Promoting Sustainable Forest Management in Eastern Europe & Russia
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Promoting Sustainable Forest Management in Eastern Europe & Russia Accomplishments & Lessons Learned from IUCN’s Activities in the ENPI FLEG Program Stefania Almazán Xi Chen Selin Nurgün Nadia Vandergriff Allegra Wrocklage Faculty Advisors: Robyn Meeks Julia Wondolleck April 22, 2016 Client: International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources | Gland, Switzerland Acknowledgements The authors acknowledge that the assistance of the following people and organizations were essential to the development of this report. We would like to thank the donors of the ENPI East FLEG II program: the European Commission, the World Bank Group, and the Austrian Development Corporation. We would like to acknowledge and thank the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources for enabling our engagement in this project. In particular, we would like to thank Richard Aishton, IUCN-FLEG Project Coordinator, for his commitment to this project and his guidance and insights on the FLEG program through interviews, extensive conversations, and feedback on drafts. We would also like to thank Ekaterine Otarashvili, IUCN-FLEG Project Officer, for her insights and feedback. We would like to thank the seven IUCN-FLEG Country Program Coordinators, who provided their time, knowledge, and expertise through multiple interviews, emails, and feedback on drafts: Andrey Zaytsev, Aurel Lozan, Azer Garayev, Luba Balyan, Marika Kavtarishvili, Marina Belous, and Roman Volosyanchuk. We would also like to thank Maggie Roth and Mark Gnadt for offering their time and insights on FLEG. We would especially like to thank our faculty advisors at the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources & Environment: Assistant Professor Robyn Meeks and Associate Professor Julia Wondolleck. Their support, knowledge, and perspective were essential to initiating this project, guiding our work, and developing this report. Stefania Almazán Casali would like to thank Mexico’s National Council for Science and Technology (CONACyT) for their sponsorship. Her participation in this project would not have been possible without their support. We are also indebted to our funders, the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources & Environment and the University of Michigan Weiser Center for Emerging Democracies. i Table of Contents Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................ i Abstract ......................................................................................................................................... iv Chapter 1: Introduction, Context & Methods ........................................................................... 1 I. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 1 II. Background on FLEG .......................................................................................................................... 2 III. Research Methodology ....................................................................................................................... 6 IV. Research Stages .................................................................................................................................. 7 V. Roadmap for Report ............................................................................................................................. 9 Chapter 2: Case Studies ............................................................................................................. 14 Case Study 1: Climate Change Adaptation, Azerbaijan ......................................................................... 15 Case Study 2: Empowering Forest-Dependent Communities through Roadshows, Armenia ................ 27 Case Study 3: Forest Dependence Study, Belarus .................................................................................. 42 Case Study 4. Pest and Disease Management, Georgia .......................................................................... 53 Case Study 5: Tusheti Protected Landscape Community Management, Georgia ................................... 65 Case Study 6. Agency Moldsilva’s Communication Strategy ................................................................ 80 Case Study 7. Bezhanitsy Eco-Tourism Development Alliance, Russia ................................................ 91 Case Study 8. Open Letter on Forest Reform Legislation, Ukraine ..................................................... 110 Case Study 9: Regional Forest Dependence Study ............................................................................... 118 Chapter 3: Facilitating Factors & Challenges........................................................................ 129 in Implementing IUCN-FLEG Activities ................................................................................ 129 I. Facilitating Factors ............................................................................................................................ 130 A. CPC Characteristics and Qualifications .................................................................................... 130 B. IUCN-FLEG’s Professional Reputation and Network .............................................................. 132 C. IUCN-FLEG Program Structure and Culture ........................................................................... 136 II. Challenges ........................................................................................................................................ 139 A. Community Resistance ............................................................................................................. 139 B. Government Transitions and Procedural Constraints ............................................................... 141 C. Capacity Limitations ................................................................................................................. 142 Chapter 4: Conclusions ............................................................................................................ 144 I. Qualities of the IUCN Team and its Culture ..................................................................................... 144 II. Qualities of the IUCN-FLEG Program and its Strategic Approach ................................................. 145 III. Final Observations .......................................................................................................................... 147 Appendices ................................................................................................................................. 148 ii Appendix A: Narrative Interview Questions ........................................................................................ 149 Appendix B: Forest Dependence Study Interview Questions ............................................................... 150 Appendix C: Interview List .................................................................................................................. 151 Appendix D: IUCN-FLEG Program Coordination Email Survey Questions ....................................... 152 Appendix E: IUCN-FLEG Program Coordination Email Survey Respondents ................................... 153 Appendix F: Questionnaire for Forestry Sector Professionals – Climate Change Adaptation ............. 154 Appendix G: Full List of Facilitating Factors for each Case Study ...................................................... 155 Appendix H: List of Partner Organizations for each Case Study (except Regional) ............................ 156 Appendix I: Full List of Challenges for each Case Study ..................................................................... 157 Appendix J: Acronyms ......................................................................................................................... 158 Appendix K: IUCN-FLEG Contacts ..................................................................................................... 159 Appendix L: About the ENPI FLEG II Program .................................................................................. 160 iii Promoting Sustainable Forest Management in Eastern Europe & Russia Accomplishments & Lessons Learned from IUCN’s Activities in the ENPI FLEG Program Abstract The Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) II European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) East Countries Programme (ENPI FLEG Program) supports participating countries’ forest governance. At the regional level, the Programme, funded by the European Union and implemented by the World Bank, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and World Wide Fund for Nature, aims to implement the 2005 St. Petersburg FLEG Ministerial Declaration and support countries to commit to a time- bound action plan. At the national level the Programme reviews or revises forest sector policies and legal and administrative structures. It also aims to improve knowledge of and support for sustainable forest management and good forest governance in participating countries. At the sub- national (local) level, the Programme tests and demonstrates best practices for sustainable forest management and the feasibility of improved forest governance practices at the field-level on a pilot basis. The ENPI FLEG Program is an innovative approach that was developed in response to illegal forest activities in Eastern Europe and Russia.