CHALLENGE

About 3.5 billion people live in countries rich in oil, gas, or minerals. Many of these countries also suffer from poverty, corruption, and conflict stemming from weak governance. Nonrenewable mineral resources play a dominant role in 81 countries, which collectively account for a quarter of gross world product, half of the world’s population, and nearly 70 percent of those in extreme poverty. The World Bank Group’s involvement in extractive industries seeks to help countries seize the opportunities that mining companies offer for development, poverty reduction, and boosting shared prosperity. Most World Bank Group interventions in extractive industries are in the governance area, to encourage transparent management of industry revenues so that they provide benefits for local people and so that the industries themselves respect local community needs and the environment.

At the same time, more than one-quarter of the world’s active mines and exploration sites overlap with, or are situated within, a 10-kilometer radius of, a strictly protected area. Nearly one-third of all active mines and exploration sites are located within areas of intact ecosystems of high conservation value, most of them forests. Almost one-third of all active mines are located in stressed watersheds. Infrastructure developments associated with oil and mineral developments represent the most important threat to ecosystems through physical incursion into forests and disruption of the ecosystems. Road and railway development could be particularly harmful. Building a new road drives direct deforestation through tree cutting, but this impact is generally limited. Most importantly, roads are the major vehicle for forest degradation through further incursion into forest areas for agriculture, hunting, artisanal mining, and other potentially harmful activities. Added to that, a large-scale mine has considerable energy requirements, which will lead to the construction of hydropower dams, oil and gas pipelines, and power lines. Nevertheless, oil and mining companies can contribute considerably to sustainable forest management, and have done so in the past, by implementing measures for forest conservation and community development in and around their concessions.

There is increasing pressure on individual companies to implement standards to mitigate and offset negative environmental impacts. Yet there is a limit to what private-sector-driven, project-specific measures can do.  These kinds of voluntary standards also tend not to affect artisanal and small-scale miners and other "rogue" players, who tend to have the largest environmental footprint. In order to address all players, an integrated landscape-level planning and enforcement process is needed.

APPROACH

This program will transform the way the World Bank Group works with its clients on extractive industries in forest-rich countries, so that oil, gas, and mineral extraction contribute to sustainable forest management and poverty reduction for the people depending on those forests. The program also introduces this knowledge to the Bank's vast networks of private companies and government partners.

Activities have been chosen based on the most urgent issues impacting the forest sector, and existing World Bank Group projects that have the potential for the greatest impact and replicability. Two major studies are underway, focused on Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) and Large-Scale Mining (LSM), and how to make these sectors forest-smart.The lessons and recommendations will be based on both good and bad practices in different parts of the world, looking at a range of geographical, governance, and ecological factors. The two studies include analysis of the thematic areas and the identification of 15-20 case studies each, following a detailed analytical framework that was developed to support consistency and comparability. 

RESULTS

This project has been completed. The outcomes were achieved, the development of tools and analysis around forest smart mining was largely successful. The development of an understanding related to what could be achieved in Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM)  and Large Scale Mining (LSM) as well as biodiversity offsets were important accomplishments. The rich list of thematic case studies pulled together experiences from all over the world, highlighting good and bad practices on a continuum as well as making practical recommendations for dialogue with private sector stakeholders as well as with Governments. The three reports below identified the first known lessons learned for implementing a “forest-smart” approach to LSM and ASM:

1. Forest-Smart Mining: Identifying Good and Bad Practices for Artisanal & Small-Scale Mining in Forest Landscapes
2. Forest-Smart Mining: Identifying Factors Associated with the Impacts of Large-Scale Mining on Forests
3. Forest-Smart Mining: Offsets case studies

Based on these reports, a series of 16 Principles have been identified that should guide a ‘forest smart’ policy framework for the mining sector.  These have been integrated in an executive summary. Based on this, tools will also be developed for the relevant stakeholders. 

The findings of the reports were presented at several high-level policy and industry events raising awareness within the mining industry on the impact of mining on deforestation and the possibilities to address the carbon footprint of mines by actively working on mitigating their forest footprint and striving for net gain of forest cover in and around their operations.

There is also a direct relevance of the work for World Bank investments, such as the Forest Investment Program (FIP). The results have also informed the preparation for additional funding in Ghana, the Zambia REDD+ Investment Plan, and a new mining operation in DRC. 

The work has also been integrated in a larger project currently being developed by the World Bank Energy and Extractives practice, called ‘Climate Smart Mining’. This looks at the carbon footprint of mineral extraction for the minerals that are being used, at an increasing scale, for building clean-energy technologies. Being’ Forest Smart’, is addressed as one of the most effective tools for mining companies to address their carbon footprint.

CHALLENGE

About 3.5 billion people live in countries rich in oil, gas, or minerals. Many of these countries also suffer from poverty, corruption, and conflict stemming from weak governance. Nonrenewable mineral resources play a dominant role in 81 countries, which collectively account for a quarter of gross world product, half of the world’s population, and nearly 70 percent of those in extreme poverty. The World Bank Group’s involvement in extractive industries seeks to help countries seize the opportunities that mining companies offer for development, poverty reduction, and boosting shared prosperity. Most World Bank Group interventions in extractive industries are in the governance area, to encourage transparent management of industry revenues so that they provide benefits for local people and so that the industries themselves respect local community needs and the environment.

At the same time, more than one-quarter of the world’s active mines and exploration sites overlap with, or are situated within, a 10-kilometer radius of, a strictly protected area. Nearly one-third of all active mines and exploration sites are located within areas of intact ecosystems of high conservation value, most of them forests. Almost one-third of all active mines are located in stressed watersheds. Infrastructure developments associated with oil and mineral developments represent the most important threat to ecosystems through physical incursion into forests and disruption of the ecosystems. Road and railway development could be particularly harmful. Building a new road drives direct deforestation through tree cutting, but this impact is generally limited. Most importantly, roads are the major vehicle for forest degradation through further incursion into forest areas for agriculture, hunting, artisanal mining, and other potentially harmful activities. Added to that, a large-scale mine has considerable energy requirements, which will lead to the construction of hydropower dams, oil and gas pipelines, and power lines. Nevertheless, oil and mining companies can contribute considerably to sustainable forest management, and have done so in the past, by implementing measures for forest conservation and community development in and around their concessions.

There is increasing pressure on individual companies to implement standards to mitigate and offset negative environmental impacts. Yet there is a limit to what private-sector-driven, project-specific measures can do.  These kinds of voluntary standards also tend not to affect artisanal and small-scale miners and other "rogue" players, who tend to have the largest environmental footprint. In order to address all players, an integrated landscape-level planning and enforcement process is needed.

APPROACH

This program will transform the way the World Bank Group works with its clients on extractive industries in forest-rich countries, so that oil, gas, and mineral extraction contribute to sustainable forest management and poverty reduction for the people depending on those forests. The program also introduces this knowledge to the Bank's vast networks of private companies and government partners.

Activities have been chosen based on the most urgent issues impacting the forest sector, and existing World Bank Group projects that have the potential for the greatest impact and replicability. Two major studies are underway, focused on Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) and Large-Scale Mining (LSM), and how to make these sectors forest-smart.The lessons and recommendations will be based on both good and bad practices in different parts of the world, looking at a range of geographical, governance, and ecological factors. The two studies include analysis of the thematic areas and the identification of 15-20 case studies each, following a detailed analytical framework that was developed to support consistency and comparability. 

RESULTS

This project has been completed. The outcomes were achieved, the development of tools and analysis around forest smart mining was largely successful. The development of an understanding related to what could be achieved in Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM)  and Large Scale Mining (LSM) as well as biodiversity offsets were important accomplishments. The rich list of thematic case studies pulled together experiences from all over the world, highlighting good and bad practices on a continuum as well as making practical recommendations for dialogue with private sector stakeholders as well as with Governments. The three reports below identified the first known lessons learned for implementing a “forest-smart” approach to LSM and ASM:

1. Forest-Smart Mining: Identifying Good and Bad Practices for Artisanal & Small-Scale Mining in Forest Landscapes
2. Forest-Smart Mining: Identifying Factors Associated with the Impacts of Large-Scale Mining on Forests
3. Forest-Smart Mining: Offsets case studies

Based on these reports, a series of 16 Principles have been identified that should guide a ‘forest smart’ policy framework for the mining sector.  These have been integrated in an executive summary. Based on this, tools will also be developed for the relevant stakeholders. 

The findings of the reports were presented at several high-level policy and industry events raising awareness within the mining industry on the impact of mining on deforestation and the possibilities to address the carbon footprint of mines by actively working on mitigating their forest footprint and striving for net gain of forest cover in and around their operations.

There is also a direct relevance of the work for World Bank investments, such as the Forest Investment Program (FIP). The results have also informed the preparation for additional funding in Ghana, the Zambia REDD+ Investment Plan, and a new mining operation in DRC. 

The work has also been integrated in a larger project currently being developed by the World Bank Energy and Extractives practice, called ‘Climate Smart Mining’. This looks at the carbon footprint of mineral extraction for the minerals that are being used, at an increasing scale, for building clean-energy technologies. Being’ Forest Smart’, is addressed as one of the most effective tools for mining companies to address their carbon footprint.

CHALLENGE

About 3.5 billion people live in countries rich in oil, gas, or minerals. Many of these countries also suffer from poverty, corruption, and conflict stemming from weak governance. Nonrenewable mineral resources play a dominant role in 81 countries, which collectively account for a quarter of gross world product, half of the world’s population, and nearly 70 percent of those in extreme poverty. The World Bank Group’s involvement in extractive industries seeks to help countries seize the opportunities that mining companies offer for development, poverty reduction, and boosting shared prosperity. Most World Bank Group interventions in extractive industries are in the governance area, to encourage transparent management of industry revenues so that they provide benefits for local people and so that the industries themselves respect local community needs and the environment.

At the same time, more than one-quarter of the world’s active mines and exploration sites overlap with, or are situated within, a 10-kilometer radius of, a strictly protected area. Nearly one-third of all active mines and exploration sites are located within areas of intact ecosystems of high conservation value, most of them forests. Almost one-third of all active mines are located in stressed watersheds. Infrastructure developments associated with oil and mineral developments represent the most important threat to ecosystems through physical incursion into forests and disruption of the ecosystems. Road and railway development could be particularly harmful. Building a new road drives direct deforestation through tree cutting, but this impact is generally limited. Most importantly, roads are the major vehicle for forest degradation through further incursion into forest areas for agriculture, hunting, artisanal mining, and other potentially harmful activities. Added to that, a large-scale mine has considerable energy requirements, which will lead to the construction of hydropower dams, oil and gas pipelines, and power lines. Nevertheless, oil and mining companies can contribute considerably to sustainable forest management, and have done so in the past, by implementing measures for forest conservation and community development in and around their concessions.

There is increasing pressure on individual companies to implement standards to mitigate and offset negative environmental impacts. Yet there is a limit to what private-sector-driven, project-specific measures can do.  These kinds of voluntary standards also tend not to affect artisanal and small-scale miners and other "rogue" players, who tend to have the largest environmental footprint. In order to address all players, an integrated landscape-level planning and enforcement process is needed.

APPROACH

This program will transform the way the World Bank Group works with its clients on extractive industries in forest-rich countries, so that oil, gas, and mineral extraction contribute to sustainable forest management and poverty reduction for the people depending on those forests. The program also introduces this knowledge to the Bank's vast networks of private companies and government partners.

Activities have been chosen based on the most urgent issues impacting the forest sector, and existing World Bank Group projects that have the potential for the greatest impact and replicability. Two major studies are underway, focused on Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) and Large-Scale Mining (LSM), and how to make these sectors forest-smart.The lessons and recommendations will be based on both good and bad practices in different parts of the world, looking at a range of geographical, governance, and ecological factors. The two studies include analysis of the thematic areas and the identification of 15-20 case studies each, following a detailed analytical framework that was developed to support consistency and comparability. 

RESULTS

This project has been completed. The outcomes were achieved, the development of tools and analysis around forest smart mining was largely successful. The development of an understanding related to what could be achieved in Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM)  and Large Scale Mining (LSM) as well as biodiversity offsets were important accomplishments. The rich list of thematic case studies pulled together experiences from all over the world, highlighting good and bad practices on a continuum as well as making practical recommendations for dialogue with private sector stakeholders as well as with Governments. The three reports below identified the first known lessons learned for implementing a “forest-smart” approach to LSM and ASM:

1. Forest-Smart Mining: Identifying Good and Bad Practices for Artisanal & Small-Scale Mining in Forest Landscapes
2. Forest-Smart Mining: Identifying Factors Associated with the Impacts of Large-Scale Mining on Forests
3. Forest-Smart Mining: Offsets case studies

Based on these reports, a series of 16 Principles have been identified that should guide a ‘forest smart’ policy framework for the mining sector.  These have been integrated in an executive summary. Based on this, tools will also be developed for the relevant stakeholders. 

The findings of the reports were presented at several high-level policy and industry events raising awareness within the mining industry on the impact of mining on deforestation and the possibilities to address the carbon footprint of mines by actively working on mitigating their forest footprint and striving for net gain of forest cover in and around their operations.

There is also a direct relevance of the work for World Bank investments, such as the Forest Investment Program (FIP). The results have also informed the preparation for additional funding in Ghana, the Zambia REDD+ Investment Plan, and a new mining operation in DRC. 

The work has also been integrated in a larger project currently being developed by the World Bank Energy and Extractives practice, called ‘Climate Smart Mining’. This looks at the carbon footprint of mineral extraction for the minerals that are being used, at an increasing scale, for building clean-energy technologies. Being’ Forest Smart’, is addressed as one of the most effective tools for mining companies to address their carbon footprint.

CHALLENGE

The forest sector in Ukraine faces a number of challenges caused by weak governance, corruption, and institutional weaknesses stemming from the historic post-Soviet concentration of regulatory and business functions within one institution. The country is currently facing major policy reforms across many sectors, including forest management and administration. Maintaining an open dialogue on forest issues with the government and other national stakeholders is critical to supporting a significant reform process.

APPROACH

Building on a Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) program (2009–16), the objective of this activity is to facilitate knowledge exchange, transparency, and inclusiveness of the forest policy reform process in Ukraine. The intended outcome is to imrpove governance indicators, specifically enhanced accountability of authorities in charge of forest management and improved access to forest-related information by various stakeholders. Specific activities and outputs will include:

• An overview of the current state of the forest sector, as of 2016, including information on logging, composition of tree species, timber consumption patterns, and timber import/export analysis. A report will be pubilshed based on this analysis.
• Support for developing legal and institutional modalities of forest sector reform. This component will entail a survey of institutional options, engagement with stakeholders, and facilitation of broad public debate.
• Expert reviews of draft legislation, with recommendations regarding land and decentralization reforms, and efficient forest management.
• Dissemination activities, including online discussion platforms.

RESULTS

This activity was completed in June 2018.  The overview of national forestry sector statistics for 2016 and 2017 and the corresponding analysis presented comprehensive up-to-date information about the current state of the forest sector in Ukraine. The analysis also demonstrated causes of problems and linked them to the need for reform. Thus, the client and target audiences received valuable information, which can be used for further decision making in the forest sector and for the work of official working groups on forest sector reform. 

The activity enhanced and facilitated participation of key players (relevant ministries, the Parliament, the State Forest Resources Agency, the private sector, NGOs and local self-governance authorities) in the debate on important issues related to potential changes in the institutional setting of the forestry sector.   

The project experts assessed 16 selected draft laws and provided their comments and recommendations to the Client and other relevant stakeholders. It supported parliament-level decision-making in the forestry sector through timely peer review of possible institutional changes, political and economic initiatives/changes, and selected draft legislative initiatives. Some of the activity experts’ recommendations have been included into new draft legislation, such as the recommendations on forest shelterbelts in the draft law regulating use of agricultural land. 

Furthermore, information and discussion platforms (round tables, extended stakeholder meetings, web portal), have been established and are functioning; all planned analytical studies serve as background information for discussion/debate among key stakeholders on key forest sector issues. The Ukrainian Forestry Portal, which serves as a source of comprehensive up-to-date information on the forest sector (including news, articles, statistics, legislation, the activity analytical reports and other material, forum for discussing forestry issues) received substantial upgrading as the activity engaged audiences beyond foresters’ professional community and reached public at large. About 390, 000 visitors were counted to explore the web site during June 2017-June 2018.

The activity also stimulated journalists’ interest in forest sector issues (for example, a journalist contest arranged under the activity was an important successful way to engage journalists). Thus, the public interest in forest sector issues has grown, and all together information and discussion platforms contributed to increased transparency of the sector.   

The Activity outcomes continue to serve as an important base for further involvement of stakeholders in their dialogue on forest sector issues and changes in relevant policy and practice. However, it should be noted, that the national forest sector reform is a contested process given the sector’s public importance, many interests as well as political influences over this agenda

CHALLENGE

The forest sector in Ukraine faces a number of challenges caused by weak governance, corruption, and institutional weaknesses stemming from the historic post-Soviet concentration of regulatory and business functions within one institution. The country is currently facing major policy reforms across many sectors, including forest management and administration. Maintaining an open dialogue on forest issues with the government and other national stakeholders is critical to supporting a significant reform process.

APPROACH

Building on a Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) program (2009–16), the objective of this activity is to facilitate knowledge exchange, transparency, and inclusiveness of the forest policy reform process in Ukraine. The intended outcome is to imrpove governance indicators, specifically enhanced accountability of authorities in charge of forest management and improved access to forest-related information by various stakeholders. Specific activities and outputs will include:

• An overview of the current state of the forest sector, as of 2016, including information on logging, composition of tree species, timber consumption patterns, and timber import/export analysis. A report will be pubilshed based on this analysis.
• Support for developing legal and institutional modalities of forest sector reform. This component will entail a survey of institutional options, engagement with stakeholders, and facilitation of broad public debate.
• Expert reviews of draft legislation, with recommendations regarding land and decentralization reforms, and efficient forest management.
• Dissemination activities, including online discussion platforms.

RESULTS

This activity was completed in June 2018.  The overview of national forestry sector statistics for 2016 and 2017 and the corresponding analysis presented comprehensive up-to-date information about the current state of the forest sector in Ukraine. The analysis also demonstrated causes of problems and linked them to the need for reform. Thus, the client and target audiences received valuable information, which can be used for further decision making in the forest sector and for the work of official working groups on forest sector reform. 

The activity enhanced and facilitated participation of key players (relevant ministries, the Parliament, the State Forest Resources Agency, the private sector, NGOs and local self-governance authorities) in the debate on important issues related to potential changes in the institutional setting of the forestry sector.   

The project experts assessed 16 selected draft laws and provided their comments and recommendations to the Client and other relevant stakeholders. It supported parliament-level decision-making in the forestry sector through timely peer review of possible institutional changes, political and economic initiatives/changes, and selected draft legislative initiatives. Some of the activity experts’ recommendations have been included into new draft legislation, such as the recommendations on forest shelterbelts in the draft law regulating use of agricultural land. 

Furthermore, information and discussion platforms (round tables, extended stakeholder meetings, web portal), have been established and are functioning; all planned analytical studies serve as background information for discussion/debate among key stakeholders on key forest sector issues. The Ukrainian Forestry Portal, which serves as a source of comprehensive up-to-date information on the forest sector (including news, articles, statistics, legislation, the activity analytical reports and other material, forum for discussing forestry issues) received substantial upgrading as the activity engaged audiences beyond foresters’ professional community and reached public at large. About 390, 000 visitors were counted to explore the web site during June 2017-June 2018.

The activity also stimulated journalists’ interest in forest sector issues (for example, a journalist contest arranged under the activity was an important successful way to engage journalists). Thus, the public interest in forest sector issues has grown, and all together information and discussion platforms contributed to increased transparency of the sector.   

The Activity outcomes continue to serve as an important base for further involvement of stakeholders in their dialogue on forest sector issues and changes in relevant policy and practice. However, it should be noted, that the national forest sector reform is a contested process given the sector’s public importance, many interests as well as political influences over this agenda

CHALLENGE

The forest sector in Ukraine faces a number of challenges caused by weak governance, corruption, and institutional weaknesses stemming from the historic post-Soviet concentration of regulatory and business functions within one institution. The country is currently facing major policy reforms across many sectors, including forest management and administration. Maintaining an open dialogue on forest issues with the government and other national stakeholders is critical to supporting a significant reform process.

APPROACH

Building on a Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) program (2009–16), the objective of this activity is to facilitate knowledge exchange, transparency, and inclusiveness of the forest policy reform process in Ukraine. The intended outcome is to imrpove governance indicators, specifically enhanced accountability of authorities in charge of forest management and improved access to forest-related information by various stakeholders. Specific activities and outputs will include:

• An overview of the current state of the forest sector, as of 2016, including information on logging, composition of tree species, timber consumption patterns, and timber import/export analysis. A report will be pubilshed based on this analysis.
• Support for developing legal and institutional modalities of forest sector reform. This component will entail a survey of institutional options, engagement with stakeholders, and facilitation of broad public debate.
• Expert reviews of draft legislation, with recommendations regarding land and decentralization reforms, and efficient forest management.
• Dissemination activities, including online discussion platforms.

RESULTS

This activity was completed in June 2018.  The overview of national forestry sector statistics for 2016 and 2017 and the corresponding analysis presented comprehensive up-to-date information about the current state of the forest sector in Ukraine. The analysis also demonstrated causes of problems and linked them to the need for reform. Thus, the client and target audiences received valuable information, which can be used for further decision making in the forest sector and for the work of official working groups on forest sector reform. 

The activity enhanced and facilitated participation of key players (relevant ministries, the Parliament, the State Forest Resources Agency, the private sector, NGOs and local self-governance authorities) in the debate on important issues related to potential changes in the institutional setting of the forestry sector.   

The project experts assessed 16 selected draft laws and provided their comments and recommendations to the Client and other relevant stakeholders. It supported parliament-level decision-making in the forestry sector through timely peer review of possible institutional changes, political and economic initiatives/changes, and selected draft legislative initiatives. Some of the activity experts’ recommendations have been included into new draft legislation, such as the recommendations on forest shelterbelts in the draft law regulating use of agricultural land. 

Furthermore, information and discussion platforms (round tables, extended stakeholder meetings, web portal), have been established and are functioning; all planned analytical studies serve as background information for discussion/debate among key stakeholders on key forest sector issues. The Ukrainian Forestry Portal, which serves as a source of comprehensive up-to-date information on the forest sector (including news, articles, statistics, legislation, the activity analytical reports and other material, forum for discussing forestry issues) received substantial upgrading as the activity engaged audiences beyond foresters’ professional community and reached public at large. About 390, 000 visitors were counted to explore the web site during June 2017-June 2018.

The activity also stimulated journalists’ interest in forest sector issues (for example, a journalist contest arranged under the activity was an important successful way to engage journalists). Thus, the public interest in forest sector issues has grown, and all together information and discussion platforms contributed to increased transparency of the sector.   

The Activity outcomes continue to serve as an important base for further involvement of stakeholders in their dialogue on forest sector issues and changes in relevant policy and practice. However, it should be noted, that the national forest sector reform is a contested process given the sector’s public importance, many interests as well as political influences over this agenda

CHALLENGE

The forest sector in Ukraine faces a number of challenges caused by weak governance, corruption, and institutional weaknesses stemming from the historic post-Soviet concentration of regulatory and business functions within one institution. The country is currently facing major policy reforms across many sectors, including forest management and administration. Maintaining an open dialogue on forest issues with the government and other national stakeholders is critical to supporting a significant reform process.

APPROACH

Building on a Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) program (2009–16), the objective of this activity is to facilitate knowledge exchange, transparency, and inclusiveness of the forest policy reform process in Ukraine. The intended outcome is to imrpove governance indicators, specifically enhanced accountability of authorities in charge of forest management and improved access to forest-related information by various stakeholders. Specific activities and outputs will include:

• An overview of the current state of the forest sector, as of 2016, including information on logging, composition of tree species, timber consumption patterns, and timber import/export analysis. A report will be pubilshed based on this analysis.
• Support for developing legal and institutional modalities of forest sector reform. This component will entail a survey of institutional options, engagement with stakeholders, and facilitation of broad public debate.
• Expert reviews of draft legislation, with recommendations regarding land and decentralization reforms, and efficient forest management.
• Dissemination activities, including online discussion platforms.

RESULTS

This activity was completed in June 2018.  The overview of national forestry sector statistics for 2016 and 2017 and the corresponding analysis presented comprehensive up-to-date information about the current state of the forest sector in Ukraine. The analysis also demonstrated causes of problems and linked them to the need for reform. Thus, the client and target audiences received valuable information, which can be used for further decision making in the forest sector and for the work of official working groups on forest sector reform. 

The activity enhanced and facilitated participation of key players (relevant ministries, the Parliament, the State Forest Resources Agency, the private sector, NGOs and local self-governance authorities) in the debate on important issues related to potential changes in the institutional setting of the forestry sector.   

The project experts assessed 16 selected draft laws and provided their comments and recommendations to the Client and other relevant stakeholders. It supported parliament-level decision-making in the forestry sector through timely peer review of possible institutional changes, political and economic initiatives/changes, and selected draft legislative initiatives. Some of the activity experts’ recommendations have been included into new draft legislation, such as the recommendations on forest shelterbelts in the draft law regulating use of agricultural land. 

Furthermore, information and discussion platforms (round tables, extended stakeholder meetings, web portal), have been established and are functioning; all planned analytical studies serve as background information for discussion/debate among key stakeholders on key forest sector issues. The Ukrainian Forestry Portal, which serves as a source of comprehensive up-to-date information on the forest sector (including news, articles, statistics, legislation, the activity analytical reports and other material, forum for discussing forestry issues) received substantial upgrading as the activity engaged audiences beyond foresters’ professional community and reached public at large. About 390, 000 visitors were counted to explore the web site during June 2017-June 2018.

The activity also stimulated journalists’ interest in forest sector issues (for example, a journalist contest arranged under the activity was an important successful way to engage journalists). Thus, the public interest in forest sector issues has grown, and all together information and discussion platforms contributed to increased transparency of the sector.   

The Activity outcomes continue to serve as an important base for further involvement of stakeholders in their dialogue on forest sector issues and changes in relevant policy and practice. However, it should be noted, that the national forest sector reform is a contested process given the sector’s public importance, many interests as well as political influences over this agenda

CONTEXT

In collaboration with the World Bank, with financial support from PROFOR, this FAO-led activity aims to develop guidelines for forest concession and construct lessons learned and best practices, building on FAO’s Forest Concession Initiative (FCI), while capturing trends and needs brought up by new realities, such as climate change strategies and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The results of the activity are aimed to benefit national and subnational forest management and land use planning agencies, community forest managers and other international NGOs and forest management stakeholders.

CHALLENGE

Forest concessions are an important instrument used for allocating public forests to a private entity. It is used as a contract to establish the rights to harvest in a given forest area and regulate responsibilities, prices, incentives and sanctions of the government and the concession holder. Most typically, forest concessions are granted to companies, but there are also cases of concessions granted to communities. Forest concessions are adopted in all parts of the world, especially in and tropical forests, and are an important tool for sustainable forest management (SFM), especially considering that the majority of forests in tropical forests are public. Forest concessions, which can be granted through different contractual arrangements, can enable a wide range of socioeconomic benefits, such as security of tenure, increased income, access to social services and local development.

Forest concessions have the potential to be instrumental in achieving progress towards the SDGs, especially by creating more sustainable terrestrial ecosystems that can alleviate poverty, and contribute to climate change mitigation and adaption. Despite these potential benefits, results from forest concessions in tropical forests remain dismal, constrained by weak local governance and global timber market failure to reward sustainable forest management.

In the FAO-led Forest Concession Initiative (FCI), results suggest that forest concessions are very heterogeneous and have been implemented to respond to different, and not always clear, policy objectives, and most typically in weak governance environments. As a result, forest concessions are often perceived negatively and are often associated as being drivers of forest degradation and social inequality. Questions also remain about their financial and economic feasibility. The FCI points to the need of building on lessons learned from the experience with forest concessions in tropical forests to inform the processes in allocating public production forests. This program, therefore, follows up on FCI’s results by developing guidelines for forest concessions, building on lessons learned and best practices, while capturing trends and needs brought up by new realities, such as climate change strategies, the SDGs and the countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

APPROACH

This activity will be led by FAO, in collaboration with PROFOR, by conducting the following tasks:

• Analytical framework with a typology of forest concessions, including policy objectives, legal aspects and contractual arrangements, scope of forest management (objectives and activities), main stakeholders, and monitoring and evaluation.
• Conduct surveys targeting a wide range of stakeholders from the public and private sectors including concessionairis, community organizations, policy makers, private sector bodies involved in forest concessions and alternative allocations models to help identify enabling conditions for effective management of public production forests in tropical countries and to investigate forest concession’s contribution to achieving the SDGs and NDCs.
• Stakeholder review and validation workshops that target the three focus regions—West and Central Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America—and bring the key stakeholders together to discuss, validate and further elaborate the draft framework principles and guidelines.
• Final guidelines and publication.

RESULTS

The final report was launched in May 2018 and is available here and from the FAO website.

CONTEXT

In collaboration with the World Bank, with financial support from PROFOR, this FAO-led activity aims to develop guidelines for forest concession and construct lessons learned and best practices, building on FAO’s Forest Concession Initiative (FCI), while capturing trends and needs brought up by new realities, such as climate change strategies and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The results of the activity are aimed to benefit national and subnational forest management and land use planning agencies, community forest managers and other international NGOs and forest management stakeholders.

CHALLENGE

Forest concessions are an important instrument used for allocating public forests to a private entity. It is used as a contract to establish the rights to harvest in a given forest area and regulate responsibilities, prices, incentives and sanctions of the government and the concession holder. Most typically, forest concessions are granted to companies, but there are also cases of concessions granted to communities. Forest concessions are adopted in all parts of the world, especially in and tropical forests, and are an important tool for sustainable forest management (SFM), especially considering that the majority of forests in tropical forests are public. Forest concessions, which can be granted through different contractual arrangements, can enable a wide range of socioeconomic benefits, such as security of tenure, increased income, access to social services and local development.

Forest concessions have the potential to be instrumental in achieving progress towards the SDGs, especially by creating more sustainable terrestrial ecosystems that can alleviate poverty, and contribute to climate change mitigation and adaption. Despite these potential benefits, results from forest concessions in tropical forests remain dismal, constrained by weak local governance and global timber market failure to reward sustainable forest management.

In the FAO-led Forest Concession Initiative (FCI), results suggest that forest concessions are very heterogeneous and have been implemented to respond to different, and not always clear, policy objectives, and most typically in weak governance environments. As a result, forest concessions are often perceived negatively and are often associated as being drivers of forest degradation and social inequality. Questions also remain about their financial and economic feasibility. The FCI points to the need of building on lessons learned from the experience with forest concessions in tropical forests to inform the processes in allocating public production forests. This program, therefore, follows up on FCI’s results by developing guidelines for forest concessions, building on lessons learned and best practices, while capturing trends and needs brought up by new realities, such as climate change strategies, the SDGs and the countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

APPROACH

This activity will be led by FAO, in collaboration with PROFOR, by conducting the following tasks:

• Analytical framework with a typology of forest concessions, including policy objectives, legal aspects and contractual arrangements, scope of forest management (objectives and activities), main stakeholders, and monitoring and evaluation.
• Conduct surveys targeting a wide range of stakeholders from the public and private sectors including concessionairis, community organizations, policy makers, private sector bodies involved in forest concessions and alternative allocations models to help identify enabling conditions for effective management of public production forests in tropical countries and to investigate forest concession’s contribution to achieving the SDGs and NDCs.
• Stakeholder review and validation workshops that target the three focus regions—West and Central Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America—and bring the key stakeholders together to discuss, validate and further elaborate the draft framework principles and guidelines.
• Final guidelines and publication.

RESULTS

The final report was launched in May 2018 and is available here and from the FAO website.

CONTEXT

In collaboration with the World Bank, with financial support from PROFOR, this FAO-led activity aims to develop guidelines for forest concession and construct lessons learned and best practices, building on FAO’s Forest Concession Initiative (FCI), while capturing trends and needs brought up by new realities, such as climate change strategies and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The results of the activity are aimed to benefit national and subnational forest management and land use planning agencies, community forest managers and other international NGOs and forest management stakeholders.

CHALLENGE

Forest concessions are an important instrument used for allocating public forests to a private entity. It is used as a contract to establish the rights to harvest in a given forest area and regulate responsibilities, prices, incentives and sanctions of the government and the concession holder. Most typically, forest concessions are granted to companies, but there are also cases of concessions granted to communities. Forest concessions are adopted in all parts of the world, especially in and tropical forests, and are an important tool for sustainable forest management (SFM), especially considering that the majority of forests in tropical forests are public. Forest concessions, which can be granted through different contractual arrangements, can enable a wide range of socioeconomic benefits, such as security of tenure, increased income, access to social services and local development.

Forest concessions have the potential to be instrumental in achieving progress towards the SDGs, especially by creating more sustainable terrestrial ecosystems that can alleviate poverty, and contribute to climate change mitigation and adaption. Despite these potential benefits, results from forest concessions in tropical forests remain dismal, constrained by weak local governance and global timber market failure to reward sustainable forest management.

In the FAO-led Forest Concession Initiative (FCI), results suggest that forest concessions are very heterogeneous and have been implemented to respond to different, and not always clear, policy objectives, and most typically in weak governance environments. As a result, forest concessions are often perceived negatively and are often associated as being drivers of forest degradation and social inequality. Questions also remain about their financial and economic feasibility. The FCI points to the need of building on lessons learned from the experience with forest concessions in tropical forests to inform the processes in allocating public production forests. This program, therefore, follows up on FCI’s results by developing guidelines for forest concessions, building on lessons learned and best practices, while capturing trends and needs brought up by new realities, such as climate change strategies, the SDGs and the countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

APPROACH

This activity will be led by FAO, in collaboration with PROFOR, by conducting the following tasks:

• Analytical framework with a typology of forest concessions, including policy objectives, legal aspects and contractual arrangements, scope of forest management (objectives and activities), main stakeholders, and monitoring and evaluation.
• Conduct surveys targeting a wide range of stakeholders from the public and private sectors including concessionairis, community organizations, policy makers, private sector bodies involved in forest concessions and alternative allocations models to help identify enabling conditions for effective management of public production forests in tropical countries and to investigate forest concession’s contribution to achieving the SDGs and NDCs.
• Stakeholder review and validation workshops that target the three focus regions—West and Central Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America—and bring the key stakeholders together to discuss, validate and further elaborate the draft framework principles and guidelines.
• Final guidelines and publication.

RESULTS

The final report was launched in May 2018 and is available here and from the FAO website.