The Concept of National Forest Programmes Enhancing the NFP process of,  Definition  Principles & Elements  Process and Actors  Challenges

What is a national forest programme... Country-specific process A multi-stakeholder dialogue A framework for SFM

...and what is it not? Not national, not forestry, not a programme ! Not a donor conditionality ! Not a blueprint by external consultants !

NFP principles: Commonly agreed by all countries involved in the international forest dialogue. Guide the formulation and implementation of a nfp Define how the concept is to be put into practice. What are principles? … and why do we need principles in policy processes?

Sovereignty and country leadership Consistency within and integration beyond the forest sector Partnership and participation Clustering the nfp Principles

Nfp principles: Country leadership and sovereignty national ownership firm commitment strong political will to manage forests sustainably. define how the concept is to be put into practice. As such, the principles resemble a complex and interlocking set of agreed procedural rules. Sovereignty and country leadership Consistency within and integration beyond the forest sector Partnership and participation

integration with the country’s sustainable development strategies inter-sectoral approaches consistency with the country’s legal frameworks recognition and respect for customary and traditional rights secure land tenure arrangements Nfp principles: consistency with national policies Sovereignty and country leadership Consistency within and integration beyond the forest sector Partnership and participatio n

Nfp principles: partnership and participation Involvement of all interested parties Decentralisation and empowerment Coordination and conflict- resolution Sovereignty and country leadership Consistency within and integration beyond the forest sector Partnership and participatio n

Sector Review Coordination and participation mechanisms Information sharing Partnerships National forest statement action plans Intersectoral plans Forest Legisla -tion Institution al Reforms Financial Mechanisms Capacity Building Elements of a nfp process “ nfp” is a generic expression to designate an evolving process that integrates various elements towards sustainable forest management Monitoring System

How does the nfp concept translate into practice ?  Key issues and entry points  Identifying the main actors  Process phases and their outputs  Possible Structures

Processing Conservation Community Forestry Plantation Establishment Concession Management Revenue Collection Decentralization Governance Economic Dev. Poverty Red. Resource Mgt. Land Tenure Key Issues and entry points Drivers of change  Stakeholder concerns  Policy change  (inter)national developments & trends  ……… Complexity  Multiple stakeholders involved  Institutions at different levels  No ready answers; right/wrong

Identification of main actors Core issue

Stakeholders in forestry policy reform Forestry Dept. officials Traditionalauthorities Timberdealers Resintraders Farmproduceusers Plantationworkers Plantationowners Timberexporters Forest Department – productionsection Forestproduceusers Farmlabourers Furnituremakers Sawmillworkers EnvironmentalNGOs GlobalWitness Local politicians – pro-logginglobby Churches Local pro-environmentallobby Universities ForestResearchInstitute Tourist operators & tourists Political party financed by logging companies Forestdwellingcommunities Workers in logging companies LoggingcompanyownersFarmers/water-users in watershed Rubber/resintappers Women in forestdwellingcommunities Forest Policy Reform

Stakeholders classification Using PRA tools INFLUENCE Low High A. Stakeholder of high importance and high influence C. Stakeholder of low importance and high influence B. Stakeholder of high importance and low influence D. Stakeholder of low importance and low influence should be closely involved needed to be kept informed their needs should be met and their participation is meaningful require no special participation strategies beyond general public information IMPORTANCE High Low

Issues, Actors & nfp Elements, Government Agencies / Forestry and others Reform of Forest Administration Reform Forest Law, Land Law, Regulations etc. Forest Policy Statement Action Programme Financing Strategies Goals Objectives and Strategies Monitoring & Evaluation System Assessment of IPF/IFF proposals Sector Review Coordination & Consultation Mechanisms ? Capacity Building Donor Community INGOs Linkage to macro-economic framework Private Sector, Forest Owners Civil Society NGOs Positioning vis-à-vis int. level Linkage to micro-level planning & implementation Processing Conservation Community Forestry Plantation Establishment Concession Management Revenue Collection Decentralization Governance Poverty Red. Resource Mgt. Land Tenure

Core issues Agreed Principles Shared vision Trust Phases in the nfp Process

PHASEOUTPUT (elements) Analysis A sector review (assessment of the forest sector and its interrelations with other sectors) Policy formulation and planning a national forest statement, including objectives and strategies for the forest sector, including a financing strategy for sustainable forest management plans for action and investment programmes for the implementation of the agreed measures, information Implementation  political, legal and institutional reforms, both within and outside the forest sector  information and knowledge management (IKM),  national and international partnership arrangements and joint activities M&E monitoring and evaluation reports/documentation Phases in the nfp Process

Possible Institutional Framework for a nfp NFP Secretariat/ Coordination Unit Donors, INGOs Private Sector Civil Society NGOs Other Gowernment Agencies Ministry / Forest Dept. Accepted by all parties Leadership role Communication & Facilitator …… Openness Commitment Stakeholder! …… Representing constituency Sharing experiences Complementarity …… National Consultative Process e.g. Workshops Task Forces

Challenges ahead  The concept is in place, putting it into practice is a challenge and could also means a risk to some stakeholders  nfp processes are currently running in quite a few countries, using different entry points and approaches. No one size fits all approach is possible.  long-term perspective, quality standards and monitoring are challenges  starting the process means learning and added value from dialogue to action !!