Preface
Forestry has been part of FAO's mandate from its establishment in 1945. Forestry is specifically included in the global goals of the Organization in relation to its contribution to economic and social progress, to environmental stabilization and to the conservation, improvement and sustainable utilization of natural resources.
Forestry contributes significantly to the achievement of FAO's mission to "help build a food-secure world for present and future generations," and to "assist Member Nations in: reducing food insecurity and rural poverty; ensuring an enabling policy and regulatory framework for food and agriculture, fisheries and forestry; securing sustainable increases in the supply and availability of food; conserving and enhancing the natural resource base; and generating knowledge of food and agriculture, fisheries and forestry".
The FAO Strategic Plan for Forestry is the result of a process of consultation with member countries, institutions and individuals, which began in February 1996 and concluded with approval by the FAO Committee on Forestry, in March 1999. The Strategic Plan for Forestry will orient the programme of FAO in forestry and related fields. It looks ahead to the long (15 years) and the medium term (6 years).
The Strategic Plan links the FAO Forestry Programme to the mandate, corporate strategies and objectives of the overall Strategic Framework for FAO: 2000-2015, which was approved by the thirtieth session of the Conference of FAO in November 1999. It provides overall direction upon which the more detailed departmental implementation plans - the biennial Programmes of Work and Budget - will be based. It is not a static document but will continually be developed and adapted to meet changing circumstances. Comments and suggestions are welcome.
In line with the Strategic Framework for FAO: 2000-2015, the Strategic Plan for Forestry sets out three main strategies to achieve its objectives:
- carrying out FAO's mandated roles as a neutral forum for policy and technical dialogue among nations, a source of global information, and a provider of policy advice and technical assistance;
- setting clear priorities;
- building partnerships with others.
Furthermore, the Strategic Plan for Forestry aims to build on the ability of FAO to address the full range of environmental, economic and social challenges of sustainable forest management and to provide linkages and cross-fertilization with other relevant disciplines.
M. Hosny El-Lakany
Assistant Director-General
Forestry Department
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations