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9 February:
On
the eighth day of IFF-4, delegates met in contact groups to further
negotiate bracketed text. The contact group on EST transfer met
in the morning, the contact group on financial resources met briefly
in the afternoon and the contact group on international arrangements
and mechanisms (Category III) met throughout the day.
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 Contact Group on international arrangements
and mechanisms (Category III)
On the proposed
UNFF's programme of work, Chair Samuel R. Insanally proposed removing
the list of programme elements. Chair Insanally is pictured here
on the left, with Alison Drayton (Guyana) and Andrey Vasiliyev,
Senior Officer at the Division for Sustainable Development (DESA).
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How to proceed?
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Left and
below: Informal consultation to determine how progress can
be achieved on remaining items of contention.
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The
Co-chairs of the IFF, the Contact Group Chairs and some regional
representatives met after the afternoon session on Category III
in order to plot a work programme for the last two days of the
meeting.
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Side
event: Community
Involvement in Forest Management
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The
International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
(IUCN) hosted a panel discussion
on community involvement in forest management. Simon Rietbergen
(IUCN, above, second from the right) moderated the panel
comprised of: Peter C. Gondo, Research and Technical Services Coordinator,
Southern Alliance for Indigenous Resources (SAFIRE, far right);
Peter Walpole, Director of Environmental Science for Social Change,
Inc. (second from the left); and Alberto Salas, Coordinator
of Conservation of Forests and Protected Areas at IUCN in Costa
Rica (far left). The panelists presented the finding of the
first three regional profiles on community involvement in forest
management (CIFM).
 Reporting
on the Eastern and Southern Africa regional profile, Gondo identified
factors influencing policy change, including: increased recognition
of the need for new approaches within forestry departments; decentralization
and devolution; increasing demands and pressures from local communities;
changes in land policies; donor and NGO influence; and international
agreements, especially from UNCED and related conventions.
RealAudio excerpts of Mr. Gondo's presentation
 Walpole
presented a Southeast Asia regional profile. He described 3 criteria
for determining success in CIFM projects: people's livelihoods are
improved, the forests are better protected and effective long-term
strategies for community involvement are developed. He illustrated
these with case studies taken from his work in the Philippines.
RealAudio excerpt of Mr. Walpole's presentation
Salas overviewed
experiences with and lessons learned from community involvement
in forestry in Mesoamerica.
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RealAudio excerpts from the question and answer period
- all panelists respond to the question "what are the obstacles
to implementing successful CIFM policies?" |
RealAudio excerpt of Mr. Gondo responding
to the question "how do donors and NGOs sometimes hinder the
success of CIFM?" |
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 Side
event: Community
Involvement Forest Management in Mesoamerica
On the evening
of Wednesday February 9, a presentation sponsored by Coordinadora
Indigena Campesina de Agroforesteria Comunitaria Centroamericana
(CICAFOC), and La Union Nacional de Organizaciones de Foresteria
Comunal (UNOFOC) was given on "Community Involvement Forest Management
in Mesoamerica". The presenters, Nicolas Aguilar Murillo (UNOFOC)
and Alberto Salas (UNOFOC) discussed the necessity of community
participation for successful management and use of forests, outlining
a series of practices and activities they hoped would be transformed
into institutional policies.
 Salas
(above, on the right) described the community management
strategy as part of a bigger world project. He highlighted goals
of the project, including, among others, the establishment of linkages
and exchanges to accelerate a process of learning between nations
and across regions, and reaffirming the capacities of the community
for participatory management of forests in Mesoamerica, especially
farming and indigenous communities.
Murillo (left)
explained the CICAFOC-UNOFOC alliance, noting that it was comprised
of more than 100 forestry, indigenous and farmer organizations in
Mesoamerica. He highlighted challenges the alliance must confront,
including: management, industry and commercialization; training
and development of local capacity; and political and government
relations.
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In the corridors:
Many delegates are becoming increasingly nervous that time is fast
running out for negotiations. Intense discussions are underway to
determine which part of the overall package will be agreed upon
first. Some delegations are firmly of the opinion that everything
rests on a signal that new money will be forthcoming.
Despite the funding concern, some delegations are still miles apart
on other key issues, such as traditional forest-related knowledge.
Some delegations believe that others are using the TFRK discussions
to push an agenda on intellectual property and sui generis systems,
which they believe is beyond the competency of the IFF. Others believe
that this is a legitimate forum for advancing this issue.
While many delegations have made regular references to transparency
and participation, these concepts appear to have been shelved in
Category III deliberations. NGOs, Indigenous Peoples' organizations
and a number of delegates were disappointed that non-delegate viewpoints
were not allowed to be voiced at the conclusion of the day's discussion.
Some delegates believe that a different perspective may have helped
provide impetus and focus on some issues.
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