Dr. J. V. Sharma

International Arrangement on Forests (IAF)

Why International Cooperation on Environmental Issues ?

Deterioration of Earth’s Environment

increasingly threatens the natural resource base.

Environmental Challenge, Problems and solutions

are transboundary, regional or global in scope

Need for Global Action for protection of Natural

Environment

Environmental Law is a tool for catalyzing

national and international action for protection

of environment

ELEMENTS OF INTERNATIONAL ARRANGEMENT ON FORESTS

• GLOBAL FOREST POLICY

• FOREST RELATED INTERNATIONAL

INSTRUMENTS AND PROCESSES

(INSTITUTION)

• GLOBAL REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

• MONITORING AND REPORTING

GLOBAL FOREST POLICY

Global forest policy has been developed in a variety of international

fora through the deliberations on forests and outcomes from

discussions at the United Nations Conference on Environment and

Development (UNCED), the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests

(IPF), the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests(IFF), the United

Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF), the Committee on Forestry

(COFO) of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the

International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) .

EARTH SUMMIT

In 1992, more than 100 heads of state met in Rio de

Janeiro, Brazil for the first international Earth Summit

convened to address urgent problems of environmental

protection and socio-economic development. The

assembled leaders signed the Convention on Climate

Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity

endorsed the Rio declaration and the Forest Principles,

and adopted Agenda 21, a 300 page plan for achieving

sustainable development in the 21st century.

RIO DECLARATION ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT

Reaffirming the Declaration of the United Nations

Conference on the Human Environment, adopted at

Stockholm on 16 June 1972, a/ and seeking to build

upon it, With the goal of establishing a new and

equitable global partnership through the creation of new

levels of cooperation among States, key sectors of

societies and people, Working towards international

agreements which respect the interests of all and

protect the integrity of the global environmental and

developmental system,

FOREST PRINCIPLESNON-LEGALLY BINDING AUTHORITATIVE STATEMENT

OF PRINCIPLES FOR A GLOBAL CONSENSUS ON THE MANAGEMENT, CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF ALL TYPES OF FORESTS

States have, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law, the sovereign right to exploit their own resources pursuant to their own environmental policies and have the responsibility to ensure that activities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to the environment of other States or of areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction.

FOREST PRINCIPLES• States have the sovereign and inalienable right to

utilize, manage and develop their forests in

accordance with their development needs and level

of socio-economic development and on the basis of

national policies consistent with sustainable

development and legislation, including the

conversion of such areas for other uses within the

overall socio-economic development plan and based

on rational land-use policies.

FOREST PRINCIPLES

Sustainable forest Management, as a

dynamic process and evolving concept,

aims to maintain and enhance the

economic ,social and environmental

values of all types of forests , for the

benefit of present and future generation.

Agenda 21Agenda 21 is a comprehensive plan of action to be taken

globally, nationally and locally by organizations of the

United Nations System, Governments, and Major Groups in

every area in which human impacts on the environment.

Agenda 21, the Rio Declaration on Environment and

Development, and the Statement of principles for the

Sustainable Management of Forests were adopted by more

than 178 Governments at the United Nations Conference

on Environment and Development (UNCED) held in Rio de

Janerio, Brazil, 3 to 14 June 1992.

Chapter 11 of Agenda 21Combating desertification

(b) To strengthen and improve human,

technical and professional skills, as well as

expertise and capabilities to effectively

formulate and implement policies, plans,

programmes, research and projects on

management, conservation and sustainable

development of all types of forests .

Commission on Sustainable development (CSD)

The CSD was created in December 1992 to

ensure effective follow-up of UNCED, to

monitor and report on implementation of the

agreements at the local, national, regional

and international levels. It was agreed that a

five year review of Earth Summit progress

would be made in 1997 by the United Nations

General Assembly meeting in special session.

World Summit on Sustainable Development(WSSD)

The full implementation of Agenda 21, the

Programme for Further Implementation of

Agenda 21 and the Commitments to the Rio

principles, were strongly reaffirmed at the

World Summit on Sustainable Development

(WSSD) held in Johannesburg, South Africa

from 26 August to 4 September 2002.

DEVELOPMENT OF GLOBAL FOREST POLICY

United Nations Commission on SustainableDevelopment :

• The Intergovernmental Panel on Forests (IPF),

established by the Commission on Sustainable

Development (CSD) for two years (1995-97) to

provide a forum for forest policy deliberations.

• Subsequently, in 1997, ECOSOC established the

Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (IFF), for

three years (1997-2000).

Intergovernmental Panel on Forests (IPF), Deliberations by the IPF were on the following issues: •Implementing the forest-related decisions of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) at the national and international levels •International cooperation in financial assistance and technology transfer; •Scientific research, forest assessment and the development of criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management; •Trade and environment in relation to forest products and services; •International organizations and multilateral institutions and instruments, including appropriate legal mechanisms.

Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (IFF)

The IFF’s deliberations were aimed at

resolving several issues on which IPF had not

reached consensus, such as financial

resources, transfer of environmental sound

technologies, and other issues left pending,

including deliberations on international

arrangements and mechanisms on forests.

Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (IFF),

IFF's programme included the following:•facilitating the implementation of the proposals for action of the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests and reviewing, monitoring and reporting on progress in the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forest;•Considering matters left pending and other issues arising from the programme elements of the IPF process;•International arrangements and mechanisms to promote the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests.•In 1995, to support the IPF/IFF and to assist governments implement the proposals for action, an informal, high-level Interagency Task Force on Forests (ITFF) was created, made up of eight international organizations.

DEVELOPMENT OF GLOBAL FOREST POLICY

Outcomes of the IPF/IFF Processes:

approximately 270 proposals for action, known

collectively as the IPF/IFF Proposals for

Action. These proposals provide governments,

international organizations, private sector

entities and all other major groups guidance on

how to further develop, implement and

coordinate national and international policies on

sustainable forest management.

DEVELOPMENT OF GLOBAL FOREST POLICY

These proposals were non –legally

binding.

UNFF a new International

Arrangement on Forests (IAF) was

established in 2000 by ECOSOC to

carry on work building on IPF/IFF

Processes

United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF)

• In October 2000, ECOSOC established the United

Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF), a subsidiary body

with the main objective to promote the management,

conservation and sustainable development of all types

of forests and to strengthen long-term political

commitment to this end…”based on the Rio

Declaration, the Forest Principles, Chapter 11 of

Agenda 21 and the outcome of the IPF/IFF Processes

and other key milestones of IFP

• The Forum has universal membership, and is composed

of all Member countries and specialized agencies

PRINCIPAL FUNCTION

• To enhance cooperation as well as policy and

programme coordination on forest-related issues .

• To strengthen political commitment to the

management , conservation and sustainable

development of all types of forests.

• To facilitate implementation of forest-related

agreements and foster a common understanding

on sustainable forest management;

PRINCIPAL FUNCTION To provide for continued policy

development and dialogue among

Governments, international

organizations, including major

groups, as identified in Agenda 21 as

well as to address forest issues and

emerging areas of concern in a holistic,

comprehensive and integrated manner,

PRINCIPAL FUNCTION• Enhance the contribution of forests to the

achievement of the internationally agreed

development goals, including the MDGs, and to

the implementation of the Johannesburg

Declaration on Sustainable Development and

the Plan of Implementation of the World

Summit on Sustainable Development, bearing

in mind the Monterrey Consensus of the

International Conference on Financing for

Development;

PRINCIPAL FUNCTION Encourage and assist countries, including

those with low forest cover, to develop and implement forest conservation and rehabilitation strategies, increase the area of forests under sustainable management and reduce forest degradation and the loss of forest cover in order to maintain and improve their forest resources with a view to enhancing the benefits of forests to meet present and future needs, in particular the needs of indigenous peoples and local communities whose livelihoods depend on forests;

Global Objectives on ForestsIn 2006, at its sixth session, the Forum agreed on four shared Global Objectives on Forests, providing clear guidance on the future work of the international arrangement on forests. The four Global Objectives seek to:

•Reverse the loss of forest cover worldwide through

sustainable forest management (SFM), including

protection, restoration, afforestation and reforestation,

and increase efforts to prevent forest degradation;

•Enhance forest-based economic, social and

environmental benefits, including by improving the

livelihoods of forest-dependent people;

Global Objectives on Forests• Increase significantly the area of sustainably

managed forests, including protected forests, and

increase the proportion of forest products derived

from sustainably managed forests; and

• Reverse the decline in official development

assistance for sustainable forest management and

mobilize significantly-increased new and additional

financial resources from all sources for the

implementation of SFM.

Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF)

The Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) is a voluntary arrangement among 14 international organizations and secretariats with substantial programmes on forests.  The CPF has two main objectives:

• to support the work of the UNFF and its member countries and

• to foster increased cooperation and coordination on forests

The Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF)

The CPF is comprised of 14 international organizations:1.Center for International Forestry and Research (CIFOR)2.Food and agriculture Organization of United3.International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO)4.International Union of forest Research Organizations(IUFRO)5.Secretariat of the convention of Biological Diversity6.Secretariat of Global Environment Facility7.Secretariat of United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification8.UNFF secretariat9.Secretariat of UNFCCC10.UNDP11.UNEO12.World agroforestry center13.The world Bank14.IUCN

MISSION

The CPF's mission is to promote the

management, conservation and

sustainable development of all types

of forest and strenghten long term

political commitment to this end.

NLBI on Sustainable Development of All Types of Forests (a) To strengthen political commitment

and action at all levels to implement effectively sustainable management of all types of forests and to achieve the shared global objectives on forests;

(b) To enhance the contribution of forests to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, in particular with respect to poverty eradication and environmental sustainability;

Purpose of NLBI

(a) To strengthen political commitment and

action at all levels to implement effectively sustainable

management of all types of forests and to achieve the

shared global objectives on forests;

(b) To enhance the contribution of forests to the

achievement of the internationally agreed development

goals, including the Millennium Development

Goals, in particular with respect to poverty eradication

and environmental sustainability;

(c) To provide a framework for national action and

international cooperation;

Role of UNFF as IAF

The Forum :reviews the progress of implementation of

NLBIAssess the contribution towards achievement

of global objectives and MDGsProvides Policy guidance to CPFInternational Year of Forests-2011Hold session in 2009,2011,2013 and 2015

MYPOW (2007-15)• 8th Session 2009- Forest in Changing

Environment and Means of Implementation for SFM

• 9th session 2011: Forest for people and Livelihood for Poverty Eradication

• 10th Session 2013: Forest and economic Development

• 11th session 2015: Forests: Challenges and Way forward for IAF

Role of UNFF as IAFUNFF will address the implementation of NLBI

within context of MYPOW (2009-15).FORUM will focus on the progress towards:1. Achievement of FSM 2. Achievement of global

objective 3. Implementation of NLBI 4.implementation of PFA for SFM 5.implementation of previous resolution

Theme of the Sessions: 8th session- Forest in changing Environment and Means of Implementation. 9th Session: Forests for people and livelihood for poverty eradication. 10th session: Forests and economic Development .11th Session: Progress, challenges and way forwards for IAF

Role of UNFF as IAFAt each session ,the Forum will have main task a

discussion on achievement of global objectives and implementation of NLBI

At each session, cross cutting issues means of implementation and forest law enforcement will be addressed/

Forum will provide interaction with CPF and Major group in each session.

Forum will encourage country led initiatives in between the sessions on topics covered under MYPOW.

During the period between sessions , the forum will have consultation with : member countries, forest related regional, sub-regional bodies ,mechanism and processes ,CPF, CLI and AHEG meetings.

Committee on Forests(COFO)

• FAOs statutory body which includes RFCs, Advisory

Committee on paper and wood products, International

Poplar Commission, Committee on Mediterranean

Forestry Questions and panel of experts on forest

genetic resource

• Biennial sessions at ROME

• Bring together head of the forestry service and senior

government officials to identify emerging policy and

technical issues and advise FAO for appropriate action

Major groupThe United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF), according to the resolution E/2000/35 that

established it, is open to all States and operates in a transparent and participatory manner. The

participation of a wide range of forest-related stakeholders is considered a key component of

sustainable management of forests. Thus, the Forum welcomes the participation of the nine

major groups as identified in Chapter 23 of Agenda 21, including:

•Women

•Children and Youth

•Indigenous People

•Non-governmental Organizations

•Local Authorities

•Workers and Trade Unions

•Business and Industry

•Scientific and Technological Communities

•Farmers and Small Forest Landowners

Thanks for attention