Strengthening collective innovation capacity of forest stakeholders in research and development: The role of IUFRO By Michael Kleine Coordinator, IUFRO Special Programme for Developing Countries IUFRO Headquarters, Vienna, Austria International Workshop on Small-holder Timber Production World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), Nairobi, Kenya 29 November to 1 December 2004

Sustainable development of forests – a major challenge Forces outside of the forestry sector Global and regional policies Market opportunities and support policies for agricultural production Unresolved land tenure issues Decentralisation of government and poor law enforcement Involvement of many stakeholders

Many stakeholders decide how forests are managed Joint recognition of the issues Extensive debate and search for solutions Joint learning Definition of collective action in policy and forest management Multi-stakeholder innovation – a “new” focus

Multi-stakeholder innovation – some examples Forest concessions under community management in the Mayan Biosphere Reserve (MBR) in Peten, Guatemala African Network for Agroforestry Education (ANAFE) Consortium for Scaling up Options for increasing Farm Productivity (COSOFAP)

Multi-stakeholder innovation – capacities needed To interact with policy levels To efficiently manage and share information To participate in social processes through effective communication To facilitate mutual learning processes

Enhancing stakeholder innovation capacity What can IUFRO do?

What is IUFRO?  IUFRO is the global network for forest science cooperation;  IUFRO unites more than 15,000 scientists in about 700 Member Organizations in over 110 countries;  IUFRO is non-profit and non-governmental, voluntary and non-discriminatory;  Founded in 1892, IUFRO has a long history of international forest science cooperation.

IUFRO’s Vision is …  of science-based sustainable management of the world’s forest resources for economic, environmental and social benefits. IUFRO's Mission is …  to promote the coordination of and the international cooperation in scientific studies embracing the whole field of research related to forests and trees.

IUFRO’s objectives are attained through … generating knowledge by means of science and research cooperation in a global network; providing access to and disseminating scientific knowledge; assisting scientists and institutions to strengthen their research capacity.

IUFRO’s structure for cooperation: Divisions Silviculture D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 Physiology and Genetics Forest Operations Inventory, Growth, Yield, Quantitative and Management Sciences Forest Products Forest Health Forest Environment Social, Economic, Information and Policy Sciences

D1D2D3D4D5D6D7D8 IUFRO’s structure for cooperation: Task Forces - In addition to Divisions, Task Forces are established on temporary basis for inter- disciplinary cooperation in inter-divisional forest research fields Task Force

IUFRO’s structure for cooperation: Task Forces Environmental Change TF Mountain Development Gene Resources Science/Policy Interface Carbon Sequestration Information Technology and the Forest Sector Water and Forests Public Relations TF Forest Biotechnology

IUFRO’s structure for cooperation: Special Programmes and Projects - Established to carry out activities in support of global and regional science cooperation - Located at the IUFRO Headquarters SPDC SilvaVocWFSE IUFRO Secretariat IUFRO Headquarters

Multi-stakeholder innovation – capacities needed To interact with policy levels To efficiently manage and share information To participate in social processes through effective communication To facilitate mutual learning processes

Enhancing stakeholder innovation capacity – contribution by IUFRO Forest Policy IUFRO Task Force on Science-Policy Interface IUFRO SPDC Training Course on “Role of scientists in national forest programmes” IUFRO – CPF Member

Enhancing stakeholder innovation capacity – contribution by IUFRO Information Management Internet gateway to forest information resources from around the world Enhance access to and provision of quality forest-related information Initiative of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) Main Partners: CABI, CIFOR, FAO and IUFRO Global Forest Information Service (GFIS)

GFIS in Africa 5 GFIS Service Centres established –Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal and Zimbabwe –Computer hard- and software –Training of staff Regional mandate to develop GFIS partnerships Focus on grey literature and other off- and online resources EC-funded Project (1 million EUR)

Enhancing stakeholder innovation capacity – contribution by IUFRO PR and Communication IUFRO Task Force on PR in Forest Science IUFRO SPDC Training Course on “Communicating forest research: Making science work for policy and management”

IUFRO-SPDC

Enhancing stakeholder innovation capacity – contribution by IUFRO Mutual learning processes Working towards common understanding of complex problems Developing innovative solutions Integrating research, development actions and policy measures

Enhancing stakeholder innovation capacity – contribution by IUFRO EC-Project Application Familiarisation with mutual learning and selection of pilot cases; “Implementation agencies are familiarised with mutual learning and 2 mutual learning platforms are selected as pilot cases for each region”. Capacity building for Facilitators and Promoters; “Educational, training and research institutions are able to effectively facilitate mutual learning processes amongst forest stakeholders.” Set up six mutual learning platforms as pilot cases; “National level mutual learning platforms are implemented as pilot cases in Africa, Asia-Pacific and in Latin America.” Establish additional mutual learning platforms; “Proposals to establish additional mutual learning platforms in Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America are developed and submitted to relevant funding agencies.” Dissemination; “Communication among partners and dissemination of results is achieved through traditional instruments and state-of-the-art information technology tools”.

ICRA International Centre for development oriented Research in Agriculture IUFRO International Union of Forest Research Organizations ETFRN European Tropical Forest Research Network FAO Food and Agriculture Organization FORNESSA Forestry Research Network of Sub- Saharan Africa APAFRI Asia-Pacific Association of Forestry Research Institutions CATIE Tropical Agriculture Research and Higher Education Centre Project Partners

CONCLUSIONS  IUFRO can contribute in many ways to enhancing innovation capacity of forest stakeholders  Main players in this endeavour are IUFRO’s member organisations, supported by the IUFRO service units  Coordination and mobilisation of resources  Initiatives in support of small-holder timber production may benefit from IUFRO activities