Promotion of sustainable management of African forests (ATO/ITTO)

Project PD 124/01 Rev.2 (M)

Dr François HIOL HIOL

Regional Coordinator

ATO/ITTO joint project

(hiolhiol@yahoo.fr)

Background

•ITTO and ATO promote sustainable forest management in member countries•ITTO has put efforts to develop guidelinesand standards for SFM•1990: development of ITTO guidelines for sustainable management of natural tropical forests•1992: ITTO Criteria and Indicators (C&I)for the sustainable management of natural tropical forests•1998: ITTO C&I revised1996: First draft of ATO PCIs for SFM, revisedmany times later

Background

•2000: ITTC made a decision to develop a framework of cooperation between ATO and ITTO•2001: Harmonization of ATO PCIs with ITTO C&I•2002: Adoption of the harmonized set of PCIby the ATO conference of Ministers•March 2003: Project agreement between ATO and ITTO•August 2003: Regional project launched•2004: second revision of the ITTO C&I

Promote sustainable management of Africanforests through the application and implementationof the ATO/ITTO PCIs with the support and participation of all stakeholder groups

Development objective

Specific objective 1

Establish key elements of the adequate capacityto implement the ATO/ITTO PCIs at nationallevel in the African Member countries of ITTOThese key elements include:•Nationally applicable PCI•Effective consultative mechanisms•Awareness,•Knowledge and skills among decision-makers and stakeholder on SFM•Monitoring/auditing arrangements

Specific objective 2

Establish key elements of the adequate capacity foreffective regional-level cooperation through ATOto support individual member countries to implement ATO/ITTO PCIsThese key elements include:•Common instruments to develop and implement PCIand verifiers for SFM at national and FMU levels•Effective consultation and dissemination mechanismsto share knowledge and coordinate efforts•A pool of regionally trained trainers

Project outputs

Ten outputs in two groups

•Group 1: National level (Member countries)in relation with specific objective1

•Group 2: Regional level (ATO)in relation with specific objective2

Group 1: National level

1.1 A national forum/consultative mechanismOn SFM established/identified

1.2 National PCI/certification criteria developed

1.3 Improved information through national level periodic reporting on progress towardsSFM

Group 1: national level (continued)

1.4 Improved national monitoring/auditingframeworks

1.5 Forestry staff and specialists trained on Implementing PCIs and auditing of SFM

Group 2: regional level

2.1 Draft harmonized ATO/ITTO adopted by the Ministerial Conference of ATO

2.2 A regional-level consultative forum for thepromotion of SFM established

2.3 Auditing framework for African Forestdeveloped and tested

Group 2: Regional level (continued)

2.4 Minimum of 60 trainers trained on the development, application, implementation and auditing of the ATO/ITTO PCI at FMU level

2.5 Advisory and dissemination capacity of ATOstrengthened

Target beneficiariesTen participant countries:African countries which have membership with ATO and ITTO5 countries in Central Africa: Cameroon, CAR, Congo, Gabon, DRC5 countries in West Africa: Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, TogoBeneficiaries: •Concession holders, SMEs, Community forests•Forest authorities•NGOs•Regional organizations, projects and programs

Project strategy: three phases

Phase 1 (three years, two stages)Capacity building at regional and at national level inselected Member countries and development of draftharmonized PCIs

Phase 2(initially 1 year; now 2 years, 2 stages of 1 year)Capacity building at national level in other ITTOMember countries and among beneficiaries withinselected countries

Phase 3(two years)Capacity building among beneficiaries in the otherITTO Member countries

Project Organization

Project Staff:

Regional Project Coordinator (full time - ITTO)

ATO Technical Directeur in charge of Forest Policy acting as project coordinator counterpart (part time)

ATO Chief of Service in charge of Statistiques and Documentation acting as the Project Coordinator Assistant (part time)

ATO Chief of Service in Finance and Administration (part time)

ATO Secretary (full time)

Total Budget: 4.184.678 $US

Phase 1: 1,615,465Phase 2: 951,070Phase 3: 1,618,144

Financial contributions:

ATO(20%)

ITTO(80%)

Budget

Current status of implementation

Phase I started in August 2003 and wasCompleted in June 2007

Phase II started in Jan. 2008 and is Currently implemented. Phase III will begin in 2010 if funds areSecured by ITTO

Current status of implementation(Continued)

Main achievements at national level

•Nationally applicable C&I established in 5 countries:(Cameroon, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon and Ghana)•The process is advanced in CAR (validation workshop);• It is in its initial phase in Liberia and DRC •Support was given to 6 countries in the writing of of their SFM Progress Reports based on Principle 1 of ATO/ITTO PCIs•125 people trained in 5 countries in SFM auditing based on ATO/ITTO PCI

Current status of implementation (Continued)

Main achievements at regional level

•Development of a set of ATO/ITTO PCI for SM of Forest plantations

•First regional ITTO meeting organized in Brazzaville (15-16 June 05) for ITTO African member countries.A regional consultative mechanism for SFM was set

•An auditing manual for the implementation of ATO/ITTO C&I for sustainable management of natural forests in Africa

Current status of implementation (End)

Main achievements:At regional level

•Three regional training sessions to train 60 trainers in forest management auditing based on ATO/ITTO C&I : 2 for French speaking countries in Cameroon 1 for English speaking countries in Ghana

Project Constraints

Budget constraints:• Project and budget were conceived in 2001 with a very strong US Dollar. The rate of US$ has fallen down US$ 1.00 = CFA Francs 800.00 = €1.21In 2008 US$ 1.00 = CFA Francs 400-500 = € 0.61-069•Project is heavy due increased number of activities and output to be achieved and its initial six-year planning• This has made it difficult to secure the total funds of project. A progressive fund raising scheme •ATO is having problems to fulfill its budgetary engagements. Several country members have not paidtheir membership fees for many years.•ATO staff attached to the project are not motivated due to unpaid arrears

The ATO/ITTO joint project in Nigeria

Project designed before Nigeria became a member ofITTO

No budget for country level activities in Nigeria

A special request from ITTO Executive Secretariat to work with Nigeria but no increase in budget

Squeeze the budget of activities in some countries where these activities have not yet been implemented

Eliminate some activities which are considered of low Priorities or which are covered by other fund sources.

The ATO/ITTO joint project in NigeriaDevelopment of Nigeria C&I for SFM (1)

Development of a national set of C&I through a broad-based participatory process within the framework of the ATO/ITTO C&I at national and FMU levels.

This will be done through a National Working Group (NWG) NWG is an open and balanced representation of all relevant stakeholder groups. NWG has procedures for democratic decision-making and dispute resolution, and their work is independent from any undue influence (e.g., from funding source)

The ATO/ITTO joint project in NigeriaDevelopment of NIGERIA C&I for SFM (2)

The first activity for C&I development will consist ofestablishing a NWG. National consultancy will be provided toIdentify stakeholders and make initial consultations Identify stakeholder group representatives for the NWGMake consultations and provide assistance to stakeholder group representatives in the preparation of draft NWG ToR and proceduresAssist in preparation of the first national workshop that will designate members of the technical committee and establish the NWG

The ATO/ITTO joint project in NigeriaDevelopment of Nigeria C&I for SFM (3)

The second activity of PCI development will consist oforganizing a six-day C&I formulation workshop for Nigeria to be attended by the newly established NWG Technical Committee (TC)

National or regional consultancy will be provided:

Use 2 first days of workshop to train TC members inThe formulation of indicators and verifiers Facilitate the work of indicator and verifiers formulation TC may hold another meeting to complete draft C&Iformulation

The ATO/ITTO joint project in NigeriaDevelopment of Nigeria C&I for SFM (4)

The third activity of PCI development will consist of disseminating the draft National PCI to stakeholders for public review and comments and adjusting the draft national PCI

The technical committee of the NWG will be responsibleof this activity

The ATO/ITTO joint project in NigeriaDevelopment of Nigeria C&I for SFM (5)

The fourth activity of PCI development will consist oftesting the draft PCI in selected FMUs through pilotaudits

International and regional consultancy will be provided with collaboration of national consultants

A test report is written with suggestions for National C&Iadjustments addressed to the technical Committeeof the NWG

Revision and dissemination of the adjusted national PCI,Finalization of the national PCI

Validation by a large stakeholder workshop

The ATO/ITTO joint project in NigeriaOther activities

After finalization of Nigeria C&I for SFM by the TC and endorsement by Forest Administration, the following activities will be undertaken:

• Writing of a national report to assess progress on SFMBased on Principle 1 of ATO/ITTO PCI

•Training of Nigeria auditors for SFM based on Nigeria set of C&I

Thank you