I. Regional criteria and indicators for Central America
II. National level criteria and indicators for Central America
Description: The region identified 4 criteria and 40 indicators at the regional level and 8 criteria and 53 indicators at the national level (Tegucigalpa, Honduras 20-24/01/97). This was the beginning of the Process which was later on complemented by 2 FAO/CCAD supported sub-regional meetings and 7 national seminars on country-level implementation and on the identification of criteria and indicators at the forest management unit level.
Initiated: Tegucigalpa, Honduras 20-24/01/97
Member Countries (7): Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.
Partner organizations: CATIE, Finnish-funded regional project PROCAFOR, FAO
www address: (under preparation)
Criteria and Indicators:
Criterion 1: Existence of a legal, political, institutional, technical and socio-economic framework which promotes and guarantees sustainable forest management and conservation of the resources
Indicators:
1.1 Implementation of well-defined regional policies related to the development, conservation, protection and sustainable management of forests.
1.2. Harmonization of legislation at regional level in support of sustainable forest management.
1.3. Operationalization of regional institutional support to sustainable forest management activities in Central America.
1.4. Regional economic integration recognizes the significant contribution which sustainable forest management can make in the socio-economic development of the region.
1.5. Standardized technical guidelines and for sustainable forest management in the region.
1.6. Fulfillment of economic and social functions of forest resources, with due concern to the needs of local communities which depend on the forest.
1.7. Financial mechanisms which promote the sustainable use of forest resources.
1.8. Norms that regulate forest practices in such a way that they will assure implementation of sustainable forest management.
1.9. National plans that support research and training in natural resource management.
1.10. Overall access to, and exchange of technology and information.
1.11. Percentage of population with legal land titles.
Criterion 2: Conservation and maintenance of environmental services provided by forest ecosystems
Indicators:
2.1. Total forest cover of the Region in relation to:
- Land surface of Central America2.2. Area forest under management in relation to:
- Potential forest area
- Area of forest in protected areas
- Area of forest outside of protected areas
- Change of land use: forest to other land uses (deforestation rate)
- Area of forest in protected areas2.3. Percentage and area of various forest types found in the Protected Area Network of the Region.
- Area of forest outside of protected areas.
2.4. Area and length of the Biological Corridor.
2.5. Environmental impacts of forest management.
2.6. Estimate of carbon stored in the Central American forests.
2.7. Implementation of mechanisms to regulate capture and illegal marketing of species of flora and fauna.
2.8. Area and percentage of forests affected by anthropogenic and natural agents.
2.9. Area and percentage of forested lands managed for recreation and tourism in relation to the total forest area in the Region.
2.10. Number of endemic, threatened and/or endangered species.
2.11. Area and percentage of degraded lands reclaimed through forestry operations.
2.12. Number of forest species conserved ex-situ (e.g. in seed banks).
2.13. Area and percentage of forest managed for the protection of watersheds.
Criterion 3: Maintenance of productive capacities of forest ecosystems
Indicators:
3.1. Forest area classified by management category and type of land tenure.
3.2. Goods and services provided by the forest ecosystems according to management category.
3.3. Structure and species composition of forest ecosystems.
3.4. Productive potential and present status of forest ecosystems.
Criterion 4: Maintenance and enhancement of multiple socio-economic and cultural benefits of forest ecosystems to meet the needs of all levels of society
Indicators:
4.1. Investment in forestry in relation to the GNP.
4.2. Increase in the level and quality of life of local communities involved in forest management activities.
4.3. Balance of commerce in the forestry sector.
4.4. Employment opportunities in forestry (direct and indirect) Direct and indirect forestry related job opportunities in relation to gender.
4.5. Aggregate values of carbon fixation.
4.6. Availability and value of firewood for domestic use.
4.7. Increase in, and benefits from tourism related to forest ecosystems.
4.8. Fulfillment of commitments related to international agreements and conventions on indigenous rights (International Labor Organization, Convention 169).
4.9. Implementation of measurements that assure equal distribution of from access to and use forest resources with due consideration to gender issues.
4.10. Implementation forest management plans with special reference to socio-economic issues.
4.11. Number and percentage of people employed in the forestry sector.
4.12. Internalization of costs for the benefit of local communities.
Criterion 1: Existence of a legal, political, institutional, technical and sosio-economic framework which promotes and guarantees the sustainability of forest management and the concervation of the forest resources
Indicators:
1.1 A dynamic and participative forest policy integrated with other sectors; and implemented in support of sustainable forest management.
1.2. Forest legislation which facilitates the implementation of national forest policies and of established forest management plans.
1.3. Availability of technical and financial resources which permit governmental and non-governmental institutions to implement and supervise adherence to established forest policies.
1.4. Updating of curricula in forestry training institutions.
1.5. Economic policies which promote the sustainable management of forest resources.
1.6. Implementation of a National Forest Research Plan which aims at strengthening the capacity for transfer.
1.7. Norms that regulate forestry practices in such a way that they will assure the implementation of sustainable forest management.
1.8. A legal framework that guarantees respect for cultural values and for the use of forest resources in property of local dwellers with emphasis on indigenous communities.
1.9. Providing means to stakeholders and local governments to strengthen their involvement in, and support to, sustainable forest management.
Criterion 2: Forest cover
Indicators:
2.1. Total forest cover of the Region in relation to:
- Land surface of Central America2.2. Area forest under management in relation to:
- Potential forest area
- Area of forest in protected areas
- Area of forest outside of protected areas
- Change of land use: forest to other land uses (deforestation rate)
- Area of forest in protected areasCriterion 3: Forest health and vitality
- Area of forest outside of protected areas.
Indicators:
3.1. Regeneration and changes in the composition and structure of forest ecosystems.
3.2. Area and percentage of forest affected by natural agents.
3.3. Area and percentage of forest affected by anthropogenic agents.
Criterion 4: Contribution of forest ecosystems to environmental services
Indicators:
4.1. Number and area of protected areas with established management plans, working plans and/or applied silviculture.
4.2. Area and percentage of forests managed for recreation and tourism in relation to the total national land area.
4.3. Number, area and percentage of watersheds with a management plan.
4.4. Area and percentage of forest managed for soil and water conservation.
4.5. Relation between forest cover by watershed and frequency of flooding.
4.6. Estimates of biomass estimates forest ecosystems as a function of carbon sequestration and carbon sinks.
Criterion 5: Biological diversity in forest ecosystems
Indicators:
5.1. Percentage and area of forest types in the various categories of protected areas.
5.2. Number of endemic, threatened and/or endangered species.
5.3. Estimates on wildlife species dependent on forest habitats.
5.4. Area and length of Biological Corridors per forest ecosystem.
5.5. Area and percentage of primary and secondary forests and of plantations.
5.6. Number of species conserved ex-situ (e.g. in seed banks).
Criterion 6: Productive functions of forest ecosystems
Indicators:
6.1. Forest area under management through the implantation of legally authorized management plans.
6.2. Goods and services provided by forest ecosystems.
6.3. Annual harvest of wood and non-wood forest products in relation to levels of sustainability.
6.4. Production of firewood and charcoal per management category.
6.5. Diversification of products from the forest: wood and non-wood products.
6.6. Production from managed forests in relation to forest production at national level.
6.7. Growth and yield of forest species and stands.
6.8. Silvicultural prescriptions for each type of forest.
Criterion 7: Scientific and technological capacities for the development of the forest resource
Indicators:
7.1. Common terminology in the field of natural resource management.
7.2. Maintenance of information systems on recording on the productive capacities of forest ecosystems.
7.3. Investment in forestry research, training and education and in technology transfer.
7.4. Implementation of a national forest research and training plan in support of natural resource management.
7.5. Mechanisms for horizontal cooperation in forestry.
7.6. Access and exchange to information technology.
Criterion 8: Maintenance and improvement of the multiple socio-economic and cultural benefits of the forest ecosystems required to attend the needs of society in general.
Indicators:
8.1. Investment in forestry in relation to the GNP.
8.2. Contribution of environmental services, and of wood and non-wood forest products to the GNP.
8.3. Employment opportunities in forestry (direct, indirect) for women in local communities.
8.4. Quality of life of local communities involved in sustainable forest management activities.
8.5. Balance of commerce in the forestry sector.
8.6. Aggregate value of carbon fixation.
8.7. Value of firewood for domestic and industrial use.
8.8. Increase in, and benefits from ecotourism.
8.9. Instrumentalization to guarantee the proper application of international agreements and contracts in relation to the recognition of indigenous property rights. (United Nations International Labor Organization, Convention 169).
8.10. Fulfillment of commitments related to international agreements and conventions on indigenous rights (ILO Convention 169).
8.11. Implementation of measures that assure equal distribution of benefits from access to and use of forest resources, with due consideration to gender issues.
8.12. Local community participation in forestry activities and in the distribution of benefits.
8.13. Internalization of costs for the benefit of local communities.
Source: Anon. 1997. Results of the FAO-CCAB-AP experts' meeting on criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management in Central America. Tegucigalpa, Honduras, 20-24/01/97.
