I.MAJOR TRENDS AND POLICIES IN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE (continued)
I.PRINCIPALES TENDANCES ET POLITIQUES EN MATIERED'ALIMENTATION ET D'AGRICULTURE (suite)
I.PRINCIPALES TENDENCIAS Y POLITICAS EN LA AGRICULTURAY ALIMENTACION (continuación)

C. GOODING (Barbados\): My delegation would like to join with the other delegations in extending deepest appreciation to Professor Islam and his staff for the very informative, and thought-provoking document which they presented to us. In our opinion the document has done justice to a very complex subject, particularly when the difficulties experienced in obtaining data at the country level are taken into consideration.

The Barbados delegation has listened with great interest to the very useful and constructive observations which have been made by previous speakers. We would now wish to take a moment to highlight some of the areas of interest to us, and generally to share a few observations of our own.

First, let me say that we would welcome a situation where market forces would be allowed to determine prices so that both consumers and farmers could be happy at one and the same time. We recognize, however, that in a real world situation such a development is unlikely, given numerous distortions prevailing in the various economies.

It is our view that a pricing policy should not be seen as an end in itself, rather it should form part of the sectoral development policy and should be formulated in consonance with the national development policy. We feel that effective pricing policies cannot be developed on an ad hoc basis, nor can they be developed in a vacuum. Such policies must be the result of careful investigation and analysis. In other words, we fully subscribe to the views expressed at paragraph 54 of the document now before us.

This brings me to my next point. It is that this study has served to highlight a very serious problem in many developing countries. It is, in fact, the deficiency of basic statistical data. I wish to stress that this problem has far-reaching implications for overall agricultural development, from planning through to monitoring and evaluation, both at the sectoral and national level.

The severe economic pressure facing many of the developing countries dictates that available resources be used with maximum efficiency. But, is it reasonable to expect the most efficient allocation of resources in an environment where weaknesses in the agricultural information system prevail? My delegation therefore finds it necessary tò repeat a call which has been echoed at many regional and international fora before. It is, that developing countries undertake to commit some of their resources to the improvement of their agricultural information systems. Also, the international community, particularly the financial institutions, should show a much greater willingness to support projects designed to strengthen agricultural information systems at the country level. Of course, we would also wish to urge the FAO to continue to lend support and encouragement to developing countries for the improvement of national agricultural information systems.

We share the view that producer price-support schemes can be burdensome for any economy, whether developed or developing. Under the circumstances, we believe that developing countries should avoid a recourse to producer price-support schemes where possible. This view is based to a large extent on the observation that such schemes, once initiated, are extremely difficult to bring to a halt since producers become accustomed to the support, and naturally resist any effort to reduce their income.

Our delegation feels that FAO should capitalize on the interest which has been generated in the subject of agricultural pricing policy as a result of this study. We would therefore wish to join other delegations in the call for some priority to be given to follow-up action so that, to the greatest possible extent, the experience gained can be put at the disposal of the Member States of the Organization so as to help them to formulate, and implement, more effective agricultural policies.

Notwithstanding the observation made in the report that "agricultural price policy is country specific" we believe that there is scope for employing similar approaches in countries which have a sufficient degree of similarity among them. In this context, I wish to refer specifically to the Eastern Caribbean Region where there are a number of small island states with fragile, open economies and a heavy orientation towards agriculture. The agricultural sector of these States are all under pressure. Consequently, I would wish to support the call made by the Trinidad and Tobago delegation for FAO to give attention to the Caribbean region in any follow-up programme. Perhaps I may add that the head of the Barbados delegation in his address to the Plenary session of the Conference has already called for some" examination of the special problems of agricultural development in small open economies.

M. TRKULJA (Yugoslavia\): We, too, want to compliment Professor Islam for his high-level presentation of a very complex issue. Let me say first of all that Yugoslavia fully supported the FAO project on price incentive policies in the previous programming cycle. We now are even more reassured. It was an important but equally unenviable task, that of filling a very serious empirical gap in FAO and elsewhere. It is obvious that any attempt to assess the price policies of so many countries with vast differences in resource development, level of development, historical heritage, external environment in the initial stage of development, etc., is bound to incur enormous difficulties.

The methods that we use, generally speaking, are inadequate in coping with the incomprehensible complexity of factors involved in measuring prices on world agricultural production. At best our methods, no matter how sophisticated, as in the case of policy modelling in the USDA, provide a very rudimentary simulation. Furthermore, availability_t measurability and reliability of data are even more beyond the capabilities of the model used.

Finally, all our knowledge has derived mostly from the studies on individual countries at various points in time, and the results of these studies are almost uncomparable, given the differences in methods, data handling, etc. I am insisting on the difficulties in establishing as reliable as possible a relationship between production levels and prices because it represents the central element for the assessment of price policies in general, and especially soin the developing parts of the world. If this FAO study - and we are faced with a highly condensed summary of the problem -is measured against the background that I have so roughly sketched we have, we believe, all reasons to be satisfied. In our view, the study has achieved its primary goal of filling the maior empirical gaps by bringing out facts and figures for a relatively large sample of the developing countries. We hope that the solid empirical insight provided by the study will somewhat tone down the highly one-sided and, may I say, even ide logically charged theorizing that in recent years prevails in certain academic - and unfortunately not only in academic - circles.

Briefly, the study has demonstrated something that was already quite well known, that is that in most developing countries there was a price bias against agriculture for a long period. The study obviously did not venture to explain the roots and forces behind the price bias, and we understand why. However, it is broadly recognized that a price bias was historically unavoidable. The bias, . after all, at least indirectly existed in the initial stage of development in almost all industrialized countries. Developing countries, especially large developing economies, more or less copied the development model of the industrialized world. Forced industrialization seemed to be the only way out from desolation and poverty. The historical analogy seems to stop here. I have obviously no time to expand on this otherwise very interesting theme further, but let me only mention that a number of external factors only amplify the so-called emulation. First, the terms of trade for developing countries' exports of agricultural commodities were steadily deteriorating in the 50s and 60s. Further, official development assistance to agriculture was at a very low level indeed until the early 70s. Finally, in the same period, food aid covered a large part of the cereals import needs, in our view, contributed to the low profile of agriculture and the price bias against agriculture up to the early 70s.

Quite naturally, no one country in the world except the United States and, to a certain extent only, other main cereal exporters, allowed the soaring and very unstable prices in the 70s to be directly mirrored in domestic markets. For this reason alone, the world price levels are indeed a very unreliable yardstick for measuring the price performance of developing countries in the 70s. Un‐fortunately, this movement is not highlighted in the study explicitly. However, it is feasible that relative prices of cereals an the average have increased since the global cereal crisis that erupted in 1973. It has been particularly the case in recent years. Again, the same relates, to a large extent, to the prices of export crops.

Wide differences among countries are, I believe, largely the consequence of inadequate data quality and most likely, imprecise price deflators. We are generally in agreement with the main findings and recommendations in Part Two. We would have preferred a slightly greater emphasis in II.4, particularly on the central issue of the impact on input subsidies and world price effects on outgrowth. From our own experience, and we believe from the experience of the industrialized countries, it seems quite clear that input subsidies could be distinctly superior to the price effects in the initial stage of development at the lower level of technology. It is especially the case with quality seed and fertilizers. The danger of structure distortion is, in our view, more theoretical than practical. Again we feel that the temporarity of input subsidies is perhaps over‐emphasized in paragraph 198. The study has frankly admitted that it was virtually impossible to draw a reliable conclusion on the net effect of low temporary prices of cereals and the adverse effect of protectionism on developing countries.

In this regard, we want only to express our conviction that some of the studies on the trade effect like, for example, the so-called Valdez study, heavily underestimated the effect of protectionism by the OECD countries on the export earnings of the developing world. Still on protectionism, I have virtually nothing to add to what Australia stated yesterday. We fully endorse the statement made by Australia . Just to indicate that we are in almost full agreement with Parts Three and Four, we feel that both chapters are represented in a very objective way.

Finally, in our view there are two lessons to be learned. It is nothing very new, but still it concerns something that we believed before we studied these documents. The basic lesson for us is contained in paragraph 544, and indeed, I should even quote that evidence exists that global production responses to prices are large enough for prices to matter, but low enough to rule out the possibility of yielding sustained growth in agricultural production by positive pricing inducement alone. We cannot but fully agree. We agree with the following sentence, which also carries, in our view, a very important message that, in any case, it would be beyond the capacity of most developing countries to tax their relatively smaller non-agricultural sectors sufficiently to support such a price approach alone. We also fully agree with the sentence that appears under the Director-General's foreword that every country is different and that there can be no single blueprint for national price policies and associated problems.

At the end, Mr Chairman, may I add that we believe that this study, after some editing, perhaps some restructuring and more comprehensive technical notes, should be published. We would urge that it be published. We believe, as I have already mentioned, that it fills a very important and, for a long period indeed,felt gap in FAO and elsewhere. We would like to hear from Professor Islam something more about the follow-up, more than what we see in paragraphs 99-103. We are interested first of all for FAO itself. We would assume that FAO would maintain and continually update the very valuable information base with further experience that its gains in this project. So I would like to hear more details about the follow-up action by FAO.

J.M. FEINGOLD (Observer for the International Federation of Agricultural Producers): Thank you very much for giving the International Federation of Agricultural Producers, the only worldwide body of farmers' organizations, the opportunity to comment on the agenda item, price policy study. We would first like to congratulate FAO and especially Dr Islam and his team for producing this excellent document. We appreciate the tremendous amount of work that has gone into this comprehensive study and how difficult it was to obtain up-to-date facts and figures. We collaborated with FAO in a modest way and provided some inputs for the study. We regard this document as a reference book, a framework which will be very helpful to many developing countries. It will obviously be used in different ways by various countries, and I do not intend to comment on the country examples or the degree of emphasis given to the various policy options, their advantages or their constraints. Let me, however, make a number of suggestions which I hope will facilitate the use of this valuable document.

Like any comprehensive study of a complex issue, the document is very long. It is, in our view, unlikely that ministers or permanent secretaries will have the time to read it. It is in our view most important that the major decision-makers have direct access to the study and do not base their views on an interpretation of the document. We would therefore suggest that a summary be provided by FAO on the lines of the suggestions for formulating and carrying out price policy as set out in page 55 in the English text. This could then be the basic reference document and guideline for the top decision-makers.

Secondly, I must admit very frankly that we are disappointed that no reference is made to the role of farmers' organizations or to ways in which the views of farmers can be obtained. How can you know what farmers want and need, how can you assess the mood and reactions of producers, who after all are the key actors in this whole exercise, unless you find out from them, through their organizations, where they exist and what their views are? This is even more important as in many developing countries reliable and up-to-date data is so often inadequate. In any case farmers cannot be treated just as production factors or as part of data. The human reaction of farmers must be assessed, and their involvement in the policy formulation process is essential to successful policies.

Reference has been made by various speakers to immeasurable measures, such as, for instance, the quickness of payment, the reaction of women to the market conditions and methods of payment, all of which can be determined and must be determined through consultation with the producers.

we in IFAP have produced a document, "Agricultural Pricing Policy in Developing Countries: A Basic Strategy for Farmers' Organizations", which has been very favourably received, not only by our 50 member and contact organizations in the Third World. but also by international agencies, including FAO.

We are currently engaged in establishing data collecting systems based on the limited figures available in many countries, but which can nevertheless be used by farmers' organizations. This will be useful to them in presenting well-founded arguments to governments. This is especially important as in many instances urban interests are better organized and frequently exert greater influence on agricultural pricing policies than their numbers or importance warrant.

My third point refers to the mechanism which can be used to obtain the views of the various interests, both within governments and from farmers, consumers or industrialists. Various options such as price or income commissions, price advisory councils, prices and costs committees and so on, should be set up in some detail and their advantages and disadvantages set out. We maintain that in all cases farmers' representation, at least in an advisory capacity, is essential. Of course, other interests must also be represented.

We should like to point out that some substantial agricultural increases have been achieved in many countries where farmers' organizations are consulted. India, Kenya, Ivory Coast and Zimbabwe are just four examples which one can quote.

The other point I should like to make, which many previous delegates have also mentioned, is the inadequacy of data systems prevailing in many developing countries, and I am convinced that FAO has a great role to play there to assist developing countries in developing their data systems. But I must say that all this will take time, and I think FAO could also assist all of us by spelling out in some more detail how one can assess production costs and price levels with inadequate data. Anybody can do it with perfected data system common in many industrialized countries.

Finally, we hope that FAO will update this document from time to time since it is important that we follow new developments, new pricing changes and production patterns.

We hope that our suggestion will be acceptable to this Commission, that they will be included in the report, acted upon and received in the constructive spirit in which they were given.

Mr Chairman, I beg your indulgence. The Vice-President of IFAP, with your permission, would like to make a brief statement on an allied matter of farmers' consultation.

G. FLATEN (Observer for the International Federation of Agricultural Producers): Thank you for giving the observer of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers the floor after the completion of the agenda items covering the world food situation, the World Food Security Compact, the Progress Report on International Agricultural Adjustment and the Study on Agricultural Price Policies.

These are all matters of major importance to farmers and their organizations.

These are all policy items on which farmers feel they should be able to provide a significant input, both conceptually and practically. Yet there has been little consultation with farmers' groups. I know that FAO is aware and concerned over this situation. We are pleased to note that FAO is suggesting that governments set up advisory groups in their own countries regarding of price support policies. Similarly, I would say that the principle applies equally to having an advisory group of farmers working with FAO.

We listened with interest to the good discussions on well-prepared reports. However, because of the rules of FAO, observers can only participate in Commission discussions when no delegate wishes to speak. They cannot become involved in active discussions.

However, we are not proposing that FAO should change its rules. We would, however, like to propose a procedure which would enable farmers' organizations to contribute to, to consult on, and participate in, the work of FAO, especially as it relates to commodity policies.

You will find that our proposal is not unique. The procedure we will suggest is already in practice in one way or another in FAO.

We propose that the Commission recommends to the Conference that it request that the Director-General set up an advisory group or committee consisting of farmers' representatives to meet with him or his representatives and to advise him on FAO activities pertaining to agricultural commodity policies and programmes. To get this proposal under way, we propose that the FAO and the IFAP, which is the only international farmers' organization having top consultative status, meet to work out the details as to the kind of advisory committee, the nature of representation, the subject matters to be considered, the number of meetings and so on. We would expect that IFAP would advise the Director-General on the selection of such advisory committees.

Mr Chairman, we want to assure the Commission and the Director-General that the intent of this proposal is only to ensure greater cooperation between FAO and farmer representatives in our joint search for solutions to farm problems. We must remember that, while governments and FAO propose, farmers are expected to implement these proposals.

Mr Chairman, our proposal is in line with the call we heard at this Conference for greater people's participation.

While we realize that delegates are not in a position to give formal approval to this proposal, we would appreciat-e support for the principle of farmer involvement in the commodity policy process.

E. PARDO (Argentina\): Hemos analizado con particular interés el documento C 85/19, especialmente los párrafos 90 a 98: "Orientaciones para las políticas futuras en los países desarrollados".

A esos temas nos hemos referido repetidamente en esta Comisión. Al respecto, hemos suministrado oportunamente algunas cifras relativas a las consecuencias perjudiciales de las políticas internas de precios agrícolas de algunos de los países desarrollados y la organización e integración que algunos de esos países desarrollados han originado sobre nuestras exportaciones.

Por otra parte, Sr. Presidente, sabemos que es difícil hacerlo, pero resultaría de particular interés, no sólo para los países en desarrollo, sino sobre todo para los países desarrollados, que estudios como el que estamos analizando incluyeran también cuánto cuestan en términos de oportunidad

las políticas agrícolas de los países desarrollados. Sería interesante explicitar cuánto le cuesta al respecto a los consumidores y especialmente a los que tienen que pagar impuestos a países a que antes hacíamos referencia al afrontar niveles tan irreales de precios en relación con los predomi‐nantes en el mercado internacional.

Sr. Presidente, coincidimos con las espectativas sobre comercio internacional más libre, que se expresan en los párrafos 441 al 449, aunque deberíamos ser bastante escépticos, a la luz del resultado obtenido en el marco histórico de las negociaciones del GATT, en lo que respecta al multilateralismo y a la libertad de mercado en el sector de los productos agropecuarios.

M.A. MAHAMAT (Tchad): Je vous remercie sincèrement de m'avoir autorisé à prendre la parole pour la première fois au sein de cette Commission I qui revêt une importance capitale pour ma délégation.

Je profite de l'occasion qui m'est offerte pour vous adresser toutes mes félicitations pour votre élection à la présidence de cette Commission.

Je voudrais rendre un hommage mérité au Secrétariat de la FAO qui nous a soumis un document excellent de réflexion sur les politiques agricoles.

Il est exact que les politiques cohérentes des prix conditionnent le développement et l'accroissement des productions agricoles et en cela le document C 85/19 ne souffre d'aucune ambiguïté.

Comme cela était stipulé dans le document il est impossible d'instaurer un système de politiques de prix uniforme pour tous les pays qui, par contre, doivent s'inspirer de cette analyse afin de mettre sur pied un cadre propre aux réalités des pays.

Compte tenu des effets néfastes de la sécheresse qui sévit dans le Sahel depuis plus d'une décennie, les pays membres du CILSS ont déjà songé au rôle des prix agricoles qui ont été l'objet d'un colloque tenu en 1979 à Nouackchott.

La situation de l'agriculture dans mon pays, surtout dans le domaine de la production vivrière, est au stade traditionnel car les cultures vivrières ne bénéficient pas de tous les intrants indispensables à son exploitation et les rendements sont fonction de l'action des paysans. Cela est évidemment le résultat du système des monocultures de coton instauré depuis la colonisation. Dans ce contexte les prix des produits agricoles jouent un rôle important sur la vie des paysans et des consommateurs. La plupart des paysans vendent prématurément leurs récoltes aux commerçants qui en retour les leur revendent trois à quatre mois plus tarda des prix doubles, voire triples du prix d'achat. Cette situation maintient les paysans dans des conditions alimentaires difficiles ce qui les oblige à recourir à des racines sauvages qui sont souvent la source d'intoxications.

Pour faire face à cette situation persistante, les paysans du CILSS ont mis en place dans leurs pays respectifs des offices nationaux de céréales qui ont pour rôle l'achat des produits nationaux à la fin des campagnes à des prix favorables aux producteurs; assurer le stock céréalier alimentaire et régulariser les prix du marché en période de soudure.

Cette action est une étape très importante dans la recherche des voies et des moyens susceptibles de contrôler les prix des producteurs et des consommateurs.

Pour ce faire, nous souhaitons que la FAO, à la lumière des réflexions contenues dans le document, puisse aider nos pays à résoudre leurs difficultés alimentaires en tenant compte effectivement de la spécificité des pays et de la complexité des problèmes liés aux prix agricoles afin d'améliorer les conditions de vie de nos populations.

J.S. NIELSEN (Denmark\): I apologize for intervening for the second time. I shall be brief. The reason for my second intervention is that I listened with great interest to the speech just made by the Observer from the International Federation of Agricultural Producers, and I wonder whether in

the past there has been sufficient contact between FAO and the farmers' organization in formulating and preparing the very interesting documents we have had on price policies. Although we do not believe that the Conference would be ready to request the Director-General to set up a formal advisory body on the matter just now, we think in general it is important that there is a current contact between international secretariats, national administrations and professional organizations in order to improve quality of analyses and in order to facilitate political decisions.

We will be intervening on this and on the item on NGOs in Commission II later this morning. We do so because we also think that providing current analyses from the external environment, farmers' organizations and NGOs can enhance the updating and orientation of the Programme of Work and Budget of FAO.

CHAIRMAN: The Secretariat will answer the point you have raised later on.

M.S. HALABI (Syria\) (original language Arabic): On behalf of my country's delegation I would like to thank Professor Islam for the excellent presentation he gave us concerning price policies. I would also like to thank the Secretariat of the Organiztion for the considerable efforts they have undertaken in order to prepare this document on price policies, because we are all fully aware of the tremendous difficulties facing any one who wishes to grapple with such a complicated and difficult problem as this one.

Any assessment of price policies will be likely to help us overcome a large number of problems with which we are faced, and will contribute, without any doubt whatsoever, to ease the task of fixing prices and settle trading problems which have an impact on food security and agricultural or food production. While discussing this document on the analysis of price policies, we would put forward the hope that the Organization will be in a position to draft recommendations and positive and concrete suggestions which will be put into practice at all levels, be they national, regional or international.

I would like to support the suggestions contained in this document. I would also like to support the recommendations contained therein regarding the improvement of price policies. These are proposals which are practical and comprehensive, and which allow us to solve these problems, particularly in developing countries. I would like to support the suggestion made by the observer from IFAP who made the request to FAO, asking it to prepare a summary of proposals concerning price policies contained in the document. This would enable us to take decisions more easily and help us in adopting measures to improve our price policies. We also give full support to what was said by the representative of IFAP, namely, that it is necessary to be more aware of agricultural producers and not to consider them as mere factors in the production process. They must be involved as well. We must have a global information system and I support this proposal as well. This would allow us to sustain a proper price policy.

R. PRINS (Canada\): My delegation would like to intervene a second time to lend its general support to the statement by the representative of IFAP. In particular we encourage the development of mechanisms whereby a greater dialogue can take place between the Secretariat and farmers' groups. Nevertheless, we feel the idea of new bodies should be considered with the utmost caution.

CHAIRMAN: May I inform the Commission that the distinguished delegate of Madagascar has requested me to include his statement in the verbatim report so that the statement made by Madagascar will be included in our proceedings.

I. MARINCEK (Switzerland): The distinguished delegate of Argentina asked a question about the cost to the consumer of price policies in developed countries. With respect to Switzerland , I would just like to add that it is true that the consumer pays a higher price than on the world market.

On the other hand, the consumer's share of the expense with respect to food is decreasing in Switzerland and the share of the budget allocated to agriculture is also decreasing, so that the consumer only contributes to the payment. It is not small for our farmer, but is no hardship on his side.

N. ISLAM (Assistant Director-General, Economic and Social Policy Department): We in the Secretariat are grateful to the delegations for the appreciation which has been expressed for the document on agricultural price policies. We hope this document will be of some help to member countries in the course of analysis and formulation of their price policies at country levels.

We agree with those delegates who have emphasized that there is no universally valid model applicable to all countries at all stages for an appropriate pricing policy. The debates here have indicated a wide diversity of conditions depending on the stages of development, structure of economy, multiplicity of objectives and instruments or policies at their disposal.

The distinguished delegate of New Zealand in fact went on to elaborate an alternative way of looking at analysis of price policies in countries at different stages of development and spoke of countries moving from the stage of food sufficiency to that of food efficiency. There are obviously alternative ways of looking at and analyzing this highly complex and intricate subject.

Comments were made that in our analysis of the developed country price policy we had not been sufficiently careful in distinguishing between various groups of developed countries. As you will recall, Mr Chairman, in fact this was a point made in the Committee on Agriculture where the treatment was even more abbreviated and in summary form as far as developed countries' price policies were concerned. Here we have tried to expand on this treatment, and apparently it is not enough. Expansion has to go further in distinguishing between groups of countries. We agree that the small countries which do not have much influence in world trade therefore do not destabilize or depress world prices. In fact, one can distinguish three groups of countries, if you like; of course, you can classify them in different ways. The first group will be those which restrict imports and achieve self-sufficiency but do not allow access to the domestic market of imports of, let us say, basic foodstuffs or cereals. The second group one can think of include those who not only restrict access to their domestic market of imported foodstuffs or cereals, but in addition allow self-sufficiency to proceed beyond the level of domestic need and produce export surplus, and then they resort to subsidies to dispose of the surpluses on the world market.

Third group of countries we can think of are those which export a large or a major proportion of their domestic output of specific commodities. Even though they do not usually pursue import restrictions for commodities which they import, they pursue import restrictions as much or more than the other two groups. It may be interesting to pursue this classification and its implications in the future for the analysis of trade policies. Their impact on world trade naturally has differing degrees of intensity, but they do all affect it in different ways.

As far as the treatment in the document of the developed country pricing policy on the world market, including stability and price levels, is concerned, our treatment of the data on and the estimation of subsidy equivalents and nominal protection has been questioned. As I explained in my intervention on an earlier item, we agree with many of the comments made on the subsidy equivalents and intend to improve, expand and further revise the estimation of subsidy equivalents in cooperation with the EEC and OECD. Specific comments were made that they were not updated, that the commodities covered in the estimates of some of these magnitudes were very limited in number and that there were other important commodities for which we should also have made similar estimates. Both these points are well taken, We intend to do so in our future work, and we are very grateful for the offer of assistance made by the distinguished delegate from the EEC, and also earlier by the distinguished delegate from the OECD. We shall certainly be in touch with them to improve our work in this respect. We are also very grateful to the distinguished delegate from the EEC for giving us additional information on some features of the Lomé Convention relating to the access of the Lomé countries to the markets of the EEC.

As far as the analysis of the impact of protection of trade liberalization on developing countries is concerned, the various estimates given are taken from published studies which we have quoted in the document. We agree, of course, that these quantitative estimates indicate orders of magnitude and directions of change. Not necessarily all the figures have to be taken with any degree of precision.

Of course, with the change of assumptions and change of coverage of commodities we have different results. Most of the studies, since they have dealt with specific commodities, one to three or four in number, do not give the results which will be obtained if you analyze liberalization on a broad front, instead of just on cereals or two or three commodities. Therefore, the impact on various developing countries in terms of gains and losses will be radically different if you consider liberalization, not of cereals or one or two dairy products, but a whole range of agricultural products. For example, studies have been made - I can quote a recent study in a World Bank document - of the liberalization of trade by the OECD countries with respect to imports on sugar and veal and beef; these three commodities were analyzed. In the case of sugar, the estimated effects in terms of the increase in export revenue of developing countries, if restrictions on sugar were abolished, is about US$5 billion a year, an average of 1979-81. For veal and beef, the average annual estimate of increaded export revenues is also about US$5 billion. So increased earnings from these two commodities would add slightly more than US$10 billion a year to the export revenue of developing countries.

I am just illustrating how the estimates will be different if you start considering different kinds of commodities. So in a comprehensive analysis of the impact of liberalization of trade on developing countries, results would be very different from the various figures we have quoted in the document that aro limited to a few commodities only.

Comment was made that the document seems to advocate complete free trade. It must be a misunderstanding because we made it very clear that it is not realistic or even necessarily efficient. In fact, the average taken on the subject of trade liberalization is given in paragraphs 443 to 445 very clearly. It says that we are suggesting mainly marginal changes, and the marginal changes could also make improvements, in.some cases significant improvements, in orderly expansion of trade.

Questions were asked that the document seems to consider that protectionism is the only factor contributing to fluctuations in agricultural prices in the world market. We are sorry if that is the impression given. The document was analyzing the impact of only one factor in world prices, i.e. pricing policies in developed countries, not the impact of all the factors which could possibly contribute to the instability of agricultural prices in world markets. Obviously, there are many more factors.

One of the distinguished delegates referred to the variations in the exchange rates and their impact on price variations in world trade. Obviously that is a very important factor. In fact, a few years ago the FAO Commodity Review and Outlook analyzed the impact of exchange rate variations on world trade.

The distinguished delegate from India made a number of very interesting observations. I would only take up three of them and, in fact, I agree with them. The first point was that we should not take the year to year changes in "price bias" or terms of trade as an indicator or a basis for any policy changes. Obviously one has to analyze any sustained price bias over a number of years before any corrective policy is undertaken. Short-term changes need not necessarily suggest policy changes.

The second point made was that we should not merely analyze the impact of output price policy on agricultural performance, i.e., just related changes in output price or in output price bias to production performance. We should also relate - and appropriately so - changes in the output input price ratios to changes in production in order to evaluate the impact of price policies on agricultural production. This point is well taken.

Now the third point mentioned was that the document does advocate, in order to cushion the impact of rising producer prices, on the poor, narrowly targeted consumer subsidy programmes, for example, and

indicates how difficult it is to design and implement a narrowly targeted subsidy programme. We entirely agree with that. In fact, we are planning to hold a workshop in 1986 precisely on this subject, i.e. how to devise an operationally feasible programme to improve the access of the poor to food.

The distinguished delegate from Sweden made a very appropriate point that for policy changes to be really effective over the long run, they must be gradual, well planned and implemented over a period of time on a broad front, not just in terms of price policies. This is precisely the kind of inter-relationships between price policy changes and other non-price factors which we hope the document has sought to emphasize. In fact we are planning to study recent experiences in a number of countries. Some of them have undertaken significant policy changes, involving a wide range of policies, including pricing policies and exchange rate policies, etc., and we hope that we can derive some lessons from these studies for the use of other developing countries.

What are the plans for the future regarding the follow-up of this study? As we have stated at the end of our document, the emphasis will now shift from global analysis and global studies to work at the country level, such as assisting or cooperating with developing countries in the collection and improvement of price data, in assisting them in undertaking an analysis of their national price policies, and in training national staff for such analytical work, so that they can themselves analyze cost and benefits of alternative policies. Also we intend to promote an exchange of experience among developing countries, not only in terms of the formulation of policies but also in terms of the implementation of such policies.

Now as far as this present document is concerned, our intention is to publish it, obviously taking into account some of the comments made at this Commission meeting. We shall revise and then publish it in the form of a book, elaborating some of the technical details.

As far as the Secretariat's future work on the analysis of policies is concerned, we certainly intend to maintain and update the data which, with great difficulty and great effort, we have collected over the last year. We try to improve it, to better determine the "price bias" which we have now estimated for the past ten or eleven years, and do monitor the changes to the extent we can for the various countries overt time.

Secondly, we also intend to follow, by monitoring and keeping in touch, policy changes in various countries and, after an adequate interval of time, attempt to assess their experience.

Thirdly, as and when we are able to collect a sufficient amount of information on policy changes and make an assessment of their impact, we will publish it in a special chapter on the State of Food and Agriculture. As distinguished delegates are aware, we do have a special chapter in our Annual Publication, (SOFA) and one of the special chapters after a number of years could be this particular topic. Also we would monitor some of these developments in the course of our progress report on International Agricultural Adjustment.

I should also like to mention that we intend to promote and organize national and regional workshops, wherever feasible, on pricing policies. I can report to the distinguished delegates that we are already doing it. Next month we shall have a regional workshop on the same subject in Damascus in Syria . We have already held national workshops in Yemen and the Sudan . In Egypt we will hold one in 1986; in Sudan we had one in 1984. We had a regional consultation in the Asia and Pacific region in 1984.

The distinguished delegate from Denmark raised the issue of whether we had any consultation with IFAP in the course of the preparation of the price policy study. Yes, we had consultations with them. In fact, we had some material for them on this subject and on some countries' national experiences. Also there is a IFAP publication dealing with a conference held in New Delhi . We had access to it and we used this material in the preparation of our study. As you know, they have a consultative status with FAO and we have occasions to discuss such matters with them.

CHAIRMAN: I thank Professor Nurul Islam for this response to some of the points raised by the delegates. I hope you are satisfied.

E. PARDO (Argentina\): Lamento volver a hacer uso de la palabra pero no quería dejar sin referirme a la amable alusión que hizo recientemente la distinguida delegación de Suiza.

Sr. Presidente: Al respecto nos alegramos que la política de precios interna Helvética tenga tan buenos resultados respecto a los campesinos de este país. Nosotros nos referimos en nuestra intervención al costo de oportunidad de la política de precios agrícolas interna de algunos de los países desarrollados, y me permitiré al respecto, coincidir en términos de bienestar económico global con cuanto nos han enseñado repetidamente los economistas más ilustres de economía de mer‐cado, incluyendo los de Suiza.

R. RABE (Madagascar): La délégation malgache voudrait féliciter le Secrétariat pour la qualité du document C/85/19 et se réjouit de sa'grande utilité pour les Etats Membres dans la formulation et la mise en oeuvre de leur politique de prix agricoles. Malgré le caractère excessivement compliqué du sujet, le Secrétariat a pu adapter une méthodologie qui permet de faire ressortir les éléments déterminants en matière de politique des prix agricoles. Nous sommes convaincus que l'exploitation des résultats de cette étude exhaustive permettra aux Etats Membres d'amender ou de consolider leur politique nationale de prix et ce faisant d'apporter une amélioration sensible de leur production agricole et alimentaire.

Le but à atteindre est en fait d'une part d'assurer un environnement favorable aux petits agriculteurs responsables de la sécurité alimentaire dans les PVD, et d'autre part de garantir l'accès aux nourritures des couches les plus pauvres de la population. Les difficultés résident dans le fait que les intérêts des producteurs et ceux des consommateurs sont souvent en conflit et les PVD sont dans l'incapacité d'exercer une quelconque influence sur l'évolution des prix sur les marchés internationaux.

Les Etats peuvent, sinon éviter, du moins réduire l'intensité du conflit entre les intérêts indiqués ci-dessus en améliorant la maîtrise des critères à prendre en considération lors de la fixation des différents prix notamment en développant un système d'information approprié mais ils ne peuvent que subir les contrecoups des mesures négatives adoptées par les Pays développés.

En prenant le cas de Madagascar, la chute vertigineuse des prix du sucre , du café et du caco et les mesures protectionnistes appliquées pour la viande de boeuf ont annihilé les efforts du Gouvernement pour soutenir vigoureusement les paysans producteurs de ces denrées. Pour éviter le pire, le Gouvernement a dû consentir des sacrifices énormes et ponctionner dangereusement son budget afin de combler les déficits des exploitants • Les conséquences immédiates de ces mesures sont le ralentissement des efforts de développement et la détérioration des moyens de production.

Nous souhaitons vivement un redressement rapide de la situation car la diminution de nos recettes d'exportation, outre les problèmes internes que cela a entraîné,nous met dans la quasi-impossibilité de faire face aux lourds services de nos dettes extérieures.

Comme la majorité des PVD, nous avons mis en oeuvre des mesures draconiennes d'ajustement structurel en réduisant ou en supprimant des subventions et en revisant en hausse les prix des denrées mais il nous faut, en même temps résoudre des problèmes graves de réhabilitation des infrastructures. En effet, il nous faut ouvrir de nouvelles routes rurales, assurer l'entretien du réseau roucier existant, il nous faut réhabiliter l'ensemble du réseau hydroagricole pour une meilleure maîtrise de l'eau, il nous faut renforcer notre système de stockage et j'en passe. En somme, il nous faut disposer de moyens financiers conséquents pour la réalisation de ces programmes si vitaux pour assurer un environnement encourageant aux agriculteurs. L'amélioration des prix, des produits d'exportation et l'augmentation des recettes y afférentes, le rééchelonnement à long terme de nos dettes extérieures, l'obtention de financement à des conditions de faveur, l'aide alimentaire pour le développement accordée aux couches les plus pauvres de la population, seraient un ensemble de mesures qui nous permettraient d'aller de l'avant.

Pour revenir aux problèmes de formulation et d'exécution des politiques des prix, notre délégation partage les commentaires et observations contenus dans le document. Compte tenu de la complexité du sujet, nous appuyons fermement le rôle que la FAO doit remplir pour aider les Etats dans la formulation et la mise en oeuvre de leur politique de prix, rôle décrit dans les paragraphes 99 à 103 du document C 85/19 et que priorité soit réservée à ces actions dans le Programme de l’Organisation.1/

CHAIRMAN: That brings us to the end of our intervention on this agenda item. I will just provide a small summary of our discussions. More than 50 delegates spoke on this agenda item, which took us about six hours to complete. In general, the delegates welcomed the study undertaken by FAO on pricing policy, and agreed it was a useful exercise. Of course, some delegates pointed out areas of deficiencies of which the Secretariat has taken note. The delegates noted the important conclusions and recommendations drawn up from the study and agreed that these should be implemented by countries and international organizations.

The delegates welcomed the future action that FAO will take and asked FAO to particularly assist the developing countries in drawing up and implementing an appropriate pricing policy, particularly in the areas of data collection, also in the improvement of the agricultural information system regarding various commodities. The delegates requested FAO to give priority to follow-up action and report to the next Committee on Agriculture and to the Conference. I think these are the highlights of what the delegates said. We shall leave the rest of the Drafting Committee to prepare their report. So, that concludes our discussion on this agenda item.

M.A. FLORES RODAS (Subdirector General, Departamento de Montes): El Consejo, en su reciente sesión, instruyó a la Secretaría para presentar este punto sobre el Noveno Congreso Forestal Mundial y el Manifiesto de México. Los documentos de referencia son el C 85/LIM/20, y el documento que se refiere directamente al Manifiesto de México es el C 85/INF/15.

El Noveno Congreso Forestal Mundial, Sr. Presidente, se reunió en la ciudad de México del 1 al 10 de julio de este año, al cual asistieron más de 2 200 participantes, entre ellos 34 ministros de 105 países. Coincidiendo con el Congreso se celebraron varias reuniones satélites, entre ellas una consulta de expertos de la FAO sobre la función de la silvicultura en la lucha contra la desertificaron, y una reunión del Comité Asesor de la FAO sobre enseñanza forestal. Se realizaron viajes de estudio, previos y después del Congreso, por México, Estados Unidos, Cuba, Honduras , Nicaragua y Costa Rica.

El Congreso fue inaugurado por el señor Presidente de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos, con la asistencia del Director General y el Secretario de Agricultura y Recursos Hidráulicos de México, quienes pronunciaron sendas declaraciones ante el Congreso, cuyo tema central era los recursos forestales en el desarrollo integral de la sociedad.

Se organizaron debates sobre diversas cuestiones; el tema, las actividades forestales y su función en el desarrollo, se examinó en sesiones plenarias y tres comisiones técnicas se ocuparon de las tendencias y nuevas aportaciones en lo relativo a protección y manejo de los recursos forestales, producción y productividad e instituciones y desarrollo rural. Todas las discusiones se realizaron en el marco de las preocupaciones del mundo actual: la crisis de la pobreza en el mundo en desarrollo, manifestada en el hambre y la malnutrición, la escasez de la leña, el desempleo y el aumento

de la deuda exterior que exacerba la destrucción y degradación de los bosques tropicales y acelera la desertificación de las regiones áridas, la crisis ambiental en parte del mundo, particularmente la contaminación atmosférica de la que la lluvia acida es la más divulgada, por cuanto es la causa principal de la destrucción de los bosques en las zonas templadas de Europa y de América del Norte.

El Manifiesto de México resume las conclusiones, recomendaciones y llamamientos del Congreso. No se hizo ninguna recomendación dirigida específicamente a la FAO, no obstante lo cual el Congreso reconoció y apoyó las políticas, estrategias y programas de la FAO en el sector forestal.

Quisiera llamar la atención, Sr. Presidente, particularmente a los siguientes puntos del Manifiesto: primero, la recomendación del Consejo de la FAO de que el Congreso prestara atención especial a la conservación y la debida utilización de los recursos forestales, fue advertido oportunamente. Convencido el Congreso de que el Año Internacional del Bosque declarado por dicho Consejo de la FAO, proporcionaba una oportunidad única para el examen de los problemas forestales mundiales. El Congreso exhortaba a los gobiernos a que apoyaran los objetivos del Año Internacional del Bosque, de la FAO cuyo éxito depende en su mayor parte de las iniciativas nacionales y locales.

Declaró que el Plan de Acción en los bosques tropicales, que fue aprobado por el Comité de la FAO de desarrollo forestal en los trópicos, justifica una acción urgente y el apoyo general de todos los organismos y personas interesadas.

Apoyó asimismo la Resolución de la Conferencia Regional de la FAO para Europa celebrada en Reykjavik en septiembre de 1984, referente a los impactos de la contaminación atmosférica sobre los bosques, y además sugiere la creación de un fondo mundial para el desarrollo y la protección forestal, especialmente para ayudar a los países en desarrollo.

En este sentido, Sr. Presidente, el documento C 85/LIM/20 hace suyos algunos de los puntos expresados en la introducción.

CHAIRMAN: I thank Dr Flores Rodas, Assistant Director-General of the Forestry Department for his introduction to this agenda item.

E. REYES BRAVO (México): Ante todo, Sr. Presidente, deseamos felicitar al Dr. Flores Rodas por su excelente presentación del tema y sus expresiones amables para nuestro país y la organización del Congreso. En consonancia con la decisión del Consejo de transmitir a esta Conferencia el Manifiesto de México para su adopción mediante una Resolución, la delegación de México se honra en poner a la consideración de esta Comisión un proyecto de Resolución en ese sentido, que dice lo siguiente:

La Conferencia,

Reafirmando la importancia del Noveno Congreso Forestal Mundial, celebrado en México en julio de 1985, que constituye un esfuerzo significativo de la Comunidad Internacional para el desarrollo, promoción y aprovechamiento racional y equitativo de los recursos naturales renovables.

Recordando la Resolución 2/86 del Consejo de la FAO que 'declaró 1985 Año Internacional del Bosque, llamando la atención en que "La destrucción de los bosques se ha convertido en uno de los mayores problemas de la humanidad, y que es necesario la conservación y uso racional de los recursos forestales del mundo".

Reconociendo el valor que el Manifiesto de México tiene como documento fundamental de actualidad en el que se resumen la importancia de los bosques, tanto en la protección del ambiente como en la contribución al desarrollo.

Tomando nota con satisfacción que los programas de FAO en el sector forestal coinciden completamente con el contenido y el espíritu del Manifiesto de México:

1. Adopta el Manifiesto de México.

2. Insta a los gobiernos de los Estados Miembros para que dichos principios y directrices se reflejen adecuadamente en sus inversiones, planes y programas silvícolas nacionales.

3. Invita a organismos e instituciones internacionales a promover la observancia de los principios contenidos en el Manifiesto y a apoyar financieramente el desarrollo y el aprovechamiento integral de los bosques.

Este proyecto será entregado a usted para que lo haga llegar al Comité de Resoluciones con el objeto de que se siga el procedimiento a que haya lugar.

No puedo dejar de manifestar el agradecimiento del Gobierno de México a la FAO, y en especial al Departamento de Montes por su valiosa asistencia en la organización del Congreso.

D. KINZEL (Austria\) (original language German): First of all, I would like to thank Mr Flores Rodas for the excellent introduction he gave to this subject. Forests are suffering from an increasing burden throughout the world, and according to FAO estimates we must reckon with a deforestation rate which will account for more than 110 000 square kilometres in the developing countries per annum. A further fact is that we have very damaging air pollution in the European countries, which has become the number-one problem for our woods and forests. In wide areas of Europe the very existence of our woods and forests are threatened. Therefore, in assessing and applying technologies and installing new production processes and production plants, it is essential to assess their impact on the environment and make this the basis for any decisions on to use such technologies.

The need to adapt thinking and action in our societies to the requirements of our ecosystems is particularly vital today because environmental damage is often irreparable. If human society is still to have any environment which makes life worth living tomorrow, then we must combine what is economically desirable with what is ecologically necessary.

It is a fact that in so doing, we are dealing with a problem which is only partially capable of solution through forestry activity of various kinds. It is important to undertake initiatives in forestry policy to provide a socio-political base which encourages a positive attitude toward our woods and forests by the people.

Austria has adopted a number of measures to protect our woods and forests against environmental pollution. In order to protect our woods and conserve them, on the 1st January 1976, following the development of our traditional laws, we adopted a comprehensive and modern law for our forests In this law, we find provisions to combat the air pollution that has such a damaging effect on our woods and forests. The activities which were undertaken in Austria before the World Forestry Congress and which have been known to the public on various occasions and have been presented to various international bodies such as the World Forestry Congress in Mexico will be given increasing attention in pur country in the future. For instance, I would mention by way of example the following points: the implementation of energy conservation programmes; the use of energy resources, raw materials and products resulting in low pollution levels; the establishment of plants to purify exhaust fumes; the use of unleaded petrol; the implementation of strict provisions on exhaust gases in transport, and the limitation of speed limits to reduce exhaust fumes from transport. Unfortunately science still does not give us enough information about the causes which have led to the dying of our woods and forests. It is still often not clear which pollutants are mainly responsible for the damage which has occured. Research will therefore have to deal very compre‐hensively with all of these interrelated factors. In order to supervise and control damage in our forests, a so-called bio-indicator network was established to allow us to investigate the disposition of pollutants in the leaves and needles of our trees and an inventory of the state of our forests which takes into account the crowns of our trees and thereby allows us to make deductions about the degree of damage which has occurred in our woods and forests was created.

Each and every country will have to fight against pollution which is produced in that same country. The reduction of long-distance emissions and pollutants requires international cooperation, of course. Above all, it will be necessary to see to it that international agreements are reached on long-distance trans-frontier air pollution accompanied by concrete provisions to reduce the emission of pollutants. It is important that the world acknowledges the importance of the establishment of an environmental fund, as was suggested by our Federal Minister Haydn, for the creation of preservation, conservation and reforestation programmes, for the prevention of the loss of forest areas, and for the granting of long-term credits at low interest rates for this purpose.

The Austrian Federal Government has declared 1985 to be the year of Forest, and this has been proclaimed by the FAO at an international level also. We must act quickly because our woods and forests are in a dangerous state. In the international field we have to adopt the necessary measures as quickly as possible in order to promote international cooperation, to promote our woods and forests. This is an urgent demand of our day and age. This is a worldwide, global necessity. As far as the Trenth World Forestry Conference is concerned, we are aware of the fact that the decision as to where this conference should be held must be taken by the FAO. I would like to emphasize once again that my country is extremely interested in the organization of this important congress.

CHAIRMAN: I thank the distinguished delegate of Austria for his statement. I think the Secretariat has taken note of your offer.

A.F. de SA BARBUDA (Brazil): Given the very large extent of forest in the Brazilian territory, among which is two thirds of the largest tropical forest in the world, Brazil places high priority on this sector. The Brazilian Government has already developed and is currently implementing a broad programme related to the proper conservation and utilization of forests for the production of food and rural development. In the same context, Brazil has also benefited from. very significant assistance from international organizations in this field.

As is rightly mentionned in document C 85/4 on the review of field programmes, Brazil provides an interesting example of large-scale multi-fronted projects. FAO provides assistance to Brasilian institutions for these projects through UNDP funding. It started in 1971 and is currently in its fifth phase. The project has contributed, among other things, to the establishment of a chain of forestry education centres and to the assessment of our forest resources.

In spite of the achievements already reached, the Brazilian Government is conscious of the constant attention and priorities that the forestry sector deserves. Therefore, at this point the Brazilian delegation reiterates its support for the Manifesto approved by the Ninth World Forest Congress, especially in regard to the twenty-three principles and guidelines on forestry policies and strategies which are in accordance with our national policies. Conservation and proper utilization of forests should be the goal of any national state with forest resources within its geographical area. Assistance from international organizations should be welcomed whenever needed and requested in specific areas of interests to these states.

As a result, we support the Council's proposal to adopt the Manifesto of Mexico by a Conference resolution. Before defining our position on the creation of a fund for the development and the environmental protection of forests, a proposal that we support in principle, however we do believe that additional information on the Fund's structure should be provided.

T. KATIYA (Japan\): At the outset, my delegation would like to thank Mr Flores Rodas for the excellent presentation of this important agenda item. We fully recognize that the conservation of forests and the development of forestry are quite important, not only in maintaining a favourable environment for agricultural production, but also in improving the standard of

living for rural people. Therefore, we strongly hope that the activities in the field will be further strengthened. We appreciate very much the successful results of the Ninth World Forestry Congress in Mexico , and we are very pleased with the Manifesto of Mexico because it clearly identifies current problems in the field of forests and forestry, and it indicates the proper direction in tackling these problems. Therefore, we can support it in general.

However, we would like to draw your attention to the reservation which the Japanese delegation expressed to the Congress with regard to the proposal for the establishment of a world fund for the development and the environmental protection of forests. Although our reservation is missing in the footnotes of the text of that Manifesto, it was actually made at the Congress together with the Federal Republic of Germany My delegation fully understands the objective of the proposal which seeks to promote assistance to the developing countries in the field of conservation of forests and the development of forestry. However, we are afraid that the new fund will not necessarily bring about effective and efficient results, but it might be rather result in unnecessarily increasing administrative costs. Although we have no intention of hindering the adoption of the Manifesto at the Conference, we request the Secretariat to clearly mention in the report of the Conference our reservation concerning the proposal for the establishment of the new fund.

Before my closing remarks, my delegation has the pleasure of mentioning that my country will continue to make every effort to assist developing countries in this field.

F. FERNANDEZ de ANA MAGAN (España): Vamos a ser breves. Sin embargo, queremos intervenir para apoyar la presentación de este documento, agradecer su presentación e insistir una vez más, como ya lo hemos hecho en las reuniones del Grupo Europeo en Islandia y después en México, en nuestra gran preocupación por el tema de los incendios forestales.

Vemos con cierto disgusto, Sr. Presidente, que este documento, que habíamos examinado ya en México, 'da una cierta preferencia al tema de la contaminación ambiental. Estamos de acuerdo con el colega de Austria, en el sentido de la gran preocupación que los países centroeuropeos vienen teniendo por el tema; pero los países mediterráneos, todos aquellos de clima mediterráneo, ponen su preocupación además en el incendio, en el fuego y en el monte. Y esto, no sólo por la destrucción de la riqueza maderera, sino por la destrucción del ambiente, del medio ecológico forestal, que es más grave todavía.

En este sentido insistimos en que no nos gusta demasiado la redacción de los párrafos 18 y 19, en los que nos da la sensación de reforzar de alguna manera el tema de la contaminación de la lluvia ácida y el tema de la contaminación ambiental; dejando en cambio un poco desvalido el tema de las provocaciones de incendios.

Estos factores bióticos no funcionan aisladamente; todo su conjunto es el que interviene en la destrucción del bosque y las plagas, los incendios y la contaminación ambiental, empeorando así cada vez más la situación y destrucción del bosque.

No sé si sería procedente que en la última parte, cuando el manifiesto habla de lo que se debe conce- der y aceptar en materia forestal, eso se debía de haber redactado en presente, ya que se reconoce y acepta esa responsabilidad en los sectores forestales. Por lo demás, nos parece perfecto el presentareste documento y que lo apruebe esta Conferencia de la FAO.

G. FRADIN (France): La France a activement participé aux travaux du Congrès forestier de Mexico , et le Ministre délégué de l'agriculture et des forêts, M. Souchon, s'est rendu lui-même au Mexique pour participer á ces travaux. Il va de soi que la délégation française appuie les conclusions du Congrès et le Manifeste de Mexico qui en résulte, en particulier la proclamation du caractère essentiel du secteur forestier et notamment pour le développement des pays dans les secteurs rural et agricole. La délégation française soutient tout particulièrement la nécessité d'élaborer et de mettre en oeuvre des politiques dans ce secteur en liaison étroite avec les politiques de développement agricole et rural. Il va sans dire que le rôle de la FAO est important et principalement son département des forêts est déterminant à cet égard.

Le Président de la République française, lors de son allocution prononcée la semaine dernière à l'occasion du 40ème anniversaire de la FAO, a rappelé l'invitation qu'il a faite aux responsables politiques du Nord et du Sud de se réunir au mois de février prochain à Paris pour examiner les moyens de faire face aux menaces qui pèsent sur le patrimoine forestier et notamment celui des régions sèches.

Ma délégation remercie le Directeur général d'avoir accordé l'appui de la FAO et espère sincèrement que cette initiative constituera une contribution efficace à la sauvegarde des espaces forestiers de nos pays et une réponse aux appels et aux encouragements formulés par le Manifeste de Mexico.

O.C. FERNANDEZ (Colombia): Sr. Presidente, la delegación de Colombia considera que uno de los actos más importantes, dentro de. la celebración del Congreso Internacional del Bosque, ha sido la realización del Noveno Congreso Forestal Mundial en la ciudad de México, capital de un país amigo y latinoamericano. Ese Congreso constituyó un certamen de gran importancia, con la presencia del Sr. Presidente de los Estados Unidos de México, Licenciado Miguel de la Madrid, y del Director General de la FAO, así como de otras importantes personalidades de todo el mundo.

Debemos estar complacidos por el hecho de que en este Congreso se atendió nuestra recomendación, en el sentido de ofrecer especial atención a la conservación y debida utilización de los recursos forestales. Igualmente estamos seguros de que las conclusiones del Noveno Congreso Forestal Mundial tendrán impacto significativo en las actividades forestales de la FAO.

La delegación de Colombia pide cordialmente a los distinguidos representantes de Austria que transmitan el sincero reconocimiento del Gobierno colombiano a las altas autoridades austríacas, porque el delegado de Austria en ese Congreso presentara la propuesta, acogida unánimemente, de crear un fondo forestal para ayudar a los países en desarrollo a conservar sus recursos forestales.

Desafortunadamente, en el pasado Consejo tuvimos la triste sorpresa de que unos países desarrollados intensificaran ya su oposición especial a ese fondo propuesto por Austria , a este paso, ni siquiera los árboles podrán crecer. Esos pocos países desarrollados también desean aplicar el crecimiento continuo de las actividades forestales y sin embargo se niegan a seguir el mismo ejemplo austríaco, que propone la creación de ese fondo forestal, que tantos beneficios reportaría para los países en desarrollo. En efecto, el párrafo 70 del documento C 85/LIM/20 recoge esa actitud ambigua, carente del sentido de cooperación de aquellos países que se han opuesto a la importante iniciativa de Austria.

La delegación de Colombia considera que la Comisión debe apoyar decididamente esa propuesta de Austria , y así pedimos que conste en nuestro informe.

La delegación de Colombia opina que el Manifiesto de México representa un acto de verdadera afirmación en los principios fundamentales dirigidos a la conservación de los recursos forestales y al mejor uso de éstos. De manera que el contenido de este Manifiesto debe ser divulgado y tenido en cuenta en todas las ocasiones propicias. Apoyamos plenamente el proyecto de resolución, que está dirigido a dar una mayor importancia a las proyecciones futuras que el mismo Manifiesto de México contiene.

Finalmente, Sr. Presidente, la delegación de Colombia propone que en nuestro informe se consigne nuestro reconocimiento y gratitud por las facilidades dadas para la celebración del Noveno Congreso Forestal Mundial, lo que sin duda contribuyó a su éxito.

K.T. SALMAN (Iraq\) (original language Arabic): We wish to express our thanks to Mr Flores Rodas for introducing this excellent document. This document deals with a very important subject which is closely linked to the civilization of nations, as forestry contributes to several fields: industrial, agricultural, and the prevention of soil erosion. In order to maintain forestry systems in every country, we have the following proposals to make, and they are in fact in accordance with those in the document.

First of all, a study should be undertaken by FAO to deal with the possibility of developing new seeds and strains for forests which are resistant to drought and which can be adapted to the climatic conditions of the various regions of the world, especially those with no water resources.

Secondly, maintenance of forests is a very difficult task. It requires a conjunction of efforts. The larger share, or the larger burden, of the role falls on the shoulders of governments, as the maintenance of forestry resources requires vast investments and capacity. This, therefore, cannot be undertaken by individuals. Consequently, we urge governments to allocate the necessary funds for this purpose in their development plans.

Thirdly, forests in many countries are quite often exposed to forest fires. This leads to destruction of vast areas which have been cultivated at the expense of much time and money, and, as we say in Arabic: "He who sows is not the same person as he who destroys". Therefore, I suggest the establishment of some early warning system in forest areas to prevent forest fires. Fleets should be set up in every country to combat fires. Public information systems should also be major components in increasing public awareness of the dangers of forest fires and in advising on the need to maintain and protect them.

Fourthly, we support the establishment of a fund for the development of forests and their protection. We urge all other countries to support the establishment of this fund.

J.R. GOLDSACK (United Kingdom\): I have just two observations to make. The United Kingdom delegation endorses the view expressed by the Congress of the need for increased investment in forestry and forest industries in accordance with the general directions and priorities set out in FAO Plan of Action on Tropical Forests adopted by the FAO Committee on Forest Development in the Tropics and subject to the wishes and priorities of the countries directly concerned.

We are in sympathy with the intentions of the Austrian proposal for the creation of a forest fund to assist developing countries in conserving their forestry resources but believe that this requires further examination before any decision on support for the proposal is made.

G.R. SAINI (India): At the outset, India's delegation wishes to express its appreciation as well as gratitude to FAO and the Ninth World Forestry Congress for the Manifesto of Mexico calling upon mankind to recognize the importance of forestry resources for the biosphere and the survival of humanity and urging them to devote themselves to safeguarding and promoting this resource which has to provide humanity with food, raw materials, energy, rural wellbeing, ecological protection and improvement in the quality of life.

The degradation of forests, ecosystems and the resultant adverse ecological, hydrological and climatic changes, soil depletion and decline in productivity in agriculture are a matter of serious concern. To these may also be added the acute shortage of energy based on forest resources which is manifesting itself in many countries. Besides, we are conscious of the close relationship between forest wealth and productivity and efficiency of farming, animal husbandry, hydrological activities and the socio-economic wellbeing of the dependent population. The utilization of forest biomass as a source of energy needs hardly any emphasis.

We are conscious of the fact that forest resources influence directly or indirectly the livelihood of a sizeable proportion of our population. As in many other countries, India 's forests in the past have suffered damage through degradation. At present India uses only about 20 percent of its geographical area for forests and we consider it to be inadequate for a proper ecosystem and ecological balance. Therefore, India has decided to make every effort to increase the proportion of its geographical area for forests to at least 33 percent.

Towards this end, we plan to plant 5 million ha of land with forests every year. Afforestation and social forestry have been accorded high priority in our development plans. We have constituted high-powered National Land Use and Waste-Land Boards, whose primary task is to contribute towards the restoration and establishment of a proper land use and ecological balance for the sustained

growth and wellbeing of agriculture and the rural sector of the economy. We also have tribal and forest development corporations to guide the most efficient exploitation of forest wealth for tribal welfare, keeping in mind the broad guidelines necessary for an optimum ecological balance. The Forest Institute of India, which is a unique institution of its kind, is increasingly devoting itseit to the scientific aspects of afforestation and forest development in India . We hope to be able to offer assistance to other countries in this regard. In the end, in the long-term interest of mankind, we strongly urge this Conference to adopt the Manifesto of Mexico.

M. NIETO LARA (Cuba\): En primer lugar, deseo agradecer al Dr. Flores Rodas por su concisa y brillante presentación dei tema.

Señor Presidente: mi delegación considera como muy positiva la celebración del Noveno Congreso Forestal Mundial cuyos resultados se condensan en el Manifiesto de México. El recién celebrado Congreso constituyó un paso de avance en la toma de conciencia por la comunidad internacional de la importancia vital de los recursos forestales.

Deseamos también resaltar la decisión del Consejo en el sentido de declarar el año 1985 como Año Internacional del Bosque.

Estamos convencidos de que el Manifiesto de México recoge una clara identificación de la problemática actual del sector forestal y traza líneas de acción para mejorar su situación.

En consecuencia, mi delegación apoya los planteamientos del Manifiesto de México, e igualmente apoya la proposición de la distinguida delegación de México para que se respalde mediante una Resolución de la Conferencia sobre el particular.

Señor Presidente: mi país ha realizado un gran esfuerzo en materia de repoblación y ordenación forestal. Asimismo, en la planificación de la mejor explotación de los bosques y la conservación del ambiente, y por ello, hoy podemos brindar un notable avance en la recuperación y conservación de los recursos forestales.

Finalmente, señor Presidente, deseamos agradecer a los organizadores del Noveno Congreso Forestal Mundial el haber incluido a nuestro país en el circuito de viajes de estudios pre o post Congreso de los delegados. Quiero expresar además nuestro agradecimiento a las autoridades de la hermana República de México por la excelente organización del Congreso.

I. KABA (Guinée): Ma délégation apprécie le résultat des travaux de Mexico; le Manifeste qui en découle tient compte des préoccupations majeures de mon pays quant à la conservation et à la gestion rationnelle du patrimoine forestier, car la Guinée dans la sous-région ouest africaine occupe une position extrêmement stratégique, compte tenu du nombre important de fleuves qui y prennent leur source. Ainsi, on comprend aisément l'importance de la création de l'organisme sous-régional dénommé "Autorité du Bassin du fleuve Niger", auquel adhèrent neuf pays de la sous-région, et dont le siège est au Niger .

Le rôle-primordial de cet organisme consiste en la protection et l'aménagement de la source et du bassin du fleuve Niger .

L'OMFG est aussi un autre organisme qui s'occupe de l'aménagement du fleuve Gambie. Nous sommes reconnaissants à la FAO pour sa participation aux différentes phases des études de ces importants projets. Quant au projet dénommé Aménagement intégré du Massif du Fouta Djallon, il s'agit là d'une action à laquelle l'OUA et les Nations Unies et mon pays participent activement. En effet, nous considérons qu'une lutte efficace contre la désertification commence par la protection des sources d'eau et l'aménagement de leurs bassins. Ainsi, mon pays affronté à ces importantes tâches ne peut qu'appuyer fermement le Manifeste de Mexico et demander sa plus large diffusion.

Sra. R. ZUÑIGA (Honduras): Agradecemos al Dr. Flores Rodas la presentación del importante tema relativo a las conclusiones del Noveno Congreso Forestal Mundial expresadas y resumidas en el Manifiesto de México.

Sabemos la relevancia de las actividades en materia agropecuaria y forestal en los países en vías de desarrollo, y en esta ocasión, mi delegación no puede dejar de enfatizar la importancia del sector forestal, considerado fundamental para la economía de mi país.

Honduras reconoce y manifiesta su preocupación

-     por la gravedad del progesivo agotamiento de los recursos naturales no renovables,

-     por las consecuencias graves de la deforestación que, como lo indica el Manifiesto de México, "perjudica la situación alimentaria y la supervivencia".

Nuestra población, señor Presidente, depende en gran parte del recurso forestal como fuente principal de energía para su subsistencia y, con el crecimiento demográfico, la escasez de leña se hace cada vez más aguda con todas sus implicaciones económicas, sociales y ecológicas.

Honduras reconoce los esfuerzos realizados por este Organismo, responsable de apoyar las actividades fundamentales para nuestros países, con la convicción de que con las nuevas políticas y estrategias forestales contempladas en el Manifiesto de México y "con la amplia participación de la sociedad, la conservación y el uso racional del potencial forestal, podrá promover el desarrollo de las economías nacionales, conduciéndolas finalmente al mejoramiento de los niveles de vida, en beneficio de la humanidad".

Honduras da su apoyo a la propuesta presentada por la distinguida delegación de México y apoyada por otras delegaciones, en el sentido de que el Manifiesto de México sea reconocido por esta Conferencia mediante una Resolución.

Srta. D. de VILLAMONTE (Panamá): En primer lugar, queremos agradecer al Dr. Flores Rodas por habernos presentado el presente documento.

Mi país, señor Presidente, posee amplias zonas de foresta tropical húmeda, muchas de las cuales sufren los graves problemas relacionados con el futuro del patrimonio forestal, y que son comunes a casi todos los países en desarrollo, aunque algunas de ellas no dejan de representar serios problemas en otras latitudes.

En efecto, situaciones tales como la deforestación continua y excesiva a que son sometidos los recursos forestales en gran parte del mundo, en especial en las zonas tropicales húmedas, los efectos de tal deforestación en el proceso de desertificación, así como entre otros, la interrelación entre ésta y la seguridad alimentaria mundial, son problemas que merecen nuestra atenta y seria consideración.

Sabemos que el aspecto es complicado, y que en muchos casos, está interrelacionado con situaciones de orden sociopolitico que no son exclusivas de la silvicultura, sino que están íntimamente relacionadas con la compleja problemática del proceso de desarrollo.

Por otra parte, la carencia de legislación apropiada y de técnicos especializados hacen urgente una ordenación de la actividad forestal si no queremos correr el riesgo de incrementar la tendencia a fabricar desiertos.

Es en este marco de referencias y por la importancia que la delegación de Panamá le concede, que deseamos manifestar nuestra complacencia por la celebración del Noveno Congreso Forestal Mundial en México, y expresar nuestro apoyo total y decisivo, no sólo a sus resultados sino también a la forma particular de que el Manifiesto de México sea aprobado mediante una Resolución por esta Conferencia, a efectos de que la FAO pueda contribuir, mediante sus acciones, a la conservación y uso apropiados de los recursos forestales.

Igualmente y para terminar, señor Presidente, deseamos apoyar la propuesta de Austria de que se cree un Fondo Mundial para el Desarrollo y la Conservación de los Recursos Forestales.

CHAIRMAN: The distinguished delegate of Indonesia has given in a written statement to be included in the verbatim report. It shall be done.

E. OLET (Uganda\): I will be brief. Uganda fully participated in the Ninth World Forestry Congress in Mexico . Therefore, my delegation would like to thank the Assistant Director-General for his clear and concise introduction of the manifesto. My delegation was very happy with the warm hospitality accorded to our delegation in Mexico . We also offer our special appreciation to the Director-General for the assistance provided by FAO which made such a success of the deliberations of the Congress.

My delegation notes with great satisfaction that the manifesto has recognized and supported the policies, strategies and programmes of FAO with regard to forestry generally. We would like to appeal to the Director-General to continue support for the forestry sector.

Uganda is worried about her tropical forests because there has been much destruction of tropical forests for fuelwood and agriculture. This destruction is taking place at an alarming rate. Therefore, we fully support the Congress declaration in Document C 85/INF/15. In declaring 1985 the International Year of the Forest, FAO has paid special tribute to the role that forests play in the development of mankind. This year during the celebration of World Food Day, my Government launched a tree-planting programme in which every able-bodied person was asked to plant a tree. The response should have been more notable, but because of the shortage of saplings many people were not able to plant trees. As we support the creation of a world fund for the development of environmental protection and for forests to assist the developing countries, my delegation would be grateful if ways and means to achieve this goal could be found.

E. PARDO (Argentina): Agradecemos, Sr. Presidente, la intervención de la dirección de la FAO, intervención precisa y que nos ubica adecuadamente en el tema.

Mi país ha prestado pleno apoyo al Noveno Congreso Forestal Mundial y a sus conclusiones, o sea, al Manifiesto de México. Para Argentina tiene especial prioridad todo lo que se refiere a la situación forestal a nivel mundial, regional y, obviamente, nacional. La depredación del bosque y sus lamentables consecuencias sobre el ecosistema están cada vez más a la vista. El estado de los bosques a nivel mundial muestra las consecuencias depredadoras dela industrialización y de las prácticas de un consumismo exacerbado.

En consecuencia, consideramos como una toma de conciencia de la humanidad cuanto pueda hacerse para conservar y ampliar los bosques. Los gobiernos deben cuanto antes acordar medidas para frenar la extinción de'la masa forestal, cuya repercusión afectará a toda la humanidad. Son sobre todo los países excedentarios de capital, los que deben contribuir a la preservación del bosque; ellos han utilizado a los bosques más intensamente en términos de tiempo de explotación económica y contaminación ambiental." Sobre ellos recaen, en consecuencia, una mayor responsabilidad.

Iniciativas como la propuesta por Austria son ejemplos laudables de lo que debería hacerse en tal sentido. Consideramos con gran interés el proyecto de Resolución que nos ha anticipado la distinguida delegación de México, destinado a implementar en el marco de la FAO la parte sustancial del contenido del Manifiesto de México y esperamos sumarle nuestro apoyo.

A.M. OSMAN (Sudan) (original language Arabic): The importance of forests and their direct and indirect effect on the climate and environment and economy, and all the questions which are covered in document 85/INF/15, were not sufficiently well known and were not given due importance, particularly in developing countries. A large number of international organizations such as FAO and some Governments realized the importance of forests and their management, circulated information and scientific documents to this effect and passed legislation for the protection of forests and the environment.

However, it is difficult to implement regulations covering forests. The need for fuelwood in the rural environment, the need to stop overgrazing, the need to clear agricultural land, the spread of forest fires, as well as other problems, affect forests. The practical solution in many cases is to create an awareness among peasants and farmers regarding the importance of the trees about to be destroyed and to provide alternative solutions if possible. Sudanese territory extends from the desert to the tropical forests. During the last few years, particularly in the sub-Saharan and lower savannah areas, we have had a considerable advance of the desert at unprecedented rates which has led to a loss of vast areas of agricultural land. Furthermore, the drought which we have experienced in the last few years has made the problem even more complex. This region in the past was used for the cultivation of Arabica gumtrees which were destroyed by drought. This is why reafforestation in this area is extremely important and why considerable funds are needed for this purpose.

I suggest that the income from forests should be used for reafforestation with the assistance of the relevant organizations and governments concerned, and that all methods of information, audiovisual and others, should be used to draw people's attention to the conservation and the maintenance of forests.

Further, we should continue with reafforestation and protection belts, and prohibit the cutting down of trees without authorization. Every time a tree is cut down another one should be planted. I suggest that we should start now because desertification continues to grow, and trees are burnt and cut down daily.

A. JEAN-LOUIS (Haīti\): La délégation d'Haīti accorde un vif intérêt au manifeste du Mexique issu du neuvième Congrès forestier mondial. Ma délégation souscrit aux importantes considérations qui coiffent les déclarations pertinentes du Congrès. Comme nous l'avons souligné en séance plénière, la réhabilitation des couvertures végétales en Haīti représente une priorité urgente pour mon gouvernement.

Fortement frappées par l’érosion,nos terres, en majeure partie situées en montagne, sont actuellement l'objet d'interventions intensives.

Tout en protégeant nos rares formations forestières jusqu'à présent exemptes de l'action destructrice de l’homme,nous essayons de développer un vaste programme d'aménagement des bassins versants en vue non seulement de rétablir l'équilibre du milieu physique, mais aussi de permettre à l'homme paysan d'y vivre avec une certaine sécurité.

En Haīti, l'approche consiste à parvenir à un modèle d'exploitation en montagne de type agro-sylvo-pastoral . A ce compte, les points 19 et 20 du manifeste retiennent particulièrement notre attention. En effet, dans nos efforts pour réaliser nos objectifs dans ce domaine, la coopération internationale nous appuie fortement.

Ma délégation donne son plein appui au manifeste et souscrit à la proposition autrichienne consistant à créer un fonds pour le développement du secteur forestier.

A. NIOMBELA (Congo): Notre délégation ne peut rester indifférente aux conclusions du neuvième Congrès forestier mondial étant 'donné que la superficie de mon pays est couverte par la forêt. Vu l'intérêt que mon gouvernement accorde à ce domaine, il y a un grand programme de reboisement et de protection des forêts à l'heure actuelle qui se réalise dans mon pays. La ressource forestière joue un grand role dans notre économie.

Cela dit, nous approuvons les nouvelles politiques de stratégies forestières issues de ce Congrès, quand elles permettent de résoudre les problèmes forestiers auxquels sont confrontés nos pays. Nous appuyons l'idée d'un fonds mondial pour la valorisation et la conservation des ressources forestières. Aussi n'oublions-nous pas d'appuyer le manifeste du Mexique car il a su souligner le problème de nos forêts et tracer le chemin de sa résolution.

SAUD AL ZUHER (Jordan\) (original language Arabic): May I on behalf of my country thank Mr Flores Rodas for the excellent presentation and introduction he gave us on the Manifesto of Mexico proposed at the Ninth World Forestry Congress. I should also like to thank the Mexican Government for the aid and help it gave in organizing this Conference.

We are all aware of the importance of forests and we should like to express our satisfaction with the results of the Ninth World Forestry Conference. We hope that all countries will carry out and implement the policies and strategies thus adopted by the Congress. The Congress calls for the establishment of a world fund for the development and protection of forest areas, particularly to help developing countries. We feel this is very necessary and, on behalf of the delegation of my country, I should like to support the Mexico Manifesto and thank and express my appreciation to FAO for the help that it constantly gives us in the agricultural sector in general.

U. SEIN WIN (Burma\): Mr Chairman, on behalf of the Burmese delegation, thank you very much for giving me the floor to make a few points with regard to forestry matters which are in conformity with the Manifesto of Mexico, Ninth World Forestry Congress.

Burma , as we all know, is endowed with a wealth of forest resources. These forests play a vital role in the conservation of soil and water, which is enormously helpful to the country's agriculture, and they also provide a large quantity of timber, both for domestic consumption and for export. Forestry matters contained in the Manifesto of Mexico are mainly concerned with conservation strategy, which is the major problem for most of the countries.

Burma is now trying to implement many conservation and greening movements. Since the Tanngya method of shifting of cultivation began in Burma, we are launching a programme to train farmers in its use. Settlement of land ownership problems and initiation of replanting programmes have been implemented in deserted shifting cultivation areas.

With regard to the greening movement, Burma launches a tree programme annually, such as the large-scale plantation programme of 90 000 acres. Wood-lots planting was initiated and villages supplied firewood plantations were being carried out by mass participation, and 5 million tree seedlings were distributed annually to be planted in the month of July, which is the tree planting month.

Protection of both natural and man-made forests and greening movements carried out in the country are somewhat materializing some of the essential forestry matters. Therefore we fully commend that the Manifesto of Mexico should be adopted and carried out with full confidence by Member Nations.

I.N. ARDHA (Indonesia\): My statement will be very brief, since the importance of the role of forestry for agricultural development and for human beings in all aspects has been highlighted by previous delegates as well as by the introduction of the Secretariat.

The Indonesian delegation would like to take this opportunity to confirm its position and support the Council decision to adopt the Manifesto of Mexico on forestry development as a Conference resolution.