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REGIONAL
FORESTRY PROGRAMME
The
Regional Forestry Programme was formally established within the Land
Resources Division in January 2000. It is based at the Pacific Islands
Forum Secretariat complex in Suva, Fiji, and is headed by an Adviser who
is supported by a Programme Secretary.
Among
its role and responsibilities, the Programme provides a focal point for
collaboration, coordination and implementation, working together with
associate SPC Programmes and other regional initiatives, towards
strengthening national capacity in promoting sustainable land-use, forest
management and utilisation in the region.
Key
objectives of the Programme as stated in its Strategic Plan 2001-2004
include:
-
Strengthening
of national capacity to formulate and implement sound forest policies
and practices that achieve sustainable forest management, improved
utilisation of timber and non-timber forest products, and conservation
of endangered species and biodiversity;
-
Promoting
the application and adoption of multiple land-use systems such as
agroforestry and traditional forest-related knowledge, including
non-timber forest products, and appropriated technologies for
rural-based communities;
-
Promoting
community awareness and participation in the management, utlisation
and protection of remaining forest, water catchment areas, and
littoral forests; and
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Provide
focal point for advocacy, collaboration, information dissemination,
and resource mobilisation.
Two
projects currently operating under the Programme include:
In
addition, the Programme also works closely together with other various
regional projects, initiatives and organisations in pursuing its goals. It
has formal MOUs with the South Pacific Regional Initiatives on Forest
Genetic Resources (SPRIG 2) and the Regional Forests Health Surveillance
Project. Other collaborators include USDA Forest Service, CIRAD- Foret,
USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, and FAO SAPA.
The
Programme publishes a quarterly newsletter, Pacific Islands Forests and
Trees, which currently has a subscription list of more than 600. |
