Overview presentations set the stage for subsequent discussions and placed criteria and indicators in proper context as a tool for monitoring progress toward sustainable forest management.
Froylan Castaneda (FAO) presented an overview of the various ongoing international initiatives that support the development and implementation of criteria and indicators. Also highlighted were the concepts behind the development of criteria and indicators for the national and forest management unit-levels. Emphasis was given to the importance of identifying indicators that are:
· clear and well-defined;It was emphasized that different sets of criteria and indicators may be required for different ecosystems, and that any set of criteria and indicators developed should be considered a draft umbrella set, requiring testing and modification through a dynamic process. The importance of political support for implementing criteria and indicators was underscored, as were the opportunities for obtaining support from international organizations.· flexible (i.e. adaptable to various conditions);
· feasibly implemented (i.e. based on readily available data or easily measurable);
· practical (requiring a minimum of administrative work and cost);
· cognizant of the country's limitations;
· compatible with other processes; and
· adaptable to the country's social, economic, political and environmental conditions.
Dr. Efransjah (ITTO) reviewed the experience of ITTO in developing and supporting the application of criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management. ITTO pioneered the development of criteria and indicators in the early 1990s. It revised its criteria and indicators in 1998, and developed extensive manuals for their application, including the measurement of indicators at national and forest management unit-levels. The ITTO experience highlights the importance of viewing the development and implementation of criteria and indicators as a dynamic process, adjusting to technological and societal changes and priorities.
Dr. Ram Prasad (IIFM) described the common evolution in much of South Asia, from timber-oriented exploitative forest management to a more people-centered, multiple-use management of forest resources. The unique features of dry forests in Asia were highlighted, including:
· high population pressures and associated forest degradation;It was argued that these unique characteristics called for a separate process for promoting sustainable forest management in the region.· diversity of ecosystems;
· harsh, fragile environments;
· high incidences of poverty and forest dependence of local people;
· frequent fires;
· high rates of fuelwood removals and grazing pressure;
· socio-economic relevance;
· complex management needs;
· large number of threatened and endangered species and habitats;
· center of origin for many important food crops;
· relative lack of data and understanding of the forest and its components; and
· low investment by governments for management and development.
IIFM students presented an overview of the preliminary experiences of the IIFM/ITTO Pre-project on Testing Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management through Community Participation. The pre-project highlighted the need for indicators to be simple, practical and easy to measure.
