Forestry Department Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
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Forestry Department Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations THE NETHERLANDS TRUST FUND SUPPORT TO SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT IN LOW FOREST COVER COUNTRIES THE ROLE OF PLANTED FORESTS AND TREES OUTSIDE FORESTS IN LANDSCAPE RESTORATION IN LOW FOREST COVER COUNTRIES Forest Resources Development Service Working Paper FP/34E Forest Resources Division FAO, Rome (Italy) Forestry Department Disclaimer The Planted Forests and Trees Working Paper series reports on issues and activities in afforestation and reforestation within and beyond forests. These working papers do not reflect any official position of FAO. Please refer to the FAO website (http://www.fao.org/forestry) for official information. The purpose of these papers is to provide release of information on on-going activities and programmes, and to stimulate discussion. Comments and feedback are welcome. For further information please contact: Mr. Jim Carle, Senior Forestry Officer (Plantations and Protection) Forest Resources Development Service Forest Resources Division Forestry Department FAO Viale delle Terme di Caracalla I-00100 Rome (Italy) e-mail: [email protected] For quotation: FAO (2004). The Role of Planted Forests and Trees Outside Forests in Landscape Restoration in Low Forest Cover Countries, Planted Forests and Trees Working Paper 34E, Forest Resources Development Service, Forest Resources Division. FAO, Rome (unpublished). ii Foreword People of developing countries facing desertification and severe land degradation, particularly in arid and semi-arid areas, can experience extreme food insecurity and abject poverty. In most countries, their relationships with forests and trees are inseparably interlinked and inter- dependent. Poor people recognize that forests and trees protect soil, water and biological diversity, provide shelter and shade for their villages as well as havens for cultural customs and help to combat desertification. To meet their basic food, fuel-wood, fodder, medicine and construction materials from the meagre resources available, they adopt survival attitudes, overexploit forests and rangelands, and provoke alarming rates of deforestation and forest degradation, which further erode their livelihoods. Decentralized, participatory, intersectoral and multidisciplinary approaches to policy, planning, implementation and monitoring are new to many developing low forest cover countries. They require new institutional frameworks as well as training and skills in forest planning and management. The voice of the forestry sector, which has generally been marginalized, needs to be mainstreamed in intersectoral planning committees and working groups to derive national development priorities and national forest development strategies. In so doing, it should examine the real value and potential roles of natural forests, planted forests and trees outside forests in supporting landscape restoration and sustainable livelihoods in urban and rural landscapes. It is critical to integrate planted trees and forests in more holistic approaches to provide environmental services, biodiversity benefits and meet people’s short and long-term needs. It is also necessary to make modern technology and traditional knowledge available in more people-oriented approaches to be shared through national and international networks, and sound extension and technical support systems and demonstrations. The six case studies (Islamic Republic of Iran, Oman, Tunisia, Mali, Ethiopia and Namibia) and the three regional workshops (Tehran, October 2002, Nairobi, December 2002 and Bamako, January 2004) which are summarized in this working paper were carried out under the FAO-Netherlands Partnership Programme as follow up to the Tehran Process, promoting sustainable forest management in low forest cover countries, with focus on the Near East and African Regions The case studies and regional workshops reflect the uniquely different ecological, social, cultural, environmental and economic conditions prevailing in the regions and outline the role of planted forests and trees outside forests in supporting sustainable forest management and landscape restoration in low forest cover countries. Natural forests, rangelands, woodland resources, trees outside forests, agroforestry, urban and peri-urban forestry, all play important roles in supporting the social, cultural, environmental and economic landscapes, particularly in low forest cover countries. The case studies and regional workshops highlighted major issues, the policy/legal/ institutional contexts, status of forests and rangelands, constraints, opportunities, gaps in knowledge, lessons learned and the proposed actions for the way forward. These are first steps in translating polices and proposed actions towards implementation. iii Acknowledgements These initiatives were undertaken through the collaboration of a large number of stakeholders from across the Near East and the African areas. The valuable support from the Islamic Republic of Iran, Oman, Tunisia, Mali, Ethiopia and Namibia was necessary to undertake the case studies in such a transparent manner. Each of these case study countries allowed FAO consultants to travel widely to feature areas and to engage with key stakeholders to obtain a sound understanding of the conditions on the ground. We are obliged to the international and national consultants who undertook the case studies, including Messrs. Salah Rouchiche, Ibrahima Thomas, Patrick Duffy, Haji Mirsadeghi, M. Salem Abdallah Al-Masheikhi, El Haj Bakhit Ahmed, Salah Eldin Abdallah Mohamed Agieb, Habib Abid, Sory Samassekou, Million Bekele and Moses Chakanga. However, a large number of colleagues in each case study country provided valuable contributions, to whom the consultants are indebted. The Governments of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Kenya and Mali, together with FAO and the Netherlands, hosted regional workshops of low forest cover countries to identify constraints, opportunities, gaps in knowledge, lessons learned and future actions in enhancing the role of planted forests and trees outside forests in landscape restoration. The FAO Representations in case study countries and those hosting regional workshops provided the logistical and administrative support in an efficient and effective manner. Pape Kone and Hassan Abdel Nour in the FAO Regional Offices in Accra and Cairo respectively, provided experienced technical support. Graciela Andrade and Marisalee Palermo in Rome Headquarters were critical in providing the necessary financial and administrative support. Ms Victoria Heymell authored the synthesis from the case studies and regional workshops and assisted in final editing. The kind support of the Netherlands in providing funding for these initiatives is gratefully acknowledged. Finally, we thank all the stakeholders who took time to share with us their perceptions and visions for enhancing the role of planted forests and trees outside forests in landscape restoration in low forest cover countries in the Near East and Africa. iv Table of Contents FOREWORD.......................................................................................................................................................III ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS................................................................................................................................IV TABLE OF CONTENTS......................................................................................................................................V LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS.............................................................................................................................VI THE ROLE OF PLANTED FORESTS AND TREES OUTSIDE FORESTS IN LANDSCAPE RESTORATION IN LOW FOREST COVER COUNTRIES .......................................................................... 1 SYNTHESIS ...................................................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................................. 3 CASE STUDIES ................................................................................................................................................ 7 WORKSHOPS ................................................................................................................................................. 10 FUTURE STRATEGY..................................................................................................................................... 22 REFERENCES................................................................................................................................................. 28 APPENDIX 1....................................................................................................................................................... 31 ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN COUNTRY STUDY REPORT................................................................... 33 SULTANATE OF OMAN COUNTRY STUDY REPORT ............................................................................. 51 REPUBLIC OF TUNISIA COUNTRY STUDY REPORT.............................................................................. 70 FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA COUNTRY STUDY REPORT.............................. 88 REPUBLIC OF MALI COUNTRY STUDY REPORT.................................................................................. 107 THE REPUBLIC