Hidrográficas aplica, desde hace una década, gran parte de las medidas contenidas en la Declaración de Yakarta, contando dentro de la labor de asesoría el apoyo y asesoría de la FAO.
Consideramos que la Declaración de Yakarta constituye un aporte sustantivo a la problemática Forestal y que merece de nuestro Gobierno el más cálido respaldo 1/.
B. O. M. CHIYABWE (Zambia): We fully endorse the Jakarta Declaration. We also agree that the resolutions cover some of the urgent actions required to be taken by man to safeguard the world’s forest resource.
It is not our wish to make a progress report regarding our activities in Zambia. However, we are tempted to do so in order to enable us to highlight a few points relevant to this particular discussion. Our experience is that political backing to forestry administration has stimulated forestry development in the rural areas. Under the mass party, the United National independence party, we have been able to acquire large tracts of forest areas which would otherwise have been put under shifting agriculture. Both Central Government and Local Authorities now accept and support the view that gazetted forest estates should not be released for shifting cultivation. This has been a break-through in our forestry administration. It is therefore our intention to raise the extent of the forest estate from 9. 5 per cent to 16. 0 per cent during the Third National Development Plant to safeguard unused land from shifting agriculture.
Although we have this political backing we still find it difficult to raise funds for resource and forest industries development. I commend those countries that are able to set aside a percentage of their revenue for future investment in forestry development. We would therefore suggest that FAO urge those member countries who have not done so to make a start 2/.
The meeting rose at 11. 50 hours.
La seance est levée à 11 h 50.
Se levanta la sesión alas 11. 50 horas.
1/ Texto incluido en las actas a petición expresa.
2/ Statement inserted in the verbatim records on request.
