Forests Sourcebook - HCV Resource Network

Box 6.6
Basic Principles of NFP Preparation and Implementation
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Sustainability of forest development. The main purpose
of the NFP is to ensure the conservation and
sustainable development of forest resources.
National sovereignty and country leadership. NFPs
are national initiatives for which the country must
assume full leadership and responsibility.
Partnership. NFPs aim to bring together all stakeholders
in a process to which they feel committed.
The strength of this partnership will depend on its
ability to draw upon the specific capacities of individual
partners.
Participation. In the NFP, issues, options, and the
resulting policies, strategies, and programs are agreed
upon through participatory decision making and
consensus building among all interested partners.
Holistic and intersectoral approach. NFP approaches
forests as diverse ecosystems with interdependent
elements in dynamic equilibrium producing a variety
of goods and services; forestry includes trees in
rural areas; forestry is practiced within the context
of sustainable land management, environmental
stability, and social and economic development.
Forest dwellers are also part of this ecosystem.
A long-term iterative process. The NFP is a cyclic
process that includes planning as well as implementation,
and monitoring and evaluation activities. It
is also an iterative process that continually reflects
changes in the environment and the acquisition of
new knowledge even during implementation.
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Capacity building. Capacity building is an essential
element of the NFP. Throughout the process,
actions are taken to develop the planning and
implementation capacity of the national institutions
and other key actors with a view to decreasing
dependence on external assistance when necessary.
Policy and institutional reforms. A priority of the
NFP is to ensure that the policy and institutional
framework is conducive to sustainable forestry
development. Reforms must address policy and
institutional issues in a comprehensive manner
that recognizes the interdependencies between
sectors.
Consistency with the national policy framework and
global initiatives. The NFP must link with national
development plans and with regional and local
strategies. They should be integrated in the land-use
planning exercises at national and local levels and
into broader programs, such as Environmental
Action Plans and the actions to implement
UNCED’s Agenda 21 and related conventions and
initiatives.
Raising awareness. The NFP must raise the visibility
of the forestry sector and its priority in national
agendas. The full value of forests and trees must be
recognized as should their contribution to social,
economic, and environmental issues.
National policy commitment. The national forest
program must be backed by the long-term commitment
of all national actors, particularly at political
and decision-making levels.
International commitment. The long-term commitment
of the international community and its institutions
is essential. These bodies should respect the
policies, strategies, and programs approved by the
countries and adapt their own priorities to the
country priorities.
Source: FAO (http://www.nfp-facility.org/forestry/site/31811/en/).
The NFP approach is flexible and can be adapted to a
wide range of situations:
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National governments may use this framework for the
formulation of their forestry sector plans.
Decentralized government authorities, as well as other
national partners such as community-based organizations,
nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and the
private sector, may use it to plan and implement their
activities in line with the national framework.
Concerned international institutions may use it to harmonize
their actions, strengthen their cooperation in
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forestry, and enhance the use of human and financial
resources in an effective and efficient way.
Subregional and regional organizations of different
countries with the same interests can use this methodological
framework to formulate and implement actions
together.
OPERATIONAL ASPECTS
The preparation and implementation of the national forest
program is guided by a series of basic principles, as listed in
box 6.6. The application of these basic principles should be
216 CHAPTER 6: MAINSTREAMING FORESTS INTO DEVELOPMENT POLICY AND PLANNING