Asia Forest Partnership (AFP)
history and progress to date

30 August 2004
Yuji Imaizumi
Forestry Agency, Japan

Slide 1: Outline of the Presentation

• History and current status of AFP
• Other developments relevant to AFP
• Experience and lessons learned so far
• Next steps forward

Slide 2: Launching of AFP WSSD, August 2002, Johannesburg

Asia Forest Partnership (AFP) was launched as one of the "type 2" initiatives in contribution to WSSD.
Partners (at present):

• 16 Governments (including EC)
• 8 International organizations
• 4 Civil society organizations

Slide 3: 1st Meeting of AFP November 11, 2002, Tokyo

• Existing initiatives, possible areas of further cooperation, and issues to be tackled, were discussed, among others
• Agreed to continue and further enhance the exchange of views and information

Slide 4: 2nd Meeting of AFP July 9-10, 2003, Yogyakarta

• Reaffirmed the importance of voluntary and flexible participation and equal accountability of diverse stakeholders.
• Agreed on priority actions under each target area (Control of illegal logging, Control of forest fires, Rehabilitation and reforestation of degraded lands) .

Slide 5: 3rd Meeting of AFP November 21, 2003, Kisarazu

Discussed concrete work plans, e.g.,

• Developing minimum standards of legality, timber tracking and chain of custody systems, verification systems.
• Creating a framework for cooperation among customs agencies and other relevant agencies in the Asia-Pacific region
• Review of forest rehabilitation initiatives - Lessons from the past (in conjunction with CIFOR痴 on-going activity)
• Development of a database of training resources in Asia for SFM

Slide 6: Current Status of AFP

Partners

• 28 partners in total - gradually increased in 2 years

Information-sharing

• Info-sharing secretariat established (CIFOR)
• AFP website developed (www.asiaforests.org)

Funding

• Some donors committed funding (directly / indirectly)

Work plans

• Some work plans being implemented

Slide 7: Related Developments (1)

ITTC, May 2003, Panama

• A decision in support of AFP was adopted

UNFF3, June 2003, Geneva

• Regional partnerships (e.g., AFP) encouraged

June 2003, Tokyo

• "Joint Announcement" and "Action Plan" to combat illegal logging were signed by responsible Ministers of Japan & Indonesia

Slide 8: Related Developments (2)

August 2003, Kuala Lumpur

• ASEAN+3 Ministers for Agriculture and Forestry agreed to promote cooperation under AFP

December 2003, Tokyo

• Japan-ASEAN Plan of Action, which includes the promotion of AFP, was signed by national leaders of Japan and all ASEAN countries

Slide 9: Related Developments (3)

June 2004, Sea Island, USA

• G8 leaders adopted "Science and Technology for Sustainable Development: '3R' Action Plan and Progress on Implementation" which reaffirmed the promotion of SFM and control of illegal logging through AFP and CBFP

Slide 10: Related Developments (4)

Other Relevant Initiatives (indicative)

• Asia FLEG Ministerial Meeting (Sept. 2001, Bali)
• International Expert Meeting on National Codes of Practice for Forest Harvesting (Nov. 2003, Kisarazu)
• UNFF Country-led Initiative on Decentralization in Forestry (Apr. 2004, Interlaken)
• ASEAN (Timber certification, Land/forest fire and trans-boundary haze, etc.)
• Programs and projects of CIFOR, FAO / Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission, ITTO, etc.

Slide 11: Experiences and Lessons Learned (1)

• AFP's approach - regional focus and wide participation with equal footing - seems to have a high potential, but active participation, sense of ownership, commitment and concerted efforts are needed on continuous basis.
• To this end, partners should understand the relative strengths and weaknesses, mechanism and modality of the process - although it takes some time.

Slide 12: Experiences and Lessons Learned (2)

• Diversity of partners adds width and depth to AFP's scope - more partners should be encouraged to join, particularly from civil society, e.g., business sector.
• AFP has been successful in attracting global interest and expectation including at the political level - G8, UNFF, ASEAN+3, etc. - turning "good wills" into "action" is the next challenge.

Slide 13: Experiences and Lessons Learned (3)

• Limitation of resources may limit the range of activities - this should be overcome by well-focused and cost-effective activities, collaborating with other similar initiatives wherever possible to avoid duplication and fill gaps, while exploring new resources.
• Information-sharing is critical to this end.
• In summary, AFP could add significant value if well-coordinated actions are taken.

Slide 14: Next Steps Forward

• Regional Workshop for Strengthening AFP - mechanism, structure and modality of AFP should be clarified
  Work plans discussed at AFP3 should be further developed, implemented and/or followed-up
• Further concrete activities should be developed
• The 4th Meeting of AFP planned from 8 to 10 December (the week before ITTC) in Tokyo

Slide 15: Join AFP !!

• AFP is open to broad range of stakeholders including governments, international organizations and civil society (NGOs, business, etc.)
• Your participation would be welcome. For information, check AFP website: http://www.asiaforests.org/
• Thank you for your attention.

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