42. This item was introduced through Secretariat Note FO:AFWC/2004/6; participants were also referred to the draft Forestry Chapter prepared by FAO, at the request of the NEPAD Secretariat, for inclusion in the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), which was accompanied by a Summary Note.
43. The presentation described the evolution from the Forestry Outlook Study for Africa (FOSA) of both NEPAD initiatives concerning forestry – the Environmental Action Plan and the CAADP – and highlighted the priority interventions and indicative annual budget of US$3.9 billion. The deliberations and recommendations of the two inter-sessional meetings of the Bureau were also reported.
44. Participants expressed concern at the low priority initially accorded to forestry in the CAADP and at the apparent disconnect between CAADP and the UNEP-led Environment Initiative. The Commission recommended that FAO should, in concertation with the NEPAD Secretariat and UNEP, take steps to harmonize the two initiatives. The Commission took note of the information given by Senegal that, in its capacity as Country Coordinator of the NEPAD Environmental Initiative, this country has appointed, through an international bidding process, a Coordinator of the Interim Secretary for this initiative. This Officer will be in charge of coordinating all NEPAD activities on the Environment, in close collaboration with UNEP and other partners.
45. It was not possible to provide the Commission with a view on the budgetary implications of the CAADP because of their aggregated nature. It was therefore recommended that FAO should provide a more disaggregated breakdown with explanatory notes of the estimated costs of proposed activities and present these on a sub-regional basis in order that sub-regional economic organizations would be able to identify the implications for their members.
46. It was further suggested that, for presentation purposes, the forest budget should be allocated directly into the four NEPAD pillars rather than stand alone, and that indications of potential funding sources should differentiate national from donor funds. Some discussion focused on the source and nature of private investment, and the importance of farmers and the informal sector as investors.
47. The Commission recommended that FAO ensure that activities on wood energy and on forest research were fully articulated and budgeted. Attention was drawn to the positive role of informal forest activities, such as production and trade in woodfuel, in contributing to poverty alleviation. Woodfuel substitution by oil or LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas) could have perverse effects on households that depend on such activities and should be carefully planned.
48. The Commission noted that there was as yet inadequate consultation in the preparation of the CAADP forestry chapter. The Commission recommended that FAO, and the NEPAD Secretariat, enhance interaction and consultation in the remaining steps to formalise the Forestry Chapter. It further recommended that participants and observers continue seeking opinions on the Chapter and provide feedback to FAO, and ultimately to the NEPAD Secretariat.
49. After discussion of Item 8, the Secretary invited those Organizations present to deliver short statements; these included:
African Academy of Sciences (AAS)
African Development Bank (AfDB)
African Timber Organization (ATO)
African Women Network on Sustainable Development (REFFAD)
Conférence des Ministres en charge des forêts de l’Afrique centrale (COMIFAC)
European Forestry Commission (EFC)
Interafrican Forest Industries Association (IFIA)
Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
International Association of Francophone Foresters (AFFI)
International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO)
Low Forest Cover Countries Secretariat (LFCCs)
Near East Forestry Commission (NEFC)
Organization for the Conservation of African Wildlife (OCAW)
Permanent Inter-state Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS)
Southern African Development Community (SADC)
Union économique et monétaire ouest-africaine (UEMOA)
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF)
World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)