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5. Forest principles

In addition to Agenda 21, the conference also issued a detailed statement of principles for a global consensus on the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forest. As with Chapter 11 of Agenda 21, the overall focus was to stress a balance between conservation and sustainable exploitation.

UNCED called for these to be kept under „assessment for their adequacy with regard to further international cooperation on forest issues"

The main household energy-related activities undertaken by FAO in this regard are the following:

* Contribution to building national capabilities at official and private level for the dissemination, adoption and use of improved stoves for households as well as small industries and commercial users, using different biomass-based fuels (fuelwood, charcoal and agro-industrial residues). Activities include the preparation and distribution of technical documents and ad hoc studies, training of human resources and exchange of experiences and information.

* Promotion of optimized wood energy systems in decentralized areas in order to develop and implement sustainable production of woodfuels at competitive market prices. Among other activities, the Forestry Department of FAO has been involved with the Latin American Regional Technical Cooperation Network on Dendroenergy, in studies to better understand woodfuel flows in specific areas. Field work has been undertaken in Brazil, Costa Rica and Honduras.

* Activities to enhance the sustainable production of woodfuels from indigenous natural forests particularly in arid and semi-arid areas, with field work in Burkina Faso, Madagascar and Myanmar.


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