1. This note is to inform the Commission about FAO forestry activities of interest to the region, funded under the Regular Programme budget and FAO-executed projects funded through UNDP and donor trust funds in 1998-99. Annex A provides references to specific requests and recommendations of the thirteenth session of the Commission.

FOREST RESOURCES

SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL FORESTS

2. Following the FAO/UNEP Expert Meeting on Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management in the Near East (Cairo, Egypt, October 1996), two workshops of National Focal Points were held: one in Cairo in June 1997, and one in Damascus, Syria, in December 1998. These meetings discussed progress in adapting the originally proposed seven criteria and sixty-seven indicators to meet national needs and priorities, and reviewed country-level implementation carried out in line with prevailing environmental and institutional conditions. Reports of these meetings were published in English and Arabic.

3. Following recommendations from the 1998 Damascus workshop, FAO in cooperation with UNEP facilitated the preparation of draft technical guidelines on measurement and assessment of criteria and indicators. The guidelines were further reviewed by concerned countries in a meeting held just prior to the present session of the Commission.

FOREST GENETIC RESOURCES, THEIR MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION, AND NETWORKING

4. In line with recommendations of the 13^th Session of the Committee on Forestry (COFO), FAO supported the organization of a number of country-driven sub-regional and regional forest genetic resources workshops, with a view to the development of a coherent global framework for action. Following expression of interest of some Near East countries, preliminary plans were made to commission national institutes to prepare country reports on forest tree and shrub genetic resources, aimed at underpinning a forthcoming regional forest genetic resources workshop in this region in the coming biennium.

5. Development of the "Global Information System on Forest Genetic Resources" (REFORGEN) was continued. Information provided to FAO by Near East countries was consolidated and sent to Heads of Forest Services for verification and up-dating. General information on forest genetic resources continued to be disseminated through the annual newsletter, "Forest Genetic Resources". Support was continued to the Research Networks of Silva Mediterranea, including coordination of activities related to genetic resources of cork oak (Quercus suber) with the European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN).

6. The 11th Session of the Panel of Experts on Forest Gene Resources (September 1999) recommended action based on country-derived needs and priorities, and drew up lists of priority species by region and activity for attention by FAO, the international community and national governments, including also Near East countries.

SUSTAINABLE MOUNTAIN DEVELOPMENT AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT

Watershed Management and Sustainable development

7. FAO continued to support the implementation of Chapter 13 of Agenda 21: Managing Fragile Ecosystems: Sustainable Mountain Development through operational and normative activities. An important development in this area has been the UN General Assembly resolution adopted in 1998 declaring 2002 the International Year of Mountains (IYM), for which FAO was designated lead agency. This will allow increased attention to be focussed on conservation and sustainable development in mountain regions, including the Near East/North Africa region. It also places ongoing field activities in the region in a more visible over-arching framework that should enhance attention and support to these initiatives and potentially stimulate further action. A number of publications of interest to the region were produced on mountain issues, including papers on mountain tourism and mountains as "water towers". Work was initiated on a concept paper defining the main themes, types of activities and institutional situation related to the IYM. During the period FAO began producing a paper on issues related to highland/lowland linkages.

8. Field programme activities have continued in particular in Iran, Morocco, Tunisia and Yemen which focus on developing and using participatory methodologies to implement integrated watershed management and upland conservation and development.

9. Activities during 2000-2001 will continue to support sustainable mountain development in the region. Support to countries will be aimed at facilitating preparation for the International Year of Mountains, and assisting in initiating planning processes in the area of sustainable mountain development and conservation. The issue of freshwater supply is expected to be an area of increased attention in watershed management activities in the region. Support to field operations will continue, with a number of results and lessons learned from projects expected to be made available to all countries of the region, following the completion of important pilot experiences.

CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY INCLUDING WILDLIFE

10. An Expert Meeting on Protected Area Management and Sustainable Rural Development in the Near East Region was held in Amman, Jordan, in July 1998. Development of wildlife resources and management of protected areas are being supported by field projects in Algeria, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Syria.

11. Project GCP/SYR/003/ITA, activated in February 1996, is still ongoing. The project has a wildlife component and a range improvement component, both of which have made significant progress. The wildlife component has reintroduced gazelles and oryx into the Talila Reserve near Palmyra in the Badia region of Syria. The management of the Talila reserve has been upgraded . National counterpart staff are receiving both on the job training and instruction at international conservation centres. Work has started on an environmental education centre in the reserve. The range improvement component has demonstrated the superior cost-effectiveness of re-seeding with native range shrubs. This component has trained two national counterparts and established a range monitoring system. Both components of the project adopt a participatory approach.

12. Support to development of field projects especially in the area of protected area management with special reference to the effective application of linkages between protected area management and sustainable rural development will continue as follow-up to the 1998 Amman Consultation.

FOREST PLANTATIONS

13. Activities concentrated on assistance to countries in the assembly of information on plantation areas and yields, and the aggregation of information at global level. This work particularly focused on the preparation and provision of inputs to the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2000 programme. Direct advice to member countries in plantation establishment and management was provided. A document entitled Role of Planted Trees and Forest Plantations in Low Forest Cover Countries was prepared for the Tehran meeting on Low Forest Cover Countries.

14. The International Poplar Commission (IPC), of which several countries of the region are members and active participants, held the 39th session of its Executive Committee in Rome in September 1998. The IPC has in recent years emphasised the importance of the conservation of poplar genetic resources, especially those adapted to semi-arid conditions or saline soils. Countries in the region have assisted FAO in documenting information i.a. on Populus euphratica.

15. In response to growing global concerns, FAO organized a meeting on Public Policies Affecting Forest Fires in Rome from 28 to 30 October 1998. Five regional studies were presented, reporting on the main socio-political causes of forest fires and measures and actions adopted to prevent and reduce their negative impacts. Recommendations were made for action to reduce such negative effects through policy measures. Representatives of Near East countries attended the meeting and contributed to its success.

16. Support was provided to Iran and Turkey in the field of forest fire management and control. A workshop on the processionary caterpillar of pine and oak was held for countries in the region in Lebanon in May 1998.

17. In Lebanon, an outbreak of a new insect (Cephalcia sp.) seriously affecting cedars (Cedrus libani) has been confirmed and in consequence the country responded through emergency treatment. The in-country distribution and dispersal of this serious pest should be carefully monitored in Lebanon. Neighbouring countries, particularly Syria and Turkey should be made aware of potential transboundary movement.

DRYLAND FORESTRY AND TREES OUTSIDE FORESTS

Arid Zone Forestry

18. Support to the process of implementation of the Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD) has continued through assistance for the formulation of National Action Programmes, support to the establishment of a CCD Secretariat-sponsored regional network on agroforestry and land resources conservation. The promotion of dryland forestry programmes, including dryland forest plantation such as in Egypt and Yemen, established with the use of sewage water, the management of natural forests of dry zones in the region, and the documentation of multi-purpose trees or groups of trees in the region, have been effected.

19. Support to the countries in the setting and implementation of their National Action Programme (NAP) planned within the framework of the CCD will be pursued. FAO will continue its support to the Secretariat of the CCD and will facilitate regional neworking between the countries of the region in order to promote the Regional Action Plans planned in the Convention and particularly in its annexes 2 and 4. Continuous support will be provided to several ongoing field projects dealing with desertification prevention and control, either as a main objective or as a side product of their activities, under implementation throughout the region.

20. FAO, in cooperation with the Governments of the Sudan and of Egypt, started the preparation of case studies on the degradation of land resources, in particular erosion and deforestation in major watersheds, and the subsequent sanding processes as requested during the XI World Forestry Congress. The FAO Regional Office for the Near East financed a case study on Egypt, with special attention to sanding processes and their effects on natural and human resources.

Silva Mediterranea

21. Interesting activities have been developed on issues relating to forest fires through the implementation of FAO/France trust fund regional project on information on prevention and control of forest fires in the Mediterranean Region, in the framework of the network on "Forest Fire Management". A workshop was held in Morocco (T�touan, 27 April - 1 May 1999) on the demonstration of the newly established computerized databases on forest fires in selected countries of the Region and on their effective use in forest fire management. It followed a first workshop on the design and implementation of these computerized databases which was held in Tunisia in 1998. An in-depth study on the socio-economic aspects of forest fire and the views and involvement of populations was made in the target countries. Training material (video-tapes) on forest fire prevention and control were produced and distributed to all the Silva Mediterranea member countries. Technical guidelines for field activities on Mediterranean forest fire management have been produced. The research nework on "Silviculture of species: Quercus suber" has been very active concerning activities related to genetic resources of cork oak, in coordination with the European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN).

22. An external review of Silva Mediterranea has been implemented, following the recommendation made by the Committee in its last session (Antalya, Turkey, October 1997). The reviewers'observations and conclusions are summarized in Secretariat Note FO:NEFC/2000/8.

23. The recommendations of the external review of Silva Mediterranea and of its research networks will be implemented. Support to the research networks will be boosted and particularly to the "Selection of multi-purpose species for arid and semi-arid zones" research network, the outputs of which are awaited to assist in combating desertification in the region.

Agroforestry and Land Use

24. Regarding agroforestry and land use, the region will benefit from the new focus put on the study, assessment and management of trees outside forests. A number of projects being implemented promote the use of local species in production systems, and increase tree plantings in particular in Yemen and Egypt, through the development of promising methods for the use of sewage water resources for irrigation. The results already obtained are spectacular and future work will seek to secure sustainability of these exercises.

25. The English version of the publication on "Agroforestry Parklands in sub-Saharan Africa" is in press and will be available in French at the beginning of Year 2000.

26. Great interest continued to be devoted to urban forests (assessment of the situation, planning activities and management), such as in Mauritania. It is expected that the continuation of such work in coming years will contribute to good documentation of these interesting issues. Case studies on urban forestry issues have been prepared and the result is in press. This compendium includes cities of the Near East (Cairo and Tehran) and will be useful to those dealing with urban and peri-urban forestry and plantations in Near East.

Trees outside forests (TOF)

27. An international workshop for the development of practical methodologies for TOF assessment will be held in Rome at the end of 2000. In follow-up to this workshop and according to the priority identified for the Near East, support will be given to the development and use of practical planning tools and methodologies.

28. Documentation of multipurpose tree species will continue including i.a. acacia species, palm tree species (Borassus and Hyphaena) and Combretacae in particular), and agroforestry systems in food security programmes.

29. Case studies on urban forestry issues in coastal cities of Near East will be documented. An annotated bibliography on the issues related to TOF resources assessment (including planning tools and methodologies) will be published.

FOREST RESOURCES ASSESSMENT - FRA 2000

30. Near East countries have actively collaborated in the Forest Resources Assessment Programme (FRA) and the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2000 (FRA 2000), presently being finalized. The latter study provides comprehensive and up-to-date information on the world's forests, based largely on country-derived information, including forest inventory data and regional studies of land-cover change processes. Of special interest to countries in the Near East is the section describing the various forest and woody-vegetation formations in each country, substantiated by statistical data. The results from FRA 2000 will be placed on the FAO Internet Website throughout the year 2000; the results will also be made available in written reports. In support to the important forest resources assessment undertaken in the region, FAO assigned a 6-month consultant in the Forestry Department in order to assist in the preparation of FRA 2000 in the Near East and in collecting and analyzing data available on forest resources in the region.

FOREST PRODUCTS

SUSTAINABLE FOREST HARVESTING AND ENGINEERING

31. The Forest Harvesting and Engineering Programme has continued promoting environmentally sound, economically feasible and socially acceptable forest operations. Related activities involve the development, testing and promotion of the Model Code of Forest Harvesting Practice at global, regional and national levels, as well as the Guidelines on Forest Roads.

32. Although the scope of the programme is global, a number of issues are of relevance to the NEFC region, in particular the preparation of a Manual for the Planning, Design and Construction of Forest Roads in Mountainous Terrain.

33. In October 2000, a Seminar on Harvesting of Non-Wood Forest Products will be held at Menemen-Izmir, Turkey.

FOREST PRODUCTS TRADE AND MARKETING

34. A number of issues dealing with forest products trade were addressed. Many were of global coverage although they addressed issues of relevance to the Near East region. The Forestry Trade Programme has continued to provide information and guidance on trade policy issues. In particular it has been closely involved with issues concerning the relationship between trade and sustainable forest development, including aspects of the environment and trade, and with trade restrictions and future trade negotiations. Two major publications have been prepared: "Trade Restrictions and Their Impact on International Trade in Forest Products", and "Trade Restrictions And Their Future" Chapter in ECE/FAO Timber Bulletin Forest products annual market review, 1998-1999, June 1999. A number of papers dealing with trade issues such as certification, trade restrictions and trade prospects have been presented at various meetings and conferences.

35. The Forestry Department has been closely involved with an FAO series of training workshops for developing countries: "Training Course on The Uruguay Round and Future Multilateral Trade Negotiations in Agriculture". In the Near East region, one course was held in Cairo in 1999 and another will be held in Muscat in June 2000.

36. The Forest Products Marketing Programme provided technical backstopping to a TCP project on the Development of gum arabic production and marketing in Sudan (TCP/SUD/7821) which studied in detail the current and potential international markets, competition, and marketing strategies in relation to a thorough survey of the supply potential in Sudan. Case studies describing current marketing practices, although carried out in other regions, like the case study on Marketing of indigenous medicinal plants in South Africa, provide basic approaches for similar studies in NEFC region.

NON-WOOD FOREST PRODUCTS

37. FAO has continued to assist governments of the region in their efforts to develop comprehensive and coherent forest strategies and policies in support to the sustainable utilization, conservation and development of their non-wood forest products (NWFP). The Organization calls for stronger collaboration and improved networking among regional and key national institutes in the Mediterranean region working on NWFP to ensure better technology transfer and capacity building of national institutions, and to strengthen information exchange, including the development of production and trade data on NWFP in the region.

38. In 1998, FAO recruited a consultant to carry out a desk review of available information on NWFP in the Near East countries. The result of the study was the compilation of individual draft briefs for the countries in the region, describing the major NWFP, their uses, their importance, and reporting statistical data available on consumption, trade and value.

39. In May 1999, FAO organized in Beirut, Lebanon, a Regional meeting on Non-Wood Forest Products as a follow up to the Cairo Meeting (held in 1997) on Medicinal, Culinary and Aromatic Plants. The participants discussed the need and the means to improve availability of data on NWFP (the draft country briefs prepared by FOPW were presented to the participants), the main issues related to ownership of natural resources for NWFP use, and the future trends in the significance of NWFP in the region. The meeting recommended action to be taken at the policy/institutional level, and the resource management and product utilization levels in order to increase the contribution of NWFP to income generation for rural communities, and the protection of the forest areas. The role of FAO and donors to support NWFP development was stressed, and in particular the promotion of regional cooperation among the Near East countries.

FORESTRY POLICY AND PLANNING

STRENGTHENING FORESTRY RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND EXTENSION SYSTEMS

40. In forestry extension action a regional workshop on "Extension and Communication for Sustainable Forestry in North Africa and the Near East" was held in Sana'a in 1997. A regionally adapted version of the Trouble Shooter's Guide to Forestry Extension was produced. A new workshop planned in Turkey during the course of 1999 was postponed and will probably be implemented in year 2000.

41. Activities in the 2000-2001 period will be focused on work within countries to review forestry education curricula in the framework of the overall objective to reflect new orientations of forestry education at the beginning of the century.

PARTICIPATORY FORESTRY DEVELOPMENT

42. In support to participatory forestry development in the region, the Community Forestry Unit (CFU) collaborated closely with the Forestry Extension programme in the workshop on "Extension and Communication for Sustainable Forestry in North Africa and the Near East" held in Sana'a in 1997, and is also closely involved in preparing the follow-up workshop to be held in Turkey during the course of 2000. Upon specific request from the government, documentary information was provided by the CFU to Iran regarding community participation in forest management, and it is expected that technical support will be provided during the coming biennium.

43. As part of a global initiative on community based prevention of forest fires (with technical support from FORM), a "Case Study on Management of Forest Fires through Involvement of Local Communities" is being prepared in Turkey for publication by the CFU. In collaboration with GCP/INT/539/ITA and FAO-Syria, the CFU publication entitled "Gender Analysis and Forestry Training Package" has been translated into Arabic. Partners are being identified for training and case study development for adaptation of the Gender Package materials during 2000. The SDWW Officer in RNE is also collaborating in this effort.

STATE OF THE WORLD'S FORESTS (SOFO)

44. The State of the World's Forests 1999 was released, in the five languages of FAO, at the Committee on Forestry meeting in March 1999. This was the third edition of the Forestry Department's flagship publication, which is published every two years. It presents the latest information on forests and the forestry sector world-wide in a way that is relevant and useful for policy makers and helps put national and regional developments into a global context.

45. The next edition of the State of the World's Forests will be prepared for publication in 2001.

FOREST PROGRAMMES COORDINATION AND INFORMATION

SUPPORT TO NATIONAL FOREST PROGRAMMES, INCLUDING EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN
FOREST POLICY AND INSTITUTIONS

46. As recommended by the 13^th session of the Commission, a Workshop on National Forestry Programme Formulation and Implementation was held in Istanbul, Turkey, on 11 and 12 October 1999. Thirty-five participants from 18 countries from the Near East and Central Asia countries attended. This meeting allowed the participants to exchange information and review their planning processes and to receive information and analyse the main principles guiding nfps.

47. The participants emphasized the need for more FAO activities in the Region to contribute to improve and increase the country capacity to deal with aspects like forestry policy, national forestry programmes, people's participation and institutional development.

48. To provide a regional prospective for the forest sector, FAO, jointly with the African Development Bank (ADB), started the implementation of a Forest Outlook Study for Africa. A sub-regional workshop for North Africa was held in Tunisia to launch the effort in Sudan, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Mauritania.

FORESTRY INFORMATION SYSTEM

49. The FAO Forestry website has been substantially improved in layout, content and linkages. Forest Resources Assessment data were placed on the Internet, reflecting data on FRA 2000. Major efforts were made to improve dissemination of FAO Forestry Papers, Conservation Guides and Miscellaneous Documents to member nations in the Near East. New periodicals such as Non-wood News and Wood Energy Forum were launched.

SUPPORT TO INITIATIVES IN THE FOLLOW-UP TO UNCED

50. FAO provided inputs to the Secretariat for IFF in terms of documentation and research and in the intersessional meetings under various Government-led initiatives. Under the partnership for the implementation of the IPF proposals for action, FAO chairs the informal, high-level Inter-Agency Task Force on Forests (ITFF) and is the leading agency in four areas: national forest programmes, assessment of multiple benefits of all types of forests, criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management and fragile ecosystems affected by desertification and drought, and impact of airborne pollution on forests.

51. A significant event in the Regional during the biennium was the open-ended international meeting of experts on Special Needs and Requirements of Developing Countries with Low Forest Cover and Unique Type of Forest, a government-led initiative in support of the programme of work of the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (IFF), which was held in Teheran, Islamic Republic of Iran, from 4 to 8 October 1999. The meeting was sponsored by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, with the support of the governments of Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany and Norway, and in cooperation with international organizations, including FAO, UNEP, UNDP and IFAD. Seventy-seven participants from 39 countries and six international and bilateral organizations and NGOs attended the meeting.

52. This meeting was the first of its kind to address issues specifically concerning developing countries with low forest cover and unique types of forest, including the special needs and requirements of millions of people that live in and around them. An important outcome was the "Teheran Declaration"which was issued at the end of the meeting, and the decision to establish the "Teheran Process".

FORESTRY FIELD PROGRAMME

53. The activities of FAO programmes in the Near East focused on the promotion of Forest Resources Assessment, management of natural forests, Environment conservation and protection, desertification control, and promotion of non-wood forest products on marginal lands and fragile ecosystems. This was achieved through the exchange of experiences during meetings and implementation of field projects in the countries of the region.

54. Most countries of the region continue to be interested in the implementation of nfps as a step towards sustainable development. Countries, in particular those in Central Asia, called on FAO and other organizations to continue providing the necessary assistance.

55. The Near East region continues to face the chronic threat of desertification and rapid degradation of their natural resources, compounded by increasing pressure on already fragile ecosystems. While it is the responsibility of the countries of the region to meet these growing challenges, FAO will continue to provide support to member countries to the extent possible to meet their needs through its interlinked Regular and Field programmes.

56. There is increasing awareness among member countries of the role of forestry in natural resource development and understanding of the benefits of integrating forestry with other resource development programmes. This has been clearly reflected in countries' national development plans and strategies.

57. Community involvement in forest resources management continues to be a major focus of the field programme. Most of the field projects being implemented in the region are community-participation oriented or have this issue as a major component (i.e. Islamic Republic of Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey and Yemen).

58. FAO structural changes and the policy of decentralization is strengthening the Organization's assistance to its member countries, which is expected to have a favourable effect on the forestry field programme. The new evolution of FAO's strategy towards a multi-disciplinary type of approach for integrated resource management will also promote the forestry sector in national development and management of natural resources planning.

59. FAO will continue to provide its full support to member countries by placing its comprehensive technical knowledge at their service. FAO will also continue to assist in identifying new external resources. However, as stated earlier, considerable resources (including financial) exist in the region, and FAO, if requested, will assist countries to mobilize these resources for the benefit of their development.

60. The Commission may wish to discuss the role of the forestry sector in poverty alleviation, food security and environmental stability, as well as ways and means of strengthening the Organization's efforts to enhance implementation of the Forestry Regular and Field Programmes in the region. The Commission may also wish to explore possibilities of mobilizing the important financial and human resources that exist in the region for promoting the contribution of the forestry sector to the region's sustainable development.

ANNEX A

FOLLOW-UP TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE THIRTEENTH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION

The following table summarises the recommendations of the Thirteenth Session of the Commission and the action taken or proposed.