At , Julio Cesar Centeno , Multiple recipients of list FOREST <FORES wrote: >At 10:37 7/11/97 -0400, Julio Cesar Centeno wrote: >>* >> CRITERIA AND INDICATORS FOR THE >> >> SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF AMAZON FORESTS >> >> Julio César Centeno >> >> International Conference on Global Approaches to >> Sustainable Forest Management, Certification, Criteria and >> Indicators. >> >> Prince George, Canada >> September 1997 >> >>INTRODUCTION >> >>The Amazon forests are among the most valuable legacies of humanity. >>They cover over 560 million hectares, about 10 times the size of France. >>They represent a third of all tropical forests left on Earth (1660 >>million ha, FAO 1997), and 16 percent of the forest reserves of the >>planet (3450 million ha, FAO 1997). >> >>The Amazon Cooperation Treaty is an international agreement subscribed >>by 8 countries: Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, >>Suriname and Guyana, with a total surface of 13.6 million square >>kilometers, about one-and-a-half times the size of the United States of >>America. The treaty applies to all territories in the Amazon River >>basin, as well as to those territories with closely linked geographic, >>ecological or economic characteristics. Amazonia is thus a territory >>stretching over 725 million hectares, of which nearly 80 percent is >>covered by forests. >> >>Amazon forests are also among the most important resources on which the >>countries of the region depend to establish sustainable development >>models. The multiplicity of goods and services they provide, as well as >>their important reserves in timber, minerals, water, energy, biological >>and genetic resources, make them essential to the economic and social >>stability of the region. >> >>One of the most important and perplexing characteristics of Amazon >>forests is the impressive complexity of their ecosystems. They have been >>estimated to contain at least half of all plant and animal species left >>on Earth. Biological diversity is associated to a wide variety of >>microclimates and environments, in which astonishing life forms and >>associations may be found. >> >>Among the general characteristics of Amazon forests is the vulnerability >>of the soils upon which they stand. Most are infertile, acidic, highly >>susceptible to erosion, poor in phosphates, and with a high degree of >>toxicity due to aluminum contents. They are also usually weak and >>shallow, with a low content of nutrients. Only about 10 percent is >>considered fertile, appropriate for permanent agriculture, and >>fractionated in dispersed lots throughout the region. >> >>Nonetheless, Amazon forests have developed a delicate but resilient >>mechanisms of survival, centered upon the recycling of its own organic >>matter and water resources, as well as in a highly effective use of >>its own exuberance and diversity. This takes place with such efficiency >>that the net loss of nutrients is practically null. >> >>Deforestation and forest degradation has become a key political and >>environmental concern for Amazon countries. Forests have been destroyed >>and converted to other uses at alarming rates over the past 20 years. >>During the decade of the 80s, the aggregate deforestation in these >>countries took place at the rate of over 6 million hectares per year, >>amounting to nearly 40 percent of all yearly forest loss registered in >>the tropics during that decade (FAO, 1993). Between 1990 and 1995 >>deforestation reached 4.3 million hectares per year, over eight hectares >>each minute (FAO 1997). >> >>Estimates of the proportion of Amazon forests lost to date range from 10 >>to 20 percent. >> >>The need to control deforestation has become a fundamental component of >>efforts to achieve sustainable models of development. So is the need to >>make the best possible use of the potential of forests to contribute to >>the economic and social development of the region. The definition of >>viable mechanism for the sustainable management of Amazon forests is >>thus seen with great interest, not only by the countries of the region, >>but by the international community as a whole. >> >>DEVELOPMENT OF CRITERIA FOR THE SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF AMAZON >>FORESTS. >> >>The members of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty have endorsed the key >>commitments made at the United Nations Conference on Environment and >>Development, which took place in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Of particular >>relevance are the commitments of Chapter 11 of Agenda 21, the Rio >>Declaration on Environment and Development, and the Declaration of >>Principles for a Global Consensus on the Management, Conservation and >>Sustainable Development of All Types of Forests. >> >>Furthermore, article One of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty establishes >>the commitment to a joint effort by the contractual parties to promote >>the harmonious development of their respective portions of Amazonia, in >>order to generate mutually beneficial results, the protection of the >>environment, and the conservation and rational utilization of the >>natural resources of this territory. >> >>The members of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty are also signatories of the >>International Tropical Timber Agreement. They are therefore bound by the >>commitments reached within this international instrument. Of particular >>relevance are: >> >>a.The management of production forests according to the "ITTO Guidelines >>for the Sustainable Management of Natural Tropical Forests". >> >>b.The establishment and management of plantations according to the "ITTO >>Guidelines for the Establishment and Sustainable Management of Planted >>Tropical Forests". >> >>c.The application of the "Criteria for the Measurement of Sustainable >>Tropical Forest Management" >> >>d.The application of the "ITTO Guidelines on the Conservation of >>Biological Diversity in Tropical Production Forests" >> >>e.The ITTO Objective 2000, according to which, by the year 2000, all >>exports of tropical timber should come from forests managed according to >>the guidelines and criteria mentioned above. >> >>Within this context, the country members of the Amazon Cooperation >>Treaty have agreed to a collective effort to develop a common set of >>criteria for the sustainable management of Amazon forests. It is >>recognized that the end product should be compatible with the key >>commitments reached within the International Tropical Timber >>Organization, as well as with the agreements of the Rio Summit. >> >>The implementation of this process must take into consideration the >>parallel and complementary development of equivalent commitments by >>other regions of the world. The progress and implementation of the >>Montreal process and the Helsinki agreement are developments that need >>to be taken into consideration, to ensure the equitable participation of >>all countries in the global commitment for the conservation and >>sustainable management of all forest resources. >> >>In must be considered that tropical countries have made a formal >>commitment, through an international agreement under the auspices of the >>United Nations systems, to sustainable manage their production >>forests by the year 2000. The same can not be said for other regions of >>the world, particularly for temperate countries. In addition, the >>commitments made by tropical countries through the International >>Tropical Timber Agreement have been made with full, open and equitable >>participation by all countries, tropical and non-tropical. The same can >>not be said for the Montreal and Helsinki agreements for the definition >>of criteria for the sustainable management of temperate forests. >> >>CRITERIA AND INDICATORS >> >>The members of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty have agreed on the >>following initial set of criteria and indicators for the sustainable >>management of Amazon forests. These have been designed through a >>common effort by the eight countries of the region, and are at the >>moment subject to processes of national consultations. >> >>It is recognized that this set of criteria and indicators need further >>harmonization, as well as their organization in a conceptual framework >>better compatible with the ITTO guidelines, as well as with possible >>global agreements on the subject. >> >>The result of the national consultations now in progress will facilitate >>the adaptation of these criteria to the specific conditions of each >>member country. It is expected that the consultations will conclude in a >>practical and viable set of criteria and indicators to guarantee the >>sustainable management of forests in the Amazon region. >> >>>From the final set of criteria, forest management standards are expected >>to be developed by each country of the region. >> >>The following criteria and indicators have been defined at three >>different levels of compliance: at the national level, at the management >>unit level, and at the global level. >> >>CRITERIA AND INDICATORS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL >> >>CRITERION 1: SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFITS >> >>Indicators of Income, Production and Consumption >> >>a. Economic profitability of the management and sustainable use of >>forests. >>b. Sustainable production, consumption and extraction of forest >>products. >>c. Values of forest products from sustainable sources, and from >>unsustainable sources, as percentages of the Gross National Product. >>d. Employment, direct and indirect income, from sustainable activities >>in the forestry sector, and generation of forest-based employment in >>relation to the total at the national level. >>e. Average per capita income in the different activities of the forestry >>sector. >>f. Efficiency and competitiveness of forest product production and >>processing systems. >>g. Impact of the economic use of forests on the availability of forest >>resources of importance to local populations. >>h. Relationship between direct and indirect uses of forests. >> >>Indicators of Investment and Economic Growth in the Forestry Sector >> >>a. Proportion of annual investment in plantations, sustainable forest >>management and conservation, in relation to total forest sector >>investment. >>b. Level of added-value in the production of forest products from >>sustainable sources. >>c. Rates of return on investment of the array of sustainable economic >>activities in the forestry sector, in relation to other sectors of the >>economy, considering all costs and benefits. >>d. Rate of increase of sustainable tourism and recreational activities. >> >>Indicators of Cultural, Social and Spiritual Needs and Values >> >>a. Area and percentage of forestlands, in relation to total forest >>lands, managed to protect cultural, social and spiritual needs and >>values. >>b. Area and percentage of forestlands used to supply goods and services >>to local populations. >>c. Level of participation of local populations in the management and in >>the benefits generated by forest activities. >>d. Development of productive alternatives to illicit crops and mining. >> >>CRITERION 2: POLICIES AND LEGAL-INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE >>SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF FORESTS >> >>Indicators >> >>a. Appropriate political and legal framework to stimulate sustainable >>development as a joint effort between the various levels of government >>and non-governmental organizations. >>b. Policies and legal framework for environmental planning through >>ecological-economic zoning. >>c. Capacity to implement international instruments of which the country >>is signatory. >>d. Harmonization and implementation of existing legislation in the >>country. >> >>CRITERION 3: SUSTAINABLE FOREST PRODUCTION >> >>Indicators >> >>a. Extension and proportion of forestlands and forests dedicated to >>sustainable production, in relation to the total permanent production >>area. >>b. Quantity and proportion of sustainable forest production, in >>comparison to total forest production in the country. >>c. Quantity and proportion of sustainable production units, classified >>by size, in comparison with the total number of production units in the >>country. >>d. Area and percentage of forestlands managed for recreation and >>tourism, in relation to the total forest area in the country. >>e. Level of diversification of sustainable forest production. >> >>CRITERION 4: CONSERVATION OF FOREST COVER AND OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY >> >>Indicators >> >>a. Forest area, by forest type, in protected areas, in relation to total >>forest area. >>b. Measures for in-situ conservation of species in danger of extinction. >>c. Measures for the conservation of genetic resources. >>d. Area and percentage of forests affected by processes or other agents, >>such as insect attacks, diseases, fire and floods, among others. >>e. Rate of natural regeneration, species composition and survival. >>f. Rate of conversion of forests to other uses. >>g. Area and percentage of forestlands with fundamental ecological >>changes. >>h. Impact of activities in other sectors on the conservation of forest >>ecosystems (mining, agriculture, cattle ranching, energy, >>infrastructure, etc). >> >>CRITERION 5: CONSERVATION AND INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF WATER AND SOIL >>RESOURCES. >> >>Indicators >> >>a. Measures for soil conservation. >>b. Area and percentage of forestlands managed for environmental >>protection. >>c. Proportion of water resources in forest areas, in relation to the >>historical range of variation, and maintenance of the relationship >>between forests and hydro-biological resources. >>d. Effects of forest conservation on the integrated management of water >>resources. >> >>CRITERION 6: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF >>FORESTS >> >>Indicators >> >>a. Quantity and quality of adequate technology for forest management and >>sustainable production. >>b. Level of recuperation and degree of use of autochthonous >>technologies. >>c. Investment in research, education and technology transfer. >>d. Quantity and quality of research and development projects under >>execution. >>e. Remuneration mechanisms for traditional knowledge. >>f. Degree of access to technology and information, by different sectors >>of society. >> >>CRITERION 7: INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE >>DEVELOPMENT IN AMAZONIA >> >>Indicators >> >>a. Quantity and quality of institutions, and of their intersectorial and >>inter-institutional coordination. >>b. Existence of plans and their degree of execution. >>c. Quantity and quality of education and research programs. >>d. Degree of effective participation by civil society (academic >>institutions, grassroots groups, NGOs, trade unions and the private >>sector). >> >>CRITERIA AND INDICATORS AT THE MANAGEMENT-UNIT LEVEL >> >>CRITERION 8: LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK >> >>Indicators >> >>a. Forest management plan approved by competent authorities. >>b. Periodicity of evaluation of the implementation of the management >>plan, and level of accomplishment. >>c. Legal framework to guarantee the stability of long-term investments >>in the forestry sector. >> >>CRITERION 9: SUSTAINABLE FOREST PRODUCTION >> >>Indicators >> >>a. Annual production of timber and non-timber forest products compatible >>with the sustainable capacity of the resource base. >>b. Area and percentage of forest soils affected by significant >>alterations in physical-chemical properties and erosion. >>c. Effectiveness of systems of administration and control. >>d. Degree of diversification of production. >>e. Degree of utilization of environmentally friendly technologies. >> >>CRITERION 10: CONSERVATION OF FOREST ECOSYSTEMS >> >>Indicators >> >>a. Proportion of the forest area under permanent production, in relation >>to the forest area under environmental protection. >>b. Measures to protect, recuperate and sustainably use wild populations >>of species in danger of extinction. >>c. Area and percentage of forests affected by processes or other natural >>agents (insect attack, disease, fire, etc) and by human actions. >>d. Rates of regeneration and structure of forest ecosystems. >>e. Soil conservation measures. >>f. Measures for the protection of watercourses from forest activities. >> >>CRITERION 11: LOCAL SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFITS >> >>Indicators >> >>a. Quality of life of local human populations. >>b. Profitability and rate of return of forest management. >>c. Efficiency of forest products production and processing systems. >>d. Impact of the economic use of forests on the availability of forest >>resources of importance to local populations. >>e. Amount of direct and indirect employment, and level of income. >>f. Nature and quantity of benefits derived from forest management. >>g. Annual quantity of extracted products per hectare. >>h. Aggregate value of forest production. >>i. Mechanisms for consultation and for the effective participation of >>local communities in the management of forest resources, depending upon >>the scale of management. >> >>CRITERIA AND INDICATORS FOR SERVICES AT THE GLOBAL LEVEL >> >>CRITERION 12: ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES >>PERFORMED BY AMAZONIAN FORESTS >> >>Indicators >> >>a. Contribution to the supply of the global demand for sustainable >>produced timber and non-timber forest products. >>b. Contribution to the global carbon balance. >>c. Contribution to the global water cycle. >>d. Contribution to the conservation of biological diversity. >>e. Contribution to radiation balance and regulation. >>f. Contribution to the maintenance of cultural values and diversity, and >>to the conservation of indigenous and local populations' knowledge. >>g. Contribution to the economy, health, culture, science and recreation. >> >> >>_______________________________________________ >>Julio Cesar Centeno, PhD >>Las Tapias, Edif. Carreto >>Pent House Tel. +58-74-714576 >>PO Box 750 Fax +58-74-714576 >>Merida - Venezuela Email: JCenteno@ciens.ula.ve >>http://www.ciens.ula.ve/~jcenteno/ >>_______________________________________________ >> >>
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