United Nations Development Account (UNDA) project 2016-2020
Strengthening forest monitoring in the Caucasus and Central Asia was implemented through the capacity-building project "Accountability Systems for Sustainable Forest Management", which was funded by the United Nations Development Account (UNDA), under the 10th tranche. The timeframe of the project was initially 2016-2019 but has been extended with additional resources until September 2020.The objective of this project was to strengthen the national capacity of five target countries (Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan) to develop national criteria and indicators (C&I) and reporting, or accountability systems, for sustainable forest management (SFM).
The project enabled the target countries to actively participate in international processes related to forests, and contribute to the sustainable development of the sector towards a green economy. National criteria and indicators for SFM will serve as a tool to communicate the relevance of forests as they relate to the environment as well as a socio-economic situation at national, regional and international levels.
National Focal Points
To see the list of the project focal points in each country, please click here.
The key recipients were forest-related ministries, national forest agencies, research institutes, and NGOs. The project was carried out with key partners including other international organizations or initiatives already operating in the countries (e.g. FAO, German development cooperation GIZ, United Nations Environment Programme UNEP, Global Environment Facility GEF). The implementation of the project has been led by experts from the UNECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section.Main Results
National sets of criteria and indicators for Sustainable Forest Management (as of 9.12.2020)
- Armenia
- Georgia
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Uzbekistan
Publications
Policy briefs
- Criteria and indicators - an universal policy tool for Sustainable Forest Management
- National Forest Inventory - tool for decision making
- Information Systems - tool for better forest policy and management
- Criteria and indicator-based international Monitoring, Assessment and Reporting
- Criteria and indicators for forest-related communication
Background information
Most of the countries in the target region struggle with the degradation of the limited natural resources due to extensive grazing, illegal logging and deforestation. These countries did not have the capacity to regularly monitor the status of forests. In addition, they were not able to monitor and assess the socio-economic aspects of forests. Due to these limitations, the importance of the forest sector was continuously neglected in policy development.
With the exception of Georgia, the target countries were not part of any international processes on criteria and indicators for SFM. Therefore, they could not benefit directly from the knowledge and tools developed by these processes. The project supported evidence-based policymaking by providing knowledge, capacity-building, training materials and advisory services for defining the scope and relevance of information needed for implementing SFM at the national level. The project supported beneficiary countries in developing national criteria and indicators for SFM, in identifying key indicators and setting threshold values for monitoring. The criteria and indicators can be used for monitoring the status and trends in the forest sector, and eventually monitoring the progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
With the exception of Georgia, the target countries were not part of any international processes on criteria and indicators for SFM. Therefore, they could not benefit directly from the knowledge and tools developed by these processes. The project supported evidence-based policymaking by providing knowledge, capacity-building, training materials and advisory services for defining the scope and relevance of information needed for implementing SFM at the national level. The project supported beneficiary countries in developing national criteria and indicators for SFM, in identifying key indicators and setting threshold values for monitoring. The criteria and indicators can be used for monitoring the status and trends in the forest sector, and eventually monitoring the progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
The table below provides an overview of useful material and information about Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management in English and Russian. This material can be used as a source of information and inspiration to develop national Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management. The table is not exhaustive. If you are aware of relevant material that is not yet listed kindly inform the project manager.
| Topic/ Тема |
Language/ Язык |
Document/ Документ |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| General information Общая информация |
The System for the Evaluation of the Management of Forests (SEMAFOR) Система оценки управления лесами (СЕМАФОР) |
ENG-RUS | ENG pdf RUS pdf |
|
|
Sustainable Forest Management definition Определение устойчивого лесопользования |
ENG-RUS | |
| Criteria and Indicator definitions Определение критериев и показателей |
ENG-RUS | ||
| Useful links Полезные ссылки |
ENG-RUS | ||
| FAO Voluntary Guidelines on National Forest Monitoring | ENG | ||
| CIFOR Guidelines for Developing, Testing and Selecting Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management Руководство по разработке, тестированию и выбору критериев и индикаторов для устойчивого лесопользования |
ENG | ||
| Examples for C&I Примеры КиИ |
Criteria and Indicators for SFM in Austria Критерии и индикаторы для УУЛ в Австрии |
ENG | |
| Criteria and Indicators for Low Forest Cover Countries Критерии и индикаторы для слаболесистых стран |
ENG | ||
| Forest Europe Process Процесс Леса Европы |
Pan-European Indicators for SFM Общеевропейские индикаторы для УУЛ |
ENG | |
| State of Europe’s Forests report Отчет о состоянии лесов Европы |
ENG | ||
| Pan-European Questionnaire Общеевропейский вопросник More information here Дополнительная информация здесь |
ENG-RUS | ENG Excel
RUS Excel
|
|
| Relevant Terms and Definitions for Pan-European Indicators Соответствующие термины и определения для Общеевропейских индикаторов
|
ENG | pdf
|
|
| Montreal Process Монреальский процесс |
Montreal Process Criteria and Indicators Критерии и индикаторы для Монреальского процесса |
RUS | |
| Booklet Брошюра |
RUS | ||
| Factsheet Фактологический бюллетень |
ENG | ||
| Montreal process: criteria and indicators for conservation and SFM of the temperate and boreal zones 2008 Монреальский процесс: критерии и индикаторы сохранения и УУЛ умеренной и бореальной зон 2008 |
RUS | ||
| Other publications Прочие публикации |
Forests in the ECE region 2015 Леса региона ЕЭК 2015 |
ENG-RUS | ENG pdf RUS pdf
|
| Global Forest Resource Assessment, Synthesis Document Глобальная оценка лесных ресурсов, обобщающий документ More information here Дополнительная информация здесь |
ENG-RUS | ENG pdf
RUS pdf
|
|
| Global Forest Resource Assessment, Summary tables for quantitative variables Глобальная оценка лесных ресурсов, Сводные таблицы для количественных переменных |
ENG-RUS | ENG pdf
RUS pdf
|
|
| Global Forest Resource Assessment, Terms and Definitions Глобальная оценка лесных ресурсов, Термины и определения |
ENG | ENG pdf | |
| Global Forest Resource Assessment, Questionnaire Глобальная оценка лесных ресурсов, Вопросник |
ENG | ENG pdf |
Process
Media coverage
The below table provides a selection of news and articles in relation to this project. If you have published a related article or are aware of media reaction which is not listed here, kindly contact the project manager.Contact
Mr. Roman Michalak
Economic Affairs Officer
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Joint UNECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section
Geneva, Switzerland
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Joint UNECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section
Geneva, Switzerland