Evaluating policies in the Near East
Ex situ forest gene conservation - only part of the solution
A new look at forestry project impact assessment
Understanding forest dieback
Forestry policies in the Near East region: analysis and synthesis. 1993. FAO Forestry Paper No. 111. Rome.
Based on the responses of countries of the region to questionnaires prepared by FAO, as well as on country reports, case-studies, FAO reports and statistics, this paper has been compiled jointly by the FAO Forestry Policy and Planning Division and the FAO Regional Office for the Near East. It reviews the essential elements of national forestry policies in the Near East region, analysing their attributes and deficiencies. The work is divided into six substantive sections: background; forest ownership and administration; management and utilization of the resource base; policies; research training and extension; and concluding remarks.
Although each country must determine its forestry policy within the context of its own development priorities, socioeconomic parameters and conservation strategies, certain aspects of forestry policies are common and valid for the Near East as a whole. Foremost among these are forest land rehabilitation, afforestation, desertification control, forest protection, watershed management, amenities, environmental conservation, public awareness, education, training and extension. In fact, while it would be unrealistic to attempt to design and implement a common regional forestry policy for the Near East, it is crucial that the countries of the region coordinate their respective policies to avoid fragmented efforts and, instead, ensure complementarily and coherence of action. Therefore, an underlying aim of this publication is to facilitate the exchange of information and experiences as well as the pooling of comparative advantages to enable national policy-makers to use forestry policies which have proved to be valid in some countries to guide their preparation and/or revision in others.
Ex situ storage of seeds, pollen and in vitro cultures of perennial woody plant species. 1993. FAO Forestry Paper No 113. Rome.
Following a review on ex situ conservation of forest genetic resources, undertaken within the framework of FAO's Regular Programme in the early 1980s, the Seventh Session of the FAO Panel of Experts on Forest Gene Resources, held in December 1989, recommended that an updated document be prepared on the potential role of this strategy as a complement to the more frequently applied in situ conservation strategies. This recommendation was made in the light of new methodologies and technology available for the storage of seeds, pollen and tissue of plant species.
This document, therefore, discusses the role of ex situ conservation for woody perennial species in the light of these new methodologies. The work is divided into three substantive sections, focusing on ex situ storage using seeds, using pollen and using tissue culture.
The study concludes that, with current knowledge, the storage of pollen, recalcitrant seeds and in vitro cultures is only viable as a short-term measure for these species. The only technically secure, medium- to long-term ex situ conservation available at present for large-scale use in forestry is the storage of orthodox seeds. Such seeds can usually be stored for a long term through the application of cryopreservation methods. However, in this case the problems related to regeneration of seed stocks can often present insurmountable difficulties. Storage per se may thus not be the most difficult problem with long-term ex situ conservation strategies for woody perennials. Such strategies should continue to be considered as complements to, rather than substitutes for, in situ conservation.
Assessing forestry project impacts: issues and strategies. 1993. FAO Forestry Paper No. 114. Rome.
Until relatively recently, forestry projects in developing countries were focused mainly on commercial industrial forestry and forest industry development. Now the focus of most national forestry development agencies has been broadened to include projects oriented towards a direct improvement in the welfare of the rural poor and improvement of the environment- projects that involve community forestry, natural forest conservation for local and global environmental benefits and agroforestry projects that contribute to food security and self-reliance. With this shift in emphasis, and the associated changes in the ways forestry interacts with other sectors, has come a need for the development of new strategies and approaches for the assessment of forestry project impacts.
Assessments are intended to provide information needed to define areas for project intervention; formulate, appraise and choose among alternative project designs; monitor and evaluate ongoing projects; and evaluate projects after completion. There is a broad recognition of the need for adequate project assessment. However, in practice, assessment often is either neglected or only partially or poorly executed, with important elements that affect impacts being ignored. This problem is further compounded by the broader focus of many of the "new generation" forestry projects. There is a clear need to: integrate and coordinate assessment activities through all stages of project development and implementation so that sustainability considerations are duly considered; and ensure the consideration of impacts related to sustainability and security of livelihood as well as economic efficiency in the allocation of resources.
The purpose of this document is to explore ways of strengthening the approaches to assessing impacts and to provide decision-makers with a strategic overview of institutional issues associated with the new generation of forestry and agroforestry projects and the assessment of their impacts. Part I of the paper considers the new generation of forestry projects. A concept that emerges strongly is the critical interrelationship between institutional structure and project impact and efficacy. Thus, institutions become a key consideration when looking at issues and strategies associated with forest project impact assessment. Part I also looks at the intersectoral issues that arise in relation to the broader role of forests in development. Part II deals specifically with assessing forestry project impacts on people and includes subsections covering impacts on the welfare of local people, distributional aspects, impacts on sustainability and livelihood security and impacts on economic efficiency.
This document is of potential value as a reference framework for all those involved in preparing or making major decisions concerning forestry projects. Adoption of the recommendations of the publication could contribute to the enhancement of capacities called for in Agenda 21, adopted by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.
FAO Forestry Paper No. 114 complements Paper No. 106, Economic assessment of forestry project impacts, published in 1992. Both publications have been jointly sponsored by FAO, the World Bank and the United Nations Environment Programme.
Decline and dieback of trees and forests A global overview. 1994. FAO Forestry Paper No. 120. Rome.
The periodic occurrence of loss of tree vigour, branch dieback and tree mortality for reasons unknown or difficult to determine is a phenomenon that has frustrated resource managers and intrigued scientists for many years.
Referred to as "dieback" or "decline", this phenomenon has become a subject of intensified interest as forest scientists attempt to achieve a better understanding of the dynamics of forest ecosystems. There is also great concern on the part of the general public and the scientific community that many instances of dieback may be the result of human activities.
Most cases of decline have been reported from Europe, North America, Australia and the Pacific region. However, decline is by no means restricted to these regions. There are reports of trees and forests affected by decline throughout the world. While the symptoms of decline may be strikingly similar, they can be the result of many different factors, often interacting in a complex manner.
The frequency of occurrence, pattern and intensity of decline or dieback may adversely affect the sustainable flow of goods and services from forests and influence forest management. Declines may also serve as indicators of forest response to climate change, an issue that is currently in the forefront of scientific and public interest. It is important, therefore, that foresters, ecologists, biologists and scientists from related disciplines understand the mechanism and factors involved in declines so that appropriate forest monitoring and management systems can be implemented.
Accordingly, this paper provides an overview of declines and diebacks of trees and forests in a global context. Case histories of decline and dieback events, including their symptoms, causal factors and impacts on forests are described from Europe, North America, Africa, Asia and the Pacific and Latin America. The role of both human-caused and natural factors in declines and diebacks is discussed and strategies to reduce the impact of these events on sustainable forest management are presented. The paper is designed for foresters, forest scientists, policy analysts and decision-makers.
