Medium Term Objectives and Programmes
1. Strengthen the information and databases on forest and tree resources
FAO has a basic mandate to "...collect, analyse, interpret and disseminate information relating to food, nutrition and agriculture" (Article I of the Basic Texts of FAO). Activities in forestry sector statistics and information will continue on:
- the development of common terms and the harmonization of definitions;
- the collection of production, trade and capacity statistics for wood products, pulp and paper, wood energy and forest products marketing;
- forest resource assessments - including information on natural forests and plantations, forests available for wood supply, global forest and ecological zone maps, forest change, forest biomass, non-wood products, biological diversity, protected areas, forest fires, forest genetic resources and forest and tree resources outside the formal forest boundaries.
The FAO Forestry Web site, already offering broad and deep information on all aspects of forestry in multiple languages, will be further developed. Existing on-line databases will be expanded and harmonized, and an increasing proportion of the forestry information of FAO, both textual and statistical, will be made available electronically. Training and institutional strengthening in the area of information will continue to be important.
2. Strengthen national forest policies
FAO will continue to coordinate action to facilitate the formulation, implementation and monitoring of national forest programmes (nfps) including assistance in policy development and strategic planning, and in cross-sectoral and land-use planning.
Analyses of country and regional-level forest policy will continue, as will work towards a better understanding of legal and institutional issues, and the fiscal requisites of sustainable forest management.
3. Strengthen the technical foundation for forest resource conservation and development and forest product development and utilization
This objective covers technical aspects of best practices for sustainable forest management and use. One of its principal components is continued support to the implementation of criteria and indicators for the sustainable management of forests through regional and eco-regional processes.
Measures for the conservation and management of forest genetic resources, wildlife and forest ecosystems will be reviewed in all types of forests. Studies on management systems and improved logging practices will focus largely on the tropical humid zones, arid and semi-arid zones and countries with low forest cover.
Support will continue to be given in the field of tree improvement, and studies will be carried out on the environmental, social and economic impacts of plantations. Studies will be carried out on trees outside forests, on the emerging issues of recreation and urban and peri-urban forestry, as well as on agroforestry and afforestation and reforestation in countries with low forest cover.
With regard to the utilization of forest products, FAO will focus on low-impact harvesting, appropriate processing techniques, employment opportunities and infrastructure development, forest products marketing and the assessment of the contribution of non-wood forest products (NWFPs) to food security.
4. Improve or maintain the health and condition of forests
FAO will continue to assist countries in safeguarding the health and vitality of forest ecosystems and plantations from insect pests, diseases and other harmful agents. An important element in this assistance will be support to networking and other forms of collaboration among countries.
FAO will provide technical assistance in forest fire management and on aspects of pollution and climate change as they relate to the health of forests and trees.
5. Strengthen countries' institutional, legal and financial frameworks for the forestry sector
FAO will assist member countries to analyse, design and/or revise normative and organizational structures that can meet national and international demands, and to develop the management skills needed to implement sectoral policies and programmes. FAO will support extension and the development of methodologies for the accommodation of multiple interests, as well as forest research and education.
6. Improve regional and international discussion and collaboration on forest policy and technical issues
The Forestry Department of FAO will continue to serve as Task Manager for Agenda 21, Chapters 11 and 13, and will be the lead agency for the International Year of Mountains in 2002. It will continue to give administrative support and policy and technical inputs to the international dialogue on forests, including the Inter-governmental Forum on Forests (IFF) and its successor arrangements. FAO will continue to support the informal, high-level Inter-agency Task Force on Forests (ITFF), especially through the development of joint programmes and projects with other members. It will also continue to provide technical support to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (including the Kyoto Protocol). If requested, it will provide technical inputs or advice to proposals for a possible forest instrument.
FAO will continue to facilitate regular meetings of its Committee on Forestry, six Regional Forestry Commissions, five Statutory Bodies and two Panels of Experts in the field of forestry.
7. Strengthen partnerships with other groups working in forestry
FAO will work to enhance partnerships and collaboration with all current and potential partners in the quest for sustainable forest development.
FAO will seek to collaborate with international and regional forestry research organizations in efforts to strengthen national research systems and reinforce links between research and development.
FAO will strengthen links with the private sector in work related to industrial forest operations, processing and trade. Partnerships with NGOs that are active in sector studies, field programmes, and international policy initiatives will be further developed.
FAO will continue to provide a neutral forum, facilitating networks and meetings as tools for consultation and collaboration among governments, the private sector, NGOs and civil society.
FAO will further strengthen relationships with regional and international development banks, development agencies, and trade groups, both for promotion of investment and exchange of information.
8. Increase social and economic equity and improve human well-being through support to participatory forestry and sustainable management of forests and trees in marginal areas
Through its Community Forestry Programme and activities in forestry extension, FAO will promote participatory approaches that enable local people and other stakeholders (particularly the disadvantaged) to be involved in forest planning and management and to derive adequate benefits from this involvement, especially as related to food security. Emphasis will be put on developing an enabling policy and institutional environment for effective locally based management. Continued effort will be made to encourage equity in benefits and decision-making, especially as related to gender.