Vision for the Future
FAO is committed to maintaining and increasing its effectiveness in the forestry sector over the next 15 years using this Strategic Plan as a guide. This section describes a vision both of the role of FAO in global forestry and of the desired future state of the world's forests.
FAO will continue to strive to merit recognition by governments of its member countries, and by organizations and interest groups involved in the forestry sector, for promoting the sustainable management of the world's trees and forests. It will strive to be recognized and trusted for its facilitation of discussion of forestry issues in a neutral forum, for its ability to collect and disseminate reliable and relevant information, for its capacity to provide technically sound and policy-relevant analysis of such information and for its provision of unbiased and timely advice, studies and forecasts.
FAO will strive to be innovative, to keep abreast of new developments and to anticipate trends. FAO will work to be seen as a reliable partner in responding to the needs of its member countries, both as a leading advocate and as an example of the use of the partnership approach among interest groups. It will utilize its ability to work in a truly cross-sectoral fashion. The field programme and normative activities will continue to complement each other, providing synergy between concepts and practice.
The scenario to aim for is an increase in the area of sustainably managed forests, a slowing of the rate of deforestation in the tropics, a decrease in forest degradation worldwide and an increase in the global area of trees and forests through afforestation and reforestation, especially of degraded land. The location, extent, composition, health and value of many of the goods and services represented by forest ecosystems and trees in the landscape will be more accurately known. Informed and constructive debate among a wide range of interest groups will be increasingly used to develop consensus on forest management, particularly in defining sustainable forest management and in striking a balance between environmental and developmental objectives. Policy changes will help to remove restrictions on forestry development, will promote participatory approaches towards their management, and will encourage the equitable distribution of benefits. The role of trees and forests in contributing to food security (including the wood energy required for cooking food) and environmental protection will be enhanced and better recognized. More forests will be under controlled management and periodic assessments of indicators will show a trend towards long-term sustainability. There will be a greatly increased flow of investment into the sector, particularly in developing countries and countries with economies in transition.