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Interlaken decentralization workshop outcomes
The Interlaken Workshop on Decentralization, Federal Systems in Forestry and National Forest Programmes held in Switzerland last April provided 160 participants from 51 countries an all too rare opportunity to examine the implications for national forest programmes arising from the increasing international trend towards decentralized forest management.
Launched by the Governments of Switzerland and Indonesia and assisted by CIFOR and Switzerland's Intercooperation, the workshop presented a set of recommendations to the fourth United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF), held immediately after the Interlaken event.
The Workshop concluded that decentralization in the forest sector should be seen as a means to accomplish the broad objectives of poverty reduction, sustainable economic development and the protection of local and global environmental values. Given the right conditions, decentralization enhances efficiency, equity and participation in forest management and conservation. Regrettably, the results have been uneven at best.
Workshop participants suggested attempts to decentralize forest management need to acknowledge a number of inescapable facts:
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Decentralization is a complex, dynamic and evolving process that adjusts to changing contexts and thus thorough understanding of each country's unique political, institutional, social, cultural and economic conditions is crucial.
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A form of decentralization that genuinely empowers local communities or even local governments is yet to occur in many countries.
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It is critical to reach consensus through a multi-stakeholder process that provides a clearer understanding of the roles, responsibilities and authority and accountabilities at various levels.
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Decentralization should be based on and enhance information sharing, transparency and accountability at all levels.
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Appropriate political conditions and the provision of financial and technical resources are essential.
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Decentralization must be well-managed if it is to provide sustainable environmental benefits, otherwise it can lead to worse problems.
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Equity considerations are crucial to decentralization's success, including closer consideration for gender equity, education for children and youth, especially girls.
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The Interlaken Workshop was co-hosted by the Governments of Indonesia and Switzerland, with support from CIFOR and Switzerland's Intercooperation. Co-sponsors included the Governments of Brazil, Canada, Ghana, Japan, Russia, Uganda, the UK and USA. Additional technical support was kindly provided by the Collaborative partnership on Forests, the FAO, the UN, the World Bank, the International Tropical Timber Organization, WRI, WWF, the UNFF and the Convention on Biological Diversity. |
Recommendations to the UNNF included:
- Developing a common understanding of the concepts and definitions to facilitate dialogue on forestry decentralization.
- Promoting dissemination of appropriate information to enhance understanding of forestry decentralization.
- Formulating approaches for maintaining protected areas while enabling traditional use by local people; developing principles to guide institutional choice for equitable representation.
- Promoting the valuation of, and compensation for, forest environmental services.
- Analyzing the implications of decentralization for the development of nationals forest programmes and strengthening stakeholders' capacity.
Promoting partnership among various stakeholders and sectors for human and institutional capacity building and the involvement of NGOs and other major groups as equal partners in planning, monitoring and implementation activities.
See the full details about the outcomes of the Interlaken Workshop from our website.
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