Declaration on the Enhancement of The Role of Forests In Climate Management by Promoting Innovative Approaches, Technologies, Investments, and Human Capacity Building

The International conference on the “Role of Forests in Climate Management: Research – Innovations – Investments - Capacity Building” took place on October 4-7, 2008 in St-Petersburg, Russia.

The conference was organized by joint efforts of the Federal Forestry Agency of the Russian Federation, the World Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The conference was also supported by the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Russian Academy of Science (RAS) and the Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environment Monitoring (RosHydromet).

The goal of the conference was to enhance the role of forest sector under national and international climate change mitigation and adaptation programs through innovative financial mechanisms and investment partnerships.

Over 150 representatives from 30 countries and some international institutions participated in the conference. The structure of the conference consisted of Plenary sessions, poster session and three panel sessions on “Research”, “Innovations and technologies, human capacity building”, “Investments”. Each panel session gave floor to about fifteen presentations.

Amongst the key speakers there were representatives o f the Federal Forestry Agency, Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, Roshydromet, the World Bank and FAO, UNFCCC, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), representatives of respective ministries and agencies of European, Asian, and American countries, research and education institutions, lead timber industry companies and associations, investment funds and banks, lead nongovernmental organizations and others.

The key topics for the discussions were:

• Forest assessment and adaptation of forest ecosystems to global climate change
• Reforestation, afforestation and forest management as major tools for climate stabilization
• Innovations in forest management and forest use aimed at climate stabilization
• Human capacity development priorities in the forest sector to ensure effective adaptation to climate change
• Investment mechanisms in the forest sector to prevent climate change and adapt to it: development, implementation and audit of international climate projects

This conference complements two previous international conferences. The first, “Adaptation of Forests and Forest Management to Changing Climate with Emphasis on Forest Health: A Review of Science, Policies and Practices” (Umea, Sweden, August 2008) highlighted the role of forest management, forest science, forest policy and institutions in global climate change. The second, “The Roles of Boreal Forests in a Global Context” (Harbin, China, September, 2008) emphasized the role of boreal forests in climate change mitigation and adaptation.

In discussions, the Conference participants outlined the following key issues.

Our Planet’s climatic system is changing. Forests of the Northern Hemisphere are of key importance. They are largely responsible for the current biospheric carbon uptake in the Northern Hemisphere and they comprise a significant fraction of the carbon stored by the Earth’s ecosystems in quantities that exceed the amount in the atmosphere. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol formally recognize the role of forest in the carbon cycle.  The current climate change agenda recognizes the role of forests through afforestation and reforestation and now emphasizes reducing deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD) in their deliberations.  This conference, however, recognizes the wider role of temperate and boreal forest management in mitigation of and adaption to climate change.  That role needs to be properly recognized, enhanced, and strengthened at the national and international levels in the context of future climate agreements.

In this context the sustainable management of these forests requires particular attention, recognizing the role of the Russian Federation.  Russia encompasses 22% of all forests and more than 70% of boreal forests globally, including half of the terrestrial carbon in the northern hemisphere. Russian forests play an essential role in global environment and climate conservation.  Recognizing this role, the Government of the Russian Federation, in collaboration with leading international organizations, arranged the International Conference “Role of Forests in Climate Management: Research – Innovations – Investments –Capacity Building”.

The Conference outlined vital roles of forests in climate change under three headings: research; technology and capacity building; and investments.

Research. Current research data clearly demonstrates growing climate change effects on global forest cover. Natural zone boundary shifts and biodiversity changes are regularly observed. Negative effects of wildfires, extreme weather conditions, and pest outbreaks are emerging in many regions, resulting in extensive dieback and loss of forests.  There is sufficient knowledge of forests’ potential to maintain carbon stocks long enough to provide forest-climate stabilizing functions. Yet a high degree of uncertainty in quantitative assessments and forecasts should be acknowledged, in particular the role of forests in regional carbon cycles. Applied forest research in areas such as silviculture, conservation, regeneration, ground surveys and remote sensing can help to address these uncertainties.

Technology and innovation.  The transfer of innovative new knowledge, mechanisms and technology is necessary to strengthen institutional capacity to achieve sustainable forest management and provide climate stabilizing functions. The application of combined remote sensing technology and ground surveys, for example, has proven valuable for monitoring, assessment and reporting of forest status, trends and change.  It is also useful for monitoring, early warning and detection of abiotic (wildfires and wind damage) and biotic (insects and diseases) stressors that can negatively impact forests.  Introduction of reduced impact harvesting techniques using new technologies and modern machinery contributes to reduction in forest carbon stock losses and thus to climate stabilization.  Promotion of intensive forest management, regeneration and restoration techniques results in the enhancement of carbon storage. Bioenergy and increased efficiency in timber processing reduce emissions but need further investment in technological innovations.

Capacity building and institutional arrangements. Research and technological development must be complemented and supplemented by rational integration of responsibilities between central, regional and local government authorities. Capacity building and institutional strengthening at all levels are essential. Increased participation and engagement of local stakeholders in forest management and forest industry development and public awareness campaigns have proven successful in reducing pressure on forests.

Investments. Sufficient state and private investments would enhance the role of forests in climate stabilization. Investments can come from both traditional international funding such as the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and new investment funds for climate change response, based on financial commitments assumed by donors. Alternatively, investments can be market-based; financial mechanisms connected to carbon markets have great potential for Russia and other transition economies.  However, to ensure successful use of such mechanisms, it is necessary to remove the existing barriers for developing and implementing Joint Implementation (JI) Projects in the forest sector under the Kyoto Protocol. International emission trading, specifically Green Investment Schemes, could be an innovative instrument for support of reforestation, afforestation and forest management. In particular, improved forest management in boreal forests can result in both increased carbon sequestration and market generated financial returns. There is also a positive experience in state funding of programs for forest regeneration and establishment of carbon sequestration projects. High risks and long payback periods constrain attraction of private investments in this sector. Lack of capacity in project development as well as a weak institutional and methodological base for investments in climate change mitigation and adaptation activities are key barriers to investment.

The Conference participants encourage promotion of the following priority directions in forest sector research, technological, investment and institutional development:

Research

• Improve the understanding of the quantitative role of temperate and boreal forests in the Earth's climate system including aspects of GHG cycling and albedo.
• Develop new methodologies, which further the harmonisation among diverse sources, archives, and data bases currently used to estimate biogeochemical cycling by the forests of the Globe, including temperate and boreal forests.
• Improve existing national forest inventory and monitoring systems, including remote sensing techniques, for reporting purposes as required by the Kyoto-Protocol and subsequent climate agreements.
• Develop tools and systems that support of management decisions on adaptation of forest to Climate Change and forestry mitigation activities.
• Develop strategies and adaptation measures to enhance forest resistance to adverse impact of global climate change.
• Improve on existing and develop new national tools and systems that support and help to strengthen sustainable forest management.
• Consider the role of temperate and boreal forests in the renewable production of bioenergy.

Innovations, Technologies, Capacity Building

• New mechanisms, methods, standards, certification systems and management tools that exist or are being developed need to be funded for implementation and integration into management policy, planning and practices.
• New technologies need to be better integrated through the education and training programme and communicated to decision makers and management.
• New technologies that have been piloted and proven successful need to be more effectively recognized and funded by public, private and donor institutions.
• The gaps between science, education, policy, management and decision makers need to be bridged.
• The necessary resources need to be allocated for education and training to achieve the potential benefits for the sector.
• Central, regional and local institutional authorities and responsibilities need to be allocated and capacity strengthened at all levels.

Investments

• Encourage expert forest community to develop and present recommendations on the role of forest management and forest products based industry in negotiation on post-Kyoto regime. These should include all types of forests, both tropical and non-tropical (especially boreal forests and wetlands considering their carbon storage capacity). Special attention should be drawn to renegotiating monitoring and reporting requirements, and national caps for offsetting carbon emissions through land-use change and forestry activities in countries listed Annex I Parties of UNFCCC.
• Encourage both private and public investors of forest-climate projects to follow the principles of environmental and social responsibility.
• Encourage the contributors to the Forest Investment Program under the newly established Strategic Climate Fund and other global climate change investment instruments to include Sustainable Forest Management in all types of forests into the priority areas for investments.
• Innovative financial mechanisms such as Green Investment Schemes (GIS) should be broadly used.

Encourage the JI Supervision Committee (JISC) to correct JI procedures and methodologies in the forest sector. Adapt international and national JI rules and procedures to specifics of the forest sector. Particularly rich opportunities exist in countries like Russia for facilitating potential JI investments under the existing national caps of RMUs (removal units).