The European Commission is preparing the fifth Framework Programme for Research and Development. This is an opportunity for ETFRN to present DG XII with researchers' viewpoints on priorities for tropical forests.
Two recently published documents may lend some support during the process:
The report of the special Intergovernmental Panel on Forests (IPF), presented to the Commission for Sustainable Development (fifth session, 7-25 April 1997);
The conclusions and recommendations of the World Forestry Congress, convened at Antalya, 13-22 October 1997.
In order to get a copy of these documents, please write to your national representative in the IPF or to the FAO, which organised the Congress in cooperation with the Turkish Government.
This note presents:
I would be very grateful indeed for your comments and additions to my remarks on these three points: points I and II - in order to improve the understanding of the conclusions of IPF and the Congress; and most of all on point III - in order to underscore the relevance of the priorities we shall be presenting to the Commission. Your comments can be sent directly to me or to the ETFRN national node in your country and subsequently forwarded to me in synthesised form; or they may be sent to the ETFRN Coordination Unit. All this material will form the basis for a second version of priorities, to be prepared before 15 January 1998 and subsequently discussed at ETFRN's Steering Committee meeting on 30 and 31 January. The final version will be transmitted to DG XII immediately after the meeting.
I would appreciate your ideas as to which themes ought to be added and what, in your opinion, should be the European Commission's order of priority of the themes presented here (paragraphs 1 to 15), considering that the Commission's actions complement those of Member States. You could award points between 1 and 5 (1 = highest priority) with your comments on the 15 themes.
François Grison
Chairman of the ETFRN Steering Committee
I - Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests (IPF)
When it was created in 1995, the Panel was mandated to pursue consensus and formulate options for further actions in order to combat deforestation and forest degradation and to promote management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests. (3)1.
As IPF is an intergovernmental Panel, it reflects the opinion of the states involved. It confirms its commitment to the international Conventions, including the Forest Principles and Agenda 21 approved in Rio in 1992. It emphasizes the importance of the National Forest Plans to be prepared in each country, as well as the usefulness of international cooperation.
There are a few passages in the IPF's conclusions which refer to the importance of investment in the forestry sector, including through plantations, but the conclusions deal mainly with sustainable forest management. The IPF recommends:
Below are a few selected extracts, which may assist in defining research priorities.
A - National Forest Plans
In the preparation of these plans, the following items should be considered: recognition for customary and
traditional rights of indigenous people and local communities, secure land tenure arrangements,
eco-system approaches, which integrate the conservation of biological diversity and the sustainable use
of biological resources (17a).
Elaboration of systems for planning, including private and community forest management systems, within
the context of the national forest plans (17f).
B - Deforestation and forest conservation
To understand the underlying causes of deforestation, both at the national and international level (27a)
in order to reverse the most damaging processes, and to recognize local initiatives which can counter
current trends in deforestation and forest degradation (18).
To identify in each country, the quantity and quality of forest required to provide the full range of benefits,
goods and services needed now and in the future (21).
Predicting for the long term a steadily rising demand for forest products and other forest goods and
services, and a declining area of forest for their production (23), the Panel recommends to evaluate the
costs, benefits and disbenefits for different types of forest management, including forest plantations (22),
and to strengthen the institutions for forest resource and forest plantation management (28a).
To formulate policies aiming at securing land tenure for local communities and indigenous people, and
at the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits of forests (29c).
C - Traditional forest-related knowledge (TFRK)
To recognize and support traditional resource use systems incorporating TFRK (40h).
To explore the relationships between TFRK and sustainable forest management (34), and establish
stronger linkages between traditional and emerging national sustainable forest management systems
(40i).
To recognize TFRK in developing national criteria and indicators for the sustainable management of
forests within the context of national forest programmes (40l)
To identify ways and means to secure the effective protection of indigenous rights and the fair and
equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of TFRK (36)
D - Desertification and drought
To analyse the ecosystems affected by desertification and drought, including biophysical, ecological,
economic, social, land tenure and institutional factors (46b)
The Panel emphasized the need for prevention, rather than mitigation or restoration, wherever
practicable, with emphasis on improved and sustainable management of existing natural forest and other
vegetation. The restoration of arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid zones should not focus narrowly on
afforestation, but also deal with broader aspects of forest ecosystem management. There is a need to
strengthen research related to the identification of appropriate species for arid, semi-arid and dry
sub-humid land restoration, the rehabilitation of existing vegetation types, ... (43).
Protected areas need to be established and supported ... as part of in-situ conservation strategies (44).
The Panel invited the Committee on Science and Technology of the Conference of the Parties to the
Convention to combat Desertification to support research on appropriate plant species for use in arid,
semi-arid and dry sub-humid land restoration, on rehabilitation of existing vegetation, on related water
management techniques and on the potential for multipurpose trees and the supply of timber and
non-timber forest products (46g)
E - In the countries with low forest cover
The definition of what is to be considered as 'forest' should be analysed, for more precise identification
of countries categorized as countries with low forest cover. The definition of forest used by the Panel
following the FAO ... does not have a strong scientific foundation, nor does it allow for comparability of
data on a world-wide basis (53).
Countries with low forest cover should plan and manage forest plantations (58bii), and promote the
regeneration and restoration of degraded forest areas (58biii)
F - Technology transfer
Under this title, the Panel lists a series of actions which involve research as much as technology transfer.
Actually, the priorities identified by the Panel include information dissemination to improve forest
land-use planning and improvement of forest yields; technology and methods that reduce environmental
damages due to current forestry practices; conservation and protection, rehabilitation and restoration
of natural forest ecosystems, reforestation and nursery development; technology and methods for
retaining forest values, including biological diversity; incorporation of indigenous knowledge in forest
management, utilisation, rehabilitation, restoration and regeneration of natural forest ecosystems; new
and renewable sources of energy, in particular fuelwood and its appropriate substitutes; environmentally
sound forest harvesting technologies; enhancement of technologies regarding wood processing, and the
development of new non-wood and wood forest products, to promote techniques and design in order to
add more aggregate value for forest products; and development and implementation of national forest
strategies (67).
G - Forest research
The Panel recognized the need to strengthen research, which was relevant to all the programme elements
of its programme of
work (82)2. More precisely, the Panel recognised :
H - Valuation of the multiple benefits of forests
Losses due to deforestation or forest conversion should be evaluated in financial terms (87). Some
methods already exist, but the Panel considers they are too complex for widespread application. It
emphasized that innovative and simple scientific valuation methods were needed (91), which take into
acount the following criteria : neutrality and scientific validity, practical applicability, simplicity and
clarity, multidisciplinarity, cost-effectiveness, orientation towards currently non-marketable goods and
services (92).
I - Forest products and services
The Panel recognized that there was inadequate information on both domestic and international trade in
non-wood products and forest services. Further studies and data gathering are needed to overcome these
gaps in future (107).
Additional efforts should be geared towards promoting efficient and environmentally sound downstream
processing industries and exports of processed products, consistent with sustainable forest management
(110).
1 Quotations are in italics. The figures refer to the relevant paragraphs of the report quoted.
2 We thank the Panel for this justification of the work of ETFRN.
countries and international, regional and national research organizations to identify and undertake
priority research activities, in response to the needs of society, that build upon existing scientific and
traditional knowledge, emphasizing the need for applied research, and to widely disseminate results
to all interested parties in a timely fashion" (Antalya Declaration).
The Antalya Declaration is phrased in very general terms, but nevertheless insists on some points, in
addition to the one just quoted; which will help us in identifying research priorities. The following points
in particular may contribute to our definition of objectives:
The participants call on:
Below, research areas are indicated, derived from the conclusions of the various themes discussed at the Congress.
A - Forest and tree resources
There is a need for an increased effort to better assess the resources, especially to increase the precision
and reliability of information and to harmonise it. Geographic Information Systems are seen as a useful
tool for identifying agroforestry patterns at the landscape level and for better understanding the
management strategies at the farm level.
Research in agroforestry should be intensified, particularly research on the socio-economic factors
influencing the adoption and management of agroforestry systems.
Urban forestry uses specific techniques which require proper research, for tree establishment, tree
maintenance, inventory and monitoring, and forest protection and management. Urban forestry should
be developed, if only for human health reasons.
Concerning the greenhouse effect, the Congress agreed on the need for new methods for the estimation
of atmospheric and forest-stored carbon.
Forest health is threatened by insects and diseases. Biological control options are to be considered. There
is a need to record native natural enemies of insects; The advantages or disadvantages of planting mixed
species ... were discussed..... This needs scientific underpinning. There is also a need for research on
causes and extent of fires.
B - Forests, biological diversity and maintenance of natural heritage
Forest ecosystems conservation calls for a good understanding of land use and its evolution. Planning
conservation is essential, as it is important to consider medium and long term perspectives.
There is an urgent need to demonstrate that conservation of biological diversity is compatible with
managed utilization and that it could bring benefits in the short as well as in the long term. The
non-market values should be considered.
There is a need for research on modelling biological diversity and its changes, including those due to
socio-economic factors. New biotechnologies could be adapted and used as tools in the improvement and
breeding of tree forest genetic resources.
C - Protective and environmental functions of forests
Mountain hydrology is not well known. More research is needed on wetlands, and especially mangroves.
D - Productive functions of forests
Productive functions of forests are often not fully or adequately understood, much more research is
needed, both basic and applied in order to better understand these productive functions and increase the
multi-facetted benefits from the forests.
Plantations are expected to expand in the tropical countries. There is a need for sound silvicultural
practices and good quality planting stock, and for increased attention to the protection of forest
plantations, and to investigate the potential of new species, and improve the processing of small sizes of
logs and the monitoring of timber properties of species ... subject to different management practices.
Silviculture is a corner stone in efforts to better understand and in achieving sustainable forest
management. There is a great need for better quality data generated by research in forest management
and silviculture which can be applied in making proper forest management decisions.
The participants recommended that more attention should be provided to R&D of technologies and their
transfer to the main users for the rational production trade marketing and use of NWFPs (non-timber/wood forest products).
New technologies in the forestry and energy sector should be propagated and implemented. New models
and approaches of forest inventories for estimating biomass base for energy use of forest and non-forest
lands should be disseminated and applied.
E - The economic contribution of forestry to sustainable development
Especially in developing countries, forest products research institutes need recognition from government
and industry, to guarantee continued progress in their challenging work.
Mechanisms must be developed to ensure that decisions reflect the value of positive externalities and the
cost of negative externalities. Three basic categories of forest values are : direct use values that include
consumptives and non consumptive uses; indirect use value such as environmental services; and passive
use values, such as existence, option and bequest value.
F - Social dimensions of forestry's contribution to sustainable development
The range of goods and services provided for by forestry is expanding. The material and non-material
services should be evaluated. Indigenous knowledge ... should be better integrated with scientific
knowledge.
For sustainable management to be attained, conservation of forest resources must be linked with the
development needs of rural populations dependent on those resources.
The guiding principles for conflict resolution include the recognition and respect for local rights,
knowledge and value; development and implementation of clear and transparent procedures for
addressing conflicts; adoption of a participatory process for development,... encouragement of
management for multiple use of forest and trees to meet the needs and values of diverse users, giving
priority to communities and people directly dependent on these resources.
Improvement and research is needed in forest communication and extension. The foresters should be
trained in that matter.
G - Policies, institutions and means for sustainable forestry development
There is a need to identify proper mechanisms or instruments to enhance active participation in the
process of forestry sector planning. The forestry sector should be better linked and integrated with other
sectors.
Links between education and research should be stronger.
There is a need for more socio-economic and policy research, and for a more integrated and participatory
approach, involving the users from the programming and the inception phases of the research process.
Transfer of information should be improved not only horizontally, among scientists, but also vertically
to better reach policy makers ... and end-users. Thus new effort in communication is necessary.
H - Eco-regional reviews
Dry tropical forests are of major importance to nearly one billion people ... who build most of their
livelihood on the multiple use of these formations... These formations are however not adequately
managed and as yet receive inadequate attention and investment.
Rain forest management strategies applied should be environmentally sound and economically viable.
Research efforts to increase biological knowledge and refine management methodologies ... should be
continued and reinforced : research on ecology, silviculture, management and functioning of these
ecosystems and the species which were housed in them. Research on forces underlying ecosystem
dynamics and evolutionary change.
Research methods, as far as possible, should be standardized to facilitate international dialogue and the
sharing of results in a meaningful manner.
III - Tropical Forestry Research: Priorities for the 5th Framework Programme on Research and Development
(FPRD)
The IPF and World Forestry Congress reports present the opinions of people in charge of forest services
and managers. They express the demands made by people who make use of the results of our work. This
principle is vitally important to our way of thinking, if we intend our work to be partly legitimated by its
relevance for development. The other basic principle of our reflection has to be of a scientific nature. It
consists of distinguishing - among the list of requests received - which fields will have the benefit of a
supplementary input of scientific knowledge, and what contribution may be made by research in addition
to the vital importance of experience.
I hereby propose that the priorities for research in the 5th FPRD be centered around four major themes.
It is a suggestion and no more than that. Adjustments may be made to these themes, as to their number,
nature and contents, according to the comments and suggestions we hope to receive.
A - Evaluation of the forests
Ever since FAO published their forestry statistics in 1980 and 1990, we have been accustomed to
perceiving forests on a global level. They also contributed to reinforce the demand for information in this
field. The evaluation envisaged for the reference year 2000 ('FRA 2000', i.e. Forest Resource Assessment)
will therefore have to be more comprehensive than in previous reports. It will discuss ecosystems as well
as areas covered; and non timber forest products in addition to wood resources. By presenting a larger
amount of information, it will also further increase our thirst for information. On the other hand, the
demand for forest valuation in view of management and environmental planning is becoming increasingly
pressing: what profits do we gain from the forests in monetary terms and otherwise, but also, what is their
value, what do we stand to lose as a result of deforestation? Therefore, the following themes may be
considered to have priority:
B - Conservation, planning and development
Nowadays, the view is generally accepted that conservation should not be separated from management
for economic purposes, and that inhabitants should play an important role in the management and
conservation of their forests. As a result of this decentralised approach, several questions arise: how to
ensure coherence between local objectives, national politics and international ' demands'? How to achieve
a balance between short, medium and long term objectives? How to guarantee the sustainability of forest
management on the basis of private ownership? The following research themes may therefore be
considered to have priority:
C - Traditional knowledge
Being a logical complement of the decentralisation of forest management, the present day fancy for
traditional knowledge challenges researchers, for several reasons. Firstly one should try to comprehend,
sort out the fashionable aspects and 'find out about' what should be transferred into the field of science.
The work at hand therefore consists of collecting this kind of knowledge, and making an inventory. One
should also try to see what effect the implementation of this traditional knowledge may have on forests.
Consequently, the following research themes may be considered to have priority:
D - Improvement of productivity
It is generally expected that the demand for forest products, especially wood,will grow in the course of
the next decades. As forest areas are reduced, the pressure will mount and consequently the need for
complementary production, i.e. from plantations, will grow. As a result of management decentralisation,
foresters are drawn closer to consumers. New harvesting methods may be envisaged, and production may
be fine-tuned to demand. Consequently, the following themes for research may be considered to have
priority:
François Grison
Montpellier, 28 November 1997