1. FAO Strategy for Forests and Forestry
Muchas gracias Señor Presidente,
Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the pleasure to provide a brief introduction to item 8.1 on the COFO agenda: FAO Strategy for Forests and Forestry. This is the final stage of a long process, reaching closure this week.
Tomorrow afternoon, we will have another hour at the next COFO plenary session in the Red Room where you will have an opportunity to discuss and decide on the Draft Strategy. I hope that all of you have time to read the document this evening, so that you are prepared tomorrow. Closely linked to this paper there is another, numbered 8.2, and called FAO Strategic Framework and Medium-Term Plan. Please be prepared to discuss both of these tomorrow, in an integrated way.
The State of the World´s Forests report, including the parts dealing with economic turbulence, helps provide an overall context for the Strategy process.

2. FAO STRATEGY FOR FORESTS
Mandated by COFO and recommended by IEE
Consultation with countries, Regional Forestry Commissions, CPF members, NGOs, private sector
FAO Strategic Framework and MTP
Two years ago, COFO asked FAO to update its forestry strategy from 1999 and to report back to COFO in 2009.
The Independent External Evaluation of FAO re-iterated the message. - Over the last 18 months, we undertook a wide process of consulting. I wrote to the Heads of Forestry in all countries twice asking for inputs on our new strategy. We consulted with the Regional Forestry Commissions. We sought comments from stakeholders inside and outside FAO, including other FAO departments, members of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests, NGOs and the private sector. We also posted our draft strategy on the Internet and asked the general public for comments.
Then we brought together the COFO Steering Committee in September last year, and they finalized the version of the Draft Strategy that is now presented to you.
Each step of the way as we developed the Strategy we aligned it with the broader FAO corporate strategy. All key elements of the Forestry Strategy will also be found in the new FAO Strategic Framework and Medium Term Plan, MTP.
You will hear more about the overall FAO strategic framework tomorrow from the FAO Director of Programme and Budgeting, Mr Haight and from the Chair of the FAO Programme Committee, Mr Vic Heard.

3. Sustainable management
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE
Sustainable management
of forests and trees
The Strategic Objectives express the impacts expected over the long term in countries, regions and globally. Sustainable forest management is one of 11 long-term Strategic Objectives for FAO.
This is an objective for member countries and for international organizations to strive toward together. Obviously, this objective is far beyond the capability of FAO to achieve alone.

4. ORGANIZATIONAL RESULTS
Forest policy and practice based on information, international cooperation and debate
Institutions governing forests are strengthened
Forestry is better integrated into national development plans and processes
SFM is more broadly adopted
Enhanced social and economic values and livelihood benefits
Environmental values strengthened
Under the Strategic Objective, we have identified six Organizational Results, which are outcomes that FAO can assist countries to achieve over the medium term. In the new FAO programming model, the medium term planning horizon is 4 years. Let us go into the priorities.

5. 1
Policies and practices affecting forests are based on timely information and reinforced by international cooperation and debate
Global and national forest monitoring and assessment
Publications and Web site
Regional Forestry Commissions and COFO
CPF
The first Result that FAO will help countries to achieve is to base forest policies on good information. Examples include national and global forest assessments. We will continue to improve our Web site, which includes information about every country and is one of the world’s most comprehensive web sites about forests. We will also assist countries to improve their own forestry information capabilities.
We will continue to produce key FAO publications including SOFO and Unasylva.
We believe that international cooperation and dialogue are essential elements of global forestry. We propose to strengthen the Regional Forestry Commissions and COFO, for example through the “regional forest week” concept and the “world forest week” idea.
We will continue to place value on international partnerships such as the Collaborative Partnership on Forests.

6. 2
Institutions are strengthened and stakeholders are involved in forest policies – enabling environment for investment in forests
Participatory policy and law
Institutional reform
Sector studies
In the list of Organizational Results, the next one is “Institutions governing forests are strengthened and decision-making improved, including involvement of forest stakeholders in the development of forest policies and legislation, thereby enhancing an enabling environment for investment in forestry and forest industries”.
Much of the work of FAO focuses on strengthening forestry institutions, especially in developing countries. In our new strategy, we propose to increase the emphasis on participatory processes and helping countries to establish an enabling environment for investments.
One of the major themes of this session of COFO will be the importance of reforming forestry institutions. We will continue to carry out sectoral studies which will support progress in this important area.

7. 3
Forestry is integrated into national development plans – linkages with other land uses
National forest programmes
Capacity building
National Forest Programme Facility
The third organizational result reads “Forestry is better integrated into national development plans and processes, considering interfaces between forests and other land uses”.
The focal point for FAO work in countries will continue to be national forest programmes. The emphasis of our work will shift to focus more on strengthening linkages with other sectors. Most problems affecting forests arise from outside the forest sector. We will seek new ways to address these problems. FAO is uniquely situated to deal with the important issues arising from the interface between the forest and agriculture sectors.
FAO will continue to host the National Forest Programme Facility, one of the most innovative approaches for assisting countries to improve their forest policies and practices.

8. 4 SFM is broadly adopted; reduced deforestation and degradation
Voluntary guidelines for SFM
Fire management
Financial mechanisms to support SFM
The fourth organizational result we want to pursue is that quote “Sustainable management of forests and trees is more broadly adopted, leading to reductions in deforestation and forest degradation and increased contribution of forests and trees to improve livelihoods and mitigate climate change”. unquote
Working to promote SFM will remain the cornerstone of FAO’s work in forestry.
We will continue to develop new methodologies, guidelines and best practices for sustainable forest management through consultation with member countries and partner organizations. A good example is community-based fire management.
We will also actively work with countries to access new sources of financing to support sustainable forest management.
Sustainable forest management is the key to the forest sector response to climate change. Deforestation and forest degradation will be reduced to the extent that forests are sustainably managed. And reforestation and afforestation are important dimensions of SFM.

9. 5
Social and economic values and livelihoods enhanced; forestry economically viable
Economic analysis and investment
Forest products including trade
Community-based enterprises
The fifth organizational result is enhanced livelihood benefits of forests and improved markets for forest products and services, making forestry a more economically viable land-use option.
The FAO Forestry Department has assembled a strong team of forest economists. In studying the priorities in the strategy document you can see that we plan to further strengthen our capability to conduct independent economic analysis and to assist countries in this area. We will expand our support for small and medium scale forest-based enterprises.
Later this week, on Friday morning, I invite you to a special seminar on the impact of economic turbulence in the forest sector. We will bring together representatives of the public and private sectors to address this important topic. This seminar is an example of the unique venue that FAO can offer to address the major issues of our time.

10. 6 Environmental values of forests are strengthened
Landscape approaches
Adaptation to climate change
Biodiversity, watersheds, wildlife
Finally, the environmental dimension of forests and trees outside forests will be strengthened. When we jointly achieve this organizational result, strategies for conserving forest biodiversity, adapting to climate change, rehabilitating degraded lands, and managing water and wildlife resources will be effectively implemented.
We will promote ecosystem or landscape approaches that help countries to adapt to climate change. We will continue our work to conserve biodiversity and to improve the management of water resources and wildlife resources. This is another area where much of our work is done in collaboration with partners including other CPF organizations.

11. NEXT STEPS COFO decision 2009 Implementation through PWB & MTP
FAO Conference 2009
One of the important jobs for COFO is to advise FAO on priorities for our work in forestry.
The draft Strategy is our proposal for the areas where we plan to focus our work in the next ten years. The Organizational Results and FAO Priorities are specific areas where we intend to make an impact in the next four years. We are happy to deliver the Strategy to you for discussion and decision, for it to be attached to the report of this COFO Session.
The Strategy will form the basis for FAO work in Forestry in the new FAO Medium Term Plan and the next Program of Work and Budget for The Medium Term Plan and Programme of Work and Budget will be considered by the FAO Council, and then by the Conference later this year.
This strategy is not just about the work that we do here in the FAO building. The main work of FAO takes place in the countries. Our great challenge is to work together to make a difference. But let us also have patience with ourselves and remember that Rome was not built in one day, neither will sustainable forest management be achieved overnight.
The next presentation addresses one of the main elements of the Strategy: the Climate Change issue. It also reflects the FAO commitment to work in partnership with other key organizations. Jan McAlpine, Head of the UNFF Secretariat, will introduce the CPF Strategic Framework for Forests and Climate Change. Ladies and gentlemen, with this I thank you for your attention.