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ASSESSMENT OF THE MULTIPLE BENEFITS OF ALL TYPES OF FORESTS

Delegates then discussed the Co-chair’s draft on programme element III.1(a). FUNDACION PERUANA PARA LA CONSERVACION DE LA NATURALEZA, for an NGO working group, said the document should move toward concrete actions. She stressed a holistic assessment approach and said overemphasis on costs could impede creative thinking. Remote sensing and geographic information system technology should be made available inexpensively and on mutually agreed terms. The EU said assigning roles to organizations should be left to programme element V.1 on international institutions. The G-77/CHINA said this and other report sections should note all relevant agencies rather than assigning duties to FAO or other specific bodies. “Stakeholders” should be changed to “interested parties” in all report sections. The reference to C&I should be national, and comparability should be among nations. NGOs should contribute to, rather than play a leadership role in, an international coordinating effort.

The US said the reference to the FAO Global Forest Resource Assessment is appropriate. The paragraph on potential “benefits” should be changed to “conditions” and “decisions” related to forests changed to “considerations.” “National level” should be added to the paragraph on C&I and to the subparagraph on indicators.

MALAYSIA said the references to FAO could recommend that it work in partnership with other organizations. The PHILIPPINES said references to biodiversity conservation should also note sustainable use and equitable sharing of benefits. CANADA said integrating indicators in SFM should be cost-effective, scientifically sound and internationally consistent, while recognizing countries’ differences in forest characteristics, economies, societies and cultures.