1. In view of the limited information available in relation to the implementation of the existing UNCED international conventions in the Near East Region, the following brief review was prepared based on:

• Results of FAO's survey on the implementation of nfps made available to the fourth meeting of the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (IFF-4) in February 2000.
• Country statements to the Regional Workshop on National Forest Programmes Formulation and Implementation in the Near East, held in Istanbul, Turkey, 11-12 October 1999
• Paper for Costa Rica-Canada Initiative Regional Meeting, Istanbul, Turkey, from 12 to 15 October 1999, entitled "An Overview of the Forest-related International Legally-binding and Non-legally binding Arrangements and their Implementation in the Near East Region."

2. Most of the 33 countries in Near East and Central Asia have ratified all or some of the conventions. Some have formulated National Biodiversity, Environment or Desertification Strategies and Action Plans. Ten countries of the region were involved in nfp processes at one time or another but only the Sudan, Turkey, Cyprus, Algeria, Morocco and Pakistan appear to have a comprehensive on-going nfp process (Table 1).

Table 1: Ratification of UNCED Conventions/Agreements and Involvement in nfps by countries of the Near East and Central Asia

* Based on sources described in para. 1.

nfp=national forest programme; NP=National Plan; FSR=Forest Sector Review; NFAP=National Forest Action Plan; FSMP-Forest Sector Master Plan; TFAP=Tropical Forest Action Plan.

3. Algeria. the nfp process started in 1992 with a "Pilot Forestry and Watershed Management" Project, implemented by FAO and financed by the World Bank. The Project was complementary to two bilateral cooperation projects financed by Germany and France respectively, which aimed at improving the management of forests in Algeria.

4. Cyprus. Has had a national forestry plan since 1991. The nfp process started in 1998 with a Strategic Review of Forest Sector with FAO assistance. A steering committee has been formed which includes the Departments of Forests and of Agriculture, Cyprus Forest Industries, NGOs and Municipal and Communal Authorities. A national coordinator has been appointed together with an international and three national consultants.

5. Morocco. The process started in 1992 with a National Plan for Watershed Management supported by FAO. The Plan had three components: (a) Anti-erosion measures over an area of 440 000 ha; (b) Distribution of 2 million fruit trees to farmers to protect soil against erosion and (c) watershed rehabilitation and water resources management by building eleven dams. Since June 1998, the FAO Investment Centre has supported the preparation of a national forest programme as part of the Mediterranean Forestry Action Plan.

6. Pakistan. The process started in 1992. A Forestry Sector Master Plan has been formulated endorsed by the Government and is being implemented.

7. Sudan. The Forestry Sector Review conducted by the World Bank in 1986 has been adopted as the country's nfp. The main consequence of the Review was the formulation of the Forest Resource Conservation Project (FRCP), which contributed to the creation of a para-statal body, the Forests Nations Corporation (FNC) in 1989. The FNC has implemented a national consumption survey of forest products (1995), a national forest inventory (1997), and has promoted forest reservation and afforestation programmes.

8. Turkey. Two Forestry Sector Master Plans were prepared. The first plan, prepared in 1972, covered the period 1973-1995. A second plan, prepared in 1982 to upgrade the data and figures of the first one, covered the period 1990-2009. The two plans provided detailed information about forest policies, long term targets, supply and demand estimates for wood and non-wood forest products, present and future targets for different forestry activities and revenue, expenditure and investment estimates.

9. Attempts to develop nfps in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Tunisia have stalled, and little progress has been made within the context of the Mediterranean Forestry Action Plan, nor through other regional schemes that include forestry (Plan Bleu, MAP).

10. Upon request by countries of the Region, "Practical Guidelines for Implementation of Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management in the Near East Region" are under preparation by experts from the region with FAO/UNEP assistance. They are expected to be completed and distributed to countries in the region after being discussed in a back-to-back workshop at the time of the Near East Forestry Commission in July 2000.

11. Chapter 13 of Agenda 21: "Managing Fragile Ecosystems: Sustainable Mountain Development" is particularly relevant to all countries of the Near East as an important percentage of their territory is covered by mountains. Morocco, Tunisia, Yemen, among many others, are developing special initiatives to coordinate and heigthen policy development, planning and activities for the conservation, management and development of mountainous regions. More information is available on the International Year of Moutains in Information Note FO:NEFC/2000/Inf.4, and with more awareness, new activities will develop.

12. Besides such international financial mechanisms as the Global Environment Facility (GEF), bilateral international development agencies as USAID, FINNIDA etc, there are just as many regional organizations and finance agencies in the Near East region as in other regions to assist member countries in the formulation and implementation of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, National Environment Rehabilitation Strategies, National Plans to Combat Desertification and nfps. There is an evident need to exert more efforts to promote these mechanisms, agencies and organizations to this end. The regional agencies include the League of Arab States (LAS), and its specialized agencies such as the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD), the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development (AAAID), the Arab Centre for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD) and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA). The financing agencies include the Islamic Development Bank and Bilateral Funds such as the Saudi Fund for Development, the Kuwait Fund for Development, the Abu Dhabi Fund etc..

CONCLUSION

13. Ratification of the international conventions imposes obligations on countries which may support their efforts towards sustainable management of their forest resources. Each of them addresses issues which directly or indirectly affect sustainable forest management, and thus since each convention includes provision for monitoring and since most countries have ratified most of the conventions then there is the potential for improvement in forest management. The situation regarding the development or implementation of nfps in the region is, however, less positive.

14. The preparation of national forest policies, action plans and programmes is an essential process for action for the development of national forestry sectors. Nfp, CCD-related National Action Programmes (NAP) or other programmes involve:

• the implementation of participatory approaches for forest planning and management;
• the strengthening of national institutional capabilities, including the strengthening of education, training and research institutions;
• addressing cross-sectoral issues which may impact the sustainable management of trees and forests; and
• government action to facilitate and/or allocate investment and finance for the effective conservation and sustainable management of forest resources.