SUMMARY
The World Food Summit (WFS),
Rome, 13-17 November 1996, adopted a Plan of Action which
includes specific references to the multiple roles of
forests and called on the forestry sector to contribute to
ensuring "Food for All". In its seven commitments, the Plan
contains recommendations which have many implications for
the forest and forestry sector. This note presents the main
implications for forestry of the WFS Plan of Action and
suggests some areas on which the advice of this Committee is
especially required.
INTRODUCTION
1. In the last two years, in preparation for WFS, FAO
conducted major analytical work and intensive discussions to
examine the main problems and identify actions to enhance
food security and poverty eradication through contributions
from the agriculture, forestry, fisheries and rural
development sectors which are described in 15 technical
background documents prepared for the Summit.
2. The World Food Summit adopted the Rome Declaration on
World Food Security and a Plan of Action, both of which are
focused on seven commitments (see Annex). Under each of the
seven commitments, the Plan of Action stressed that forests
and forestry were an integral element of actions towards the
objective of "Food for all".
THE WFS PLAN OF ACTION AND FORESTRY
3. There are currently more than 800 million hungry
people throughout the world and WFS declared this situation
to be intolerable and that the number of undernourished
people should be reduced to half their present level not
later than 2015. The seven commitments enunciated in the
Rome Declaration on World Food Security (see Annex)
constitute the components of the Plan of Action in which
action related to each of them is elaborated. It must be
stressed that all sectors of rural development are called to
full mobilization to work towards the goal of "Food for all"
and the reduction of malnutrition. Forestry in particular is
called all the way through the Plan of Action to realize its
full potential to contribute on a sustainable basis to
increasing food production and to ensure access of all to
food at all times through income generation.
4. From the analysis of the WFS Plan of Action and, in
particular, of its many references to forestry to ensure
that the sector contribute fully to the implementation of
the commitments, the following main implications may be
derived:
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a)
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Forest policies: More holistic and
innovative forestry policies, strategies and
programmes need to be developed in order to utilise
fully the multifunctional character of forestry and
to support national capacity-building efforts,
principally in low-income food deficit countries
(LIFDCs), with north-south and south-south
cooperation. The new policies will be aimed at:
optimising, in an economical, social and
environmental manner, the forest and tree
production of the main staple foods, fodder, fuel
and other forest products contributing to food
security; reducing the deforestation rate to
prevent and control degradation and
over-exploitation of natural forests in poorly
endowed, ecologically stressed areas, and ensure
the effective prevention and progressive control of
erosion, pests and fires which can cause major
damage to the natural resource base;
encouraging conservation and sustainable
management of natural resources, including those in
marginal areas; increasing forest coverage
in forest lands and promoting new and more
agroforestry activities in farming areas;
maintaining and developing the multiple
contributions of forests, trees and forestry to
food security through the conservation and
sustainable use of land and water resources,
including the protection of watersheds and as
reservoirs of biological diversity; creating
conditions which encourage stable off-farm
employment and income derived from forestry-related
activities, especially in low-potential rural
areas; pursuing sound economic policies and
land reforms that will permit foresters to earn a
fair return from their labour, capital and
management; formulating and implementing
integrated, sustainable and participatory forestry
and rural development strategies that reinforce the
local productive capacity of foresters, including,
among others, women and indigenous people.
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b)
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Research and development: Decisive action
should be taken, in cooperation with the public and
private sectors, to strengthen research and
scientific cooperation in forestry in order to:
improve the understanding of the multiple
roles of forestry ecosystems and their interactions
with agriculture, fisheries and rural development;
increase the productive potential and
maintain the natural resource base to eradicate
poverty and promote food security; promote
viable technology transfer and extension services
related to forest and the goods and services that
meet the real local needs; stimulate
programmes that will help identify the
possibilities of bilateral and regional cooperation
so that experience and technology information
including local knowledge may be exchanged on a
south-south and north-south level;
strengthen national research centres;
ensure gender perspective in research
planning and implementation.
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c)
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Training and education: Governments, in
cooperation with the private sector and NGOs, shall
enhance national capacity-building efforts,
principally in LIFDCs, in order to
strengthen forestry education,
develop training skills and extension
systems ensuring equal gender opportunities;
develop technical and educational infrastructure in
rural areas; promote access for all,
especially the poor and members of vulnerable and
disadvantaged groups, to basic education in order
to strengthen their capacity for self-reliance; and
support north-south and south-south
cooperation among educational and extension and
research institutions.
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d)
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Target groups within the forestry sector:
Develop programmes and projects aimed at improving
the collection, dissemination and use of gender
disaggregated data in forestry and rural
development in order to ensure equal access,
by men and women, to land and other productive
resources through the effective implementation of
land reforms and secure tenure and use rights;
foster the social and economic
revitalisation of the rural sectors;
encourage and enable farmers, foresters and
other food producers, as well as their
organisations, to protect their rights and those of
consumers.
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e)
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Economic and financial aspects: The
recent neglect of investment should be reverted and
the optimal use of public and private investments
should be promoted in support of forestry systems
to the level needed to contribute to food security;
innovative forestry policies, strategies and
programmes should be pursued, with particular
attention to their impact on vulnerable groups,
small producers and forest-dependent communities,
with due consideration for the role of and benefit
to men and women; promote the development of
rural banking and credit in support of small-scale
forest-based enterprises.
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ORIENTATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE
COMMITTEE
5. The Committee may direct its attention and provide
advice to member countries and FAO on the following
National forest programmes
- new forestry areas of priority, orientations,
approaches and mechanisms to be integrated in national
and local agriculture, fisheries and rural development
policies in order to enhance the mutually reinforcing
interactions and synergies for sustainable development
and food security. The following are some areas for
consideration: a) participation and collaboration in the
development of joint agriculture, forestry, fisheries and
rural development activities including regional meetings
such as joint regional commission meetings on
agriculture, forestry and fisheries; b) incorporation of
the main recommendations of the Plan of Action in the
national forest programme process; c) more effective
mobilization of public and private funds to enhance the
direct and indirect contribution of forests to food
security and poverty eradication with the participation
of national and international agencies.
Wood and non-wood production
- priority actions and activities geared to increased
production and enhanced productivity of forest products
such as food, fuelwood, non-timber forest products
(fodder, medicines, etc.) and income-generating
activities from forests, wood lands and trees,
particularly in arid and semi-arid areas, LIFDCs, refugee
camps and man-made emergency areas considering
participatory approaches.
Forest resources and lands
- continuous observation and analysis of changes in
land use patterns and plans in order to prevent
unsustainable use of former forested lands and to control
degradation and over-exploitation of natural forests in
poorly endowed and ecologically stressed areas; ensure
the effective prevention and progressive control of
erosion, pests and fires which can result in the
degradation of the natural resource base; encourage
conservation and sustainable management of natural
resources, particularly in marginal areas; and promote
increased agroforestry activities in farming areas.
ANNEX
EXTRACT FROM THE ROME DECLARATION ON WORLD
FOOD SECURITY
Convinced that the multifaceted character of food
security necessitates concerted national action, and
effective international efforts to supplement and reinforce
national action, we make the following commitments:
- we will ensure an enabling political, social and
economic environment designed to create the best
conditions for the eradication of poverty and for durable
peace, based on full and equal participation of women and
men, which is most conducive to achieving sustainable
food security for all;
- we will implement policies aimed at eradicating
poverty and inequality and improving physical and
economic access by all, at all times, to sufficient,
nutritionally adequate and safe food and its effective
utilization;
- we will pursue participatory and sustainable food,
agriculture, fisheries, forestry and rural development
policies and practices in high and low potential areas,
which are essential to adequate and reliable food
supplies at the household, national, regional and global
levels, and combat pests, drought and desertification,
considering the multifunctional character of agriculture;
- we will strive to ensure that food, agricultural
trade and overall trade policies are conducive to
fostering food security for all through a fair and
market-oriented world trade system;
- we will endeavour to prevent and be prepared for
natural disasters and man-made emergencies and to meet
transitory and emergency food requirements in ways that
encourage recovery, rehabilitation, development and a
capacity to satisfy future needs;
- we will promote optimal allocation and use of public
and private investments to foster human resources,
sustainable food, agriculture, fisheries and forestry
systems, and rural development, in high and low potential
areas;
- we will implement, monitor and follow up this Plan of
Action at all levels in cooperation with the
international community.
We pledge our actions and support to implement the World
Food Summit Plan of Action.
Rome, 13 November 1996
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