Antalya, 1997
Dossier
The Eleventh World Forestry Congress took place from 13 to 22 October 1997 in Antalya, Turkey. The general theme of the Congress was "Forestry for Sustainable Development: Towards the Twenty-first Century". More than 4400 participants from 145 countries attended the Congress, representing the scientific community, governments, international organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the private sector. During the nine-day conference delegates attended eight plenary sessions and 43 technical sessions.
The technical sessions were organized around eight main programme areas: Forest and Tree Resources; Forests, Biological Diversity and Maintenance of Natural Heritage; Protective and Environmental Functions of Forests; Productive Functions of Forests; Economic Contribution of Forestry to Sustainable Development; Social Dimensions of Forestry's Contribution to Sustainable Development; Policies, Institutions and Means for Sustainable Forestry Development; and Ecoregional Review.
In addition to these sessions, three pre-Congress satellite meetings, an informal ministerial meeting and approximately 30 side meetings and other special events took place in connection with the Eleventh World Forestry Congress. The Congress produced recommendations and conclusions from each technical session and programme area and the Antalya Declaration.
The general theme. "Forestry for Sustainable Development: Towards the Twenty-first Century", was established in view of the opportunity to undertake initiatives in the follow-up to discussions of global forest issues at the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests and the Nineteenth Special Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGASS). The Congress aimed to provide a forum for the forestry sector to discuss technical responses; identify actions to be taken and take stock of the state of forestry at the interregional, regional and national levels; respond to challenges; and consider new ways of orienting forestry towards sustainable development in the twenty-first century.
It was an accomplishment that such a large number of participants came together and engaged in discussions on a wide range of topics related to forests, although some participants felt that there was limited opportunity for the synthesis and analysis of some of the key unresolved issues in the forestry debate.
Overall, however, the Congress provided a forum for much-needed dialogue between forestry practitioners, scientists and policy-makers, and it brought together an unprecedented number of participants to share an impressive array of research and ideas about implementing sustainable forest management on the ground. This interchange will undoubtedly bear fruit in the form of further research and collaboration and an improved understanding of ecosystems and techniques for the implementation of forestry for sustainable development in the twenty-first century.
The above analysis is drawn from a special edition of Sustainable Dimensions, a newsletter published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development, financed by FAO. The complete issue of Sustainable Dimensions is accessible on the Internet at http://www.iisd.ca/linkages/sd/antalya/sdvol10no4e.html
This issue of Unasylva contains the full text of the Antalya Declaration as well as the opening addresses by Ersin Taranoglu, Turkish Minister of Forestry and Congress Chair: Jacques Diouf, FAO Director-General: and Süleyman Demirel, President of Turkey. Complete copies of the Congress proceedings may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.fao.org/waicent/faoinfo/forestry/wforcong/publi/default.htm#top) or purchased through the Turkish Ministry of Forestry, T.C. Orman Bakanligi, Dis iliskiler ve AT Dairesi Baskanligi, Atatürk Bulvari 153,06100 Bakanliklar, Ankara, Turkey.
Forestry for Sustainable Development: Towards the Twenty-first Century
We, the 4417 participants from 149 countries gathered in Antalya, Turkey, 13 to 22 October 1997, from ministers to field technicians, from many disciplines and backgrounds, from governmental and non-governmental organizations and other major groups concerned about the state and future of the world's forests and the need to improve their management for the benefit of people:
Underscoring that all types of forests provide crucial social, economic and environmental goods and services to the people of the world and contribute to food security, clean water and air, and soil protection, and that their sustainable management is essential to achieving sustainable development;
Recalling the "Statement of Forest Principles" and the forest-related chapters of Agenda 21 adopted by the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in June 1992 in Rio de Janeiro;
Recognizing the significant progress made since UNCED through national, regional and international initiatives to assess the state of the world's forests and better understand and advance sustainable forest management, but also recognizing the pressing need for further action both within and outside the forest sector, including agriculture, energy, water and population;
Noting with alarm the continued rapid rate of forest loss and degradation in many regions of the world and emphasizing that reversing this trend and achieving sustainable forest management worldwide depends first and foremost on increased political will by all countries at the highest levels;
Noting in particular the proposals for action recommended by the UN Commission on Sustainable Development's intergovernmental Panel on Forests in February 1997, which reflect a balanced, holistic and integrated approach to sustaining the multiple benefits of forests;
Welcoming the decision by the UN General Assembly Special Session in June 1997 ('Rio plus 5") to establish the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests to promote implementation of the Panel's proposals and continue the international dialogue;
Acknowledging the informal meeting of ministers responsible for forests hosted by the Government of Turkey in Antalya, 13 October 1997;
Call on:
1. Countries to demonstrate increased political will to overcome the obstacles to achieving sustainable forest management:
2. Forestry professionals to respond to the changing needs and challenges of achieving sustainable forest management and take the lead in creating environmental, social and economic awareness, adjusting education curricula, promoting participatory forest planning and decision-making processes by all interested parties, and enhancing training of forestry professionals and field staff, with particular attention to the role of women and youth.
3. Countries, international organizations, and major groups to work together to implement the proposals for action agreed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests and ensure that further international forest policy dialogue and associated actions, within the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests and other policy fore, continues to be based on openness and transparency;
4. Countries and the international donor community, especially the international financial institutions, to more effectively contribute to and enhance the mobilization of domestic and international financial resources and environmentally sound and appropriate technology transfer, on preferential terms as mutually agreed, to build the capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition to better inventory, assess, monitor and manage their forests in a balanced and sustainable manner for multiple benefits, including through the wider use of joint ventures and public-private partnerships, especially joint implementation programmes;
5. Countries and international organizations to adopt a cross sectoral approach to national policies for forests, agriculture, energy, water, soils, mining, transportation and rural development which recognizes that many of the causes, and therefore solutions' to deforestation and forest degradation lie outside the forest sector;
6. Countries, international organizations and forestry professionals to work in open and participatory partnership with all interested parties, including non-governmental organizations, the private sector, indigenous people, forest dwellers, forest owners, local communities and others affected by forest and other land use policies and decisions;
7. Countries and international organizations to further develop methodologies and mechanisms for the valuation of forest goods and services and for facilitating the integration of non-traded forest benefits into markets and public decision-making processes, giving consideration to the equitable distribution of costs and benefits; as well as methodologies and mechanisms for including changes in forest stocks in national accounting systems;
8. Countries and international, regional and national research organizations to identify and undertake priority research activities, in response to the needs of society, that build upon existing scientific and traditional knowledge, emphasizing the need for applied research, and to widely disseminate results to all interested parties in a timely fashion;
9. Countries to develop and apply national level criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management to assess the state of their forests and develop national forest inventory and monitoring systems, which take into account these criteria and indicators, as well as to provide data to improve the FAO global forest resources assessment programme beyond the year 2000;
10. Countries, international organizations, major groups, the private sector and other interested parties to promote greater public awareness of the vital role of forests to society, the problems facing the world's forests and the urgent need to work together to implement practical solutions to improve the management of forests;
11. Countries, international organizations and non-governmental organizations to foster community forestry and agroforestry programmes and enhance extension services to forest owners and users in order to better address the needs of individuals and local communities relying on forests and promote investments in sustainable forest management;
12. Countries and international organizations to recognize that, in many regions of the world, fast-growing tree plantations can contribute to sustainable management of forests by meeting subsistence needs and can complement, and/or reduce the pressure on, natural forests through increased supply of forest goods and services;
13. Countries to develop, implement end review policies, plans end management practices aimed at minimizing the destructive nature and extent of wildfires on forest lands;
14. Countries to prepare and implement national forest programmes as a means to establish national priorities and identify actions needed to manage forests sustainably in a participatory and transparent manner, securing ownership and traditional rights;
15. Countries and the international donor community to give increased attention to the rehabilitation of degraded forest land and to addressing desertification problems through elaboration and implementation of national plans for combating desertification, with particular attention to the problem of moving sands and arid and semi-arid lands, to better meet the subsistence needs of people, particularly those relying on forests for food, fuelwood and fodder;
16. Countries, international organizations, academic institutions and forestry professionals to raise awareness at all levels of the importance of biological diversity, including conserving, enhancing and sustainably utilizing forest related genetic resources, which provide significant benefits to present and future generations;
17. Forest industries to adopt and implement voluntary codes of conduct to contribute to sustainable forest management through their domestic and international operations, including through management practices, technology transfer, education and investment;
Extend our warm appreciation to the Government of the Republic of Turkey for hosting, with the support of FAO, the XI World Forestry Congress and request that they disseminate widely the conclusions and recommendations of the Congress, including this Declaration, to governments, international organizations and the range of interested parties.
Antalya, Turkey
22 October 1997
Turkish Minister of Forestry, President of the Eleventh World Forestry Congress
His Excellency, the President of Turkey, The Honourable Prime Minister of Turkey, Esteemed Director-General of the FAO, Esteemed Ministers, Distinguished Ladies, Distinguished Guests, Distinguished Members of the Press,
I am very glad to be here with you here in Antalya, on the eve of the final World Forestry Congress of the century, which the 108th FAO Council awarded to my country after the Tenth World Forestry Congress in Paris. I would like to welcome and greet you all with respect.
I would like to thank you for having elected me President of the Congress. On behalf of 18 of my friends who have been elected vice-presidents, I also thank you for your trust in us and your kind regard.
When your technical duties are not totally absorbing you, I invite all of you to be our guests. I am sure you will experience the best examples of Turkish hospitality during your stay.
In addition to the daily tours around Antalya, you will have a chance to see the historical and cultural riches of our country in the tours to Topkapi Palace, Haghia Sophia Sultanahmet in Istanbul, Sumela in Trabzon, Efes in Izmir, Pamukkale in Denizli and Cappadocia in Nevùehir.
I believe that the Eleventh World Forestry Congress, taking place as it is after the Rio Summit which resulted in the Forestry Principles and Agenda 21, the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests, the Commission for Sustainable Development and the Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly; and the main theme of which is "Forestry for Sustainable Development: Towards the Twenty-first Century", will be a milestone on the way to sustainable development.
Consistent with our viewpoint that sustainable development can only be achieved through public participation, this World Forestry Congress has special sessions on the Role of Women and Youth.
One of the greatest factors threatening sustainable forestry in the twenty-first century is the imbalance between population increase and forest product consumption, a pressure that can lead to forest destruction. In order to reduce this pressure, new policies that provide for the participation of both producing and consuming parties in sustainable forestry processes should be implemented. While doing so, approaches that take socioeconomic, cultural and ecological structures into account should be employed. Such approaches should also show ways to mobilize the unused capacity within the economy.
Forest fires still seriously threaten sustainable forestry in many countries and particularly those in the Mediterranean basin. Owing to a better understanding of the functional values of forests, they have become important for all countries, and protecting them through regional and international cooperation that draws upon mutual solidarity has become a must.
Distinguished Guests,
The sustainability of forests, which contain the greater part of biodiversity, and the sustainability of agricultural and rural development cannot be studied separately. Considering this tact, in order to highlight the importance of World Food Day (October 16) there will be a tree-planting ceremony to establish the Eleventh World Forestry Congress Arboretum and Memorial Park. As this forest grows, it will become a symbol of forests as the indispensable common asset of the countries of the world.
In the Informal Meeting of Ministers I and my colleagues have attended today, we have had a very fruitful exchange of opinions on the main challenges to the implementation of sustainable forest management, solutions to them and the role of international organizations in improving sustainable forest management applications. We have also underlined the importance of global cooperation, and this is reflected in our press communiqué.
Esteemed Guests,
I firmly believe, with your arduous efforts and contributions, the Eleventh World Forestry Congress will yield very fruitful results for the next generations. I would like to end my speech by giving my best regards to you all.
Before I invite the Director-General of FAO, Mr Jacques Diouf, to deliver his speech, I would like to present him, on behalf of all member countries, this small memento for having provided us with the support and experience of FAO in all stages of the preparation, in order to ensure that the Congress be held properly.
Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Mr President of the Republic of Turkey, Mr Prime Minister, Mr Chairman, Ministers, Mr Mayor, Excellencies, Distinguished Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is indeed a pleasure for me to be with you here in Antalya today. It is not hard to understand why, in the first century BC, the Pergamum King Attalus who founded this city chose a name which means "heaven on earth".
In the more than 2000 years since then, the Turkish Government and its people have never forgotten the crucial role of forests in maintaining both the beauty and the productivity of their country's natural resources.
Mr President,
Allow me to pay special homage to the evident love of this country for forests, both its own and those of all humankind. I would be remiss if I did not also add special thanks for your personal commitment to and involvement in the organization of this Congress and, particularly, the preparation of these extraordinary facilities.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I extend my warmest greetings to you, the more than 4000 participants at this Congress. It is a privilege to speak before you, who bring expertise, experience and devotion to the cause of the world's forests.
This will be one of the last of these important gatherings in this century. It gives me great pleasure to note the Congress theme "Forestry for Sustainable Development: Towards the Twenty-first Century" - for it reflects the outward-looking perspective that must be adopted by the forestry community if we are to ensure that the world's forests survive and, more important, deliver their full potential in overall socio-economic development.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
You, the stewards of the world's forests, are gathered here to discuss and debate progress towards the achievement of sustainable forest management - and to help define and shape your work for the future. As you take up your complex yet essential task, I would challenge you to remember the more than 800 million people in the world today who still do not have access to adequate food and nutrition, and to consider how forests and forestry can contribute to the alleviation of this unacceptable and unnecessary suffering.
Just 11 months ago, 112 heads of state and government and other leaders from 186 countries gathered in another ancient city Rome - for the World Food Summit. At the Summit, which FAO was privileged to host, a renewed high-level commitment was made to the eradication of hunger and to the achievement of lasting food security for all people.
The Summit participants adopted the Rome Declaration and a Plan of Action for achieving food security. These two documents set forth a seven-point plan stipulating concrete, practical actions. Throughout the documents, the important role of forests and forestry in achieving world food security emerges clearly.
There is an ancient Kashmiri saying which, loosely translated, reads "Food will last as long as forests do". This is not to say that forests and foresters can single-handedly resolve the food security problem. But trees, forests and forestry do have a fundamental contribution to make towards the achievement of world food security. Although this audience may understand it well, I believe that the role of forestry in food security bears underlining, especially in the context of its contribution to sustainable development.
THE ROLE OF FORESTRY IN FOOD SECURITY
Direct access
First, trees and forests produce food directly. In some areas they are a primary source of food; almost everywhere they provide a regular supplement to the diet. Foods from the forest are consumed when cultivated supplies are in short supply, such as between harvest seasons, or during emergencies, such as famines and wars.
Sustaining agricultural production
Beyond the direct contribution of food, trees and forests play a critical role in ensuring sustained agricultural production, including animal husbandry and, in some cases, fisheries.
Trees and forests help maintain the soil and water resource base and the ecological balance, essential to food and agricultural production. They are incorporated into or shelter farming systems and their borders. They support livestock raising by providing fodder, especially during seasonal shortages in arid and semi-arid areas. Under special circumstances, for example in coastal mangrove ecosystems, trees have a role in supporting fisheries, thus ensuring a major food source.
In this regard, it is curious and disturbing to note how agriculture and forestry have often been, and sometimes still are, viewed as being in opposition. This false dichotomy is perhaps based on the outdated view that forestry is concerned only with managing forests for wood production, and that agriculture only involves growing crops in open fields. Indeed, forestry and agriculture are often mutually beneficial and even interdependent.
On the other hand, it is an acknowledged fact that most deforestation is caused by logging and conversion of forest land to agricultural production. A reduction in the destruction of forests as a source of physical access to land can only be achieved by an increase in the sustainable and economically viable use of forest resources, intensified agricultural production on already cleared lands and a closer harmony between forestry and other forms of land use, particularly agriculture.
Forests and energy
Having food, though, is not enough. Many of the foods that form the staple diet are unpalatable or indigestible unless they are cooked. And in most of the developing world, boiling water is virtually the only method to render it safe for drinking. Wood is still by far the main source of household energy for some 40 percent of the world's population. And for most of these people, the prospect of switching to fossil fuels is both unsustainable and economically out of reach.
Biological diversity
I would also note that forests are the most important terrestrial gene banks. Many of the foods we consume today, particularly basic staples such as rice, originated as wild crops in the forests. And forests continue to serve as a gene pool repository, for present and future food crops.
Economic access to food
Beyond their contribution to ensuring physical access to food supplies, forest-based activities also provide substantial employment and cash income. This is true both for large-scale industrial activities as well as for individual or community-based activities. FAO estimates the annual value of fuelwood and wood-based forest products to the global economy to be more than US$ 400 trillion, or about 2 percent of the gross domestic product. If the value of non-wood forest products were to be added, this figure would be swelled considerably.
Thus, trees and forests play an unequivocal role in supporting food security. And if they are to continue to serve this and their many other functions, the trees and forests of the world must be managed, and managed sustainably.
The complexity of the issue of sustainable forest management is clearly evidenced by the intense and articulated agenda that you have before you. Let me highlight one topic of particular importance - that dealing with resource mobilization for sustainable forestry. Without sufficient investment in forestry, there simply is no way that the world's forests and trees can make their just contribution to sustainable development. And despite the good words spoken at the Earth Summit, the paper you have before you on the topic of resource mobilization indicates that official development assistance to forestry today is only 27 percent of the amount suggested in UNCED's Agenda 21.
WORLD FOOD DAY - "INVESTING IN FOOD SECURITY"
Ladies and Gentlemen,
World Food Day, marking the 52nd anniversary of the founding of FAO, will be celebrated on Thursday, 16 October. The theme of World Food Day this year "Investing in Food Security" - is linked directly to one of the seven commitments made by global leaders at the World Food Summit in November 1996. That commitment states:
We will promote optimal allocation and use of public and private investments to foster human resources, sustainable food, agricultural, fisheries and forestry systems and rural development, in high and low potential areas.
In an effort to raise awareness and to mobilize resources, on the occasion of this year's World Food Day FAO has launched TeleFood - the first global television programme which, inter alia, appeals to the general public to donate funds for food security projects and activities. The potential role of forestry emerges clearly in the TeleFood campaign.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This occasion represents an unusual opportunity in that I have the chance to address the experts and decision-makers of a relatively homogeneous community. With your indulgence. I would like to spend a few minutes on the work of FAO in helping countries to achieve sustainable forestry development.
THE ROLE OF FAO
Since its establishment in 1945, FAO has evolved into the world's leading international agriculture and forestry organization. Today FAO has 174 Member Governments, a comprehensive regional structure, a physical presence in more than 100 countries, and an experienced cadre of specialists in agriculture, fisheries, forestry and related disciplines.
FAO is in a unique position with respect to the pursuit of sustainable development, particularly given the important need for cross-sectoral linkages.
The FAO Forestry Department is the largest and oldest international forestry unit of its kind, with a broad and comprehensive charter that addresses all forests. One message that rang loud and clear from the Earth Summit, and which was repeated at the World Food Summit, is that North and South must come together to address world problems, and this must be done in an interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral manner which recognizes that environmental protection and economic development are mutually dependent. In forestry, I think that no organization is better equipped than FAO to do this.
As in all aspects of its work, the primary roles of FAO in forestry are to serve as:
· a neutral policy forum;
· a source of information and advice; and
· a provider of technical assistance.
Each of these offers ample opportunity to advance sustainable forest management.
A neutral policy forum
Policy dialogue is a major role of FAO. Foremost among the means FAO places at the disposal of its member countries is the Committee on Forestry. Heads of forest services and other senior government officials meet at FAO headquarters every two years (along with representatives of other international and non-governmental organizations) to identify emerging policy and technical issues, to seek solutions and to advise on appropriate action. Six regional forestry commissions complement the work of the Committee on Forestry.
Another example of FAO's work in facilitating policy dialogue and decision-making relates to national forestry programmes efforts by countries to plan the sustainable development of the forestry sector and to coordinate implementation locally and with the support of the donor community.
A particularly good example of the work of FAO in support of dialogue at the international level is the role it plays in the organization of these World Forestry Congresses. Although the World Forestry Congresses pre-date FAO, the first having been held in 1926, since its creation FAO has always provided pivotal support to the host country.
A source of information and advice
Sound forestry decision-making requires accurate, up-to-date information and statistics, and FAO is a world leader in their collection, dissemination and analysis.
The State of the World's Forests is FAO's biennial policy-relevant summary of data and issues related to the status and trends of forest resources, production and trade and industrial development.
According to the State of the World's Forests 1997, between 1990 and 1995 there was a net loss of 56.3 million ha of forests (natural forests plus plantations) worldwide, representing a decrease of 65.1 million ha in developing countries, partly offset by an increase of 8.8 million ha in developed countries. While the loss of natural forests in developing countries remains at a high level, there are signs that the rate of loss may be slowing. Natural forests in developing countries decreased by 13.7 million ha annually over the 1990-1995 period, compared with 15.5 million ha per year over the 1980-1990 period.
Technical cooperation
FAO places its technical expertise in forestry directly at the disposal of member countries through its Field Programme, supported by a combination of extra-budgetary resources. In 1996, the Forestry Field Programme reached an annual expenditure of US$60 million. A key feature of the Field Programme is its interrelationship with the normative work undertaken by FAO staff at headquarters and increasingly through our network of regional and subregional offices, thus ensuring two-way exchanges of expertise and experience.
Another important aspect of our work in technical cooperation involves assisting countries in mobilizing investment in forest development and in increasing investment performance.
Thus, by serving as a vibrant policy forum, a source of technical information and by assisting countries in capacity building through technical cooperation, FAO helps countries protect and develop forests while deriving sustainable economic benefits from them.
Although most of you are no doubt aware of the serious financial difficulties facing the UN system, including FAO, I want you to know that I am committed to maintaining in FAO the strongest and the most dynamic forestry programme that our member countries can afford.
PARTNERSHIPS
In stressing the commitment of FAO to sustainable forestry as an integral part of overall socio-economic development, I would not, however, wish to leave you with the impression that FAO can do everything. At FAO we recognize that the challenges which face forestry are more than any organization can single-handedly address in an adequate manner. We therefore deem it essential to seek partners proactively in all our work.
The surge in world interest in forestry in recent years has been paralleled by the interest and involvement of many international organizations in this sector, both within and outside the United Nations system. These organizations need to complement rather than compete with each other. Otherwise, we risk simply spreading already scarce resources even more thinly. It would be appropriate for this Congress to reaffirm the commitment of the forestry community to a partnership approach to the challenges of sustainable forestry development.
CONCLUSION
Mr Chairman,
I am convinced that the deliberations of this Congress, as its predecessors', can be of major importance in shaping the future of world forestry, spurring policy commitments and practical initiatives that will allow forestry to make its maximum contribution to sustainable development.
I wish you success in your discussions and thank you for your attention.
President of Turkey
Mr Director-General, Distinguished Representatives, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure for me to address the Eleventh World Forestry Congress. I welcome you all to Turkey, the global meeting point of civilizations, cultures and peoples. Today, the people of Antalya are proud and honoured to be hosting for the first time in this hall a conference of such importance and magnitude. They have erected this transparent pyramid as a display of their traditional sentiments of hospitality and friendship.
We are living in an era where we face problems and challenges of a global nature; environmental degradation, pollution, soil erosion, desertification and deforestation are among such challenges. Because of their very nature they cut across boundaries. It is not within the reach of any single country to overcome them. Only with vision and in solidarity can humanity meet these challenges: your presence here today demonstrates the growing awareness that global problems require global solutions. In this context, this Congress is a positive and timely endeavour and your participation is most valuable.
We have to prepare for the twenty-first century with a sense of responsibility for the welfare of humankind and the earth. Our aim should be to create new environments that are ecologically sound and economically sustainable. It is a challenge that, should we fail to meet it, could imperil the lives of future generations on this planet. Let us remember that the earth is the only blue planet in our solar system, and the only planet that has life on it. We are all stakeholders in the future of this planet. Therefore, the concept of sustainable development is directly related to the sustainability of life. It has a direct bearing on the increase in the world's population. In this century alone, the population has tripled in size, causing great strain on the resources provided by mother nature. Sustainability means that we should not demand more from her than she is able to offer.
Throughout the twentieth century humanity has made enormous progress. On the other side of the coin, unprecedented global wars and massive destruction of the world's basic life-support systems arc also the products of this century. Reductions in the ozone layer, on the one hand, and carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted to the atmosphere, on the other, are severely threatening humankind and other forms of life. Species of plant and animal life are becoming extinct at alarming rates. Losses of biological diversity and of forest cover are changing the fundamental balances and resource systems essential to human life and well -being.
Distinguished Guests,
In Turkey, forest lands constitute 26 percent of the country, which is about 20 million ha. Turkey is home to 584 woody species, 76 of which are endemic. Turkish forests and wetlands are also home to a great variety of species, some of which are considered among the endangered categories. Turkey is keen to resist the pressure on the biological integrity of its forest ecosystems and to preserve this rich diversity of its flora and fauna.
The institutions of the civil society are partners of the Turkish Government in creating a greener environment. When I made a call to the Turkish people for a greener Turkey, almost everybody responded favourably: the governmental agencies, actors of civil society and individuals have taken part in the general mobilization for afforestation. Here I would especially like to extend my gratitude to the parliament for adopting the law on The Mobilization for National Forestation and Control of Soil Erosion" and to the Ministry of Forestry for its leading role in the implementation of this law. My thanks also go, among others, to the members of the TEMA and ÇEKÜL foundations for their relentless struggle against soil erosion. They are all aware of the fact that preserving forests is tantamount to protecting the motherland. This, in turn, is nothing but saving the world for the future generations.
Distinguished Guests,
Continued population growth, coupled with agricultural expansion, urbanization and higher rates of global economic development, is a major trend that has had an adverse effect on forests. FAO has estimated that an additional 90 million ha of land may be brought into agriculture in the developing countries by 2010.
Increasing population and economic growth stimulate demand for industrial forest products, the impact of rapid infrastructure development and urbanization on land use, land cover and environment, which is evident in many areas of the world, call for the development of urban forestry programmes.
Environmental awareness and public pressure have drawn attention to the future of the world's forests. The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), held in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992, fostered commitment to international activity focused on the world's forests. The Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), which was created to follow the implementation of the UNCED agreements, established the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests (IPF). Chapter 11 of Agenda 21 and the statement referred to as the "Forest Principles" are other major contributions made by the Rio Summit to an international consensus on sustainable forestry. These initiatives represent an unprecedented level of international focus on forestry.
The World Food Summit of 1996 marks another milestone in this direction. It called on governments, all actors of civil society and international institutions to establish legal and other mechanisms that would promote conservation and sustainable use of natural resources such as land, water and forests. This summit demonstrated once again the unbreakable bonds between sustainable development and food security: indeed, the real human security is the security of basic needs: food, shelter, a sound environment.
This Congress itself is indeed part of these efforts to pursue the formulation of scientifically sound criteria and guidelines for the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forest. The challenge is to meet the growing demand for forest products while safeguarding the ability of forests to conserve biological diversity, mitigate global climate change, protect against desertification and protect soil and water resources.
Distinguished Guests,
I believe that this Congress will be a great success and will provide a unique forum for the politicians, bureaucrats, experts, academicians, representatives of NGOs and other participants who have come from all around the world to share their experience, expertise and innovations concerning the sustainable management of the world's forests.
Let us join our forces in promoting international solidarity for a greener world. I would like to indicate two areas for our priority attention: combating and preventing forest fires and mobilizing resources for reforestation.
Forest fires are an especially acute problem in the Mediterranean basin. I call on all the countries of the world to share their experience in this field.
Second, we should emphasize plantations of fast-growing trees in reforestation efforts biotechnology provides new opportunities which should be seized in an effective manner.
Before I open the Congress, I would like to express my deep appreciation for the efforts by the members of the Organizing Committee and the Turkish institutions involved to make it a memorable one, as well as for the invaluable support and cooperation of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Their efforts are the guarantee of the eventual success of the Congress.
I invite all countries and peoples of the world to renew their pledge to global partnership and to develop policies that meet the needs of the present without compromising the green dreams of future generations.
Turkish tradition has been immortalized in the following verses of the (Turkish) poet Mehmet Emin Yurdakul:
"O friend, don't cut this tree
for, cursed is the hand that hacks a tree
let the sweet birds jump from its branches
don't cut it,
let the weary peasant rest in its shadow
don't cut it,
let the lovely village enjoy its presence
don't cut it,
let this beloved country live in joy"
Thank you.
