Statement
by
Prof. Dr. Ivica Grbac
Assistant Minister
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Croatia
United Nations Forum on Forests
Fifth Session
High Level Segment
United Nations, New York
26 May 2005
Mr. Chairman, Colleagues, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen!
As it is the first time that my delegation is taking the floor, allow me to congratulate you and the bureau on your election as well as on conducting this session in such an organized manner. I would also like to express my thanks to the Secretariat for preparing the excellent documentation for this session.
Croatia has aligned itself with the statement of Luxembourg, delivered on behalf of the European Union, but wishes to take this opportunity to briefly touch upon several key issues.
Let me begin by saying that it is of particular significance that the Fifth Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests is taking place in the same year as a high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly with the participation of Heads of State and Government. This gives the Forum the special responsibility of undertaking a comprehensive review of the progress made in the fulfillment of all commitments contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration including the internationally agreed development goals and the global partnership required for their achievement. Therefore, it is our responsibility to set a clear goal for sustainable forest management and to raise the status of forest-related issues on the international agenda so that the forestry sector can contribute fully to achieving internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration.
For this to be accomplished there is a need for the further strengthening of the effectiveness of the international arrangement on forests in order for it to be successful in delivering its mandate. Therefore, future actions of the international arrangement on forests should promote the protection and sustainable management of all types of forests as well as the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration.
In this context, we need to renew the pledge to make progress towards sustainable forest management by reducing the rate of net deforestation, maintaining forest functions, restoring degraded and unmanaged forest landscapes, conserving natural forests and improving the livelihoods of poor people living in and around forests worldwide. We need to demonstrate the contribution that sustainable forest management makes to global priorities such as poverty alleviation, health, environmental sustainability and gender equality. Likewise, we must demonstrate the importance of fostering effective partnerships with constituencies outside of the forest sector. This requires the provision of adequate means of implementation and financing, a mechanism for supporting and involving regional processes, and improved communication with the public about forest-related issues.
Adopting a global goal for forests would require strong national commitment and actions on the ground from all interested stakeholders, bearing in mind that at the same time we need to preserve biodiversity and the environment. A global goal should provide a vision for the next ten years, supported by voluntary measurable targets at the national level that could facilitate the building of a stronger commitment to sustainable forest management and highlight the role of forests in contributing to the implementation of a broader international development agenda.
We in Croatia are very well aware of this. Accordingly, when we created the National Forestry Policy and Strategy, we engaged all interested stakeholders including national minorities, youth and women''s groups. This document speeds up the adoption of the new Forestry Act and its accompanying laws, regulations and directives on forest management and the evaluation of wood and non-wood values of forests. With this document, the Government of Croatia has established long-term goals in this field and has mainstreamed forest management into its overall economic development policies. The starting point was the current situation. A list of goals was drafted, as well as the contents, proposals, principles and working methods regarding sustainable forest management and its biodiversity, thereby establishing the policy of the Croatian Forestry. All tasks were classified in three time periods in order to define activity related to the drafting of implementation documents. This measure provides us with the required foundation for the adjustment of traditional forest management to new requirements. The importance of ecological forest function has been underlined in relation to economic forest function. Such prioritising will require readjustments in the forestry sector and other segments of society, which are either directly or indirectly related to forestry and which pose an additional challenge to Croatia as a country with an economy in transition.
We have also begun work on forest management certification and obtaining the FSC for all state forests will serve as a model for the future. It is a very important model for us because ninety percent of all wood produced in Croatia is produced from state forests.
After working on the national report for all five UNFF sessions, we have also become aware of the necessity to introduce new knowledge into our educational programs and curricula, in equal measure for the three most important forest components - biological, ecological and social. Including traditional knowledge in the national context and possibly in national forest legislation is still a major task for us to accomplish.
The IPF and the IFF proposals for actions have proven to be good indicators for taking actions at the national level in the area of forestry. In this way, we have determined the weaknesses we have in private forest management in Croatia. Namely, private owners cannot by themselves implement sustainable forest management because their average ownership of forests is very small. In order to help private owners achieve sustainable forest management, legal logging practices and the development of the best forest management practices, last year the Croatian government established a new department in the Forestry Division of the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Water Management. This department''s main task is the improvement of private forest management. However, finding the best model for the development of the private forest sector is a long-term challenge for forestry in our country. Scientific knowledge of the forests and a global environmental status will both be of crucial importance in ensuring a better future for our forestry.
Mr. Chairman!
Let me conclude by pointing out that raising the awareness of forestry issues and linking it with the global development agenda should be one of our priorities. It is in this context that Croatia has proposed to have an International Year of Forests. We are all aware that forests are crucial means to eradicating poverty, reducing land and resource degradation, improving food security, as well as providing access to safe drinking water and affordable energy. It should be the year in which we further strengthen multi-stakeholder dialogue, policy and programme coordination, and promote public participation. Additionally, by proclaiming an International Year of Forests we would highlight the importance of our common understanding of forests, as well as our awareness of forest issues. We therefore hope that we will receive your support to proclaim an International Year of Forests.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman!
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