Note 238 WG1/CRP14/Rev.2: Deforestation unced 2:42 am Jan 16, 1992 From: UNCED Subject: WG1/CRP14/Rev.2: Deforestation WGI/CRP.14/REV.2: DEFORESTATION Distr. GENERAL A/CONF.151/PC/WG.I/CRP.14/Rev.2 13 December 1991 Original: ENGLISH PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT Fourth session New York, 2 March-3 April 1992 Working Group I Item 3 (a) of provisional agenda PREPARATIONS FOR THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT ON THE BASIS OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 44/228 AND TAKING INTO ACCOUNT OTHER RELEVANT GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTIONS: Report of the Secretary-General of the Conference LAND RESOURCES: DEFORESTATION A non-legally binding authoritative statement of principles for a global consensus on the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests The present document reflects the results of the discussions held at the third session of the Preparatory Committee on the basis of Document A/CONF.151/PC/65 Guiding Principles for a Consensus on Forests and A/CONF.151/PC/WG.I/L.22, a non-legally binding authoritative statement of principles for a global consensus on the management, conservation and development of all types of forest proposal submitted by Ghana on behalf of the States members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77. In its decision 3/15, the Preparatory Committee, at its fourth session (A/46/48/Part II, Decision 3/15) < Para.1, Recalled its decision 2/13, and also recalled that there had been in-depth discussion at its present session on such a text as contained in the draft on contact group discussions on land resources: deforestation (A/CONF.151/PC/WG.I/CRP.14) and that comments or additions submitted by Governments to the Chairman during the third session would be included in a revision to that document, which would be considered at the fourth session of the Preparatory Committee;>. Furthermore (3/15 Forests, para 4 (a)), the Preparatory Committee decided that at the fourth session < Negotiations should take place on a set of authoritative principles on the management, conservation and sustainable development of forests...>. The document reproduces, without changes, the content of document A/CONF.151/PC/WG.I/CRP.14/Rev.1 issued on 3 September 1991. PREAMBLE (a) The subject of [ forests and ] [ forestry ] is related to the entire gamut of environmental and development issues and opportunities including [ poverty and ] [ the right to ] economic development. (b) Forestry issues and opportunities should be examined in a holistic and balanced manner within the overall context of environment and development, taking into consideration the multiple uses of forests, including traditional uses, and the likely economic and social stress when these uses are constrained or restricted, as well as the potential for development that sustainable forest management can offer. (c) The UNCED process is the most appropriate forum for conclusive decisions pertaining to global consensus on forests [ which should form the basis for [ any subsequent preparations and adoption of a legal instrument on forests ] [ all other negotiations involving forests ]]. (d) The guiding objective of these principles is to achieve the management, conservation and sustainable development of forests, and to provide for their multiple and complementary uses. CAPITALIZED text denote proposals additional to CRP.14 received by the Secretariat up to 3 September 1991. (e) [ These principles should apply to all existing [ and future] forests: austral, boreal, temperate, sub-tropical and tropical. ] (f) [ The global consensus on forests should complement and be [co-ordinated] [consistent] with other international initiatives with implications for aspects of forestry, notably the climate change and biodiversity conventions, and existing conventions or treaties.] (g) [ All types of forests embody complex and unique ecological processes which are the basis for their present and potential capacity to provide resources to satisfy human needs and as such their sound management and conservation is of concern to the Governments of the countries in which they located. ] (h) FORESTS ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE SURVIVAL OF LIFE. STATES HAVE ALWAYS MODIFIED THEIR FOREST AREAS IN ORDER TO MEET THEIR NEEDS. THE EXTENSIVE HISTORICAL DEFORESTATION BY DEVELOPED COUNTRIES CONTRIBUTED TO THEIR ECONOMIC GROWTH. DEFORESTATION CONTINUES BECAUSE THE CAUSATIVE FACTORS ARE NOT EASILY ELEMINIATED AS THEY ARE PRIMARILY RELATED TO THE UNSUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION PATTERNS IN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, INADEQUATE PRICES FOR FOREST PRODUCE BELOW THE FULL REPLACEMENT COST, DEBT BURDEN AND POVERTY OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. DEVELOPED COUNTRIES HAVE THE MAIN RESPONSIBILITY FOR RESTORING AND MAINTAINING AN ADEQUATE LEVEL OF GLOBAL FOREST COVER. THIS RESPONSIBILITY APPLIES BOTH WITHIN THEIR TERRITORY AS WELL AS TO COMPENSATE EFFORTS BY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WITHOUT ANY CONDITIONALITY. PRINCIPLES / ELEMENTS 1. (a) Reaffirm Principle 21 of the Stockholm Declaration - "States have, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law, the sovereign right to exploit their own resources pursuant to their own environmental policies, and the responsibility to ensure that activities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to the environment of other States or of areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction." (b) Forest resources and forest lands should be managed in such a manner as to meet human needs for present and future generations. (c) [ The burden of ] The incremental cost of forest conservation and [ sustainable ] development requires increased international cooperation [ and should be equitably shared by the international community ] [ is the responsibility of all countries ]. (d) STATES HAVE THE RIGHT TO DEVELOP THEIR FORESTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR NEEDS AND LEVEL OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 2. (a) [[Forests include [all types of ligneous vegetation including trees and shrubs, either in large or isolated stands] areas under permanent vegetative cover, ecosystems and may house human settlements]. States have the [sovereign] [inalienable] right to [determine the ownership pattern and] utilize, manage and develop their forests in accordance with their development needs and on the basis of national land-use policies consistent with sustainable development and legislation including the need to convert such areas for other uses within the overall socio-economic development plan based on rational land-use policies.] (b) Forests should be sustainably managed to meet present and future social, economic, ecological, cultural and spiritual human needs for wood and wood products, water, food, fodder, medicine, fuel, shelter, recreation, habitats for wildlife, landscape diversity and other minor forest products. Forests should be protected against harmful effects of air pollution, fires, pests and diseases, [ to the extent that is ecologically and economically feasible]. (c) [The provision by Governments of the] timely and accurate flow of information on forests and forest ecosystems is essential for public understanding and informed decision making and should be ensured. (d) Governments should ensure and promote the popular participation of interested parties including local communities, industries, labour, non-governmental organizations and individuals, forest dwellers and women in the development, implementation and planning of national forest policies [and more generally in the decision making process for the conservation and sustainable development of forests] [as this] is essential [to ensure that these truly respond to local, national and international requirements.] 3. (a) National policies and strategies should provide a framework for increased efforts including the development and strengthening of programmes and institutions for conservation and sustainable development of forests and forest lands. (b) All aspects of environmental protection and social and economic development as they relate to forests and forest lands should be integrated and comprehensive. (c) [Adequate international and national regulations should be introduced in order to avoid foreign or national exploitation which lead to deterioration or destruction of forests.] (d) Each state has [ SHOULD ] the responsibility to establish plans [ including individual targets and time frames ] FOR THE MANAGEMENT, CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF ALL TYPES OF FORESTS, according to national needs and circumstances to achieve country specific objectives and to focus international cooperation. 4. The vital role of all types of forests in maintaining the ecological balance at local, national, regional and global levels, in particular their role in protecting fragile ecosystems, watersheds and freshwater resources, and as rich storehouses of biodiversity AND SOURCES OF GENETIC MATERIAL FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS should be recognized and inform national and international action on sustainable development. 5. (a) The wide range of social and economic functions of all types of forests including use by forest dwellers, local communities and indigenous people who sustain forest resources, should be respected and recognized and taken into account in national policies. [ Appropriate conditions for local communities to perform economic activities and [ achieve and maintain adequate levels of livelihood, social well-being and cultural identity ]] should be promoted. (b) National forest policy should recognize and respect the rights and interests of forest dwellers, local communities and indigenous people who rely on forests to maintain their livelihood, social organization and cultural identity, as well as their need to have an economic stake in forest use. (c) The full participation of women in all aspects of management, conservation and sustainable development of forests should be actively promoted [ especially in developing countries]. (d) FOREST CONTRIBUTE TO MEETING BASIC ECONOMIC NEEDS INCLUDING REQUIREMENT OF WOOD, FOOD SECURITY, AND ALLEVIATION OF POVERTY. AFFORESTATION AND DEFORESTATION ALOS PROVIDES A POTENTIAL FOR EMPLOYMENT GENERATION. 6. (a) All types of forest play an important role in meeting energy requirements through the provision of a renewable source of bio-energy, particularly in developing countries and the demands for fuelwood for household and industrial needs should be met in ways that [[ avoid ] [ MINIMIZE ] deforestation and degradation of forests] [ through sustainable forest management and reforestation ]. To this end the potential contribution of plantations of both indigenous and introduced species for the provision of both fuel and industrial wood, should be recognized. (b) The demands for fuelwood for household and industrial needs should be met in ways that avoid deforestation and degradation of forests. (c) All forests provide a broad range of goods and services and [ any ] decisions taken on the USE development and conservation of FOREST RESOURCES forest areas should be based on a full economic accounting, assessment and valuation of these goods and services as well as the environmental costs and benefits. (d) IT IS RECOGNIZED THAT PLANTATION FORESTRY, WHILE ASSISTING REGIONAL EMPLOYMENT AND DEVELOPMENT, OFFERS A SUSTAINABLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND SOURCE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL RAW MATERIAL, WATERSHED PROTECTION AND AN EFFECTIVE CARBON SINK. 7. (a) Efforts should be made to promote a supportive international economic climate conducive to sustained and environmentally sound development of forests in all countries, [ which include, INTER ALIA, change in the unsustainable patterns of production and consumption particularly in industrialized countries, [ the eradication of poverty and the promotion of food security in developing countries ]]. (b) National and international policies and programmes aimed at forest conservation and sustainable development should take fully into account environmental benefits of forests and all aspects related to extraction via conversion, distribution, marketing, demand, consumption, recycling and final disposal of forest products, as well as cultural, social and environmental benefits of forests. (c) FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR ECONOMIC ADJUSTMENT SHOULD BE PROVIDED FOR THE OTHER SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WITH SUBSTANTIVE FOREST COVER WHICH SET ASIDE MORE THAN THEIR FAIR SHARE OF UNDISTURBED FORESTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSERVATION. (d) ANY LOSSES INCURRED BY TRADITIONAL USERS IN RESERVING CERTAIN FORESTS OR MODIFYING EXISTING FOREST LAND USE IN MEETING ENVIRONMENTAL NEED SHOULD BE COMPENSATED. 8. (a) Efforts should be undertaken towards the greening of the world [ jointly and individually ] by all countries [ particularly in developed countries, which have in the past so destroyed their extensive forests and continue to do so by acid rains [ and the increase in the production of green house gases ], to increase their forest cover ] through reforestation and afforestation [ and conservation of existing forests ], as well as retaining existing forest cover where appropriate. (b) Efforts to maintain and increase forest cover and forest productivity should be undertaken in ecologically, economically and socially sound ways through the rehabilitation, reforestation and re-establishment of trees and forests on unproductive, degraded and deforested lands, as well as through the management of existing forest resources. (c) [ The implementation of national policies and programmes aimed at forest conservation and sustainable development [ in developing countries] [ should be supported by international financial and technical cooperation ] [ requires provisions of financial and technical support ].] (d) [ Appropriate international institutional arrangements, [ building on ] [ taking into account ] those organizations and mechanisms already in existence, [ should facilitate ] [ the implementation of national policies and programmes ] [ of the global consensus, and supervise ] provide mechanisms to [ follow ] [ monitor ] and participate in its implementation, to assess progress and to co-ordinate international action.] (e) [ Forest management and utilization of forests should be carried out in accordance with [internationally accepted] environmentally sound [ NATIONAL ] guidelines which include effective policies for regeneration.] (f) [ Plans for forest management should be integrated with management of adjacent areas, so as to maintain ecological integrity and sustainable productivity.] (g) [ National policies and legislation aimed at management, conservation and development of forests should include the protection of representative and unique examples of native forests [CULTURAL, HISTORICAL, RELIGIOUS AND OTHER UNIQUE VALUED FORESTS OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE].] (h) [Availability of biological resources including genetic material shall be with due regard to sovereign rights of the countries where the forest are located and sharing of technology and profits of bio-technology products, for example pharmaceutical, derived from these resources. ] (i) [ National policies should ensure that environmental impact assessments are carried out where policies or programmes pose major potential threats to important forest areas. ] 9. (a) [ The external indebtedness, in particular in developing countries, [ the phenomenon of net transfer of resources from developing to developed countries ] the inaccurate economic valuation of forest products and the lack of effective market forces are among the major factors that reduce the capacity and ability of [ developing ] countries to manage, conserve and develop their forest resources and national and international policies should be devised to redress such problems in the broader context of a supportive international economic environment.] (b) [ A number of problems that negatively affect the efforts to attain the conservation and sustainable use of forest ecosystems stem from the factual lack of alternative options available to poor rural populations. Unless those options, in the form of adequate prices for the products of sustainable use and technical aid, [and the development of appropriate and environmental friendly industrial capability ] are provided in an internationally cooperative manner, no efforts in restriction of forest use will succeed.] (c) [ A number of problems that negatively affect the efforts to attain the conservation and sustainable use of forest ecosystems stem from the factual Lack of alternative options available to poor rural populations. Unless those options, in the form of [ alternative sources of forest products are provided to the rural population in the manner of international support, adequate financial and technical help ] no efforts in restriction of forest use will succeed.] (d) [ Policy formulation with respect to forests should take account of the pressures imposed on forest ecosystems from causes outside the forest sector both domestically and internationally.] (e) The lack of alternative options available to local communities in particular the poor populations economically and socially dependent on forest and forest ecosystems should be addressed. 10. (a) [ Developing countries should be compensated for their opportunity cost foregone [ including historical loss of primary forest cover, ] and the comparatively higher cost entailed [ in the short term ] by ] [ international cooperation is required to assist developing countries in meeting the higher cost entailed in ] [ increasing forest cover as well as sustainable management and conservation of their forest resources [in order to maintain biological diversity and climatic stability ].] (b) [ Priority should be given to those forestry activities which are economically and socially necessary to meet national needs. Special assistance may need to be provided where developing countries incur in costs in pursuing activities for the global rather than the national good ]. (c) [ The incremental costs of the special types of forest for conserving biodiversity and counter green-house emissions gas emissions should be covered by global funding. These funds should be new and additional.] 11. [[ New ] [ Adequate ] and additional ] financial resources should be provided to developing countries through [ existing mechanisms both bilateral and multilateral ] [ a global fund ] to enable them to sustainably manage, [enhance] , conserve and develop their forests' resources including afforestation, reforestation and combating deforestation, forest and land degradation. 12. [ The transfer of environmentally sound [APPROPRIATE] technology to developing countries ], [ Technology cooperation in environmentally sound technologies ] [ including on concessional and preferential terms ], [ Joint development of technology relevant to the conservation and sustainable utilization of biological diversity, including genetic material in gene banks, as well as those technologies that make use of forest resources including biological resources and genetic material for other purposes such as pharmaceuticals, etc. ] should be promoted to enable developing countries to enhance their endogenous capacity, and to better manage, conserve and develop their forest resources. 13. (a) Scientific research including forest inventories and assessments, which takes into account the biological, physical, social, economic [ and other relevant key variables ] carried out by national institutions and the technological development as well as its application in the field of sustainable forest management, conservation and development should be strengthen through effective modalities including international cooperation. In this context attention should also be given to research and development of sustainably harvested non-wood products (b) [ National, and where appropriate, regional and international institutional capabilities in education, training, science, technology, economics, anthropology and social aspects of forests and forest management are essential to the conservation and sustainable development of forests and should be strengthened.] (c) [ International exchange of results [OF ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE FIELD] of forest and forest management research and development should be strengthened and broadened as appropriate , making full use of education and training institutions and the private sector.] (d) [ Appropriate indigenous capacity and local knowledge regarding the conservation and sustainable development of forests should, in collaboration with the people in local communities concerned, be recognized, respected, recorded, developed and compensated through institutional and financial support and introduced in implementation of programmes.] 14. (a) [ Trade on forest products must be consistent with international trade law and practices as embodied for example in the General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and its subsidiary agreements. ] (b) [ Removal of tariff barriers,] the provision of better market access and better prices for higher value-added [sustainably managed ] forest products and their local processing should be encouraged to enable producer countries to better conserve and manage their renewable forest resources. (c) [Incorporation of environmental costs and benefits into ] market forces and mechanisms, to achieve forest conservation and sustainable development, should be encouraged both domestically and internationally. (d) Forest conservation and sustainable development policies should be integrated with economic, trade [ and other relevant ] policies. (e) [[ Subsidies, ] [ protectionism ] [ and lower export revenues] [ and other governmental interventions ] which encourage [ unnecessary ] deforestation and unsound forest practices should be [ eliminated ] [discouraged ] , wherever practicable [ and subsidies or incentives encouraging sound practices should be encouraged where applicable ]]. 15. (a) [ All forms of unilateral actions to restrict and/or ban the use of timber and other forest products should be removed as such actions are counter-productive in terms of long-term sustainable forest management ]. (b) Orderly and free international trade in forest products [ from sustainably managed forest resources ] should be facilitated. 16. (a) [ Pollutants are harmful to the health of forest ecosystems at local, national, trans-boundary and global levels and should be strictly controlled.] (b) [ The adverse effect of pollution on forests and forest ecosystems should be addressed.] 17. FORESTS CONSTITUTE A SIGNIFICANT RESERVOIR OR CARBON AND THEIR ROLE IN THE GLOBAL CARBON CYCLE SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED AND CONSIDERED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL FORESTS POLICIES AND PLANS. END OF DOCUMENT