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FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

FRIENDS OF THE EARTH said improving efficiency in spending entails reducing administrative costs, not increasing conditionality. He voiced concern over tradable development rights and the report’s omission of a recent multilateral pilot programme for Brazilian rainforests. MEXICO noted that proposed innovative mechanisms concentrate on conservation rather than development. She expressed concern about mechanisms that place responsibility on developing countries.

ZIMBABWE cautioned against blanket statements regarding the private sector. Forest productivity in dry areas is often too low to attract investment. He also emphasized: socially and environmentally oriented ODA goals; technology development; and extension agencies. He did not support proposals on debt swaps and national forestry funds. NEW ZEALAND supported innovative financial mechanisms, but noted they raise difficult questions and are under consideration in other fora. She welcomed the emphasis on the private sector and said national forestry funds were a national-level decision.

INDIA said the emphasis on mobilizing domestic resources complicates the report and reiterated commitments made in the Forest Principles. Despite donor statements, ODA in absolute terms has decreased. He said new donor policies require changes by recipients and private investment leads to more jobs but defeats forest policy.

GABON said many African countries may not be able to mobilize domestic funds due to a current lack of public investment and that UNCED has been unsuccessful in projecting future financial needs. He supported concerns that private investment may not be an effective means of attaining long-term sustainability. PAPUA NEW GUINEA announced that its provincial forest plans have been completed. He highlighted the need to establish new mechanisms to increase domestic and ODA funding. BRAZIL noted the crucial role of the private sector in financing and technology transfer. He called for compliance with UNCED’s mandate to develop new and additional financial resources and encouraged NGO participation in data gathering and fund raising. He supported debt-for-nature swaps but not debt-for-policy; consideration of tradable emission permits in context of the FCCC; and, as supported by CHINA, partnerships and joint ventures between donor and recipient countries provided they comport with the host country’s sovereign rights.

CANADA said recommendations for capacity building need further elaboration. He supported Brazil on acknowledging national sovereignty in international partnership agreements. Agenda 21 should serve as the template for technology transfer. GERMANY noted that: national finance arrangements, in Agenda 21, should reflect the actual quality and quantity of forests; an intersectoral approach to financing is essential; institutional shortcomings should be addressed; cooperative agreements formed at the national level; and the constructive role of NGOs.

FINLAND said it is alarming that deforestation, overutilization, loss of biodiversity and problems in other sectors result from disinvestment. National funds should be analyzed for efficiency and effectiveness. DENMARK said all instruments should be improved to complement each other. Public funds, domestic or ODA, must create an enabling framework for private resources, that cannot be expected to promote sustainable development. ALGERIA said UNCED commitments can only be achieved through strengthening capacity and financial resources for an international body involved in SFM.

The UKRAINE called for: internal fundraising and forest fund creation; economic reform that promotes ecological criteria and sustainable principles in SFM; and international support for self sufficiency for economies in transition. The ALLIANCE OF INDIGENOUS AND TRIBAL PEOPLES OF THE TROPICAL RAINFOREST said the CBD’s protection of indigenous knowledge and practices will only be realized if indigenous people are the subject of plans as well as the object. Recognizing indigenous groups’ rights within their territories would permit them to cooperate to protect remaining natural forests. FUNDACION NATURA said debt-for-development proposals cannot interfere with national sovereignty. Tradable emissions should not work only in favor of developed countries. UGANDA said IPF should highlight the responsibility of recipients, whose structural problems, including revenue collection and accountability, must be ameliorated before they ask for assistance.

PERU highlighted “reciprocal” South-South development cooperation, and questioned how to continue initiatives like the Amazonian Cooperation Treaty without political will. CHILE underlined North-South and South-South technical cooperation, highlighting “triangular” cooperation involving a developing country funded by an international agency to share information with another developing country. ARGENTINA suggested that development banks should concentrate on forests and highlighted sovereignty vis- a-vis carbon offsets and tradable emissions permits, stating that the FCCC is the proper framework for discussion.

ECUADOR called for a forum at IPF on demands placed on countries as a result of new roles in world relations.

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