21 st century improved governance Doug Konkin and Sally Collins - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Public Forest Agencies in the 21st century

Driving change through transparency, tenure reform, citizen involvement and improved governance Doug Konkin and Sally Collins July 2014

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

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MegaFlorestais 2014, Buea

FORESTS IN THE FUTURE--EXPECT:

• Decrease in natural forests in the tropics and expanded

forests in the boreal zone.

• More frequent fires, pests, droughts and related climate

disturbances.

• Expanded investments in mining, agriculture and energy

development cutting through the remaining natural forests.

• Younger, simpler in structure, and more fragmented forests.
• Increasing loss of species and biodiversity
• Increasing impact from invasive species and encroaching

ecosystems

• Unknown compounding effects

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As a result…

 Forest and grassland ecosystems will be much more difficult and costly to manage. Forest products will be less predictable, affecting the potential supply to markets, employment, the livelihoods of local people, and revenues to governments.

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Introducing: Five Principles

• Essential principles to guide the future of

effective forest governance in the twenty-first century that apply.

• Regardless of institutional age, organizational

structure and even the political system in which forest agencies operate.

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Principles:

• Transparency in government is essential.
• Clarification of tenure (land rights and
• wnership) is a key priority for government.
• Inclusive government is necessary.
• Forest agencies must evolve.
• Forest leaders must acquire new skills.

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• 1. Transparency

Possible strategies for public forest agencies to take the lead in increasing transparency in government:

• Make forest data free and easily accessible.
• Involve citizens in the planning & implementation of

forest policies and regulations that affect them.

• Ensure bidding for forest products from publicly held

forests is done in a fair, open and competitive manner.

• Increase the ability of community groups and other

stakeholders to actively monitor the performance of the agencies that serve them.

• Engage citizens in effective and productive ways.

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• 2. Clarification of tenure (land rights &
• wnership)

Possible strategies for public forest agencies to take the lead in land rights and ownership:

• Willingly partner in or lead policy changes on forest

tenure.

• Advocate for clarification of tenure as an essential step

in advancing human rights, alleviating poverty, and preserving forests.

• Work quickly to enable people to take advantage of new

rights and tenures.

• Help lead the transformation of forestland ownership

and tenure by……?

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• 3. Inclusive governance

Possible strategies for forest agencies to actively engage stakeholders:

• Use technology to reach citizens, even in remote areas
• Develop regulations that are readily understood,

implemented and enforced

• Engage forest users in monitoring & enforcement
• Establish effective citizen/stakeholder advisory

processes to incorporate wide-ranging perspectives

• Actively engage private land owners, Indigenous

Peoples & local communities early in policy development and execution.

• Be accountable

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• 4. Ability to evolve

Possible strategies for public forest agencies to take the lead in improving governments ability to respond to citizen demands, changes in forests and global trends:

• Be open to new approaches and organizational models

that increase the ability of government to make integrated decisions.

• Encourage policies at the regional or landscape scales.
• Help resolve conflicting policies by advocating for joint

processes to review and create policies.

• Produce superior results.

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• 5. A broader skillset for forest leaders

Possible strategies for public forest agencies to take the lead in helping resource managers and leaders hone and acquire the skills necessary to be successful:

• Create an inclusive culture within agencies by learning

to (really) listen to citizens and active social/community engagement.

• Create a deeper understanding of global trends
• Target appropriate skill development for future forest

leaders

• Work with teaching institutions to modernize

curriculum.

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The Road Ahead

• Public forest agencies should use and value

their convening power.

• Especially to:

1.Proactively engage other land-based ministries or private sector actors, 2.Ensure that rational and transparent decisions on land and land use are made, 3.Make sure citizens’ rights are protected.

• Leaders must set ambitious goals and lead

their organizations and political leaders towards these goals.

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Conclusion

• Unprecedented changes are on their way.
• Forest agencies have 2 choices: they can

positively influence this future or be casualties of it.

• Let’s all work together, learn from our

successes and failures to figure out the way forward.

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Authors

• Tasso Azevedo (Brazil)
• Sally Collins (US)
• Juan Manuel Torres-Rojo (Mexico)
• Doug Konkin (Canada)
• Pak Boen (Indonesia)
• Keshav Kanel (Nepal)
• Jim Farrell (Canada)
• Dale Bosworth (US)