Roundtable on Sustainable Forests Refinement of Montreal Process Indicators Denver, Colorado May 12,

What is the Montreal process? Began with 1992 World Summit in Rio de Janeiro, – What are the elements of SFM? – How can countries measure progress? Collaboration among 12 countries to develop national measures for reporting on SFM Apply to 90% of the world’s temperate and boreal forests Over 140 countries have adopted use of C&I in 9 processes Europe (43), Montreal Process (12) and ITTO (33) are the most active processes

There have already been many accomplishments All twelve countries have produced reports--- Australia’s forest national report on forests Argentina working on its first forest inventory Over 20+ US states have use the indicators in one degree or another NASF guidelines for Sustainable Forests Four Canadian provinces have legislated use of C&I/tied to Model forest program The UN’s FAO is using 6 criteria (thematic areas) to format the World Report on Forests -- we are seeing a convergence on how to inventory, assess and report on forests We have discovered C&I can provide a framework for a lot more Australia’s forest national report on forests

What are we trying to accomplish now? Enhance the clarity and usefulness of the indicators Renew and grow the constituency for use of the Montreal Process C&I Renew leadership commitment to use of C&I to as a framework to align forest sector inventory, data management, assessment and program work

What is an indicator? Latin indicare -- disclose, point out, announce or estimate. Provide a clue to something that might otherwise be undetectable They quantify and simplify A communication tool Not intended to provide the full picture Indicators will evolve pci.org

What indicators are not For producing international reports International indicators. They are national indicators developed internationally

Why are indicators important? Shape social understanding of forest and the forces that influence them Places natural resource management on par with economic indicators that leaders and the public will understand A framework to coordinate natural resource inventory, assessment, planning and coordination Provides citizens interested in forests with a tool to encourage society toaddress the needs of forests Their importance is a statement of how much they are used by the forest management community

Why should you be interested in indicators? To better communicate with your publics—neutral ground Help repair a hopelessly fragmented administrative landscape Build a bridge between ecosystem management, sustainability development certification, environmental services etc, Help the forest sector take the initiative—that it understands public concerns about forest management and is willing to report on progress

Strategy All agree that the indicators can be improved Organizations and countries are sensitive about changes The United States may be able to sell only a limited number of suggestions Identify the most important changes pci.org