4.   A BRIEF CONSPECTUS AND HISTORY OF THE ASSOCIATION

Immediately after the First World War there was a surge of interest in forestry, particularly in Britain which at that time did not have a national forest service. The British Forestry Commission was established in 1919 with Roy Robinson as Director.  He saw not only the great importance of forestry to the United Kingdom where large quantities of timber had to be imported, but also that an examination of forestry problems in the then British Empire was urgently necessary.  He was instrumental in calling together the first Empire Forestry Conference, which met in London in July 1920, at which ten colonial territories as well as the Dominions were represented.  One of the many important resolutions adopted was that a Society or Association should be set up with Empire-wide forestry interests.  CE Lane Poole of Australia was a leading advocate and with the support of others, he proposed that a British Empire Forestry Society should be formed.

The Conference accepted this proposal and an interim Committee was set up to work out details.  This Committee under the Chairmanship of Lord Courthope (later a Chairman of the Association) acted with remarkable speed and the proposed Society (called the Empire Forestry Association) was constituted under Royal Charter on 1st November 1921.  It was launched with impressive patronage and ceremony at an inaugural meeting on 16 November in the Guildhall by invitation of the Lord Mayor of London.  His Majesty, King George V graciously agreed to be the Association's Patron, a patronage still continued in the person of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.  HRH the Prince of Wales accepted the Presidency and presided at the inaugural meeting.

The original objects of the Association as laid down in the first charter were:

·        To foster public interest in forestry.

·        To form a centre for and provide means of communication between all engaged in forestry.

·        To collect and circulate information relating to forestry and the commercial utilisation of forest products.

·        To secure general recognition of the dependence of timber supply on forest management.

In 1962, when the Empire Forestry Association changed its name to the Commonwealth Forestry Association by a Supplemental Royal Charter, these original objects were re-worded and the following addition made:

·        To secure general recognition of the beneficial influence of trees and forests in relation to climate, the conservation of land and water resources and to the conservation of wildlife.

This last objective, conservation of the environment, was an early recognition of the importance of the environment and the role of forestry in its conservation and it became the theme of the Tenth Commonwealth Forestry Conference  in 1974  In 1962 not only were the objects of the Association reviewed but also a much lengthier statement of proposed activities in furtherance of the expressed aims was outlined as follows:

·        To exchange views and to support and cooperate with institutions and associations and to record and make known the result of the neglect of Forestry generally throughout the Commonwealth.

·        To study existing laws, rules and regulations appertaining to forestry throughout the Commonwealth, and as occasion arises, to confer with the constituted authorities regarding their operation.

·        To originate and sustain, by all legitimate and constitutional means, organised action in support of representation which it may be deemed necessary to make in pursuit of the general objects of the Association.

·        To prepare, produce, publish and circulate books, pamphlets, treatises, essays and newspaper articles and periodicals, to hold meetings and to delivery lectures of addresses in all parts of the British Commonwealth calculated to forward the attainment of the objects of the Association.

·        To provide prizes or rewards for the composing and writing of books, pamphlets, treatises, newspaper articles or lectures designed or calculated to forward the attainment of the objects of the Association.

·        To promote research whether by the operation of demonstration forests or otherwise and to establish scholarships in such a manner as shall be designed or calculated to forward the attainment of the objects of the Association.

Though hardly new, these activities were intended to make clear how the Association meant to proceed.  There were generous benefactors such as the Rhodes Trust, the Forestry Commission, certain leading timber firms and more recently the British Timber Trade Federation, the Commonwealth Foundation and the Canadian Forest Service. All of these have helped and we are most grateful to them. More ambitious schemes such as that proposed in 1949 by Sir Roy Robinson to obtain substantial endowments from one or more of the big trusts - he had a figure of £100,000 in view - were  unsuccessful.  In 1950 an Endowment Fund with a less ambitious target of £25,000 was started within the Association. Although further generous donations and bequests followed this target could not be reached.   Unfortunately the income from the Endowment Fund has, of necessity, been regularly used in the routine running of the Association and not for any of the special purposes for which it was set up. Since the late 1980s increasing financial support has been generously provided  by the Commonwealth Foundation

In 1981 it had become clear that the objects were out of date and in fact unrealisable.  They were therefore revised to meet the changed circumstances which were affecting forestry in the world then as today.  The amended Charter and Bye-Laws are set out in this Edition of the Handbook.

NATIONAL BRANCHES OF THE CFA OUTSIDE BRITAIN

Membership of the Association has fluctuated over the years for many reasons, a most important one of which has been the decline of the exchange rate of national currencies of Commonwealth countries against the British pound, as gradually they left the "sterling area". For many years, from their inception in 1928, national secretaries had been appointed, but through the initiatives of Mr RL Newman of Australia, chairman of the Association from 1989 to 1994 and Mr Peter Wood, chairman from 1994 to 1998, great efforts were made to establish national branches in Commonwealth countries. To date there are, or have been, branches in the following countries and institutions:

Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, (Congo Democratic Republic), FAO, Ghana, India, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Mozambique, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

It is not an overstatement to say that ensuring the existence of active, viable, effective and enthusiastic branches in Commonwealth countries is the principal challenge to the Association in the new millennium.

THE ASSOCIATION'S REGULAR PUBLICATIONS

The CFA's publications report on current research activities, up-to-date developments and news, and international initiatives and have a world-wide readership. The two main publications of the Association are the International Forestry Review (IFR) and Commonwealth Forestry News.  The IFR (formerly the Commonwealth Forestry Review, which itself was formerly named the Empire Forestry Review) is a major international journal in the field of forestry research, management and conservation which is received in XXXX countries. The name change since the last edition of this Handbook reflects the recognition of the increasingly international nature of the issues covered in the journal.  It is produced quarterly and includes scientific papers, book reviews, obituaries of major figures in the field of international forestry, and a ‘Comment’ section that provides a forum for debate.  Special Issues of the IFR are produced roughly once each year to highlight current views on a specific topic (for example donor support to forestry).  Each year the IFR typically publishes about 30 papers received from authors from XXXX countries.  Through the IFR the Association provides an important source of current awareness together with archival information and forthcoming on-line access will further serve to improve communication between foresters throughout the world. 

By 1998 it had become increasingly clear that there was a need for an additional publication to supplement the Review. It was intended not only to be circulated to the Association's membership but also to reach a wider audience in a direct and less formal way than the Review and so the "Commonwealth Forestry News" was born  A particularly important objective was to seek the active participation of members in all parts of the Commonwealth and beyond and in particular to provide an international platform for reports from the Association's national branches.  The editorial policy of the newsletter is thus:

·        to inform members and a wider audience of matters of current forestry concern in the Commonwealth and internationally, stimulating debate and interaction;

·        to publicise the Association's activity in the Commonwealth and beyond and to encourage wider membership and

·        to provide a forum for exchange of information about the activities of members and branches of the CFA around the world.

In addition to members, CFNews is distributed to Forestry Departments, Forest Research Institutes, Forestry Schools and to Commonwealth High Commissions and Embassies.

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

This is now the twelfth edition of the Commonwealth Forestry Handbook, the core of which is still the Association's membership. Past stand-alone productions published centrally include the key publications "The World's Forests: International Initiatives since Rio" (1995) and "The World's forests: Rio + 5" (1997) and further back "British Commonwealth Forest Terminology Part 1 - Silviculture, Protection, Mensuration and Management (1953)" and "British Commonwealth Forest Terminology Part II - Forest Products Research, Extraction, Utilisation and Trade (1957)".

The Association's national branches have also published Proceedings of meetings held, for example the forthcoming Record of the Seminar on

“India’s Forests beyond 2000”, held in Delhi from 19 - 21 April 2000 by CFA, India.

COMMONWEALTH FORESTRY CONFERENCES

At the first Empire Forestry Conference in 1920 the Association was set up.    At the second Conference in Canada in 1923, the Standing committee on Empire (now Commonwealth) Forestry was set up.  The Commonwealth Forestry Association has been represented on this Committee since its inception and has played a supportive role to all conferences since.  On every occasion a special meeting of the Association has been arranged during the Conference.  These special meetings have enabled overseas members to express their views and have also served as useful recruiting platforms.

As well as participating in the conferences the Association has reported on them in the Review.

The Commonwealth Forestry Conferences are held approximately every four years, and past locations were: 

The earlier conferences were lengthy (often as much as six weeks long in the days of sea travel) and spent much time on discussing country progress and technical developments.  Since 1968 there has been more focus on specific topical themes in addition to the country reports, and the dates, locations and subjects of the conferences since then are as follows:

1968      India (New Delhi)

Theme: "Changing Objectives of Forest Management"

1974      United Kingdom

Theme:  "The Forest and Global Environment"

1980   Trinidad and Tobago

Theme: "Forestry’s Contribution to Social and Economic Development"

1985   Canada (Victoria)

Theme: "Investment in Forestry - The Needs and Opportunities"

1989   New Zealand (Rotorua)

Theme: " Forestry - A Multiple-Use Enterprise"

1993   Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)

Theme: " People, the Environment and Forestry - Conflict or Harmony?"

1997   Zimbabwe (Victoria Falls)

Theme: "Forestry in a Changing Political Environment: Challenges for   the 21^st Century

2001 Australia (Fremantle)

Theme: "Forests in a Changing Landscape

It is interesting to look back over these subjects of concern, reflecting as they do the shifting priorities that have faced professional foresters over the post-war period - the environment, economics, political commitment, sustainable multiple-use management, the people ("stakeholders"), investment, landscape…plus ca change. 

AWARDS, MEDALS AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

THE SCHLICH MEMORIAL AWARDS

The oldest of the Commonwealth Forestry Awards are the Schlich Memorial Prizes and Medal. Sir William Schlich was Inspector General of Forests in India and the first Professor of Forestry at Oxford University, founding the Forestry School there in 1905.  Shortly after Schlich’s death a committee was set up under the chairmanship of Major General the Lord Lovat, first chairman of the British Forestry Commission,  with the object of obtaining funds to provide a suitable memorial. The Committee included representatives of the foresters and forestry organizations in England, Scotland, India and Canada. Some £1725 was raised, including  $1118.10 from the United States. After provision of a bronze portrait plaque erected in the School of Forestry at Oxford, the remaining money was put into a trust. A trust deed was signed in 1929 which specified:

(a)                   that the balance of the sum subscribed after paying incidental expenses should be placed in trust and invested , the annual proceeds being devoted to the payment of an annual grant for furtherance of study or research in forestry; or for such other purpose as the Trustees may from time to time decide;

(b)                   that the grant should be awarded by the Trustees to different parts of the British Empire and to the United States of America in rotation;

(c)                   that the Trustees should have discretionary power in the selection of the country in which the award is to be made in any year and that in making the award they should be guided by   recommendations received from the country concerned.

The Trustees are the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Commonwealth Forestry Association and the Professor of Forestry at Oxford. The custom in recent years has been for the Trustees to make an award to the host country at the Commonwealth Forestry Conference.

A number of countries have Schlich awards or medals, usually given by university departments of forestry to meritorious students. These include Australia (School of Forestry, ANU), Canada (in rotation to each professional forestry school in Canada), New Zealand (School of Forestry, University of Canterbury), South Africa ( Forestry Department, Port Elizabeth Technikon Saasveld) and the UK (Oxford Forestry Institute). The Society of American Foresters administers the Sir William Schlich Memorial Award in the USA.

THE TOM GILL MEDAL

Tom Gill was a notable American tropical forester who was a lifelong supporter and benefactor of the CFA.  Thanks to a generous bequest from him in 1973 the Association has struck a medal which is presented to an outstanding forester, generally at each Commonwealth Forestry Conference and as opportunities arise between these conferences.  The Tom Gill Medal was originally awarded for the best essay on a forestry subject but more recently has been awarded for work in silviculture.

THE QUEEN'S AWARD FOR FORESTRY

In 1987, the Association's Patron, Her Majesty the Queen approved that the Association should submit selected candidates for a Queen's Award for Forestry.  This is intended to be a travel fellowship, in part to recognise the contribution to forestry already made by a member of the Commonwealth but also to enable travel to other parts of the Commonwealth where the forester's expertise can be of benefit.  The forester would be young enough to enjoy the exposure to new environments and develop with the experience.

The first award was made at the bicentennial forestry meeting in Australia in 1988. In addition to the travel funds the award consists of an illuminated scroll carrying the winner's citation for excellence which is signed by the Queen personally.  On two occasions her Majesty has made the presentation in person.   The level of funding at present available enables an award to be made every one or two years.

Recent donations have been made on the understanding that more frequent awards would be made to younger people, enabling them to undertake working attachments in developing Commonwealth countries, and to concentrate particularly on participatory forestry.  This is envisaged as a longer attachment than the short exchange scheme funded by the Commonwealth Foundation.

THE REGIONAL MEDAL AWARDS

Regional medals were first instituted in 1998 and are awarded for excellence in forestry in the region.  Candidates are selected upon the recommendation of the Regional Chairs and ratified by the Governing Council.  Up to two awards per year per region are possible.  In addition to the Association's medal, an illuminated certificate is also presented. 

HONORARY FELLOWSHIP OF THE ASSOCIATION

The Fellowship level of membership of the Association can also be made as an award to persons who have rendered particular service to the Association.  The award is made on the recommendation of the chair and ratified by the Governing Council.

COMMONWEALTH FORESTRY EXCHANGE SCHEME

This idea finally came to fruition in 1999 with the appointment of Mrs Madhu Sharma from Karnataka, India, who spent a month with the British Forestry Commission (Forest Enterprise) in Perth Scotland.   Each visit has to be planned separately and separate funds sought; the Commonwealth Foundation was the main benefactor in the most recent case..

THE JOHN PITT RECRUITMENT PRIZE

The interest from a donation to the Association enables an annual prize to be awarded to the member who has recruited the most new members in the previous year.

TRAINING SUPPORT

The Commonwealth Forestry Exchange scheme is only one of several opportunities for the CFA to further the cause of education and training. Other periodic opportunities include  the OFI jointly funded scholarship for the MSc course in Forestry at the Oxford Forestry Institute. The most recent is the generous award of GBP3500,  for a Ghanaian scholar provided by the Worshipful Company of Builders Merchants.  Support is also given to young foresters to attend, and to prepare papers for, the Commonwealth Forestry Conference.  This is co-ordinated through the Standing Committee on Commonwealth Forestry and in 2001 fifteen young Commonwealth foresters were funded to attend the conference in Perth, Western Australia.

Finally, although not formalised, talks and lectures are often given to schools and universities in Commonwealth countries by members of the Association, on a national, regional or international basis.

THE COMMONWEALTH PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

The CFA is one of over 40 Commonwealth Professional Organisations, each of which has the opportunity to submit two names each year for Commonwealth Foundation Fellowships. Two of our members have been awarded with these Fellowships out of the dozen places offered annually; fellows join an elite Commonwealth group of young people who study Commonwealth institutions in Britain and other Commonwealth countries. National branches of the CFA in particular are encouraged to submit names of potential fellows to the oxford office.  The annual deadline is the end of October, candidates are notified of the results by the end of November and the study period takes place in March of the following year.

THE ROYAL COMMONWEALTH SOCIETY

From its foundation until 1972 when it moved to Oxford, the Commonwealth Forestry Association had its offices at the premises of the Royal Commonwealth Society in Northumberland Avenue, London with whom it has continued to maintain a specially close relationship. Superbly located in the heart of central London just off Trafalgar Square, informal and alive to the tastes and demands of today's opinion formers, the Society provides a truly multicultural centre for London. Its newly refurbished premises offer conference rooms, a "fantastic restaurant and highly acclaimed chef", a quiet place to sit and read the newspapers and two lively bars. The Society's Commonwealth Club has accommodation available for visitors and the CFA can provide introductions so as to enable members visiting London to become temporary members and to enjoy the facilities of a London Club at financially attractive rates.  Further information is available on the Society's website (www.rcsint.org) and from the CFA's Oxford office. 

PJ Wood