P.J. MAHLER (Conseiller spécial du Directeur général, Sous-Directeur général pour l'environnement et le développement durable): Monsieur le Président, Excellences, Mesdames, Messieurs.
Je suis accompagné, pour cette présentation, du Vice-Président du Groupe interdépartemental de travail sur l'environnement et le développement durable, M. Jean-Paul Lanly. M. Mohamed Mehni étant empêché, j'ai aussi à mes côtés M. Santiago Botero qui est le Chef de l'Unité de coordination pour tous les programmes d'environnement et de développement durable.
De nombreux documents sont présentés à la Conférence sous d'autres rubriques rendant compte de l'accent mis depuis deux ans sur l'environnement et le développement durable, et ceci en réponse à la Résolution 89/3 de la dernière Conférence. Ce sont notamment les examens du Programme ordinaire et du Programme de terrain, le Plan à moyen terme et le Programme de travail et budget pour 1992-93. Je crois pouvoir dire que l'Examen en Commission II sur ces documents, et aussi des interventions en Conférence plénière, semblent avoir confirmé la priorité donnée par les pays membres à l'action de la FAO dans ce domaine.
Le Conseil a été tenu informé à ses quatre-vingt-dix-huitième, quatre-vingt-dix-neuvième et centième sessions des mesures prises par le Directeur général et des résultats obtenus en réponse à la Résolution 89/3, notamment des résultats et du suivi de la Conférence sur l'agriculture et l'environnement, tenue à Bois-le-Duc en avril dernier grâce au généreux concours des Pays-Bas. Le document C 91/30 en discussion aujourd'hui sous le point 7 est en quelque sorte une récapitulation sous forme résumée des progrès obtenus, c'est la première partie du document; des stratégies proposées pour nos actions futures, c'est la deuxième partie; et enfin la réorientation proposée pour certains programmes de terrain, en particulier les programmes d'action spéciaux de l'Organisation concernant l'agriculture et le développement rural durables (ADRD).
Je ne pense pas nécessaire de présenter la première partie qui est essentiellement un rapport d'activités. J'attirerai simplement l'attention sur un document complémentaire, le document C 91/LIM/31 qui apporte des compléments d'information sur les contributions de la FAO à la CNUED que le Conseil a souhaité porter à l'attention de la Conférence.
J'ajouterai à ce sujet que nous avons largement contribué à ce que la CNUED ne se préoccupe pas seulement de la conservation et de la protection, des terres, des eaux, des forêts, des océans et de la diversité biologique, mais aussi du développement durable de l'agriculture, de la foresterie et
des pêches. Nous avons travaillé dans ce sens en étroite coopération avec le Secrétariat de la CNUED pour l'élaboration des propositions d'"Action 21", le Plan d'Action que doit lancer la Conférence de Rio au Brésil, en juin de l'année prochaine. Il appartient maintenant aux gouvernements de négocier ces propositions à la quatrième session du Comité préparatoire en mars prochain à New York et de veiller à l'équilibre nécessaire entre le développement et la protection de l'environnement, notamment dans les domaines d'activités de la FAO.
La deuxième partie du document qui vous est présenté cherche à répondre à la requête du Conseil en juin dernier qui, en examinant la déclaration et le plan d'action de Bois-le-Duc, avait demandé que certains aspects des stratégies de l'ADRD soient plus élaborés, notamment ceux de la sécurité alimentaire et de la lutte contre la pauvreté, cause principale de la dégradation de l'environnement dans les pays en développement, ainsi que les aspects concernant les pays industrialisés qui n'avaient été que marginalement traités à Bois-le-Duc.
A l'évidence il ne peut y avoir de protection de l'environnement et de développement durables en agriculture sans apporter de solutions à de nombreux problèmes plus vastes qui affectent les relations Nord-Sud et Est-Ouest. Ces problèmes dépassent largement le cadre du secteur agricole; tout en faisant brièvement mention, la deuxième partie du document traite donc essentiellement des stratégies concernant ce qui peut être fait dans le secteur agricole et par le secteur agricole pour le développement durable. Je soulignerai que cette deuxième partie traite des stratégies au pluriel car les voies et les moyens pour gérer la transition vers une agriculture durable dépendent de nombreux facteurs propres à chaque pays, ainsi que des conditions externes. Le document a donc été rédigé de manière à promouvoir un large débat et échange d'idées sans chercher à prescrire une panacée universelle sur ces questions très complexes.
La troisième partie du document répond elle aussi à une demande du Conseil à sa quatre-vingt-dix-neuvième session en juin dernier. Sur recommandation de la Conférence de Bois-le-Duc, une esquisse d'un programme-cadre de coopération internationale pour l'agriculture et le développement rural durables avait été présentée au Conseil. Le Conseil en avait approuvé les éléments principaux mais avait demandé qu'on élabore plus en détail ces propositions et qu'on examine leurs implications. En fait ceci répondait aussi à un souci qui a été exprimé par les organes directeurs notamment au moment de l'Examen de la FAO de voir les programmes de terrain mieux focalisés et structurés, notamment par le biais des programmes d'action spéciaux.
Je tiens à préciser que ces propositions, qui visent à créer des liens plus étroits entre le Programme ordinaire et le Programme de terrain, ne pourront être mises en oeuvre qu'avec des ressources supplémentaires d'origine extrabudgétaire, notamment celles qui pourraient être mobilisées pour le suivi de la CNUED. Le Directeur général souhaite que la Conférence appuie ces propositions afin de donner à l'agriculture durable la place qui doit lui revenir dans cette grande consultation au sommet qui aura lieu à Rio de Janeiro de juin prochain et aussi dans les programmes d'action qui devraient suivre. Comme l'indiquent les paragraphes 47, 48 et 49 du document, il s'agit de lancer un processus auquel devraient participer de nombreux acteurs.C’t en effet, et chaque mot compte, un Programme cadre de coopération internationale qu'il est proposé de développer
progressivement et avec souplesse en faisant largement appel aux mécanismes déjà existants à la FAO pour les programmes et projets de terrain et ceux qui se mettront en place en 1992, notamment avec le PNUD - on en a discuté en Commission I - mais aussi pour le suivi de la CNUED. Nous poursuivons à cet effet le dialogue engagé à Bois-le-Duc avec de nombreuses organisations intergouvernementales et non gouvernementales dont certaines sont d'ailleurs venues spécialement à la Conférence pour suivre notamment les débats sur le sujet qui nous préoccupe aujourd'hui.
Comme il est indiqué au paragraphe 76, dernier paragraphe de ce document, le Directeur général souhaiterait recevoir les orientations et les directives de la Conférence pour poursuivre l'action engagée depuis deux ans visant à renforcer les activités de l'Organisation en matière de développement durable et d'environnement, notamment par le lancement du programme cadre proposé pour la coopération internationale concernant l'ADRD. La Conférence voudra peut-être aussi formuler des recommandations à l'adresse de la CNUED pour que les intérêts des secteurs de l'alimentation, de l'agriculture, de la foresterie et de la pêche y soient convenablement représentés.
CHAIRMAN (Original language Arabic): I would like to thank Mr Mahler for that excellent introduction to the item. The floor is now open for speakers who would like to take the floor on this subject.
A. FEBERWEE (Netherlands): In front of us we have a very clear document C 91/30 and in the last part of this document the results of this Conference in den Bosch in April this year have been worked out and they have been worked out in the International Cooperative Programme Framework for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development. At the outset let me say, as was stated already by our minister, how much we appreciated the excellent cooperation with FAO both in preparing and during this successful joint FAO/Netherlands Conference. Its results, as was said already, will be presented to UNCED Brazil next year and the Netherlands stay committed to the follow-up of den Bosch.
Our delegation supports the way the ICPF has been worked out in the document. It depicts the planned activities for sustainable development. The den Bosch results are well integrated and seem to be well anchored in the different FAO programmes. The planned concentration of the ICPF in three programme areas - see paragraph 51 - offers the right framework for the mutual fine-tuning of the activities of different technical divisions. The challenge for FAO is how to translate this integrated approach in concrete programmes, possibly tuned to different ecological zones. Therefore, special attention will have to be paid to aspects of sustainable land use, the maintenance of biological diversity and the integration of forestry activities. We therefore have to look to diversification of land-use systems which are optimal in view of the ecological conditions.
In the document the possibility is left open that the ICPF develops into a new action plan. Anyway, it would have to lead to the streamlining of the existing FAO special action programmes, the SAPs. However, it is unclear how this new action plan organizationally would have to be formed, how the regrouping of SAPs could be affected, and to what degree of coordination. Our delegation urges more clarity. In this respect, we also a want to point
out the necessity of a multi-disciplinary inter-sectoral approach at the planning and the implementation of the activities, as well as to stress - in conformity with paragraph 58 of the medium-term plan - the need for linkages between the national, local and household level.
The pilot-scheme for integrated production and farming systems management and diversification of rural incomes, developed by FAO and the Netherlands jointly, has, to an extent, operationalized this approach.
How do we get ICPF organized? If the general idea is to try to attract additional funding, in that case a small secretariat might be desirable. Such a secretariat could possibly be placed in the Organization under the ADG for the Environment and Sustainable Development, or jointly under the ADG for the Agricultural Department and the ADG for the Economic and Social Department.
On a slightly different point, but in line with what I have said, under Agenda Item 6.2 - International Agricultural Adjustment - some delegations suggested it would be useful also to report on the environmental aspects of agricultural development. Discussing now and today specifically FAO activities on the environment and sustainable development, I would in a way like to support these suggestions. Of course, I do not want to adjust what we discussed and decided earlier under Agenda Item 6.2. I would like, however, to comment further on Guideline I of the document which reads "All countries should aim to achieve a rational production pattern in the light of their needs and production possibilities". It is good to point out here and now that we are aware that the named "production possibilities" basically are determined by harmonizing the short-term needs for increase in production, in view of food security, with the long-term use of natural resources. We feel that such a clarification could be useful.
Mr Chairman, finally in order to enforce FAO activities related to sustainable development and environment, I have the honour to announce a draft resolution. At this moment in time we do not yet have official support but we hope to gain it. Being the first speaker I hope that I shall be in time. Of course, it would not be a good thing to take up too much of your time by reading this draft resolution out. But in half a minute I would like to give you a few main points.
After an introductory part, the draft resolution proposes decisions. I would like to recall the main ones so that the last part reads, in addition to that, in the abbreviated form "Sustainable development and the protection of the environment should be a main priority objective of the Organization for developing and developed countries in the field of agriculture in the next biennium..." And then it goes on. Then it states also that the strategies and proposals presented in document C 91/30 should be further elaborated. It works out how this should be done.
The next decision boils down to the fact that the Organization should pursue its active cooperation with UNCED, etc., and last, but not least, a report should be made to the Conference at its Twenty-seventh Session in November 1993 on the implementation of this Resolution.
I hope this resolution may be subject to discussion.
CHAIRMAN (Original language Arabic): I would like to thank the representative of the Netherlands. Of course, you will have taken note of the overall draft resolution and you may refer to this draft resolution. However, the traditional procedure would be to submit this draft to the Resolutions Committee who would then refer it back to us.
Igor MARINCEK (Suisse): Je remercie M. Mahler de son introduction. Ma délégation a lu le document C 91/30 avec beaucoup d'intérêt. Le défi d'une agriculture et d'un développement durables est parmi les grands défis de l'humanité. Il s'adresse à chaque pays, qu'il soit développé ou en développement. C'est à juste titre que nous avons fait de ce défi une priorité centrale pour le plan à moyen terme de la FAO. Ma délégation a noté avec satisfaction qu'il y a un large et solide consensus entre les Etats Membres au sujet de cette priorité.
L'agriculture, la foresterie et les pêches ont à jouer chacune dans leur domaine un rôle clé dans l'utilisation et la gestion nouvelle des ressources naturelles. Vu la grande compétence et expérience de la FAO dans ces secteurs, il est normal et même indispensable que notre Organisation fasse une contribution substantielle aux préparatifs de la Conférence des Nations Unies sur l'environnement et le développement et au suivi de cette Conférence dans le cadre de l'agenda 21. Le document C 91/30 nous offre une introduction claire dans le problème du développement durable dans l'agriculture et des défis à relever.
Le paragraphe 29 présente ces défis de manière très compréhensible. Pour assurer la sécurité alimentaire d'une humanité en croissance démographique, il faut une intensification de l'agriculture, mais il faut en même temps éviter le cortège de problèmes souvent entraînés par une telle intensification. C'est là que doit intervenir l'agriculture durable et le paragraphe 30 nous rappelle, à juste titre, que la première condition pour le succès de l'agriculture durable est de mettre en place, à l'échelle nationale et internationale, un cadre politique favorable à celle-ci. C'est sans doute le premier défi que nous devons relever.
Le paragraphe 31 nous rappelle les différents services que l'agriculture doit rendre au grand public. Nous attachons une grande importance à ces services, dans mon pays nous parlons dans ce contexte des multifonctions que l'agriculture est appelée à remplir. Revenons à la question, comme doit-être conçu un cadre politique approprié pour qu'une agriculture durable doit se développer? Il est sans doute de première importance que le cadre offert par la politique assure que les intérêts des individus ne soient pas en contradiction avec les intérêts de la société. Le paragraphe 33, sous paragraphe a), rappelle dans ce contexte à juste titre que l'intervention de l'Etat doit se limiter à fixer des normes et des règles générales, à exercer une action de surveillance et au besoin de régulation des marchés.
Le paragraphe 34 rappelle que la volonté de libéraliser les échanges et la nécessité de protéger l'environnement peuvent entrer en conflit. Ce conflit doit être analysé ouvertement et objectivement. Mon pays se félicite de la revitalisation du groupe de travail sur le commerce et l'environnement au sein du GATT.
Le paragraphe 34, sous paragraphe c), parle de la nécessité de conclure des accords internationaux et d'adopter des codes de conduite ayant pour but de fixer des normes et règles communes préconisant des pratiques viables à long terme. C'est un domaine où la FAO pourrait sans doute faire une contribution précieuse et nous l'invitons à le faire.
Le paragraphe 35 propose qu'il faudra évaluer dans une optique à long terme l'impact des politiques agricoles en vigueur sur l'environnement et le développement durable. Nous sommes tout à fait d'accord et nous voyons un rôle pour la FAO de faire ce genre d'analyse, ceci dans des pays en développement comme dans des pays développés.
Une autre activité importante est mentionnée dans le paragraphe 36, il s'agit d'élargir la collecte de statistiques agricoles en vue de mettre en place des systèmes de surveillance et de comptabilité de l'environnement dans le domaine de l'agriculture. C'est encore une activité où la FAO pourra sans doute contribuer beaucoup. Plus loin, le document se perd dans beaucoup de détails. Le document nous rappelle qu'il est important d'assurer une bonne participation populaire pour promouvoir avec succès une agriculture durable, qu'il faut souvent modifier les systèmes de production en place, qu'il faut entreprendre des actions spécifiques dans plusieurs domaines d'intervention, qu'il faut axer les efforts sur les principales zones critiques, etc.
En effet, le concept du développement durable doit imprégner tous les aspects de l'agriculture, de la foresterie et des pêches. Tout ceci, et plus encore, est sans doute nécessaire. Mais le document ne nous dit pas à quel niveau doivent se situer les différentes responsabilités, quel doit être notamment le rôle de la FAO. C'est ici que le document, qui commence pourtant de manière claire, devient plutôt compliqué. C'est pourquoi je reviens à ce qui doit être à notre avis la question centrale: comment mettre en route un processus qui nous mène vers l'agriculture durable, et quel rôle la FAO peut-elle remplir le plus utilement pour mettre en route et alimenter un tel processus?
La réponse à cette question offerte dans la troisième partie du document appelée le Programme cadre proposé de coopération internationale pour l'agriculture et le développement rural durables, en abréviation le PCCI/ADRD, ne peut pas nous convaincre. Nous étions favorables à l'idée recommandée par la Conférence de Den Bosch de mettre en place un certain programme cadre pour assurer une approche concertée des différents acteurs dans le suivi de l'UNCED, mais nous avons quelques difficultés avec la proposition qui nous est soumise. Rappelons que l'idée du PCCI dépasse largement la portée des activités de terrain de la FAO. A notre avis, la FAO peut aider les Etats Membres, c'est-à-dire nous tous, le plus utilement si elle concentre ses efforts à déclencher et animer le processus vers une agriculture durable dont je viens de parler. C'est donc un rôle de catalyseur que la FAO est appelée à jouer à notre avis. Notre Organisation doit alimenter et animer nos débats, elle doit aider les pays à développer et mettre en place des stratégies pour une agriculture durable, elle doit aussi nous aider à harmoniser nos politiques dans ce domaine, car nous ne pouvons pas nous satisfaire du plus petit dénominateur commun.
Le PCCI tel que proposé dans le document se limite aux seules activités de terrain de la FAO, il nous propose une vue largement technique, une approche axée sur une multitude de projets. Nous nous trouvons devant une
conception compliquée et peu claire qui se résume en sorte à habiller la multitude des activités traditionnelles de terrain de la FAO d'un nouveau vêtement. La proposition soumise ne correspond pas au rôle que nous voyons pour la FAO dans le domaine du développement durable.
Rappelons-nous que le défi principal se situe au niveau des politiques et non pas au niveau des projets; ces derniers doivent seulement intervenir en second lieu.
Nous partageons cependant l'avis selon lequel il est nécessaire d'examiner les activités de terrain actuelles de la FAO à la lumière des exigences d'un développement durable. Cet examen, que j'appellerai interne, est nécessaire, indépendamment du processus CNUED, et il devrait déjà être en route. A notre avis, un tel examen et l'ajustement qui en découle ne nécessitent pas de ressources supplémentaires. Nous aimerions que le Secrétariat nous fasse un rapport sur l'ajustement des programmes de terrain de la FAO pour les mettre au service du développement durable. Ce rapport pourrait être soumis, par exemple, à la session du Conseil de novembre, l'an prochain. Je prie M. Malher de nous dire si un tel rapport peut être fait.
Pour ce qui concerne le processus de la CNUED et l' "input" de notre Organisation sous forme du PCCI/ADRD, nous proposons que la FAO retravaille sa proposition en vue du Prepcom IV. Il s'agit de ne pas trop se perdre dans des détails et de concentrer le tir sur le développement de stratégies. Il ne suffit pas de faire une proposition qui se limite aux activités de terrain; le coeur de la proposition doit se situer dans le Programme ordinaire.
Pour terminer, j'aimerais souligner que ma délégation accorde aux travaux de la FAO dans le domaine de l'agriculture et du développement durable une haute priorité. Nous pensons donc que les services de la FAO responsables de ces questions doivent être renforcés en personnel, et cela aux dépens d activités moins prioritaires.
Enfin, l'idée d'une résolution telle que celle avancée par la délégation des Pays-Bas nous semble bonne et nous l'examinerons avec intérêt et en détail.
CHAIRMAN (Original language Arabic): Thank you Sir, for your very interesting and full statement. You have raised a number of very relevant points, particularly regarding the role of FAO, and you have provided answers to some of the questions raised, in particular the observation that FAO's role should be catalytic. You have also referred to readjustment of some of FAO's activities in the light of sustainable development considerations. I think I can say that there is a tendency within FAO towards the direction which you suggest.
J.O FALOBI (Nigeria): The Nigerian delegation would first like to congratulate the FAO on the process achieved to date on the various activities carried out by the Organization towards sustainable development and environment as contained in document C 91/30 now under discussion. We have noted with interest and concern the progress achieved to date, particularly with regard to the Regular Programme activities, field
programmes, the coordination mechanisms, inter-agency collaboration, activities with NGOs and contributions of FAO to preparations for UNCED.
The Nigerian delegation has also noted with interest the reports on the strategies for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development. The challenge and the focus on critical areas where conflicts between demands for environmental protection and sustainable development are very acute, where irreversible damage occurs or may occur rapidly and where significant segments of the population are affected. These crucial areas, we agree, indeed call for special programmes of action for sustainable agriculture and rural development, particularly in the developing countries.
Much as the Nigerian delegation appreciates and commends the activities of FAO towards sustainable development and environment, we are yet to feel the impact of this FAO programme in Nigeria. We would like to see more activities of the Organization in this direction.
On the linkages of ICPF/SARD with forestry programmes contained in paragraphs 66-70 of this document, Nigeria is a place where this is possible and where FAO activities to strengthen the institutions and country capacity for improvement are welcome. In Nigeria, we have put in place various forestry programmes and activities which aim at sustainable development and environment. These include rural forestry development programmes, protection of forestry, development of community woodlots, arid zone afforestation and lately of course a country-driven TFAP programme in which Nigeria has adopted a grassroots approach, involving all sectors of the economy, starting from the President to the farmers in the villages, including NGOs.
Also, in furtherance of sustainable development and environment, the Nigerian Government has set up a Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) and a Natural Resources Conservation Council with Mr President as the Chairman and key government officials and representatives of NGOs as members.
The Nigerian delegation would like to seize this opportunity to express its sincere appreciation and gratitude to the FAO, ODA, the Government of Japan, IUCN, WWF, the World Bank and the EEC for their cooperation and moral support in the efforts of Nigeria to evolve a model TFAP which would incorporate recent experiences and comments. We would also seize this opportunity to request them and other international organizations and agencies, donor countries as well as various NGOs, for financial, technical and institution-strengthening support to Nigeria in order to ensure a speedy take-off and implementation of the TFAP Programme in Nigeria, which is crucial to sustainable development and environment.
Finally, the Nigerian delegation appreciates and commends the FAO activities related to sustainable development and environment as contained in this document and endorses the activities and the proposed action by the Conference as contained on page 24 of the document.
Ms Birgit SCHJERVEN (Norway) : I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Nordic countries, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway.
In 1989, the Twenty-fifth Conference adopted a resolution on FAO Activities Related to Sustainable Development, based on a proposal from the Nordic countries. The Conference also adopted a resolution on the Review of Certain Aspects of FAO's Goals and Operations. These resolutions contained a number of constructive elements for FAO's priority setting and further work for sustainable development and environmental protection.
As mentioned by Nordic ministers in their Plenary addresses, the interaction between agriculture and the environment should be a top priority of FAO's work. It should cover both agriculture's effect on the environment - such as land degradation, loss of biological diversity, pollution of waters and health hazards from intensive chemical use - as well as the equally harmful effects on agriculture, such as climatic change and acid rain. The focus should be on developing environmentally sound and sustainable agricultural practices that will secure growth in the production of food for the growing world population and raw material necessary for continued increases in industrial production for the well-being of people in all countries.
While some of the environmental threats to sustainable development apply to all countries, most of them differ in relative significance between countries and regions. As a universal organization, FAO needs to give due attention to all threats, irrespective of their relative importance in various parts of the world.
Part one of the document contains information on action taken to implement Resolution 3/89. We agree with what is said in paragraph 9 that the task called for by Resolution 3/89 was considerable and is far from being completed. However, we want to compliment the Secretariat for the progress achieved so far. FAO has taken the environmental challenge seriously, and the shift in priorities during the last two years is commendable.
As expressed on earlier occasions, we consider the organizational adjustments, mentioned in paragraphs 10 to 13, as valuable. These modifications have contributed in increasing the interdisciplinarity of the work, which we find important.
The review of the Regular Programme, discusse under Agenda Item 14 of this Conference, demonstrated that FAO has succeeded in making environmental issues cut across most of its activities. Environmental considerations seem to be gradually integrated into all management and lines of communication in FAO.
Resolution 3/89 called for strengthened cooperation with other organizations in the UN system in pursuing sustainable development, and for active work in the preparation of the UN Conference on Environment and Development. During the last biennium, such cooperation has been improved considerably. We especially want to mention FAO's active support to the negotiations on a Convention of Biological Diversity, where FAO has been able to contribute substantially. But also other parts of the UNCED process have benefited from an active FAO involvement. To achieve the objectives of the Conference, competent contributions from all relevant organizations are needed. In areas like land degradation, integrated coastal zone management, use of fresh water in agriculture, living marine resources and forestry, FAO demonstrated that it has competence to offer.
The Nordic delegations fully agree with what is stated in paragraph 20, that active participation of people and of local organizations is of particular importance for the achievement of sustainable development objectives. The den Bosch Conference, on which we have had an opportunity to comment earlier, proved that FAO also is able to cooperate with the important part of the international community represented by the NGOs. In our opinion, these experiences should be used for a further strengthening of such cooperation, to the mutual benefit of both parts.
However, although the collaboration with other organizations has improved, I have to say that the experiences from the TFAP revamping, discussed at the 100th session of the Council, shows that there is still room for considerable improvement.
In Part Two of the document, the strategies for sustainable development and rural development are discussed. The Nordic delegations can support most of what is presented in this part of the document, but we want to make some specific comments.
We agree that the challenges mentioned in paragraph 29 of the document, further intensification, poverty alleviation and global environmental threats, are the most important ones. We want to underline that these challenges are closely connected and should not be addressed separately.
In developing strategies for sustainable agriculture, creation of an appropriate policy framework is important. FAO has an important role in developing and providing advice on such policies. We want to underline the close connection this has to the review process of FAO, discussed under Item 19 of this Conference. The Nordic countries for a long time have advocated FAO's important role in policy development and want to commend the Secretariat for the progress made. FAO, nevertheless, should recognize that lack of sustainability is a problem confronting agriculture, in different ways, in all continents. We would once more stress that intensification of agriculture as practised at present, particularly in developed countries, carries with it problems of pollution and contamination, waste disposal, and loss of biodiversity which can affect not only natural resources, but also human health.
In paragraph 35 it is underlined that the adoption of sustainable agriculture and rural development will generally call for major revisions in agricultural policies, and rural development plans and programmes. In developing such policies, these need to be as concrete and specific as possible. These policies should also encourage and activate the farmers themselves to maintain and enhance their farms' environmental asset base.
I have to say that the role of women in achieving more sustainable practices is not sufficiently covered in the document. Women are often the main food producers, wood and water gatherers, and as such the main natural resource managers over much of the developing world. It is vital to take women's accumulated knowledge, concerns and needs into consideration, if our striving towards sustainable practices is to be successfully implemented at local level.
We also want to underline what is mentioned several times in the document, that poverty alleviation is imperative to the work for sustainable agriculture. There is an immense task ahead in finding the best ways of
doing this. FAO needs to address this, but should also seek the cooperation of other organizations, as for example IFAD, which has considerable experience in the field.
The Nordic delegations can endorse the recommendation, presented in Part Three of the document, that an International Cooperative Programme Framework for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development is launched by FAO. We agree that such programme framework should not only be seen as a new action plan, but should also include streamlining of a number of existing field programmes. The main components of the programme framework seems to be well identified and we consider it important, as is said in paragraph 52, not to include all international programmes and projects which contribute to agriculture and rural development.
It is important, as mentioned in paragraph 53, to make full use of existing machinery for field programme management in FAO and the UN system. We want to underline that this should also include the important concept of national execution, where the governments themselves gradually are given increased responsibility for the implementation of projects.
Regarding funding of the programme framework, the Nordic countries realize that achieving sustainability in agriculture and rural development could entail extra costs. We agree that existing funding mechanisms should be used to the maximum extent possible, but the possibilities of benefiting from funding arrangements which might be established for the implementation of Agenda Item 21 need to be followed up.
Finally, we want to encourage FAO to continue cooperating with the UNCED Secretariat as regards the various aspects of sustainable agriculture. It is imperative for FAO to define its own role in the institutional division of tasks in the follow-up of the Rio Conference. The Nordic delegations are convinced that FAO has a lot to offer, and should be given important functions in the implementation of Agenda Item 21. FAO must strengthen efforts in further defining its role as the global "meeting point" for sustainable development in agriculture. There is need for a vital and active forum for global discussion on agricultural policy and strategies at national and international level, in particular after the Rio Conference.
The main challenge ahead in the agricultural sector is to modify existing production patterns to become more sustainable. More sustainable practices must be combined with an increase in productivity to enable the sector to satisfy the food requirements of a rapidly increasing world population. It is not an easy task FAO is called upon to take on.
CHAIRMAN (Original language Arabic): In thanking the delegate of Norway for her intervention, I would add that she has particularly understood the question of cooperation. I support such cooperation and hope that FAO will play a pioneering role with regard to sustainable development and all matters regarding rural and agricultural sustainable development. So far we have heard four delegations who have spoken with extreme transparency and discussed all the important points. The time allotted to us is very short and we have to finish our work this morning. Therefore, I hope that if there is nothing new to mention, delegations will just endorse what has been said by the first four speakers.
S. NAJMUS-SAQIB (Pakistan): A good deal of effort seems to have been made by the Sec retariat in preparing the document on the subject; where fears of environmental damage and the resultant effects on sustainable development have been aptly laid out.
Talking of strategies, we submit that to be workable, any strategy or policies must consider and accord priority to the special circumstances of the developing countries. The magnitude of the two basic problems of the developing countries has to be put in perspective and should form the basis of any policy formulation. These are, first, the fact of poverty, want and hunger; second, the fact of the continuos indebtedness - which unfortunately hampers all developmental efforts undertaken.
May we repeat that to be workable and sustainable, policies should be built upon the above premise. This must always merit special and continuous attention. Sustainable management of natural resources is important and should be incorporated in the main developmental plans. However, the above are today's main problem areas in the developing countries.
Against this backdrop of special circumstances, the imposition of any conditionalities of environmental consideration on the developing countries would indeed be not only very unfair, but would not be workable.
We submit that the idea of linking or relating debt relief debt-swap with the environment and the preservation of forests is workable, and we feel, it would help the developing countries to overcome some of their problems. This aspect needs further study.
FAO' response in highlighting the importance of the issue and creating awareness amongst the international community for better integration of environmental considerations along with the problems faced by the developing countries regarding their agricultural and economic policies are appreciable. The FAO has actively involved itself in collaboration with UNCED, UNDP, UNESCO and other agencies in various fields to attend to the problems and to find solutions for them. Of particular mention is FAO's contribution in the development of World Conservation Strategy, the recent Tenth World Forestry Congress held under the auspices of the FAO and the UN Congress on Environment to be held at Rio in July 1992. Also, the appointment of the Special Adviser to the Director-General and the establishment of the Steering Committee will help focus attention in this area, and enable FAO to take further initiatives in this respect.
The Government of Pakistan and the people of Pakistan are not only trying to create awareness of the environmental global problems but are also trying to highlight the local problems in the field of environment and sustainable development, and continuous efforts are being made to find solutions to these problems.
Mirza Tasaddug BEG (Bangladesh) : I commend the FAO Secretariat for the quality and comprehensiveness of the document C 91/30 as presented to us. The document, as my friends preceding me have already mentioned, has quite comprehensively addressed critical issues of global importance concerning sustainable development and the environment. Sustainable development in agriculture, forestry and fisheries encompasses a broad spectrum of development efforts directed towards meeting human needs. The task is a
formidable one and calls for coordinated and collaborative efforts at national, regional and international levels. The goals of sustainable development cannot be achieved without integrating the environmental considerations in any strategies and action programmes.
My delegation notes with satisfaction the active interest and role that FAO has been taking in the subject through its various multisectoral programme activities, Special Action Programmes, and collaboration with UN and other agencies. Considerable progress has been achieved in FAO's collaboration in sustainable development and the environment with UN and other international organizations. We feel that there is scope for further diversification and possibly expansion of FAO activities related to sustainable development and the environment. Cooperation with UN organizations in this field should also be strengthened.
My delegation fully endorses the views expressed in the document regarding the need for appropriate policies at national and international levels for the attainment of sustainable agriculture and rural development. However, as we are all aware, the resource constraints of the developing countries together with lack of appropriate technology and pressure of population growth pose a serious problem in achieving environmentally sound agriculture and rural development. Food security is another important aspect that remains a formidable challenge to the developing countries in their pursuit of attaining goals of sustainable development.
Most of the developing countries are unable to generate additional resources due to a narrow resource base. They are also handicapped by a heavy international debt burden that does not allow them to channel their resources towards development efforts relating to environmental protection and management and conservation of land, water, plant and genetic resources. Steps so far taken by bilateral donor countries in providing debt relief to the indebted countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America are encouraging but not adequate. It is, therefore, imperative that the developed creditor countries take necessary measures to write off or significantly reduce the debt burden of the recipient countries in a way that allows the developing countries to reallocate their scarce resources to the growth of sustainable economic development.
However, we also recognize the fact that satisfactory implementation of sustainable agriculture and rural development strategies would involve active participation of governments, the private sector, NGOs, intergovernmental organizations, and last but not the least, the farmer community. I am pleased to say that in this connection the Government of Bangladesh has given priority attention to the issue of sustainable agriculture and rural development vis-à-vis the environment. A separate Ministry of Environment and Forests is actively engaged in overseeing the environmental soundness of development programmes and projects in close coordination with other development ministries and relevant government institutions. NGOs and local organizations are playing a complementary role in this regard.
Finally, I would like to say that my delegation endorses the proposed action contained in paragraph 76 of the document regarding launching of the International Cooperative Programme Framework for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development and other related proposals.
HUANG YONG-NING (China) (Original language Chinese): Mr Mahler has given us an excellent introduction to this document prepared by the Secretariat. Together they have given us a very detailed description of sustainable agriculture, and we would like to express our appreciation.
Sustainable agriculture and rural development cover a wide range of areas. Therefore, when this subject is under discussion many aspects can be considered. However, at present in the process toward this end it is important for us to determine what should be done first and how to make it happen.
Sustainable agriculture and rural development have strong policy and technical features. However, we believe that the progress, quality and nature of this work is insufficient. There is still a lack of principles for action and guidance for macro policies.
It is our hope that FAO will make further efforts to carry out studies in this regard in order to obtain the necessary materials and to formulate related policies.
Document C 91/30 has put forward the idea of strategies for sustainable agriculture and rural development, as well as an International Cooperative Programme Framework for Agriculture and Rural Development. We think the basic contents are quite comprehensive. Nevertheless, we must point out that this programme framework should have its own clear-cut features and try to avoid duplication of other programmes. Its orientation should be the coordination and unification of international activities in this field, and the focus should be placed on environmental protection and agricultural practices conducive to rural environment.
Sustainable agriculture involves many departments and agencies. We would like to see more departments and organizations participating in this work and making joint efforts. Special appeals should be made to relevant international organizations, such as UNDP, to expand their agricultural projects in this field so that this work can be realistically implemented.
Paul Neville ROSS (Australia): May I take the opportunity to thank the Secretariat for the documents before us and Mr Mahler for his very sound introduction to this item.
In our Minister's statement to Plenary and in our interventions on relevant items in Commission II we have indicated our strong support for FAO's activities related to the environment and sustainable development. We reiterate here our support for FAO's work in this area.
We support the FAO moving to implement an International Cooperative Programme Framework for SARD. We believe that the proposed strategies for sustainable agriculture which were developed at the recent FAO/Netherlands Conference provide a good basis for action by FAO and constitute a useful guide for individual countries in the promotion of sustainability.
In terms of setting the overall conditions for sustainable development, we agree with the need to ensure that the overall economic environment is conducive to growth with equity and with the need to review existing agricultural policies and rural development plans.
From our own experience we would particularly support the approach of creating a policy environment which encourages community participation and the expression of individual choice. An important conclusion from our own process of developing policies for sustainable agriculture is the need to promote community self-help groups as vehicles for information transfer and joint action. This "bottom-up" approach applies not only to land conservation activities where it originated, but also to a wider range of agricultural resource management issues.
We place strong emphasis on effective research, education and extension in promoting sustainable agriculture. It is also worth noting that, while research into new approaches is essential, emphasis should also be placed on making sure that the existing body of knowledge on sustainable practices is properly disseminated.
There are two areas where we would like to see more emphasis in the framework facade. First, there is a need to raise general awareness about the benefits of adopting more sustainable practices. This applies not only to farmers, but also to companies, financial institutions and other organizations servicing the farm sector, to research and education institutions and to the general community. Second, there is a need to ensure that institutional arrangements are reviewed to ensure that they do not impede a move to sustainability. For instance, separate administration of soil, water and agricultural policy will not assist the more integrated approach to policy-making and programme delivery that will be needed for sustainable development.
On the question of FAO's activities we do not believe that SARD should become a major additional set of programmes. FAO appears to recognize this in the proposed implementation procedures. FAO should be looking very closely at its existing priorities and programmes with a view to reorienting them to promote sustainability and eliminating any which can be identified as having a negative effect on sustainable development.
On this basis FAO should be seeking to ensure that its priorities enable it to incorporate strategies for SARD within existing resources. We do not see a need for a special fund for SARD. Sustainable agriculture is not an "add on" - it is an approach which should be reflected across FAO's activities. We believe close links need to be maintained with the UNCED process with the aim of ensuring that UNCED takes on relevant aspects of the SARD programme.
Finally, with regard to the resolution introduced by the Netherlands we would like to have some time to review it before commenting on its merits.
Art WRIGHT (Canada): The Canadian delegation welcomes the opportunity to address issues raised under this item. We thank the Secretariat for preparing document C 91/30 as well as Mr Mahler for his clear and concise introduction.
As we have stated previously, Canada is gratified by the progress made by the FAO in integrating sustainable development into its programmes and operations. Sustainable development is a cornerstone of our own Canadian development assistance policy and sustainable agriculture is very much a
foundation for Canada's own agricultural policy. The topic is therefore one in which we are profoundly interested.
Canada contributed to the formulation of the International Cooperative Programme Framework for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development at the Ninety-ninth Council Session in June of this year. Our comments this morning can therefore be brief.
We were particularly pleased to participate in the FAO/Netherlands Den Bosch Conference which made substantial progress towards establishing the first real consensus between technical experts of developing and developed countries. The den Bosch Conference recommended an International Cooperative Programme Framework for SARD, which is now before this Conference and we feel this is a major contribution.
Canada feels that the proposed ICPF is an extremely valuable step for FAO as a whole, and responds in a substantive manner to Conference Resolution 3/89.
We agree with the Secretariat when it said that the next stage is to develop an operational plan for the implementation of SARD. It is essential that this plan have concrete programme elements, which should address the linkages between population growth, food security, poverty and sustainable use of the resource base and as mentioned in the Nordic delegation's statement this morning, the role of women and the needs of vulnerable groups. These elements must be integrated in a strategy and must also be measurable and it is therefore essential that we identify indicators and establish base data so that evaluations can be established.
What is needed now is a realistic time frame and priorities which are sensitive to both the urgency of the global environmental situation and the constraints which affect it. We believe that the draft resolution presented by the Government of the Netherlands goes some way to address these issues and we will address it in detail and hope that we will be able to give it our support. We recognize that there are financial constraints both within the FAO, among other contributing partners and within developing countries, but we would like to stress, however, that not all elements of SARD require extensive additional financial investment. There are a number of things that can be done with regard to agricultural policy reorientation and the use of traditional know-how and indigenous production systems which are both low-cost and cost-effective alternatives which are compatible with the objectives of SARD.
In many parts of the world, agricultural production has already exceeded the agro-ecological potential and the process of environmental degradation has begun. Canada would like the FAO to take a leadership role particularly in helping the poorest countries to assess and identify their agro-ecological potential, and advise on appropriate agricultural policies. The calculation of environmental costs is one of the main difficulties in implementing SARD. My delegation believes that FAO has a unique and highly important contribution to make in developing common tools that can be used in the measurement of natural resources consumption by all Member States. Such tools would be particularly helpful to developing nations.
We know that the rate of subsidization of agriculture in developed countries may also have a negative impact on the implementation of SARD in
all countries and as our delegation said in our statement in the Plenary, we must not only provide for policies to address sustainable development and to alleviate poverty but we must also revise the international rules relating to trade and commerce. There is an essential link between poverty, economic growth and sustainable development. Therefore, if we do not successfully reform the international trading system, we will effectively find ourselves working against sustainable development in the poorest nations. Preservation and protection of the valuable natural resources on which agriculture depends can only become a priority once the problem of poverty has been adequately addressed.
Another area of difficulty is that of land tenure which may constitute a bottleneck or a major constraint for the implementation of SARD in many developing countries. Canada believes that FAO has a distinct comparative advantage in advising developing nations on land tenure policy as a cornerstone of sustainable development.
We would also like to see the Secretariat further develop the linkages between this framework for sustainable agriculture and the strategies for the fisheries and forestry sectors as well as the relationship of these sectors within the concept of SARD. Finally, Canada advocates that the Conference endorse the Council's recommendation that an International Cooperative Framework for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development be launched by FAO, in cooperation with the other institutions concerned. The Canadian delegation agrees that progress reports containing recommendation for the operational phase should be presented to the Hundred and second Council and the Twenty-seventh Conference. We urge the FAO to take a higher profile also in the process for UNCED. In our view, issues such as SARD and the conservation, management and sustainable development of forests need additional emphasis in the UNCED process as the Rio de Janeiro Conference rapidly approaches. FAO does have a unique capacity to advise UNCED in these areas and we strongly urge that FAO assume a heightened role in providing expertise to and influencing the UNCED process.
Carlos BASCO (Argentina): Mi delegación expresa su satisfacción por la dedicación que la FAO ha prestado al tema de referencia, atenta a la importancia que el mismo ha adquirido y dada la preocupación existente en mi pais sobre la cuestión.
En cuanto al documento correspondiente al tema 7, se hacen las siguientes apreciaciones. Respecto al primer problema, que plantea las estrategias para una agricultura y un desarrollo rural sostenibles (punto 29 (i)), deben destacarse los graves problemas que la aplicación de políticas proteccionistas efectuadas por los países desarrollados causa a los países en desarrollo. Los altos precios que se fijan a los cultivos que se siembran en los países desarrollados, principalmente en la Comunidad Económica Europea, incentivan el uso indiscriminado de los recursos productivos mediante la aplicación elevada de agroquímicos, a fin de obtener cantidades de producción significativas. Como consecuencia, como la oferta resultante excede a la demanda, los excedentes son volcados en el mercado externo, también mediante la aplicación de subsidios que aseguren su colocación, desplazando a los países en desarrollo de los mercados de exportación. El desincentivo provocado por el consecuente descenso de los precios internacionales lleva a que los países en desarrollo disminuyan sus niveles productivos, agravando también las necesidades alimentarias
mundiales. Es por ello que los países que, en función de sus ventajas competitivas, tienen natural estructura agroexportadora, como es el caso de Argentina, continúan apoyando el proceso de negociación agrícola del GATT en la actual Ronda Uruguay, a fin de alcanzar una mayor justicia en el mercado internacional de productos agropecuarios a partir de la paulatina liberalización de la producción y el comercio mundial.
En cuanto al tercer problema que plantea la estrategia, la Argentina debe mencionar que la agricultura no es, en sí misma, causante de perjuicios al ambiente, sino que son las prácticas agrícolas intensivas las que producen los trastornos mencionados en el documento. Por lo tanto, resulta imperativo efectuar la diferenciación entre agricultura intensiva y agricultura extensiva, para el conocimiento más profundo de los perjuicios que ciertas prácticas agropecuarias pueden causar al medio ambiente.
En relación al punto 31 del documento, nuevamente se destaca que la manera más efectiva de lograr una mejora en la situación de ingresos del sector rural se da a partir de un resultado favorable de la Ronda Uruguay, en términos de la progresiva disminución de las prácticas de subsidios agrícolas, de manera que se refleje en un nivel de precios más transparente para los productos.
En tal sentido, se apoyan las medidas propuestas a nivel internacional para la creación del marco de políticas apropiado para una agricultura sostenible, con especial énfasis en lo atinente al establecimiento de directrices claras sobre buenas normas comerciales, por medio de las cuales se puedan resolver las controversias que se planteen (párrafo 34(a), segundo guión). Se señala una vez más que el GATT es el foro más indicado para el tratamiento del tema. Se observa también que debería enfatizarse más el rol de la mujer en el desarrollo sostenible. Además, y más allá de los perjuicios derivados por las políticas profesionistas, la Argentina ve con agrado las propuestas de acción que la FAO emprende, tendentes a lograr la necesaria concienciación de los gobiernos para que cada uno de los recursos fundamentales de la agricultura (tierra, agua, recursos biológicos) y cada uno de los insumos esenciales para la producción (fertilizantes, plaguicidas, etcétera) sean utilizados de la manera más inocua y eficaz, tal como se menciona en el párrafo 41 del documento.
Por último, con respecto al proyecto de Resolución de los Países Bajos, solicitamos que se conceda tiempo para su revisión.
Vishnu BHAGWAN (India): Mr Chairman, my delegation would like to thank the FAO Secretariat for preparing a very clear and comprehensive document which provides a broad overview of matter relating to sustainable development and environment. There are several other conference documents which contain considerable coverage of this topic. My delegation has particularly noted the chapter on integration of environmental components in FAO's field activities in document C 91/4, Review of Field Programmes 1990-91: the Review of Regular Programmes 1990-91; the Medium-Term Plan 1992-97; the Programme of Work and Budget 1992-93; and the Director-General's Report on the implementation of the Review of Certain Aspects of FAO's goals and aspirations. It is indicative of the importance attached to this issue in the activities and programmes of the FAO in view of the significance that this matter has assumed for the whole of mankind.
Mr Chairman, the Indian delegation appreciates and welcomes the initiative taken by the FAO in co-sponsoring the FAO/Netherlands Conference in den Bosch on Agriculture and Environment in 1991 and now recommending an overall International Programme Framework to assist in meeting the needs of SARD at the national and international level.
In India, 53 percent of land resources are characterized by one type of degradation or another due to a variety of causes such as water erosion, wind erosion, ravines, alkalinity and salinity. Therefore, the land's capability of being put to productive use is rather limited. There is also the increasing pressure on land due to an increasing population.
In 1986, the Government of India adopted the National Land Use Policy Outline highlighting the most crucial aspects which should govern public policies impinging on the exploitation of land resources of the country.
Our National Land Use and Conservation Board has also embarked upon working out a prospective plan for conservation, management and development of land resources of the country by 2000 AD. The draft prospective plan on a regional basis has been formulated and also discussed in the national consultations held from 21 to 24 October of this year. The State Governments were persuaded to prepare a prospective plan for their states either on an agro-climatic zonal basis or on a unit basis. The strategy for fisheries development and management also included environmental considerations. India has been following the guidelines outlined in the FAO's Field Programme keeping in view its linkage with the environment.
Mr Chairman, we are happy to note that the FAO will strengthen cooperation with other UN organizations and is making an important contribution to the preparation for the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development. Adequate funding at national and international level will be required for successful implementation of this programme. As the capacity of the developing countries in this regard is very limited, we believe that the industrialized countries are primarily responsible for the existing state of the global environment and they should primarily assume the responsibility for providing the resources and appropriate technology through different contributions towards the establishment of a global environment facility, a Green Fund or a Special Fund for SARD.
My delegation is supportive of the approach of creating an overall economic environment conducive to growth with equity through people's participation, establishing an appropriate policy for human settlement and a sustainable rate of population growth at national level.
We also consider it essential that the action, as proposed in paragraph 34, is taken at international level. The debt burden of international debtors needs to be reduced by restructuring or waiver. Similarly, fair trade practices should be established and protectionism in international trade relaxed. Equally important is to assist developing countries to have access to improved technologies that permit more economic and environmentally acceptable use of natural resources.
In conclusion, my delegation endorses the proposed framework plan by FAO and would look forward to a report at the next Conference on its implementation.
Hugh SMITH (United States of America): The United States strongly supports the direction in which FAO proposes to go in promoting sustainable agricultural development and conserving the world's environment. An integrated management and planning approach is, in our view, the key to successful land resources. Almost none of these resources serve a unique function nor exist independently of their surroundings. Sustainability has become one of the watchwords in my country's own national efforts as well as in our assistance to other countries. The emphasis is on full understanding of the problem, and on research combined with the best known management practices we can find. This combination holds hope for success in preserving and regenerating our precious land resources.
Equally important, in our view, in achieving sustainable agricultural development is broad popular participation in the political process of defining and developing such integrated farm management systems. Such popular participation, employing market processes and adjusting for conflicts of interest among concerned individuals, groups and nations, is, we believe, essential to the ultimate goal of protecting land resources.
We generally support the elements proposed for an appropriate policy framework for creating sustainable development in the agricultural sector. Toward that end, we would urge that the document language on page 11 of C 91/30 be modified to eliminate any prejudicial and invidious comparisons between countries. As is the case on population policy, we think that all countries need to make a serious examination of their consumption patterns, and that it is definitely not productive to engage in finger pointing.
Next, towards FAO's stated overall goal of promoting sustainable agricultural production, we fully support the three major objectives of (1) improving efficiency, (2) increasing resilience and minimizing risks, and (3) promoting diversity. In that last category, that is promoting diversity, we suggest the addition of "light manufacturing", "agribusiness", and "recreation" to the three off-farm activities cited on page 13 of document C 91/30.
Lastly, we are not clear what exactly is proposed in Part III regarding an International Cooperative Programme Framework for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development. We find commendable the proposed process of networking and streamlining existing field programmes, projects and other activities to achieve the stated objectives. We do have reservations, however, about the mention of new mechanisms to ensure better integration. Creating new intergovernmental or national bodies is expensive, diverts resources from ongoing activities and frequently requires developing an entire new set of operating skills. On the other hand, the United States Government would suggest that redirection and, if needed, augmentation of existing bodies should be made to the fullest extent possible. Often assignments will need to be more specific, and additional resources both human and financial, will be required. The United States Government would like to underscore that new coordinating mechanisms should be created only as a last resort.
In closing, let me repeat our enthusiasm for the overall thrust of the FAO's proposed strategies for sustainable agriculture and rural development. We look forward to their approval and rapid implementation.
Deddy SUDARMAN (Indonesia): In considering the overview of the FAO activities related to Sustainable Development and Environment as mentioned in document C 91/30, we are gratified by the range, the general thrust and character of those FAO activities, including FAO contributions to preparations for UNCED 1992.
With regard to the proposal on International Cooperative Programme Framework for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development with particular reference to its operational, financial and organizational implications, my delegation agrees to the recommendation of the 98th Session of the FAO Council that it should be launched by FAO, in cooperation with the other concerned institutions.
Allow me now to express my delegation's views on some major points, as follows :
Firstly, on the synthesis between environment and development: This is obviously an issue which is of extreme importance to us, the developing countries. We are aware that we must be able to sustain a reasonable level of economic development, but at the same time we must also keep the exploitation of our natural resources within the tolerable limit to keep the function of ecosystem properly. We, therefore, should develop policies and support the international measures that would enable us to maintain a reasonable margin between the level of development and environmental ceiling. To this end it is necessary that economic and institutional tools, including depletion rate measurement, resource accounting and resource management methods, be developed to maintain sustainable development and environment in the agricultural sector.
Secondly, on changes in the nature and directions of development: In addition to the synthesis between development and environment, development processes must also take into account the normative objective of sustainable development, namely the fulfilment of present and future needs and aspirations. Transgenerational needs and aspirations-fufilment are normative values to be pursued and expressed in policies. This means that we must seek a congruence between present needs and aspirations and those of the future, which in turn would mean that we must forego some present benefits in order to fulfill our future needs. To manage that congruence we need further economic tools of analysis. To meet these objectives new terms or international cooperation must be formulated and agreed upon, simply because of the fact that many impoverished countries have no present benefits to forego for the sake of the future as they are barely able to meet present needs. Unless their poverty is alleviated today - an impossible task without international cooperation - such countries will have no tomorrow.
Thirdly, on financial resources as the principal constraint: In this connection we must therefore develop institutional arrangements and the criteria for an equitable international sharing of financial resources, tasks and responsibilities in our efforts to safeguard global as well as national environments.
And fourthly, regarding access to technology and knowledge: The need to share environmentally sound technologies is now universally acknowledged.But as we seek a synthesis between development and environment, development technologies which do not have direct impact upon the environment should
also be made available to developing countries under conditions that are fair and affordable. The same applies to knowledge: unless knowledge is shared, the definition of environmental - and development - problems and the application of their solutions will remain the monopoly of the advanced countries. It is particularly in the area of technology and knowledge-sharing that the principle of global equity should be upheld.
The overview that I have just presented is to underscore the generally acknowledged point that developing and developed countries still differ in views and approaches towards environmental problems. In industrialized countries there will be a greater concern about pollution and other problems affecting the quality of the environment. In developing countries which are mostly agricultural, there will be a greater concern about the rational management of their natural resources which form the mainstay of their livelihood.
In this regard, to mention just one example: In the sections on forestry and bio-diversity conservation, there is little or no mention at all of the incomes and opportunities foregone by developing countries in maintaining forest and bio-diversity reserves for the common good. Many analyses rightly state that pressure on biological diversity stems mostly from population growth and increased consumption of resources. On the other hand, however, the developing countries - often because of external trade barriers - are deprived from gaining adequate value-added revenues on their export of natural based commodities, particularly forest products which are exported in lower-priced, unprocessed form. Also, in the analysis of biodiversity conservation as well as bio-technology, so-called farmers' rights are not dealt with. Nor is the fact that bio-technology progress contains the potential of wiping out the livelihood of millions of plant growers in the developing countries. All of these are the consequences of the patterns of international economics, pricing mechanisms, and so on, which harm the development and environment efforts of the developing countries.
The final point we would like to raise is that we are fully convinced that global cooperation can be achieved by first developing cooperation at regional and even sub-regional level. It can be more readily established in smaller units of cooperation, and the cooperation that we have established among the six countries of the Association of the Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN) stands as an example. Indeed the countries of ASEAN, basing themselves upon the Kuala Lumpur Accord on Environment and Development, adopted on June 19, 1990, will develop common programmes in implementing sustainable development throughout the sub-region.
CHAIRMAN (Original language Arabic) : I thank the representative of Indonesia for his statement. I fully share his view on the need of developing and developed countries to solve all these environmental problems together.
S�LEYMAN SAYIN (Turkey): In recent years, sustainability has become as important as development. In view of the Den Bosch Declaration, my delegation believes and expects the Twenty-Sixth Conference of FAO to provide an important opportunity for the attainment of an international consensus on environmental issues and development. This will lead towards
the fulfilment of the rightful demands of people from all over the world, for economic, social, political and cultural development, with due care being paid to the preservation of the ecological equilibrium of the Earth.
The "Only One Earth" conception of the United Nations Conference on Human Environment of 1972 has now developed into an understanding that humanity shares common environmental values and posterity will share a common future. In this sense, the interaction between development and the environment must be taken into consideration in all aspects at national, regional and global levels.
In this context, FAO activities will provide the necessary framework, together with the full participation of all members, towards the global attainment of the objectives in sustainable agriculture and rural development.
The concept of sustainable development requires countries to take their share in this concept according to their present structures. There are, however, important obstacles to the implementation of such a concept, in terms of disparities in levels of development, bilateral and multilateral agreements presently in effect, differences in economic systems, protection provided to certain sectors, and foreign trade policies. The attainment of sustainability on a global scale depends in the first place upon the attainment of a certain level of development by the developing and less-developed countries. In this connection, the basis of an international economic policy should be the provision of political, technical, and financial support to contribute to the development of those countries. Although it is true that every section of society has a common interest in environmental protection, and that environmental destruction will produce results affecting the entire world, the development of a sound global approach in the long run requires the adoption of this policy by countries in such a manner as not to hinder their efforts for development, and to be in line with their levels of development.
We are all aware that the costs involved in ensuring the effective implementation of sustainable agriculture and rural development place a heavy burden on developing countries, especially the least developed ones. My delegation therefore believes that this global responsibility must be sustainably shared on the basis of sustainability.
My delegation gives its overall support to the den Bosch Declaration and the Agenda for Action. We are of the opinion that this declaration provides a good technical input for UNCED. In this connection we think that it would be useful to continue the effective cooperation and coordination which already exists between FAO and the UNCED Secretariat, in order to lay the basis for the preparation and implementation processes of the work envisaged in this field. This process should however ensure the full participation of all members at every stage.
We would also go along with the proposal that progress reports, with recommendations for the operational phase, should be presented to the 102nd Session of the Council and the next Session of the Conference.
In view of the concerns throughout the world, we would like to join others in inviting UNCED to give the necessary support to the international cooperative framework for sustainable agriculture and rural development as part of Agenda 21.
Praphas WEERAPAT (Thailand): The Thailand delegation appreciates FAO's initiation of work on sustainable agriculture to increase food production, and to promote the aims of environmental protection and the conservation of natural resources, through collaboration with other UN agencies and NGOs' activities. We especially commend the contribution of FAO to the preparation of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development next year. FAO should however keep in mind that the income of the poor is an important incentive for them to conserve their natural resources. My delegation also thanks FAO for its initiatives in Asia as mentioned in paragraph 23 of document C 91/30, and would like information about the future programme of the initiatives.
With regard to the strategies for sustainable agriculture and rural development, my delegation recognizes that a policy framework at national and international levels which is favourable to sustainable agriculture and rural development must be created. In Thailand, we have already prepared our national plan of economic and social development for the years 1992 to 1996 on the basis of food security and improvement of employment and better incomes, to eradicate poverty, conservation of natural resources and protection of the environment, and the participation of local people. We have now also exposed the concept of sustainable agriculture to researchers in agriculture at different levels.
For the policy at national level, my delegation would like to emphasize the matter raised in the document under discussion that the growth rate of population and optimal size of population in terms of sustainability should be also considered along with the concept of food security, because some countries may have limitations of land, natural resources, and favourable environments for food production.
On the question of sustainable agriculture and rural development at international level, my delegation recognizes that the importance of the policy at national level, especially protectionism in international trade in terms of food standards, should be minimized. We would like to see FAO setting food standards which favour the health of the consumer rather than being used as a barrier to international trade because international trade will be another important mechanism for the improvement of income and the standard of living of the poor on the basis of sustainable agriculture in the developing countries.
With regard to the International Cooperative Programme Framework for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development, in Thailand we have critical areas to develop, as mentioned in paragraphs 42 and 43 of the document we are discussing. Therefore, my delegation recognizes the importance of the international cooperative programmes, especially Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries, or TCDC. Consequently, my delegation wishes to comment that the future programme of TCDC should be made much closer to the sustainable agricultural concept, and activities should be related to each other.
We support the proposal made by the delegate of the Netherlands in this Commission with regard to sustainability.
My delegation considers that document C 91/30 is a good guide for sustainable agriculture and rural development in developing countries. We also recognize the hard work of FAO, especially that done by the Secretariat, in the preparation for the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. Consequently, we wish to endorse the Council recommendation that an ICPF/SARD should be launched by FAO in further elaboration and cooperation with the other institutions concerned.
Mrs Hannelore Angela BENJAMIN (Dominica): I would like to thank the Secretariat for the preparation of the document before us.
Dominica, as most of our islands in the region, belongs to the low-lying islands in the Caribbean and therefore faces threats from the depletion of the ozone layer, sea-level rise, frequent: and violent hurricanes, and other calamitous climate changes.
My delegation feels that all countries, if they have not already, will one day suffer together if we do not take action now and involve our youth by stressing to them the fact that they will inherit this earth along with all its problems in agriculture, forestry, fishery, the environment, global warming and the hole in the ozone layer. By the time the effects become profound and they inherit from us who caused these problems, we might be dead. Therefore, it is the youth of today who should be trained so they can help us to make a difference in order that future generations have a safe place to live on earth.
We all know that the future of Planet Earth is at stake. It is man's sole refuge in this vast and harsh universe. We should also learn from the unfortunate fate of those countries who ignored environmental warnings and are now having to spend millions of dollars to clean up their mistakes.
Unless the developing nations of the world can acquire and introduce sustainable development technologies, their ever-poorer and ever-expanding populations will become the hopeless victims of environmental disaster, too catastrophic to contemplate coordination between all our countries, whether developed or developing.
Regular Programme activities can teach us further biological diversity, integration in overall economic environments, coastal area management and protection in forestry and fisheries. The collaboration of FAO in sustainable agricultural development and environment is of the utmost importance and should be expanded through extra budget for field programmes which will help small farmers and women in rural development.
In this regard our developed partners in FAO therefore may help us by providing us with their support, either directly or within regional and multilateral arrangements which will enable small farmers in small developing states to achieve the capital inflows and resource requirements necessary to make agricultural diversification productive and competitive. It will require a demonstration of the well being of all of us as partners in an ever-changing world where the difficulties of one nation or of one
region inevitably affect the opportunities of others. There is a saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Sra. Concha Marina RAMIREZ DE LOPEZ (Honduras): Mi delegación, señor Presidente, desea felicitar a la Secretaria por el excelente y completo documento presentado.
Conscientes del agotamiento que dia a dia sufren los recursos naturales del pais, el Gobierno de la República de Honduras ha venido revisando y evaluando las acciones ejecutadas a través de programas y proyectos de desarrollo a fin de reorientarlas bajo el principio fundamental de respetar las interrelaciones de los distintos componentes de la naturaleza y de conservar los procesos regenerativos de los ecosistemas como base para lograr un desarrollo sostenible.
El Plan de Gobierno de la República de Honduras establece, como prioridad fundamental, la protección, conservación y mejoramiento del ambiente como factor fundamental para el desarrollo sostenible del pais. Se crea con carácter permanente y como dependencia directa de la Presidencia de la República, la Autoridad Nacional del Ambiente y Desarrollo de Honduras, contando con la participación de instituciones públicas y privadas: las fuerzas armadas del país y otras instituciones.
Existe cada dia mayor conciencia de que los recursos naturales no deben limitarse a un dato geográfico aislado y estático; es necesario identificarlos, relacionarlos, y determinar el grado permisible de su aprovechamiento racional.
Para ello es menester incorporar en las estrategias de desarrollo una gestión ambiental que minimice el deterioro y agotamiento del capital ambiental, a la vez que preserve, mantenga y complemente esta riqueza natural, mediante la acumulación de conocimientos científicos y su aplicación en naciones concertadas de la sociedad.
Las lineas maestras para adelantar una estrategia que nos conduzca al desarrollo sostenible de nuestra región son, a nuestro juicio, las siguientes:
- la erradicación de la pobreza,
- el aprovechamiento sostenible de los recursos naturales,
- el ordenamiento del territorio,
- desarrollo tecnológico compatible con la realidad social y natural,
- una nueva estrategia económico-social,
- la organización y movilización social,
- la reforma del Estado.
También debe prestarse especial atención a la inclusión de la mujer en el proceso, promoviendo su papel activo, no sólo en el sector laboral, sino también en el profesional y en la toma de decisiones.
La década de los años ochenta representó para la región una década perdida. El PNB de 1988 fue más bajo que el de 1978; la recuperación del crecimiento y el desarrollo son una condición necesaria que debe cumplirse para hacer frente a problemas sociales y ambientales apremiantes. La inversión financiera en infraestructura social es enormemente baja. Se estima que la
región tiene un déficit de inversión anual de 80 000 millones de dólares. Esto hace que se aleje la atención de preocupaciones ambientales urgentes. Es esencial mitigar en gran medida esta situación para poder hacer frente a los problemas ambientales.
Sobre esta base apoyamos los principios del Proyecto de Resolución que ha planteado la delegación de los Países Bajos.
Sra. Grafila SOTO CARRERO (Cuba): La delegación de Cuba, señor Presidente, quisiera expresar que nuestro país se ha interesado mucho en los preparativos de la Conferencia de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Medio Ambiente y el Desarrollo que se celebrará en 1992. Cuba participó activamente en la Conferencia FAO/Países Bajos sobre la Agricultura y Medio Ambiente, y consideramos muy atinado que sus resultados se utilicen para la elaboración de estrategias y propuestas de acción en la esfera de la agricultura y del desarrollo rural sostenible.
En tal sentido, señor Presidente, continuamos apoyando los resultados y recomendaciones de la Conferencia de den Bosch de que la FAO, en colaboración con otros organismos, continúe elaborando un marco de programas cooperativos internacionales para ayudar a satisfacer las necesidades de todos los países en la esfera de la agricultura y el desarrollo rural sostenible.
En realidad, coincidimos con otras delegaciones en que éste constituye un gran reto para toda la humanidad. En nuestro país damos mucha importancia al manejo y conservación de los recursos naturales y al cuidado del medio ambiente.
Estamos conscientes de que las cuestiones relativas al medio ambiente y al desarrollo sostenible afectan a la mayor parte de las actividades de la FAO; pero consideramos que deben seguirse incrementando los esfuerzos para el cumplimiento de la Resolución 3/89, aprobada por la Conferencia de la FAO en su 25o período de sesiones.
En cuanto a las estrategias, señor Presidente, contenidas en la Parte II del documento C 91/30, la delegación de Cuba considera que, en realidad, todas estas acciones deben tener como base principal garantizar la alimentación de millones de personas que sufren de hambre y malnutrición en el mundo. En tal sentido apoyamos las declaraciones de las distinguidas representantes de Honduras y Dominica, en lo que se refiere a las acciones en la región de América Latina y el Caribe.
También el propio documento C 91/30, en su párrafo 34, se refiere a dos obstáculos muy grandes que se interponen para garantizar una coyuntura económica favorable al desarrollo de la agricultura y al desarrollo sostenible. Se trata del peso de la deuda externa y el proteccionismo en el comercio internacional.
No nos extenderemos en estos aspectos, puesto que ya mi delegación ha expresado sus opiniones al respecto en otros temas que se han debatido y también lo resaltó nuestro Vicepresidente del Consejo de Ministros en el Plenario de esta Conferencia.
En términos generales, la delegación de Cuba apoya las estrategias para un desarrollo sostenible planteadas en esta segunda parte del documento. Estamos de acuerdo con lo expresado por los países nórdicos, a través de la distinguida delegación de Noruega, en que deben tomarse más en cuenta los intereses de la mujer para que las mismas puedan jugar un papel importante y desempeñar el gran rol que tienen en la mayoría de los países subdesarrollados.
Referente al Proyecto de Resolución presentado por la distinguida delegación de los Países Bajos, la delegación de Cuba ha tomado debida nota, y la estudiaremos cuando la misma sea distribuida, pero estamos seguros de que no tendremos dificultad en apoyarla ya que compartimos sus principios generales.
Tadeusz STROJWAS (Pologne): M. le Président, tout d'abord j'aimerais remercier M. Mahler pour son excellente introduction à la discussion de ce point de notre agenda, et pour la soigneuse préparation du document C 91/30 qui contient des considérations substantielles sur les activités de la FAO dans la sphère du développement durable et de l'environnement.
The delegation of Poland has spoken at length on the subject matter last June. Our position remains unchanged. Therefore, we are glad to inform this Commission of our support for the Draft Resolution introduced by the representative of the Netherlands, and we are very glad to join that delegation as co-author of the Resolution.
With regard to the efforts of FAO, let me mention that it would be misleading to limit the meaning of the term sustainable agriculture or sustainable agricultural development to the agricultural sector. The complexity of the problem, which was very well presented previously in the Canadian statement, stems from the fact that on this planet earth there are more and more people, so it is necessary to produce more and more food. Hence, on the one hand we talk of the pollution of the environment and of the great dangers to the environment resulting from development of the chemical industry that produces chemical fertilizers, and, on the other hand, I think I am not committing a major error by saying that industrialized countries' workers, engineers and scientists are praised for their efforts in scientific institutes and chemical plants as they produce more and more fertilizers that contribute to better yield, and so on. Vicious circles? In a sense, yes, but perhaps it is not the time here to enter into detailed analyses. In fact, the only substantial remark that my delegation would like to provide here and now is that, in view of the commitment of FAO in this sphere of activities, it seems responsible to increase, or to increase much more, the cooperation with UNIDO. My delegation is of the opinion that there exists important and sensitive links in the activities of these two agencies of the United Nations. Increased cooperation between them in this sphere would be very beneficial for the sustainability of agricultural development, for the environment, in short, for all of the human race.
Jung Sup CHOI (Korea, Republic of): My delegation wishes to thank Mr Mahler for this excellent introduction to this item.
As my Minister of Agriculture emphasized in his statement to the Plenary meeting, world food and agriculture is currently facing conflicting problems of hunger and surplus. Specifically, developing countries suffer from food deficit, while in contrast, developed countries in general are more concerned about the environmental influences of agriculture and the sustainability of agriculture into the future.
Many developed countries criticize the application of massive chemicals in agriculture. However, the Korean delegation wants to remind you that the environmental degradation is even more seriously progressing in the developing countries. The reasons for that, among others, include higher population density and less opportunity to earn non-agricultural income in developing countries. Farmers in developing countries are less likely to take the future sustainability of agriculture into consideration.
Furthermore, there is another structural problem in terms of international agricultural trade. Most developing countries have the tendency to manufacture and export either labour-intensive or natural-resource-intensive products. The international trade situation, however, does not allow easy market access into the developed countries' markets due to various border measures. As a result, the developing countries that may not export labour-intensive commodities tend to be dependent on mining and agricultural products that cause, in turn, a serious resource depletion.
In these contexts the Korean delegation would like to re-emphasize the importance of environmental consideration and sustainable agriculture, not only in terms of agriculture in developed countries, but in terms of agriculture in the developing countries.
Necessary efforts by the developed countries as well as various international organizations, including FAO and UNDP, are required in order to achieve sustainable agriculture in a global sense.
Crispus R.J. NYAGA (Kenya): The agenda before us is of central importance. Widespread and rampant poverty and hunger in the developing world are closely linked with mismanagement of the environment. It is important that the FAO continues to address the issue of sound environment as the only basis for sustainable food and agricultural development.
My delegation appreciates the fact that FAO has been active and emphatic on the importance of environmental conservation, particularly in the FAO Regional Meetings, the ongoing UNCED committee meetings in preparation for the Rio Summit, and even more recently at the World Forestry Congress in Paris.
Kenya reaffirms its commitment to the conservation of the environment and supports all efforts geared to its sustainable exploitation. We share the international concern for the continued destruction of tropical forests and the general environment.
Consistent with the Tropical Forests Action Plan, Kenya has launched the preparation of a long-term National Forestry Master Plan aimed at supporting sustainable agriculture and providing forestry products to our
people on a long-term basis. A major aspect of the Kenyan plan is the involvement of all Kenyans in the development, conservation and management of forestry resources. This is due to the fact that Kenya has a limited forest cover, which is approximately 3 percent of the overall land area, mainly located at agriculturally high potential and sensitive water catchment areas. And yet 90 percent of our people's energy consumption is derived from fuelwood.
The Kenya Forestry Master Plan (KFMP) therefore calls for an intensive agro-forestry programme to cover all farmlands, and to extend forestry into Kenya s vast marginal lands. This is the only realistic approach to extend the national forest cover and to enhance both environmental conservation and forest resource sustainability.
I wish to point out that environmental conservation activities are costly, time-consuming and do not yield immediate results. In the hunger-stricken developing countries such activities are often overlooked since resources are extremely limited.
In Kenya we have active NGOs, women groups, schools and churches through which donor support for resource conservation can be channeled. Most Government Ministries are keen and involved in various aspects of environmental protection.
My delegation fully endorses the recommendations contained in document C 91/30, paragraph 76, and urges the FAO to continue its cooperation with the UNCED Preparatory Committee and other UN agencies involved in the protection of the environment. FAO should continue assisting developing countries in the preparation of TFAPs and national environmental policies, and should regularly organize and coordinate national or sub-regional seminars on the environment and sustainable development.
Finally, I wish to thank FAO for its timely support of my country's efforts and appeals to the donor community for assistance in combating the serious cypress aphid disease which has invaded our cypress plantations and indigenous cedar forest reserves. Our cypress aphid control programme has received encouraging support from the World Bank, UNDP and the Finnish Government. However, I wish to reiterate my country's appeal for more donor support since the cypress aphid disease is threatening to wipe out all cypress plantations and indigenous cedar natural reserves in eastern, central and southern Africa.
If this disease remains unchecked, Kenya will start to lose all its cypress plantations, estimated at around 116 000 hectares, in the next three years or so. As these plantations are a main source of our industrial wood, their total destruction would reduce Kenya to a net importer of basic industrial wood. Similarly, it is also estimated that Kenya has around 280 000 hectares of indigenous cedar natural reserves, which are also an alternative victim of the deadly cypress aphid disease.
As the cedar forest reserves are mostly located on important catchments, their destruction would be a serious environmental catastrophe in Kenya and the affected sub-region at large.
Without saying much this is an area of grave concern to us and calls for immediate technical and financial assistance by all friendly and sympathetic donors.
I fall short of suitable words to illustrate sufficiently the seriousness and magnitude of the problem facing us. It is nearly two years now since Kenya made the appeal for assistance and only a third of the required support in the cypress aphid control programme has been pledged. I am prepared to provide any additional information to any interested donors or persons if required.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you delegate of Kenya, I think everybody has taken note of his appeal and his statement, especially with regard to combating the cypress aphid which is endangering the environmental life in his country.
U. Tin HTUT OO (Myanmar): For Myanmar, as an agricultural country, it is imperative that exploitation of her abundant natural resources, as well as her economic development policies should be environmentally sound and sustainable. Fortunately, Myanmar's natural environment has not been unduly impaired due to the relatively limited population pressure, the still low level of industrialization and limited use of polluting agro-chemicals. Moreover, almost 50 percent of the country is still under forests, mostly natural. However, like in most developing countries, the Government of Myanmar instituted drastic changes to its economic structure in recent years with a shift towards a market economy. Early indications signal that agricultural, forestry and fisheries sectors have responded well to the increasing demand and higher prices with increased production.
Therefore, more efforts are needed in improving efficiency and reducing risk in the use of our natural resources. Sustainability becomes a key word in our national development policies and plans.
Sustainable development and environmental affairs are important not only nationally but also globally as their causes and effects cannot be confined to any specific region. In this regard, the leader of the Myanmar delegation in his statement has stated that "the problem of the developing countries, however, already remain overwhelming and it might be illusory to assume they will be able to shoulder the responsibilities of the environment issues within their financial resources. The problems at the same time remain global and it is hoped an equitable approach could be evolved".
In Myanmar the National Commission for Environmental Affairs has been set up in February 1990. Nationally, the Commission has competency over all environmental affairs and internationally, it acts as a focal point with bilateral and multilateral organizations as well as other related government bodies and NGOs.
We highly appreciate FAO's initiatives and various activities related to sustainable development and environment. At the same time we commend the highly comprehensive document C 91/30 and my delegation fully endorses the
proposed actions by the Conference mentioned in para.27 and other related proposals of the document. Our country will closely and effectively cooperate with the international community in this crucial area.
Srta. Martha VAZQUEZ (México): La delegación de México ha leído con gran interés el contenido del documento C 91/30, sobre las actividades de FAO en relación con el medio ambiente y el desarrollo sostenible, resultado de la aplicación de la Resolución 3/89, aprobada en la última Conferencia.
Al respecto, nuestra delegación quisiera hacer los siguientes comentarios: Reconoce la relevancia que representa el informe de la Conferencia FAO/Países Bajos, sobre agricultura y medio ambiente, en el que se incluyen la Declaración y Plan de Acción de den Bosch, para una agricultura y desarrollo sostenible, asi como el documento que contiene el esbozo de un marco de programas cooperativos internacionales, los cuales constituyen una contribución importante a los preparativos de la Conferencia de las Naciones Unidas sobre Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo, a celebrarse el próximo año. Resalta la importancia de las estrategias para una agricultura y un desarrollo rural sostenible, las cuales exigen un empeño decidido y constante en materia de políticas y asistencia técnica y financiera en sectores concretos para promover el marco de programas cooperativos internacionales.
Resalta la necesidad de mejorar las relaciones económicas internacionales, con objeto de incrementar y estabilizar los ingresos de los agricultores, examinar y mejorar las normas que rigen el comercio internacional, a efectos de proporcionar mejor acceso a los mercados, y asegurar precios equitativos con miras a apoyar las estrategias contenidas en la Parte II del documento que nos ocupa.
Los sustantivos costos que supondrá la aplicación de la estrategia para la ADRS deberán sufragarse de tal manera que no representen ninguna carga adicional a los países en desarrollo, en particular a los sectores más vulnerables de la población, por lo que la asistencia financiera de la comunidad internacional, en particular los donantes, podría ser en condiciones que no agraven los problemas comerciales y, en general, económicos de estos países.
Por otra parte, es necesario resaltar el papel de la mujer en el desarrollo sostenible, la cual ha desempeñado una labor relevante en la agricultura de los países en desarrollo.
La delegación mexicana coincide con las estrategias para la agricultura y el desarrollo sostenible, que se esbozan en la Parte II del documento, en el sentido de que los gobiernos, las comunidades rurales y unidades de producción deberán participar activamente en la labor de integración y coordinación de las actividades que requieren la agricultura y el desarrollo sostenible.
Asimismo concuerda con los principales componentes del marco del Programa de Cooperación Internacional contenidos en el párrafo 51, relativos a los programas y proyectos, así como su importante vinculación con los programas para el sector forestal y pesquero.
Finalmente, señor Presidente, México se manifiesta en favor de que la FAO contribuya con su experiencia, información y expertos en las labores preparatorias de la Conferencia de Río, que tiene que ver, en particular, con el aprovechamiento de los recursos marinos vivos.
En relación al proyecto de resolución presentado por la distinguida delegación de los Países Bajos, la delegación mexicana lo ve con agrado y en su momento procederá a su análisis para su eventual aprobación.
Eloy RAMOS RODRIGUEZ (España): Gracias señor Presidente, por permitirme participar. Felicitamos al Sr. Mahler por la exposición del documento C 91/30 el cual, en líneas generales, aceptamos.
La situación general de la agricultura en el momento actual en los países de la CEE se caracteriza por una clara recesión en materia de precios, a los productores y de mecanismos de protección de mercados. Es decir, estamos ante un ajuste estructural, que obliga a dichos países, y en especial a los de desarrollo medio dentro de la Comunidad, a un replanteamiento del desarrollo rural al que obviamente países como España no renuncian, si bien vemos que la necesaria modernización e incremento de las productividades será desigual; se concentrarán en áreas con potencial y se abandonarán en zonas marginales y desfavorecidas donde el riesgo va a ser el del despoblamiento de cara al medio ambiente.
En cualquier caso, señor Presidente, aprobamos que no puede promulgarse en zonas ya intensivas un aumento de recursos e "inputs"; la estrategia, según se hace ver en los párrafos 35 a 38 del documento C 91/30 que aceptamos, se basa en la reducción de costos de producción y, por ende, en una utilización más eficaz de los "inputs", evitando pérdidas y residuos y mejorando las técnicas extensivas de los sistemas productivos que mejor se adapten a los recursos naturales.
Queremos insistir en que en los países mediterráneos este proceso de producción intensiva, que tuvo lugar antes del ajuste estructural que he mencionado, ha afectado en especial al suelo, y que es en ellos éste un recurso natural básico y frágil si se les somete a condiciones socioeconómicas y ambientales adversas.
El programa marco ya anunciado en den Bosch, en donde tuvimos el placer de asistir, debe hacer énfasis en este aspecto importante de recurso-suelo para los países mediterráneos.
Señor Presidente, apoyamos la filosofía del documento C 91/30, en los párrafos 39 y 40, en lo que concierne a las estrategias y programas de inversión de cara al desarrolllo sostenible. Si queremos que tengan acogida entre la población rural y que sean eficaces a largo y medio plazo, estas estrategias deben venir apoyadas no solamente por prácticas agrarias compatibles con el recurso suelo y agua, sino que además necesitan una mejora en los servicios, en las infraestructuras físicas y humanas del medio rural para completar el enfoque integrado del desarrollo sostenible, y en el que intervienen aspectos económicos, sociales y técnicos.
En esta acción multisectorial y pluridisciplinar, según dice el punto 13 del citado documento C 91/30, la FAO puede desempeñar un papel fundamental en esta acción de desarrollo rural.
Por último, señor Presidente, queremos hacer hincapié en que dicho programa marco, que nació en la reunión de den Bosch, deberla reconocer con más énfasis, al programar y evaluar las estrategias de gestión y uso sostenible, que se requieren inversiones con carácter colectivo en muchos países mediterráneos para afrontar problemas de medio ambiente con carácter sostenible, y que estas inversiones de carácter colectivo no proporcionan a medio plazo retornos económicos necesarios.
No es pues la solución corregir de forma immediata y fácil, a nivel de explotación, los excesos de fertilizantes, pesticidas, etc. Creemos que los verdaderos problemas de una incorrecta utilización por un sistema intensivo de producción, en pendientes, exceso de mecanización del cultivo, etc., tienen en nuestros países un carácter colectivo y que hay que afrontarlos a nivel de un conjunto de explotaciones de un área sensible. Por tanto, señor Presidente, estas inversiones colectivas requieren ingentes desembolsos en inversiones reales para restaurar y conservar el medio. Creemos que el documento al que estamos haciendo referencia no contempla suficientemente este tema y vería con agrado nuestra delegación que, en la estrategia del desarrollo agrícola sostenible, se tengan presentes estos aspectos de cómo abordar obras públicas y colectivas de repoblación forestal para una correcta gestión del espacio rural, ordenación del territorio; es decir, no podemos separar la estrategia del desarrollo sostenible con la acción rural integral y acciones inversoras colectivas.
J.M. SCOTT (United Kingdom): The United Kingdom delegation congratulates the Secretariat on papers C 91/30 and C 91/LIM/31 and thanks Mr Mahler for his clear introduction. We also wish to congratulate the Government of the Netherlands for hosting the Den Bosch Conference which played such a part in raising the profile of sustainable agriculture and rural development.
Part I of paper C 91/30 presents a clear overview of FAO progress to date in the areas of environment and sustainability, and identifies the main challenges for achieving sustainability. As paragraph 8 indicates, the scope of Conference Resolution 3/89, which called for a strengthening of FAO activities in the fields of environment and sustainable development, is very broad. If taken too literally, the Resolution can almost be interpreted as a mandate for FAO to expand its interests and resources beyond its traditional areas of competence. The UK delegation believes that FAO should focus and prioritize its activities, whilst ensuring that the environment and sustainability issues are addressed as integral components of projects, programmes and strategic planning; not seen as separate issues requiring separate funding and support structures.
The United Kingdom delegation would also welcome confirmation that paragraph 33, which sets out the national policy framework for the attainment of sustainable agriculture and rural development, does not imply that FAO wishes to become involved in population policy, urbanization, etc., and impinge on the mandates and competence of other organizations.
The United Kingdom delegation supports the comments made by Switzerland about the catalytic role of FAO. We question how far FAO should become involved in field activities, rather than concentrate on policies and strategies. Once again it is a question of priorities and comparative advantage. The International Cooperative Programme Framework (ICPF) for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development is intended as a means of streamlining and networking existing field programmes, projects and other activities towards sustainable objectives. In theory, the initiative is meant to avoid unnecessary duplication and enhance coordination but, given the wide-ranging elements of the programme, the potential for duplication is great.
Mr Chairman, the United Kingdom delegation is concerned that the general tone of the paper is towards broadening the scope of activities rather than setting clearly defined priorities. We hope that Conference will agree to close monitoring of implementation of the ICPF by COAG and by Council.
Paragraphs 61-65 on funding for the ICPF appear to make the a priori assumption that additional costs need to be met to achieve sustainability with net additionality in financial assistance from the donor community taken for granted. Reference to a "green fund debt-for-SARD swaps", etc., do not strengthen FAO's earlier arguments on the need to integrate environmental and sustainability concerns into all projects and programmes.
Finally, the United Kingdom delegation would suggest the draft resolution proposed by the distinguished delegate for the Netherlands be expanded to include references to the need for FAO to determine clear priorities, the importance of integrating environmental concerns into all activities and to mechanisms for monitoring the implementation of ICPF.
CHAIRMAN (Original language Arabic): To save time the delegation of Zambia has asked for his intervention to be inserted in the verbatim record for which I thank you, Sir.
R. MULELE (Zambia): Mr Chairman, the Zambian delegation wishes to thank the Secretariat for the high quality document placed before us.
We have noted with great satisfaction the efforts by FAO in the progress achieved to date - as reported in Part 1 of the document. In particular we laud the close collaboration between FAO and other UN and International Organizations on matters related to sustainable development and environment.
Mr Chairman, the Zambian delegation fully endorses the proposals contained in paragraphs 30 to 34 regarding the creation of the appropriate policy framework - both at national and international level.
In summary, we wish to join other delegations in endorsing the FAO Council recommendation that an International Cooperative Programme Framework for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (ICPF/SARD) be launched by FAO, in cooperation with other institutions concerned.
We also wish to support the call that the FAO Secretariat should continue to cooperate with the UNCED Secretariat as regards sustainable agriculture.1
The meeting rose at 12.45 hours.
La séance est levée à 12 h 45.
Se levanta la sesión a l as 12.45 hours
1 Statement inserted in the Verbatim Records on request.
