Montreal Criteria and Indicators and FRA 2005
- the U.S. experience -
presented by
W. Brad Smith
Associate National Program Manager, FIA
Forest Inventory and Analysis
The Nation’s Forest Census
Outline
n General background of C&I
n Montreal C&I and FRA 2005
n Thoughts on the process
Forest Inventory and Analysis
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Slide 3
In the beginning…
we always had Criteria and Indicators,
but the old themes and variables were simpler…
TIMBER
Monitor
timber
supplies
for
sustainability
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Agenda 21 changed the focus
In 1992, the United Nations Conference on the Environment and Development (UNCED) adopted the “Non-legally Binding Authoritative Statement of Principles for a Global Consensus on the Management and Sustainable Development of All Types of Forests”.
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Today, more than 150 countries participate in 9 multi-national processes
Process Countries
n ITTO 31
n MCPFE/HELSINKI PROCESS 41
n MONTREAL PROCESS 12 <U.S.
n TARAPOTO PROPOSAL 8
n DRY ZONE AFRICA PROCESS 30
n AFRICAN TIMBER ORG. PROCESS 14
n NEAR EAST PROCESS 30
n LEPATERIQUE PROCESS 7
n ASIA DRY FOREST PROCESS 9
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The new ‘Process’ approach is more
holistic and much more complex
Health
Extent/
diversity
Products
Legal
FOREST
Carbon
Montreal Process
7 Criteria
with
67 indicators
Social
Economic
Future issues!
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Good news!
At a joint meeting in Guatemala in February 2003, representatives from
all 9 processes noted:
SOME definitions were different
MANY Indicators were similar
MOST Criteria were the same
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1a Extent of forest resources 1a
1b Contribution to global carbon cycle 5
2 Forest health and vitality 3
3 Biodiversity function 1b,c
4 Productive function 2
5 Protective function 4
6 Socio-economic function 6
FRA Themes
Montreal
Criteria
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In the U.S. we rated the data for each Montreal indicator
Data available nationally, current, and reliable
Data not consistent nationally, slightly dated, perhaps not measured frequently enough
Data are:
non-existent or inconsistent sources
more than 15 years old
without consistent data collection
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FRA 2005 variables and Montreal indicators
FRA 2005 variables
Montreal indicator
and status for U.S.
Results
7 good
5 medium
2 poor
2 mixed
Results
6 good
6 medium
2 poor
2 mixed
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WE CONTINUE TO LEARN BY EXPERIENCE
U.S. has participated in 10 National and
International Forest Assessments in past 6 years
Report Type
n National Report on Sustainable Forests 2003 Intnl
n Montreal Process First Forest Overview Rep. 2003 Intnl
n EPA State of the Environment Report US
n HEINZ Report on the State of the Nation’s Ecosystems US
n UNEP Global Environmental Outlook Intnl
n Forest Statistics of the United States, 2003 US
n Temperate-Boreal Forest Resource Assessment 2000 Intnl
n Global Forest Resource Assessment 2000 Intnl
n Forest Resources of the United States, 1997 US
n Montreal Process First Approximation Report 1997 Intnl
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New U.S. Montreal Report completed
National Report on
Sustainable Forests -2003
http://www.fs.fed.us/research/sustain
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12 nation Montreal Overview Report completed
Montreal Process
First Forest Overview
Report 2003
http://www.mpci.org/rep-pub/2003/contents_ehtml
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For the U.S. the key to success is
core data and common definitions
FRA 2005
Core Data
Montreal
Core Data
National Core Data
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The Biggest Gap?
The political courage and leadership to support and maintain progress toward the goals of sustainable forest management without knowing the outcome in advance.
Assuring the collection of consistent, reliable data is the first critical step that must be politically supported.
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Politicians will always ask,
“Are all these different efforts necessary?”
Consider:
In business, competition is seen as assuring the best product for the customer.
In government, competition is seen as redundant and a waste of public funds.
What is the right answer?
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I think both answers are correct…
Some competition is critical to assuring all the key stakeholders have a viable space to voice their concerns, but it must be effectively managed.
REMEMBER:
Sustainable forest management is a journey
not just a one-time destination.
And, we are here to manage a more effective journey.
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The next step in a more effective journey within the U.S.
The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) in the U.S. is taking on the task of integrating what we have learned and developing a framework to move forward in an organized way across resource sectors.
FORESTS, RANGELANDS, CROPLANDS,
URBAN, FRESHWATER, COASTAL MARINE
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The future depends on our ability to meet the changing demands of monitoring our resources effectively
Er… getting some static
here, could you repeat?
How are the core data and
definitions coming?
Roger Earth! Copy you loud and clear!
Interpretation and analysis will always be more meaningful if the underlying data are reasonably common, scientifically sound and as free of political spin as possible.
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Thank you!
Forest Inventory and Analysis
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