INTERGOVERNMENTAL WORKING GROUP ON FORESTS (IWGF) REPORT
Options
1. The importance and complexity of cross-sectoral linkages between the forest sector and such fields as agriculture, trade, energy, land use, population, etc. as well as with unsustainable patterns of production and consumption, etc. at the national and international levels and between the forest sector and international trade for the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests should be brought to the attention of the Intersessional Working Group of the CSD in February 1995. With reference to population and development, the relevance of the action program adopted at the Cairo Conference on Population and Development is noteworthy.
2. The CSD could ask relevant bodies to undertake research and development of methodologies for comprehensive assessment of the costs and benefits of the tangible and intangible resources, goods and services provided by the forest, especially its ecological, environmental, social and cultural benefits, and on how to incorporate resource depletion and the effects on forests of activities in other sectors into national accounting systems.
3. The CSD could ask relevant bodies to increase research into the impact of climate change on forests caused by developments in other sectors of the economy. Such research could result from increased co-operation among the IPCC, FAO and UNEP, for instance.
4. The CSD could encourage regional and subregional cooperation among nations in the implementation of cross-sectoral co-operative solutions regarding the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests under conditions specific to their situations.
5. The CSD could forcefully reiterate the need to strengthen national capacities to develop policies and implement national forestry action programs and/or plans for the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests. Such programs and/or plans should integrate cross-sectoral co-operation and participation of all interested groups, particularly communities which depend on the forest, with a view to achieving sustainable development. International co-operation should be invited to support such an effort through increased financial and technology transfers and supportive liberalization of trade.
6. The CSD could examine the factors involved in promoting new public and private investments in sustainable forestry and forest industries which complement investments in other sectors.
7. The CSD could ask relevant bodies to intensify research on policy and social aspects related to the interactions between forestry and other sectors in order to strengthen cross-sectoral approaches.
8. The CSD could encourage the review of positive and negative impacts on the forest sector of structural adjustment programs and of the procedures, policies and practices of the multilateral development banks.
Long-standing forest biomass also makes an important contribution to carbon storage.
Measures might include the enhancement of natural forest cover by protection or improved management of natural forest, intensive plantations ('tree farms') on degraded land, agroforestry etc. Plantations can make some contribution to biological diversity but should not be expected to contribute as much as natural forests. Most participants did not favour the setting of general targets for area. This should include methods for the assessment and comparison of the many different forest values. As described in the work of the ITTO These include NFAP, Master Plan, Sector Strategy, and other national action plans. Bearing in mind that the ECOSOC Committee on NGOs has convened a Working Group to examine NGO participation in a broader range of UN activities, as well as the issue of accreditation of NGOs, the discussion at the IWGF reflected on the experience with the more innovative approach to NGO participation thus far followed at both UNCED and CSD. These options are seen as useful to the CSD and not duplicative of the existing ECOSOC Working Group.