17. Countries that have not yet done so, should integrate implementation of IPF/IFF proposals for action into their national forest programme and other relevant policy processes. This should include:
i. assessing the IPF/IFF proposals for action against existing national forest-related frameworks in terms of their relevance to the national priorities;
ii. prioritizing the relevant action proposals;
iii. identifying measures already taken and future actions;
iv. assessing the resources needed to address the impediments to implementation; and
v. using criteria and indicators or related tools to monitor progress towards sustainable forest management.
18. Countries that have not yet done so should urgently identify a national focal point for UNFF, who should also ensure that the national report is being prepared on time.
19. Considering the numerous positive examples in the region in implementing the IPF/IFF proposals for action, countries should actively share these experiences, especially at UNFF.
20. Forestry experts should make efforts to influence their Government’s preparations for UNFF and other international meetings. Experts that participate in these processes should disseminate information after they return from meetings and engage others in the preparations.
21. The various international processes should coordinate their reporting requirements and use existing information better. In this context, participants welcomed the efforts by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests to initiate an information service to streamline forest-related reporting and to reduce the reporting burden on countries.
22. Countries should develop procedures and modalities for effective stakeholder participation and create mechanisms to:
i. clarify the roles of and expectations of all stakeholders;
ii. identify ways and means to account for their inputs and contributions; and
iii. enable reflection of realities from local to national levels.
23. Countries should establish domestic working groups consisting of the representatives from the forestry department, local communities and other stakeholders, to mitigate on-going conflicts that affect livelihoods and long-term participation in decision-making.
24. In order to enhance linkages between forestry and other sectors (e.g. agriculture, fisheries, energy, tourism, health, education, culture, finance) through national forest programme processes, countries should:
i. Establish effective high-level, cross-ministerial collaboration mechanisms that facilitate political endorsement, giving rise to a shared vision for sustainable forest management, enhanced coordination and effective communication across sectors. This in turn will lead to greater support and commitment by stakeholders to share costs and benefits equitably, particularly in relation to poverty reduction and food security;
ii. Identify and involve key actors, including civil society and the private sector, as early as possible in policy formulation and planning to foster support at all levels;
iii. Identify and/or further develop tools and processes to enable a participatory and adaptive approach to planning and implementation of sustainable forest management (e.g. participatory land-use planning and national forest programmes);
iv. Experiment with different integration models at the local level and use lessons learned to upscale to higher levels.
25. Countries should consider extending devolution of forest management from degraded forest areas to production forest areas to provide more equitable opportunities to generate incomes through harvesting and marketing of timber and other forest products.
26. Countries should not focus exclusively on generating cash incomes but should consider also other goods, services and processes that contribute to human well-being.
27. Methods of valuing forest goods and services should be reviewed and high priority given to broaden application of promising approaches and systems. FAO should facilitate such a review, including methodologies to assess the value of forest goods and services to the society.
28. Countries should promote organizational strength of the poor for developing social capital so that they can more effectively contribute to and benefit from the forestry sector.
29. Countries should give increased support to research and development and consider research results in developing forest programmes and projects.
30. The Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission should provide a forum for sharing information and lessons learned on mechanisms for linking different sectors within national forest programme processes and provide information on the relationship between forestry and poverty. FAO should facilitate such activities.
31. The Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission should form a working group or other mechanism to assess the impacts of bureaucratic procedures, taxation policies, regulations and restrictions in forest management, which may cause market distortions, and in turn, constrain severely forestry’s potential to contribute to poverty reduction.
32. FAO and other CPF members should continue to facilitate the implementation of the IPF/IFF proposals for action and assist countries in sharing experiences.
33. FAO and other CPF members should help build capacity of countries to effectively participate and negotiate in international fora and follow their progress.