COFO-2003/5

INTRODUCTION

CONSIDERATION BY THE FAO COUNCIL OF THE REPORT OF THE FIFTEENTH SESSION OF COFO

DECISIONS OF FAO COUNCIL OF INTEREST TO COFO

VIEWS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF FAO REGIONAL CONFERENCES OF INTEREST TO COFO

Twenty-second FAO Regional Conference for Africa
Twenty-sixth Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific
Twenty-third FAO Regional Conference for Europe
Twenty-six Regional Conference for the Near East

INTRODUCTION

This note summarizes decisions of interest to the Committee taken by FAO Governing Bodies (Conference, Council) since its 15^th session. Excerpts of pertinent outcomes of FAO Regional Conferences are also included. Follow-up action has been reported to the respective bodies.

CONSIDERATION BY THE FAO COUNCIL OF THE REPORT OF THE FIFTEENTH SESSION OF COFO

1. At its 120^th session, the Council:

• endorsed the COFO report (para 23);
• noted the many recommendations that supported the role of FAO in assisting member nations achieve sustainable forest management and stressed inter alia the inter-sectoral dimensions of forestry; the role of forests in climate change; and the need to reduce poverty, contribute to food security and protect the environment (para. 24);
• stressed the importance of several FAO activities, including support to national forest programmes, capacity-building, information and knowledge management, criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management, forest resource assessments; forest fire management, and to countries with low forest cover (para. 25);
• requested that FAO continue to support the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) and collaborate with the secretariats of international conventions related to forests, and supported FAO leadership in the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) (para. 26);
• supported FAO's role as the lead agency for the International Year of Mountains (IYM) and encouraged member nations to support related activities, including through the trust fund established by FAO (para. 27).

DECISIONS OF FAO COUNCIL OF INTEREST TO COFO

2. At its 121^st session, the Council noted that a number of changes had been introduced since the Summary PWB it had considered in June. In particular, it welcomed the increases in the relative share of the fisheries and forestry programmes, while also expressing the view that these increases should have been even higher (para. 25).

3. At its 121^st session, many members indicated priority areas such as fisheries and forestry, the Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP), agricultural production improvement programmes, work on genetic resources, gender mainstreaming, the impact of HIV/AIDS, and assistance to members on multilateral trade negotiations (para 26).

4. At its 121^st session, the Council called for further efforts to reinvigorate the Field Programme, especially to reverse recent declines in the delivery of non-emergency field activities. At the same time, the Council re-emphasised the need to balance normative and operational activities (para. 27).

5. The Conference recognized that the PWB embodied the first attempt to fully apply the new model to technical and economic programmes. It was satisfied that the proposals were consistent with the Strategic Framework 2000-2015 and the Medium-Term Plan 2002-2007. It also concurred with the Council's recommendation that the budgetary aspects of the Strategies to Address Cross-organizational Issues be more explicit in the next versions. The Conference welcomed the Council's request that the Programme Committee examine the feasibility of developing preliminary information on PWB proposals and submit them to the Committees on Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (para 86).

VIEWS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF FAO REGIONAL CONFERENCES OF INTEREST TO COFO

Twenty-second FAO Regional Conference for Africa

6. For the attention of governments, the Conference recommended that member countries share, with others, information and knowledge they possess on resource use in mountain areas (Appendix F, para. 31c).

7. For the attention of FAO, the Conference recommended that FAO assist member countries develop appropriate technologies to arrest soil erosion and environmental degradation on mountain slopes and that it intensify efforts in research and information exchange on management of watershed areas (Appendix F, para. 31d).

Twenty-sixth Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific

8. For the attention of governments and FAO, the Ministerial Session of the Conference urged member countries and international organizations to collaborate in addressing forest fires, illegal and reckless logging, and encroachment on forests (para. 35). The meeting also recommended that member countries, with assistance from FAO and other partners, initiate studies to determine efficient systems for marketing mountain products and services (para. 36).

9. For the attention of Governments, the Conference urged the establishment and strengthening of policies and strategies to protect mountain forests, water, soil and biodiversity (para. 34). It also encouraged the implementation of integrated watershed management programs that address local needs and protect natural resources (para. 34).

10. For the attention of FAO, the Conference recommended that FAO identify and support effective approaches for decentralisation and devolution of natural resources management, assist governments and local communities in strengthening capacities for local resources management, and help clarify associated rights and obligations (para. 41).

Twenty-third FAO Regional Conference for Europe

11. For the attention of governments and FAO, the Conference took note of the need to strengthen inter-country cooperation in forest fire management (para. 27e) and underlined the importance of strengthening collaboration between FAO and UNCCD Secretariat (para 29).

12. For the attention of FAO, the Conference requested that, in future documents, the fisheries and forestry sectors be included in view of their importance for food security and rural development (para 33).

13. The Conference took note of the activities undertaken by FAO as lead agency for the preparation and coordination of the International Year of the Mountains (IYM) and plans for follow-up activities in cooperation with all the UN agencies, international civil society organizations and member countries. It noted the need for resources to complete these tasks (para 42).

Twenty-seventh Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean

14. For the attention of FAO, the Conference

• called upon FAO to support a long-term strategy for natural resources sustainability, involving government policies with broad social participation (para. 28)
• suggested that FAO help establish legal and regulatory structures and genuine capacity to support natural resource sustainability (para. 29);
• asked FAO to support the development of information systems on natural resource use and the establishment of sustainability indicators and environmental monitoring mechanisms (para. 30);
• recommended that FAO support the development of reliable information systems to measure the availability and deterioration of natural resources (para. 31);
• called upon FAO to continue exploring mechanisms of payment for environmental services (para. 32).

Twenty-six Regional Conference for the Near East

15. For the attention of FAO, the Conference requested that it:

• continue assisting countries prepare for multilateral trade negotiations in agriculture, fisheries and forestry inter alia through studies, analysis and enhancing capacity in international trade and WTO requirements (Appendix E, para. 32);
• convene an Expert Consultation on the Long-Term and Sustainable Development of Mountain Regions (Appendix E, para. 36);
• support the Tehran Process through a Regional Technical Cooperation Project (TCP) to initiate national forest programmes (Appendix E, para. 52).

16. For the attention of member states, the Conference called upon them to:

• formulate and implement integrated strategies for mountain management with the support and collaboration of FAO, other international agencies such as UNEP, and the donor community (Appendix E, para. 35);
• endorse the Tehran Process and support its Secretariat by providing expertise and financial support, particularly with regard to formulating national forest programmes (Appendix E, para. 51).