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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