Commonwealth Forestry News |
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No. 9 |
June 2000 |
ISSN 1463-3868 |
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Contents Commonwealth Day
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The international newsletter of the Commonwealth Forestry Association
"To promote the well-being of the world's forest and those who depend on them."
CFA. Administrative Office: Oxford Forestry Institute,
South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RB, UK. Telephone:[+44]01865 271037
Facsimile: [+44]01865 275074. E.mail:
cfa_oxford@hotmail.com
Editor CFNews:
Philip Wardle, 3 Charles Hill, Elstead, GU8
6LE,Surrey,U.K.
Telephone, Facsimile:-[+44]01252702204.
E-mail: 101656.1772@compuserve.com
A Message for Commonwealth Day 2000
From Her Majesty The Queen
Head
of the Commonwealth, Patron of CFA
It is highly appropriate that the theme of Commonwealth Day at the start of the new millennium should be The Communications Challenge. For much of the millennium just ended, the challenge was to relay information as speedily and accurately as possible. What once took weeks is now instantaneous. But the advance in technology brings a new challenge, of how to use rapid communication responsibly and for the common good. We have to strive to ensure that the advantages of modern communication systems are available to all, and are used to bring us closer together, not to create fresh divisions. And we need to remember that exciting though the new ways of communicating undoubtedly are, what matters most is what we say to each other.
The Commonwealth is an organisation so diverse and widespread that it has always depended on good communications which are helped, of course, by our having a common language. Recent advances in communication technology are particularly helpful in fostering the non-governmental networks which help to make the Commonwealth so unique. The exchange of information and sharing of experiences between representatives of civil society in the different countries form an important part of the Commonwealth's activities.
The challenge for the century just started will be to find ways to use faster communications to bring greater harmony and understanding both within each of our societies and between them, and thereby to strengthen the Commonwealth.
ELISABETH R. 13 March 2000
The Queen's Award for forestry 2000
Dr V.K. Bahuguna of India has been selected for the year 2000 award. Dr Bahuguna, 45, is Deputy Inspector General of Forests in the Ministry of Environment and Forests in New Delhi. He has held posts in forest administration, research, teaching and policy formulation and is currently especially active in the development of Joint Forest Management in India.
The award takes the form of a scroll signed by Her Majesty, and funds to support a travel fellowship. This enables the successful candidate to share knowledge and experience and to become involved in the development and improvement of forestry in the Commonwealth and to assist networking amongst developing countries. The award will be presented at the CFA satellite meeting at IUFRO in Malaysia on 11th August 2000.
URGENT Association Initiative!
16th Commonwealth Forestry Conference Fellowships
Limited funds are being made available to CFA by the UK Department for International Development and other sponsors to support attendance at next year's conference for participants from developing countries. The Commonwealth Forestry Association invites applications from Professional Foresters working in Government, Industry or with an NGO in a developing country, who would otherwise be unable to attend. Preference will be given to those in early to mid career (age 25 - 45 years).
Applications should be sent to Mrs Michelle Brooks, Secretary of the Commonwealth Forestry Association, c/o Oxford Forestry Institute, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RB, United Kingdom, fax : +44 (0) 1865 275074 or E mail: cfa_oxford@hotmail.com
Enclose a one-page CV (Biodata) and a one-page statement outlining why participation should be supported and the level of funding required. (Applications longer than two pages will be rejected.) Closing date: 31 July 2000. Successful applicants will be notified by 30 September 2000.
Association News
New CFA E mail Address: cfa_oxford@hotmail.com
AGM 2000
The joint meeting of the Governing Council and the 78th Annual General Meeting of the Commonwealth Forestry Association was held on Friday 19th May at the Oxford Forestry Institute, Oxford, UK. There were apologies for their absence from H E Mr J.E K. Aggrey-Orleans, President, Mr Jag Maini, Chairman and Mr Christopher Latham, Treasurer. In the absence of the President the chair was taken by Mr Bob Newman, Vice President.
The Chairman's report was read by Professor Julian Evans, Vice-chairman. The Association welcomed Mrs Michelle Brooks as Secretary. The accounts, presented by Ms Virginia Ross on behalf of the Treasurer, showed a small positive balance. The retirement of Mr Arnold Grayson from the Editorship of the International Forestry Review and the appointment of Mr Alan Pottinger as the new Editor was announced. The use of CFNews to promote knowledge of the activities of the CFA and to reach a wider public throughout the Commonwealth and beyond was supported. Progress with publication of World Forestry - Rio plus 8 in Malaysia and preparation of the 2001 edition of the CFA Handbook by Mr Peter Wood and Mrs Pratima Mitchell, was reported.
The winner of Queen's Award for Forestry 2000 was Dr V.K. Bahuguna of India. Regional Awards for Excellence have been made to , Dato' Dr B C Y (Freddy) Freezailah, Malaysia; Dr W.R.J. (Wink) Sutton, New Zealand; Dr Neville Dennison, South Africa; Dr D.N. Tiwari, India and Dr Patience Turyareeba, Uganda. His Grace the Duke of Buccleuch was made an Honorary Fellow of the Association in recognition of his contribution over 20 years as President. Mr Arnold Grayson was made an Honorary Fellow in acknowledgement of his contribution as Editor of the Commonwealth Forestry Review and in founding its successor, the International Forestry Review. The next Schlich Memorial Award will be made to Australia. It was agreed that the Tom Gill Medal would be awarded for distinction in contributing to Tropical Silviculture and Sustainable Forest Management. Contributions to a fund to allow the medal to be accompanied by a prize, were invited.
The revision of membership to introduce rates graded according to national economic circumstances and the introduction of a system of Affiliated Organisations and Affiliate membership for people within those organisations were supported, the details to be worked out by the Executive Committee. Standard Bye-laws for National Branches and Chapters within countries were agreed.
The next AGM will be held during the Commonwealth Forestry Conference, 18-25 April, Fremantle, Australia.
CFA at IUFRO
The CFA will hold a satellite meeting at the XXI IUFRO World Congress, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 11th August 2000. Details of time and place will be announced in the Final Congress Programme.
In Memoriam
We regret to announce the deaths of Donald Gordon Cumming* and J.J. MacGregor, UK and Abdallah Kaoneka, Tanzania. *(Obituary Notice in IFR 2/2)
Laurence Roche Memorial Fund
Mrs Felicity Roche has drawn our attention to a Memorial Fund in her late husband's name which has been recently established by her family and Larry Roche's many friends. The chosen object of the Fund is to help relieve poverty in rural Ethiopia through appropriate and sustainable methods of farming and through local training and education in such methods. The project is called AGROFOREP and is a UK Registered Charity, with Dr Bekele Gessesse as executive director. The project will be established in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia in the highland area. Money donated to the Fund will be spent entirely in Ethiopia under the Trustees' direction. The project will involve local people in tree planting for erosion control, pasture improvement, etc., and the training of farmers and government staff, and will engage graduates from the Forestry Faculty of the University of Alemaya at Wondogenet who will thus gain experience in rural development.
We are pleased to publicise this Fund, which will remain open unitl December 31, 2000. Donations may be sent to either Natwest Bank, 20 Amhurst Road, London E8 1QZ (A/c no. 61809373), or Ulster Bank plc, 95 O'Connell St., Limerick (a/c no. 71074047), or Mrs Felicity Roche, Madaboy, Murroe, Co. Limerick, Ireland.
CFA Initiatives
India's Forests beyond 2000
The first ever seminar under the auspices of the CFA's India branch was held in new Delhi from 19-21 April at the India Habitat Centre. The Co-ordinator was Dr V.K. Bahuguna, IFS, the Secretary of the CFA India branch and the seminar was jointly sponsored by the CFA and the India Council for Forest Research and Education (ICFRE). Financial support was generously provided by the Ford Foundation, DFID and the Ministry of Forests and Environment. Up to 140 participated from government forestry, NGOs and the private sector and representing most States of India.
The meeting was opened by a welcome address by Dr M.K. Sharma, Director General of ICFRE followed by the keynote address by, Mr C.P. Oberai, the Inspector General of Forests and Chairman of the CFA India Branch. Then followed statements by Dr D.N. Tiwari, member of the Planning Commission and Sri Babu Lal Marandi, Minister of State.
The inaugural address was given by the Minister for Environment and Forests, Thiru T.R. Baalu, who is also Patron of the India Branch. In his speech the Minister drew attention to the role that political, social and economic factors played in the formulation of past forest policies in 1894, 1952 and the most recent in 1988. The first of these policies subordinated forestry to agriculture and the production of food; in 1952 the need for forests to serve society was recognised but the policy failed because of increasing biotic pressures on forests and inadequate investment in the sector. The latest policy emphasises ecological balance, the involvement of civil society in forestry and sets targets for forest cover. This policy has had mixed results; on the one hand deforestation and forest degradation continued apace, demand for forest products was increasing yet simultaneously demands for maintaining the environment were also increasing. Clearly the time had come for harmon!isation of the interests of different land-using sectors. At the same time the highest priority was being given to joint forest management (350 million forest-dependent peoples were concerned) and the protection of India's unique biodiversity. He concluded by inviting the seminar to address the complexities of the new millennium, to seek forest policies that can be easily implemented and to consider strategies for mobilising human and material resources.
Peter Wood, Vice President of CFA, described briefly the mission of the association, its governance and objectives, and announced that the year 2000 winner of the CFA Queen's Award for Forestry was Dr Bahuguna. He also read a message from the CFA chairman, Dr Jag Maini,
Mr Mafa Chipeta, Deputy Director-General, CIFOR, as International Speaker opened the technical discussions with the keynote speech "Indian forestry on the international stage - India's quest for its own future". The meeting was then organised in plenary sessions where lead papers were presented followed by discussion in working groups. The outcome consisted of twelve recommendations to the Ministry of Environment and Forests aimed at clarifying forest policy and developing appropriate strategies for the next 20 years.
The workshop was closed with a short address by Mr T. Macan, Deputy High Commissioner for the UK in India, and was marked by the presentation of a CFA tie by Mr Peter Wood to Sri C.P. Oberai, Chairman of the India Branch of the CFA and Inspector General of Forests. Mrs Pratima Mitchell, of the CFA secretariat, assisted in the organisation of the meeting throughout.
The Proceedings will be published by CFA later this year
from PETER WOOD, Vice President
Photos:
1 Mr T. Baalu, Minister of the Environment, gives inaugural address
2 Mr C.P. Oberai, Inspector General of Forestry and Chairman of CFA
India Branch opens the seminar
3 Mr Mafa Chipeta, International
Speaker
Around The World
16th Commonwealth Forestry Conference
Dates: 18-25 April 2001.
Venue: Esplanade Hotel, Fremantle, Western Australia
Theme: Forests in a Changing Landscape
Each of the four sub-themes will have an invited chairperson and lead speaker, together with one invited speaker to present a lead discussion paper for each of the three topics. The programme will be fleshed out with selected voluntary papers relevant to the sub-themes and topics, and volunteers not making the final selection will be invited to prepare and present a poster.
1. Landscape Change: Managing Conflicting Land Pressure at Site and Community Level
Topics:
Production, protection and participation: achieving balance
Processes for resolving conflict: managing land use change
Converting forests to non-forest uses
2. The Policy Landscape: Political Will and the National Forest Estate
Topics:
National Forest Plans and Strategies: fundamental or academic fad?
Institutions for coping with change: can existing structures cope?
Forestry in the Public Interest: regulation and the market.
3. The Global Landscape: Frameworks for Co-operation
Topics:
A global governance framework: dream or possibility?
Emerging trends in global ecosystems: can forests really make a difference?
Forests and Trade in the new World Trading System.
4. Technology and the Forest Landscape: Rapid Changes and their Real Impacts
Topics:
Trends, opportunities and dangers;
People and the technology challenge;
Education and Training.
For more information, please contact the Conference Secretariat:
Promaco Conventions Pty Ltd
P O Box 890
Canning Bridge
Western Australia 6153
Tel: +61 8 9332 2900; Fax: +61 8 9332 2911
Email: promaco@promaco.com.au
Or:
Libby Jones, Secretary, Standing Committee on Commonwealth Forestry
Tel: +44 131 314 6137; Fax: + 44 131 334 0442
Email:
libby.jones@forestry.gov.uk
from LIBBY JONES, FC, UK
The Outcome of IFF
The fourth session of CSD's ad hoc open-ended Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (IFF) concluded on the morning of Saturday 12 February 2000 with a clean text without brackets (an agreed text), for presentation for adoption at the eighth session of the UN Committee on Sustainable Development.
This outcome marked the notable progress made in building consensus on forest policy. It was achieved through intensive deliberations and included consensus on some issues which remain controversial, complex and politically sensitive. However, all countries agreed that the main priority for the next few years is to implement the proposals for action adopted, over the period 1995-2000, by the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests (IPF) and its successor the IFF.
The main IFF recommendations were:
· to establish a new
intergovernmental body, which may be called the United Nations Forum on
Forests (UNFF).
· that
Executive Heads of relevant UN organizations, international and regional
organizations and instruments, be invited to form a "collaborative
partnership on forests" to support the work of the UNFF as well as
for policy implementation and effective co-ordination of activities.
This partnership mechanism could be built on an existing high-level,
informal group, such as the Inter-agency Task Force on Forests (ITFF).
· within five years, to
recommend the parameters for a mandate for developing a legal framework
on all types of forests.
·
to devise approaches, towards appropriate financial and
technology transfer to developing countries to enable the implementation
of sustainable forest management, as recommended under the IPF/IFF
process.
Summary of the outcome of CSD8 25 April - 5 May
The report of the IFF at its Fourth Session was presented by the co-chairs, Ambassador Bagher Asadi and Ambassador Ilkka Ristimäki for the High-Level Segment of the eight session of the Commission on Sustainable Development for its consideration. The participants of the High-Level Segment expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved by the IPF/IFF processes, and expressed their strong commitment to implement the IPF/IFF proposals for action. They called for an early establishment of the new international arrangement on forests, and for convening the first meeting of the UNFF in late 2000 or early 2001.
The Commission welcomed the report of the Fourth session of the IFF and endorsed its conclusions and proposals for action. The Commission invited the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the UN General Assembly, as appropriate, to take action on the proposed terms of reference for an international arrangement on forests, as recommended in the Annex of the IFF4 report. It also invited the president of the ECOSOC (Indonesia) to initiate, before the substantive session of the ECOSOC, informal consultations on options for placing the UNFF within the UN system intergovernmental machinery.
Next steps
ECOSOC, at its July 2000 session, will decide whether the UNFF would be established as part of its intergovernmental machinery or as a subsidiary to the General Assembly.
The official Report of the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests on its fourth session is available at:
http://www.un.org/documents/ecosoc/cn17/2000/ecn172000-14.htm
A summary of deliberations of IFF IV and the history of the IPF/IFF process is available at http://www.iisd.ca/linkages/forestry/iff4/index.html
from TAGE MICHAELSEN, IFF
Tehran Declaration
A government led initiative in support of the IFF
The International Meeting of Experts on Special Needs and Requirements of Developing Countries with Low Forest Cover and Unique Types of Forest was held in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, from 4 to 8 October 1999. The meeting was supported by the governments of Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany and Norway, and organized with the collaboration of the governments of Egypt and Sudan and with FAO, UNEP, UNDP and IFAD. It was the first meeting of its kind to address issues specifically concerning developing countries with low forest cover and their unique types of forest, and including consideration of the special needs and requirements of millions of people who live in and around them.
In this government led initiative in support of the programme of work of the International Forum on Forests (IFF), participants from 40 countries and 6 international and bilateral organizations addressed a wide range of issues. The experts noted that several hundred million people, in over 70 developing countries with low forest cover, live in and around forests and depend on them for their subsistence. The participants recognized that increased population pressure and widespread poverty are resulting in an alarming rate of deforestation and forest degradation. The consequent loss of productivity and biological diversity is affecting human well-being. The meeting underscored the urgent need to undertake corrective actions to reverse this negative trend.
The experts reviewed the existing literature and instruments, and relevant international and intergovernmental deliberations on forests, including the IPF/IFF process, in the context of meeting the special human needs and requirements of developing low forest cover countries. They adopted a report containing a number of short- and long-term concrete and practical recommendations, for presentation to the fourth session of the IFF. Their report is summarised below.
Within the overall framework of global collective endeavours for management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests, the participants emphasized that the long-term objective should include placing the issue of low forest cover countries on the political and policy agenda of international deliberations on forests and other development issues such as combatting desertification. Priority should be given to enhanced co-operation among low forest cover countries themselves, partnerships with multilateral organizations and instruments, as well as with the donor community.
Forthcoming meetings relevant to Intergovernmental dialogue on forests
10-11 May 2000, Brussels, Belgium. Pan-European Round Table Meeting organised by the Ministerial Conference on Protection of Forests in Europe - Liaison Unit Vienna.
15-19 May 2000, Noosaville, Queensland, Australia. Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission.
15-26 May 2000, Nairobi, Kenya. Fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
24-30 May 2000, Lima, Peru. 28th Session of the International Tropical Timber Council.
12-16 June 2000, St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada. North American Forest Commission.
1-4 July 2000, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. Near East Forestry Commission.
5 July -1 August, New York, USA. United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
4-8 September 2000, Bogota, Colombia. Latin American and Caribbean Forestry Commission.
9-13 October 2000, Rome, Italy. European Forestry Commission / ECE Timber Committee.
13-24 November 2000, the Hague, Netherlands. Sixth session of the Conference of the Parties of the Framework Convention on Climate Change.
from TIINA VAHANEN, IFF
Our Forests ... Our Future
The World Commission on Forests and Sustainable Development brought together a distinguished panel under the Chairmanship of Chief Ameka Anyaoku, Commonwealth Secretary General, at Marlborough House London on March 23rd. This was one of Chief Anyaoku's last engagements before his retirement. The panel included Ola Ullsten, Co-Chair of the Commission, and a former Prime Minister of Sweden; Camla Chowdhry, Chair of the Society of Wasteland Development, India; George Woodwell, President of Woods Hole Research Centre, USA; David Pearce, director of the Centre for Social and Economic Research on the Global Environment, UK; and Kilaparti Ramakrishna from India, Deputy director of Woods Hole Research Centre.
All were involved in the Commission and the development of the report "Our Forests...Our Future" Cambridge UP 1999. They eloquently presented the concern of that report, that the world's forests are being cut and burnt at such a rapid rate that we risk undermining their vital function in maintaining a habitable planet. The Commission prescribes decisive international leadership, governments that ensure public interest prevails, pricing that truly reflects the benefits provided by forests, meeting demand through plantations to protect remaining primary forests, and community involvement. Indeed most cogent is their concern for the information and involvement of civil society. The Commission is now working on mobilising a citizens' force for defence of the public interest in forest - FORESTRUST INTERNATIONAL and a FORESTRY SECURITY COUNCIL from fifteen of the most forested countries, by way of a civil challenge to the responsible national and! international governmental organisations to put them on their mettle to achieve sustainable development.
Brian Kerr of the Commonwealth Secretariat co-ordinated the meeting and as a member of CFA mustered a good attendance from the Association. (See also CFN3, 6 and 8 CFR77/4)
Can logging bans help conserve forests?
In many Asia-Pacific countries, forests are being destroyed at alarming and unacceptable rates. In response to the rapid decline of forest resources, and sometimes in reaction to natural calamities believed to be exacerbated by forest loss (e.g., floods in China; landslides in Thailand), several countries have imposed total or partial bans on logging. Several other countries have indicated their intentions to strengthen existing bans or to impose new bans or restrictions. Since one of the most visible (and often destructive) influences on forests is industrial logging, it seems logical to some that banning logging would be a significant step toward conserving forests.
But do logging bans really help conserve forests? Can deforestation be halted or reduced by restricting timber harvests, particularly in natural forests? What are the key elements for implementing such bans successfully? What has been the experience of Asia-Pacific countries in implementing logging bans? These are some of the questions being addressed by a major study being undertaken by the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission (APFC).
Six country case studies and a regional overview are being prepared as part of the study. National consultants have been contracted to prepare case studies for China, New Zealand, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. Other APFC members are providing voluntary contributions. FAO, USDA Forest Service, and DFID are providing core support for the study. The Weyerhaeuser Foundation is also a contributor to the overall study effort (including China).
A one-day policy seminar to discuss the findings of the study is being organized in conjunction with the eighteenth session of APFC in May 2000, in Noosaville, Australia. It is anticipated that the results of the study will be published in the second half of this year.
from PATRICK DURST, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Global Witness in Cambodia
Cambodia's forest sector is undergoing changes probably unprecedented in the world today. Between 1970 and the late 1990's Cambodia's forest cover declined from over 70% to around 30% of land area. Like many post-conflict and vulnerable countries Cambodia was targeted by foreign timber companies, with the result that, in 1995 and 1996, virtually all of its remaining forest lands were allocated in concessions. The poor security situation, including the civil war between the Khmer Rouge and the Royal Government of Cambodia, rampant corruption, illegal logging by the companies themselves and low technical skills of monitoring agencies all conspired to create a logging free-for-all.
Following the 1993 elections the coalition government, led by two prime ministers, began to break up, with both sides signing timber deals to fund their political and military machines. The bloody coup d' etat in July 1997, in turn, led to even greater logging as the victor, Hun Sen, paid off his military supporters and geared up for the next election.
Throughout this period the British environmental and human rights group Global Witness monitored the logging, and provided hard evidence of its implications to the international donor community, calling for conditionality on aid. At the annual Consultative Group meetings in 1996 and 1997, donor pressure resulted in government commitment to forestry reforms, but failure to honour these commitments resulted in the IMF withdrawing support.
The formation of a new government in December 1998 allowed the international community to resume financial aid. Global Witness' lobbying ensured that forestry was one of four key areas of concern at the 1999 Consultative Group meeting. In response to this concern Hun Sen announced a logging crackdown, which has seen dramatic declines in illegal logging. A Forest Policy Reform Project and a review of timber concessions, funded by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, are the foundations of reform. These reforms are backed by a ground breaking initiative - the establishment of the Forest Crimes Monitoring Unit. This unit, comprising the Department of Forestry and Wildlife and the Ministry of Environment, will monitor and prevent forest crimes. To ensure its efficacy Global Witness has been appointed to monitor the monitors, reporting both to the Prime Minister and the international donors.
Thus, in a space of five years Cambodia's forest sector is moving from fatally destructive illegal logging to potentially being a model for forestry reform elsewhere. There is no place for complacency: conservation of Cambodia's forests remains on a knife edge, but there are now some real causes for optimism.
from PATRICK ALLEY, Global Witness
Public Participation in Forest Management in Russia
The countries of the former Soviet Union are currently struggling with a transition moving away from top-down, technocratic management style to a more pluralistic model of policy development. The difficulties are particularly acute in Russia where there is little tradition of involving the population in the decision-making process on natural resources management and conservation. Although public relations departments have been set up in some of the Russian agencies dealing with nature conservation and management, the expertise in multi-stakeholder consultation is often lacking. This gap often creates difficulties in communication, resulting in weak or ineffective forest management, use and conservation.
For years, little was known about the pressures we put on the forest environment, as it was something to be used and the damaging consequences were ignored in the face of political and economic considerations. Gradually, as the effects became apparent and were brought to the attention of the public, it became apparent that environmental information and decision-making were far from being open and transparent. The IUCN office for countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) took an initiative to remedy this and to ensure that individuals and organisations are informed and have access to decision-making procedures. The project titled "Creating a Framework for Public Involvement in Russian Forest Management" was launched in 1999 aiming to provide a framework, clearly identifying steps needed in a consultation and decision-making process.
The need for partnerships between state agencies and public organisations and the need to find a better balance of ecological, social and economic aspects of nature conservation and sustainable forest management were identified as key priorities of the Forest Conservation Programme of IUCN-CIS.
from ELENA KOPYLOVA, IUCN-CIS.
Research
Rattan Workshop
The workshop, held at the Limbe Botanic Garden, Cameroon; from the 1st-3rd February 2000, brought together 29 participants from forest regions of Africa, including representatives from Cameroon, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon and Zambia. Dr. Nouhou Ndam, the conservator of the Limbe Botanic Garden, welcomed all participants and briefly presented the history of the Garden and its role in the conservation of the biodiversity of Mount Cameroon and Central and West Africa. Mr. Brendan Jaff, the facilitator of the workshop, presented workshop objectives.
Rattans are climbing palms found in the lowland tropical forests of the Old World. The flexible stems are used for the manufacture of baskets, furniture, and other woven products. The international rattan trade is currently worth some US$6.5 million per annum. Although the majority of this trade is concentrated in SE Asia, the rattans of Africa are also an important forest resource and play a role in indigenous subsistence strategies, with the potential to contribute to the conservation of forests.
Primary objectives of the seminar were to bring together the experts concerned with rattan research and development in Africa; present and disseminate the current state of knowledge and draw up an appropriate strategy by which rattans can contribute to the sustainable development of the forests of West and Central Africa.
A series of papers were presented. On taxonomy, Terry Sunderland showed how, through the application of a broad morphological species concept (i.e. where discontinuities in variation provide the means to separate species), four genera represented by twenty species, including two new species, are described and illustrated. A.A. Oteng-Amoako and Emmanuel Ebanyenle, Forestry Research Institute, Ghana described the investigation of the internal structure of commercially authenticated rattan species with the objective of determining diagnostic features for identification of rattan stems. Z. L. Nzooh Dongmo, B.A. Nkongmeneck1, and R.C. Fotso of Université de Yaoundé, ECOFAC and W.C.S Cameroon, looked at regeneration, increment and stem development in the silviculture of rattan. Nkefor Joseph Poteh, Limbe Botanic Garden, described plans to develop bulk, low cost propagation of Laccosperma opacum for use of rattans in rehabilitating local shi!fting cultivation agriculture. A.A. Oteng-Amoako and A. Obiri-Darko, Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, described the process of collection, trading and processing manually into furniture, baskets, serving trays, baby-cots and other products at urban centres by small-scale family-based entrepreneurs. The industry is being seriously threatened by unavailability of raw rattan, especially Eremospatha which is fast depleting. Minga Minga, Université de Kinshasa, saw rattan as an ecologically sound crop that could be grown under shade of tropical forest and would substitute for timber as a raw material for furniture and thereby contribute to conservation of the environment. George Tenati, Zambia Council for the Handicapped, described vocational rehabilitation run by the Agency at the Kangonga Production Centre in Ndola, where rattan products predominate and employ 50% of a total labour force of 220 disabled persons. Additionally a good number !of disabled persons are employed indirectly by buying rattan products from the factory for resale to the general public.
The workshop concluded with recommendations on research collaboration, networking and dissemination and application of results.
from BRENDAN JAFF Cameroon and TERRY SUNDERLAND, Kew, UK.
Correspondence
Forestry in South African National Water Act
From Mikael Grut, UK
The water law described in "Water pricing in South Africa" (CFN2, Sept. 98) has now been approved by Parliament. Its idea to charge a fee for the precipitation on a piece of land, less the runoff from that land, could have brought about better use of the water, but in my opinion the new law has the following flaws:
1. Forestry is still the only specified "Streamflow Reduction Activity (SFRA)" and thus the only land use for which the water charge is to be paid. This means that the playing field is not level, and that land use decisions in South Africa are now being skewed.
2. The new water law may encourage poor soil and water conservation, because by maximising water runoff (to minimise the water charge), one generally also maximises soil erosion.
3. The water runoff from irrigated areas is full of salts, fertilisers and insecticides, and yet there is no streamflow reduction charge for such land use, whereas the clean and green rainfed forestry plantations do incur such a charge. An activity that diminishes someone else's ability to use the water, e.g. by polluting it, can be declared an SFRA, but it remains to be seen if that provision will be used, considering that the farm lobby is infinitely stronger than the forestry lobby.
4. Are the 12,000 small farmers in South Africa who have planted trees, often as outgrowers for the pulp and paper industries, also going to pay the water charge?
Let us hope that some of the above points will be dealt with in the regulations still to be issued under the Act.
From Mr Mike Muller, Director General, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, South Africa
In reply to the letter from Mikael Grut, I would like to make the following comments:
Forestry has been controlled for water management purposes since 1972 because of its well documented and significant impacts on our limited water resources. The stream flow reduction impacts of other dryland agricultural activities are currently being investigated by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry and, where the impact is significant, new activities will be added to the SFRA list.
The National Water Act is clearly aimed at the protection of South Africa's water resources and encourages both soil and water conservation and the minimisation of any negative impacts on aquatic ecosystems. The Act also operates in tandem with a suite of other legislation, including the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (which regulates soil protection) and the National Environmental Management Act (which requires environmental impact assessments and the minimisation of negative environmental impacts arising from development).
Return flow from irrigated areas is classified as a water use for which a waste disposal charge can be levied. A waste discharge pricing strategy is currently under development and will deal with the issue raised by Mr Grut.
Finally the Department has a policy of providing support to emerging farmers under which subsidies for infrastructure development can be provided and elements of the pricing strategy can be waived for a set period of time, in order to enable them to get a foothold in a competitive market. The National Water Act also has a redistributive function and enables the Department to ensure that the allocation of water (where available) is guided by the principle of equity and the need to redress the wrongs of the past.
Wood Production and Trade
From K.D. Marten, Hamilton , New Zealand
Once again I have read an article dealing with wood bought and sold (CFN 8 March 2000); that omits all consideration of wood 'obtained' free of charge. An estimated 4 billion people, out of over 6 billion in the world, obtain and use fuelwood with which to cook their food. Naturally if they have the choice such people will obtain their fuelwood free of charge from the forest. They will consider the forest will always be a source of supply. But I have read of cities without a stick of firewood growing within a radius of 50 kilometres.
It is extremely difficult to cook a kilogram of food properly without using a kilogram of green fuelwood (not dry fuelwood). Thus you should add at least 1,500 million cu.m., probably nearer 2 500 M.cu. m., of fuelwood, to the production figure. Consideration of the likely use of fuelwood could be interpreted logically to explain apparent 'anomalies' in the figures. The figures show that fuelwood use now outweighs all other uses of wood added together.
From the Editor, CFNews
I have to apologise for omitting the credits to THE GUARDIAN and THE ECONOMIST at the end of "WTO and Forest Loss" as the source of the material in that article in CFN 8.
News of members and friends
Peter Gondo leaves Zimbabwe Forestry Commission
Peter's new assignment is with the Southern Alliance for Indigenous
Resources,
P.O.Box BE 398, Belvedere, Harare, Zimbabwe
Fax:
263-4-490470 Tel: 263-4-795461or 794333
E-mail: peter@safire.co.zw
Tage Michaelsen finishes with IFF
Tage has been our fount of information about the work of the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests over the past 2 years. He is now moving back to FAO in Rome as Chief of the Forest Conservation, Research and Education Service (FORC), and will be dealing, among other things, with the upcoming International Year of the Mountain in 2002.
International Forestry Review
2/2 June 2000
CONTENTS
M. RUIZ PEREZ, O. NDOYE, A. EYEBE and
A. PUNTODEWO
Spatial characterisation of non-timber forest products
markets in the humid forest zone of Cameroon
R.C. WOOLLONS
Comparison of growth of Pinus radiata over two
rotations in the central North Island of New Zealand
P.R.GILLAH, M.A. IRLE and K. MAHER
Properties of a novel
three-layer MDF panel made with wood and sisal nonwoven mattresses
A. KUMAR, L. BREN and I. FERGUSON
The use and management of the
common lands of the Aravalli, India
C.E. OWUBAH , N.T. DONKOR and R.D. NSENKYIRE
Forest reserve
encroachment : a case study of the Tano-Ehuru forest reserve in Ghana
SEN WANG, RUI ZHENG and YOULIN
YANG
Combatting desertification: the Asian experience
E.M. SHUMBA and D. MARONGWE
The Convention on Biological Diversity: an overview and lessons learnt
from the Zimbabwean experience
COMMENT
R. KEOGH
Teak: 3 sets of articles from Bois et Forets des
Tropiques
A..G. D. WHYTE
Forestry in New Zealand undermined
C.J.K. PERLEY
Does Timberlands represent a positive vision?
REVIEWS/NOTICES
New Editor
Arnold Grayson has edited the Review for the past six years but wishes to retire following the publication of the September issue. In his time as editor, Arnold has consolidated the Review as a journal of international standing and further enhanced the reputation and role of the Association with his editing of the booklets on The World's Forests International Initiatives since Rio and Rio+5: International Initiatives. All will wish to thank him for his endeavours on behalf of the CFA and wish him well for the future.
A new editor, Alan Pottinger, has been appointed to succeed Arnold Grayson. Alan is a forestry graduate from the University of Wales, Bangor, and obtained a Master of Forestry in tree breeding from the University of New Brunswick, Canada. He has spent the last 15 years working as a researcher in tropical forestry at the University of Oxford, initially at the Oxford Forestry Institute and more recently at the Centre for Natural Resources and Development, where he has co-ordinated international evaluation networks for plantation and agroforestry tree species and spent several years managing seed distribution activities on behalf of the OFI. His main research interests lie in investigating the relationship between scientists and users of forestry results, particularly in the field of agroforestry.
from JOHN BRAZIER, Vice President, Chairman of the Publications Committee
CFA Membership
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