UNECEFAO REGIONAL REALITIES AND CHALLENGES IN SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT: COOPERATIVE APPROACHES AND ACTIVITIES IN EUROPE MCPFE - Peter Mayer UNECE/FAO - Kit Prins PEBLDS - Ivonne Higuero

Contents of the presentation Background Forest co-operation in Europe Main actors and activities Collaborative approaches Regional contribution to UNFF Lessons learned

Background Forests cover 47% of land area Forest area increases about 0.1% per year Most forests are semi-natural, large scale natural forests only in Russia One fifth of trees damaged by defoliation More increment than fellings 9 million private forest owners, Public holdings predominate in Eastern European countries

Forest co-operation in Europe: the actors Ministerial Conference on Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE) UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)/Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Environment for Europe/Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy (PEBLDS) Many other organisations and stakeholders

Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe Regional high level forum to address common challenges and develop ministerial commitments Participatory approach Link to related global and regional processes and initiatives

Fourth Ministerial Conference, Vienna, April 2003 Vienna Declaration Resolutions on Cross-sectoral cooperation and nfps Economic viability of SFM Social and cultural dimensions Forest biological diversity Forests and climate change

UNECE/FAO Partnership between regional (multi-sector) economic commission and global specialised agency Intergovernmental structure: committees, subsidiary bodies, teams of specialists Focus on information, analysis, policy forum, technical cooperation

UNECE/FAO work areas: Markets and statistics Forest resource assessment Sector outlook studies Forest technology, management and training (with ILO) Policy and cross-sectoral issues

Environment for Europe/PEBLDS Ministerial process “Environment for Europe” Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy: coordinating framework for biodiversity Regional implementation of Convention on Biological Diversity UNEP and Council of Europe provide joint secretariat

Environment for Europe/PEBLDS Fifth Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference, Kiev, May 2003 Adoption of Kiev Biodiversity Resolution by 55 European Ministers and Heads of delegation which includes a target on forest biodiversity Adoption of the Framework for Cooperation between the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe and the EfE/PEBLDS

Collaborative approaches Joint activities in respective work programme of each actor Joint MCPFE/PEBLDS Biodiversity Work Programme and Framework for Co- operation Mutual participation in meetings and close communication between secretariats Joint implementation of actions

Regional contribution to UNFF and the global dialogue Regional dimension recognised at WSSD and in other initiatives Role of regional cooperation: Translate/implement global commitments (e.g. IPF/IFF, UNFF, CBD) at regional level Contribute to global commitments by sharing experience

Regional contribution to themes of UNFF3 Economic aspects of forests Forest health and productivity Maintaining forest cover to meet present and future needs National forest programmes Monitoring, assessment and reporting

Economic aspects Vienna Resolution 2 “Enhancing economic viability of SFM in Europe”: high level commitments UNECE/FAO, with partners, provides data, monitors markets, identifies long term supply/demand outlook

Forest health and productivity ICP Forest, under ECE Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution, with EU, monitors and analyses (major contribution to UNFF SG note) Continuing policy commitment at MCPFE, in different resolutions Continuing regional work on forest fires and mountain forests

Maintaining forest cover to meet present and future needs European forest sector outlook studies since 1952 have monitored trends and identified policy issues at regional level. EFSOS to be published 2003 Conservation of biodiversity through joint work programme between MCPFE and PEBLDS endorsed by both ministers for forests and environment Continuation of work on forest biodiversity through Framework for Co-operation between MCPFE and PEBLDS

National forest programmes MCPFE Approach to National Forest Programmes in Europe adopted by ministers at the Vienna Conference Importance of cross-sectoral approach recognised by ministers at Vienna Conference: challenge of forest sector to communicate with other relevant sectors in a pro-active way Kiev Biodiversity Resolution target to develop national forest programmes according to the MCPFE Approach

Monitoring, assessment and reporting MCPFE - Pan-European Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management adopted in 1998 Pan-European indicators now improved in the light of experience Used twice as basis for data collection (TBFRA), in close consultation with data providers Regional forest resource, trade and markets data collected and validated regionally, input to global data sets

Lessons learned Make best use of synergies Stakeholder participation and transparency important Permanent cooperation ensures continuity in forest policy development and implementation International cooperation encourages better internal national coordination