Asia Forest Partnership (AFP)
[last updated February 6, 2006 4:20 PM]

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General Information
Partnership website(s)
Expected Timeframe
August 2002 - December 2007
Partners
Governments:
  • Government of Indonesia - Ministry of Forestry
  • Government of Japan - Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
  • Government of Australia
  • Government of Cambodia
  • Government of China
  • Government of European Community - European Commission (EC)
  • Government of Finland
  • Government of France
  • Government of Malaysia
  • Government of Philippines
  • Government of Republic of Korea
  • Government of Switzerland
  • Government of Thailand
  • Government of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - United Kingdom
  • Government of United States of America
  • Government of Viet Nam
Major Groups:
  • The Nature Conservancy (TNC) (Indonesia)
  • Global Environmental Forum(GEF) (Japan)
  • Institute for Global Environmental Strategies(IGES) (United States of America)
  • World Resources Institute(WRI) (United States of America)
UN System:
  • Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (Italy)
  • Econ. & Social Comm. for Asia & Pacific(ESCAP) (Thailand)
  • United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF), ()
  • United Nations University (UNU) ()
Other intergovernmental organizations:
  • Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) (Indonesia)
  • Asian Development Bank (ADB) ()
  • Asian Productivity Organization (APO) ()
  • International Tropical Timber Org. (ITTO) ()
Other:
    		 
    Thematic Focus
    Primary Themes:
    • Forests
    		 Secondary Themes:
    • Protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development
    Geographic Coverage
    Geographic Scope: Regional
    Country(ies) where the partnership is being implemented:
    Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Thailand, Viet Nam
    National Focal Points
    This partnership has not made any contact with the national focal points for sustainable development in the countries involved
    Goals and Objectives
    Summary of the partnership's goals and objectives
    Asia Forest Partnership(AFP) promotes sustainable forest management in Asia through addressing the following 5 urgent issues;
    - Good governance and forest law enforcement
    - Developing capacity for effective forest management
    - Control of illegal logging
    - Control of forest fires
    - Rehabilitation and reforestation of degraded lands
    The partnership acts as a catalyst for already existing initiatives by increasing synergies and reducing duplication between programs and ongoing efforts. At this stage the AFP provides a formal framework for the exchange of information and experiences. Beyond strengthening existing programs this will facilitate joint identification of new programs and research needed.
    Targets and Progress
    Partnership targets
    Partners to this Partnership are to cooperate in such areas as;
    - Development of forest policies plans and programs including national forest programs;
    - Development of land use and natural resource management arrangements;
    - Use of satellite data for providing basic information for forest management;
    - Promotion of research, information exchange and use of satellite data and mapping to tackle forest fire
    and haze and regional actions for prevention and control of fire;
    - Promotion of reforestation and afforestation to rehabilitate degraded lands;
    - Establishment and implementation of reduced impact logging and guidelines for controlling illegal
    logging;
    - Developing and enhancing log tracking capacity and introduction of verification system such as
    labeling;
    - Promote effective measures, in both importing and exporting countries, to eliminate export and import
    of illegally harvested timber;
    - International cooperation and coordination on trade statistics, information exchange on illegal logging
    and illegal trade, study of possible measures related to trade;
    - Development of regional data sharing program on illegal logging;
    - Undertaking research on impact of illegal logging;
    - Awareness raising through holding seminars on combating illegal logging and enhancing
    understanding on the multiple benefits of forest;
    - Promoting participation of various kinds of stakeholders including Major Groups and local
    communities;
    - Human resource development;
    - Institutional development and capacity building;
    - Strengthening of inter-sectoral coordination within governments.
    Progress against targets
    The most recent meeting of the AFP was held in Yokohama, Japan on 13-15 November 2005. Partners revised and adopted an Announcement on Organizational Matters and Decision-Making Mechanisms to Strengthen the Asia Forest Partnership. Presentations were also given on AFP projects and broader matters of interest to AFP partners. Australia was represented at the meeting and has agreed to be part of the AFP Steering Committee.
    The AFP offers a direct way to invest in projects aligning with strategies to improve forest governance and reduce illegal logging. It also offers a less formal forum for discussion of matters affecting forest management and trade in forest products.
    Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer
    Arrangements for Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer
    • Human resources development/training
    • Education/building awareness
    • Institutional strengthening, including local participation
    - Human resource development, institutional development and capacity building are some specific targets of AFP. - At the 3rd Meeting of AFP held in Japan in November 2003, a Work Plan regarding compilation of a database of training resources(training materials, tools and facilities) in the Asia region on sustainable forest management is submitted and deliberated. By compiling such information, gaps and duplications of training resources can be identified, which would further lead to collaborative development of training resources among partners.
    Relationship to International Agreements on Sustainable Development
    How the partnership contributes to the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation
    AFP is aiming at contributing to the implementation of Chapter 11 of Agenda 21 which gives specific priority to sustaining the multiple roles and functions of all types of forests, forest lands and wood lands, as well as enhancing the protection, sustainable management and conservation of all forests and the greening of degraded areas through forest rehabilitation, afforestation, reforestation and other rehabilitative measures. AFP will also contribute to the implementation of the Millennium Declaration which stresses intensifying collective efforts for the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests. AFP also contributes to the implementation of CBD, UNFCCC, and IPF/IFF proposals for action, the UNFF plan of action and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. Relevant Sections of Agenda 21
    Managing fragile ecosystems: sustainable mountain development; Financial resources and mechanisms; International institutional arrangements; International legal instruments and mechanisms
    Relevant Sections of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation
    Protection and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development ; Sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific
    Coordination and Implementation
    Coordination Mechanism of the Partnership
    - The meeting for the promotion of AFP(once or twice per year) is the utmost decision making mechanism of AFP, in which partners exchange information, identify further work and consult on specific activities.
    - Leading partners help to facilitate and coordinate the activities of AFP, but do not have any additional authority in the partnership.
    - CIFOR is taking a role of secretariat for sharing information.
    Implementation Mechanism of the Partnership
    In addition to the activities mentioned under the section on Capacity building, parties to this Partnership will also cooperate in such areas as:
    * Promotion of reforestation and afforestation to rehabilitate degraded lands;
    * International cooperation and coordination on trade statistics, information exchange on illegal logging and illegal trade, study of possible measures related to trade;
    * Strengthening of inter-sectoral coordination within governments;
    Resources
    Funding Currently Available
    Amount in US$: 250000
    Source(s): Government - IGO
    ITTO(US$150,000), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan(US$100,000)
    Non-financial resources available
    Type(s): Other
    Source(s): Government - IGO - NGO
    The Government of Japan, The Government of Indonesia, CIFOR, TNC
    Funding Sought
    Required Amount in US$: not specified
    Source(s) already approached: Various possible resources, including ODA and non-governmental financing.
    Non-financial resources sought
    Requirement(s): Computers - Office space - Staff
    Source(s) approached and details:
    CIFOR is taking a role of secretariat for sharing information.
    Additional Information
    Additional Relevant Information
    Though many bilateral/multilateral programs already exist to promote sustainable forest management, AFP is bringing the following results;
    - A strengthening of, and enhancing the efficiency of , existing programs by, amongst other processes, providing a framework for conducting research, and the exchange of information and experience with other Participants;
    -The identification and implementation of new bilateral/multilateral programs.

    Australia?s involvement in the Partnership will be in the form of information sharing but may also involve co-financing projects which accord with Australia?s international forestry priorities.