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2.
Summary of Action Items and Decisions
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General
- D.
Kneeland (FAO) will send information on mechanisms
for individuals interested in detailing with FAO on
a temporary basis.
- D.
Kneeland (FAO) will send two FAO focal points to attend
their respective Working Group meetings this year.
- BOA
will develop an ongoing calendar of Working Group
meetings, so that alternates can plan ahead and try
to attend these meetings.
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XXI
Session of the NAFC
- D.
Kneeland (FAO) will fax an example of a timetable,
chairman's notes and a meeting agenda to US.
- C.
Karr (USA) will contact technical paper presenters
to inform them that they will have 30 minutes for
their presentation followed by a 30-minute Question
& Answer Session.
- Canada
will talk about the World Forestry Congress-as a separate
agenda item-and mention the International Criteria
and Indicators work in Guatemala.
- BOA
will encourage presenters to use PowerPoint presentations.
- Canada
will contact US to let us know how many of the Working
Group chairs can attend the meeting.
- Canada
and Mexico need to identify leads and participants
for technical papers. C. Karr (USA) will follow up.
- D.
Kneeland (USA) will facilitate contact between technical
paper authors and appropriate FAO focal points.
- BOA
has set up deadlines for presentations and papers:
-
Working Group packages (reports, presentations
and summaries) must be submitted to C. Karr (USA)
by October 1.
-
Technical Papers must be submitted to D.
Kneeland or Becky
Ortiz (FAO) by July 1.
-
Technical Paper presentations must be submitted
to C. Karr
(USA) by October 1.
-
BOA Report and Agenda must be submitted by July
1; the PowerPoint presentation must be submitted
by October 1.
-
State of Forestry reports must be submitted by
October 1 to D. Kneeland and Becky Ortiz (FAO).
- Participants
of the XXI Session of the NAFC are responsible for
making their own travel and hotel arrangements. They
must also register for the meeting by July 15, 2002.
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Working
Groups
- G.
Miller (Canada) will give feedback to the Atmospherics
Change and Forests Working Group about their membership
list.
- BOA
will review US members of the Atmospheric Change and
Forests Working Group.
- The
US will contact Susan Le Van (chair of the Forest
Products Working Group) to determine the status
of the group and collaborate with Canada in search
of options for the future.
- The
chair and members of the Fire
Management Working Group have agreed to update
and send all information pertaining to its activities
and membership to L. Paqueo (USA). The chair of the
Working Group will be responsible for maintaining
and forwarding the reports of the meeting to the BOA
liaison.
- The
chair of the Fire Management Working Group will discuss
the International Wildland Fire Conference at the
Hawaii Commission Meeting.
- G.
Miller (Canada) will approach the chair of the Fire
Management Working Group to ensure good representation
from the group at the Commission Meeting.
- D.
Kneeland (FAO) will approach Peter Holgren (FAO) to
prepare a draft for review of the FAO initiative and
include input from the Inventory
and Monitoring Working.
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Scoping
Groups
- G.
Miller (Canada) will provide names of Canadian representatives
who will participate in the preparation of reports
on "scoping" meetings for proposed new working
groups on invasive species and watersheds.
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Funding
- BOA
will request formal funding proposal from the Silviculture
Working Group.
- C.
Karr (USA) will contact the Atmospheric Change and
Forests Working Group to discuss BOA decision on funding
proposal.
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Website
and Mailing List
- L.
Paqueo (USA) will place hyperlink on NAFC website
to the World Forestry Congress and International Wildland
Fire Conference.
- L.
Paqueo (USA) and team will finish creating a database
and website for the Commission meeting by June 1.
- L.
Paqueo (USA) will work with C. Karr (USA) and chairs
of Working Groups to update information on website
as well as membership lists.
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Upcoming
Events and Meetings
The
BOA members will work towards attending the following
Working Group meetings:
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3.
Previous Meeting
The
previous
meeting of the BOA was held October 2-5, 2001 in
Banff, Alberta in Canada.
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4.
Details of Meeting - April 3, 2002
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A.
OPENING SESSION
V.
Mezainis (USA) chaired the meeting of the BOA. He
opened with introductions. Jim Sedell (USA) joined
the meeting as chair of the group responsible for
presenting a technical paper on watersheds. In addition,
Andrew Gillespie and Denny Truesdale represented Inventory
and Monitoring, and Fire Management Working Groups,
respectively.
The
chair also informed the BOA that Mexico was unable
to send a representative(s) to the meeting. Both FAO
and the NAFC have expressed concern about Mexico's
recent lack of involvement in the NAFC.
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B.
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES
1.
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UN (FAO)
Last
year, Mexico changed administration. Newly elected
party and administration made several important changes:There
have been a few personnel changes in FAO. Michael
Martin is now head of the Forestry Information and
Liaison Unit, which is responsible for the FAO Forestry
website, publications and meetings, including the
regional commissions. He will also be the new Secretary
of FAO's Committee on Forestry (COFO). Rosalie McConnell
is tasked with coordinating FAO's State of the World's
Forests (SOFO). Rosalie McConnell's tour with FAO
falls under the partnership between FAO and Natural
Resources Canada (NRCAN).
Action
Item: D. Kneeland (FAO) will send information on mechanisms
for individuals interested in detailing with FAO on
a temporary basis.
FAO
is trying to launch the National Forest Programme
Facility (NFPF)-a partnership between FAO and bilateral
donor agencies. This is a new attempt to provide assistance
to selected countries, which are trying to reorganize
their forest policies in accordance with the IFF/IPF
Proposals for Action. FAO will decentralize the NFPF
to the regional FAO offices. The manager of NFPF is
currently head of the French Forest Inventory Programme.
There
is currently a Fire Management position that is vacant.
Historically, there have been a lot of field projects
involving fire. Recently, some Mediterranean countries
have come to FAO needing assistance in fighting fire
(France, Greece, etc). In response, FAO has set up
a full time fire coordinator position under Forest
Resources Division and should be filled within the
next couple of months.
FAO
has requested the BOA to help draft an official letter,
signed by Hosny El-Lakany, to request more participation
from Mexico. The letter is addressed to Secretary
Victor Lichtinger. Ideally, CONAFOR and SEMARNAT would
both participate in the NAFC.
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2.
CANADA
Canada
has made a commitment to double its investment in
science and technology. The Government has released
an innovation strategy piece meant to stimulate discussion
(available on Industry Canada website at http://www.ic.gc.ca).
The intent is to have a national summit in the fall
on innovation. Overall, Canada's approach is designed
to stimulate university-industry collaboration on
research. The government is also looking at science
and tech deliverable models.
A
knowledge management group was created within the
Canadian Forest Service. CFS directors envision that
the Group will serve as information brokers. There
are currently two surveys that are being completed
on what information management will look like in the
future. Since there is expected to be a 40% staff
turnover in the science program over the next five
years, it is imperative to capture and store the information
for future references.
Canada
is still intent on signing the Kyoto Protocol.
Softwood
lumber trade with the US is the main topic-du-jour.
Canada is looking to use some of the border tax for
research on this topic.
British
Columbia's government has changed. Premier Campbell
is downsizing provincial research by 40% and the Canadian
Forest Service provincial office by 35%. The downsizing
will take place over a period of over two years. In
addition the Tree Improvement Program is being cut
completely.
Personnel
changes: Ivy Chan is now the Director of Policy. Garrett
van Raalte, Director General of the CFS Atlantic Forestry
Centre, will retire. Geoff Munro is Director General
of CFS in Ontario. There is a lot of activity in looking
at the future of forests with implications on function
and structure of CFS. Canada is trying to broaden
participation in the Working Groups.
World
Forestry Congress-September 21-28, 2003, Quebec City.
Action
Item: L. Paqueo (USA) will place hyperlink on NAFC
website to the World Forestry Congress.
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3.
MEXICO
The
Mexican Forest Administration (SEMARNAT) is in the
process or reorganization. Cuauhtemoc Gonzalez Pacheco
has left his position as General Director and will
be reassigned to PROFEPA, the regulatory division
of SEMARNAT. Rosario Casco Montoya has replaced him
in the General Direction of Federalization and Decentralisation
of Forest and Soil Services.
The
forestry sector in Mexico is located across three
institutions: SEMARNAT, CONAFOR, and INIFAP.
Some
procedures and programs have been reviewed, including
harvesting, technical assistance, forest health, and
forest national information systems. The strongest
program is the Fire Protection Program.
In
2002, the occurrence of fire has decreased and was
lower than the national average in 2001. However,
one of the most dangerous fire events happened at
the end of March-possibly due to El Niño.
This
year, CONAFOR received 1,500 million pesos ($150 million
USD). Most of these resources will be used as incentives
for production and commercial plantation programs
(PRODEFOR and PRODEPLAN). CONAFOR has an important
program to acquire private investments in the sector.
To
help reduce or prevent illegal logging, SEMARNAT-DGFDSFS
has established the Mexican Official Norm, which would
certify the legal origin of forest products. This
Norm includes the use of security paper and control
of these documents. PROFEPA will help ensure successful
application of this tool.
In Fall 2001, the Chief of the USDA Forest Service
and delegation met with Mexican counterparts under
SEMARNAT and CONAFOR.
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4.
UNITED STATES
The
USDA Forest Service has experience personnel changes
during the first full year of the new administration.
These changes include:
- Sally Collins: Associate Chief.
- Tommy Thompson: Deputy Chief of National Forest System
- Elizabeth Estill: Deputy Chief of Programs and Legislation
- Joel Holtrop: Deputy Chief of State and Private Forestry
- Robert Lewis: Deputy Chief of Research and Development
(no change)
- Clyde Thompson, Deputy Chief of Business Operations,
has left his position, which is now vacant.
In
the first year, there was less turnover than in the
field. The National Team is almost intact.
Chief
Bosworth plans to place more emphasis on the field.
The Washington Office (WO) will act as a service center
to help the field, and more resources will go to support
activities in the field. This means reducing the size
of the regional and Washington offices. There will
also be shared responsibility for successes and failure
among the deputy areas, promoting more integration
across divisions. By reducing the amount of money
in Washington, some programs may be eliminated. In
addition, Bosworth would like to reduce "analysis
by paralysis," which prevents field programs
from getting implemented. He would also like to sort
out conflicting laws and regulations, under which
the Forest Service operates.
Chief
Bosworth is focusing on the following priority areas:
water, recreation, roadless regulation (still under
review by Bush administration), and forest planning
regulations (under review).
This
past year, the Forest Service has faced several controversies,
including the salvage logging of the Bitterroot Forest
in Montana; four fire deaths that occurred during
the 2001 fire season, and investigation into tampering
with scientific evidence in a lynx habitat study in
the western US.
The
Agency is preparing for a serious fire season. Issues
concerning roadless areas will once again be examined.
With respect to international activities, President
Bush announced that foreign aid would double.
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C.
REPORTS FROM THE WORKING GROUPS
1.
Overall Coordination (V. Mezainis-USA)
The
BOA has noted that some of the working groups are
not meeting expectations with respect to activities,
information dissemination and participation. BOA needs
to more actively manage the working groups. One of
the main problems is the turnover in membership and
lack of participation. The BOA needs to encourage
Working Groups to hold their annual meetings, even
though attendance by all three countries may not be
possible.
Action
Items:
- BOA will develop an ongoing calendar of Working
Group Meetings, so that alternates can plan ahead
and try to attend these meetings.
- D. Kneeland (FAO) will send two FAO focal points
to attend their respective Working Group meetings
this year.
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2.
Atmospheric Change
and Forests (G. Miller-Canada)
The
Atmospheric Change and Forests Working Group would
like to coordinate joint meetings with the Insects
and Diseases and Fire Management Working Groups, respectively.
The group is looking at the impact of insects and
diseases on forest health, due to ozone effects. Harry
Hirvonen (chair) is currently absent, due to medical
reasons. There is no interim chair.
For
funding requests by the Working Group, see page 20.
New
FAO Focal Point for Forestry and Climate Change: Dieter
Schoene
Action
Items:
- G. Miller (Canada) will give feedback to the Working
Group about their membership list.
Next
Meeting: September 23, 2002-joint meeting with Forest
Insects and Diseases Working Group.
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3.
Forest Products
(G. Miller-Canada)
Canada
reported the Working Group has not been active for
some time.
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4.
Forest Genetics
(C. Karr-United States)
The US is coordinating with Tom Ledig in the transfer
of funds to Ledig.
(No
new report available)
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5.
Silviculture
(C. Karr-United States)
There
is a joint meeting with the Forest Genetic Resources
Working Group, planned for October 2002. The Silviculture
Working Group has been working on the Second International
Forum on Forest Production and Its Relation to the
Environment. They have a draft of the proceedings,
which is currently under revision and which will be
posted on the website. They are planning another joint
meeting in October with Forest Genetics Working Group.
The
Tropical Tree Seed Manual (TSSM) will be published
shortly. The Working Group has obtained assistance
for financing and recommends that the manual be translated
into Spanish.
Next
Meeting: October 2002.
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6.
Fire Management
(D. Truesdale-USA)
The
Fire Management Working Group meeting was held in
Cancun. Quintana Roo, Mexico from February 11-14,
2002. Originally, the meeting was scheduled for October
2001, but was postponed due to September 11. This
was the 35th meeting of the working group.
Originally,
$50K was allocated for the development of a working
group web page. However, the Working Group agreed
to use the existing site (www.fs.fed.us/global/nafc)
instead. The funds were reprogrammed for risk index
mapping in Mexico.
There
was a presentation on the 3rd International Wildland
Fire Conference by representatives of the International
Liaison Committee. The Conference, which may draw
750-1000 participants representing 57 different countries,
will take place in October 2003. The Conference is
an opportunity for policy makers, industry, etc to
exchange information and will hopefully result in
proposals and actions for a global organizational
structure or network to better address forest fires.
The
Working Group unanimously agreed to support the Conference
through staff support and attendance at the Conference
as well as to ask for additional support from the
rest of the NAFC. There is a strong need to coordinate
with the World Forestry Congress, September 2003.
The Canadian delegation agreed to request formal results
from the World Forestry Congress, particularly with
respect to forest fires, so that these results can
serve as strategic directives for the International
Wildland Fire Conference.
The
USDA Forest Service is sponsoring two people to attend
the fire conference. The main concern has been the
cost to travel to Australia. The other main concern
is the perceived potential conflict with the World
Forestry Congress, but the Working Group will use
the audience at the Congress to pique interest in
fire. They are hoping for a live broadcast at the
fire conference.
Chairmanship
of the Working Group has passed to Kelvin Hirsch from
Canada.
Research
has not really been active in the group. The focus
of the activities has been management. The Fire Management
Working Group uses the bureaucratic process to implement
bilateral and trilateral programs. The Working Group
meets to support these programs.
Action Items:
- Chair and members agreed to update and send all
information to L.Paqueo (USA).
- The chair will be responsible for maintaining reports
of the working group meetings and for forwarding that
information to the BOA liaison.
- Discuss International Wildland Conference at the
Hawaii Commission meeting. It is important for the
commissioners to realize the importance of the global
network.
- Canada will approach the chair to ensure good representation
from the group at the Commission meeting.
Next
meeting: September 2002 in Canada
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7.
Forest Insects and Diseases (V. Mezainis-United
States)
The
35th Annual Meeting of the Forest Insects and Diseases
Working Group was held in Carmel, California on September
11-13, 2001. The meeting was partly a joint meeting
with the Western International Forest Disease Work
Conference and included a joint field trip to examine
management of pathogens on state and private lands,
featuring Pitch Canker, Western Gall Rust, Coastal
Dwarf Mistletoe and Sudden Oak Death.
Each
country presented country reports on pest conditions,
pesticides use in forestry, research on forest pests
and quarantine updates.
At
the meeting, the Working Group discussed the risks
associated with wood packing materials, Pest Risk
Assessments (PRA's), Mexican program of gypsy moth
trapping and monitoring; Sudden Oak Death, and standards
for imported firewood.
EXOTIC
FOREST PEST INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR NORTH AMERICA-Mary
Ellen Dix, the new project leader-proposed to publish
110 pest records online by the end of 2001 and 50
records annually, thereafter. The Working Group will
send teams to visit foreign countries in order to
add to the System. In Spring 2002, a five-person pilot
team will visit Korea and Japan. If the trip is successful,
then 2-5 more teams will head to different parts of
the world to focus on different zones. $50K will be
devoted for the pilot team, while another $40K for
additional identification is suggested.
DWARF
MISTLETOE OF CONIFERS OF NORTH AMERICA BOOK-Major
revisions on chapters, such as surveys and monitoring,
silviculture and biological controls, etc, have been
completed. The draft book is now available on the
Internet and requires a user name and password to
access. A copy of the draft was sent to the other
two technical editors, JoséCibrian Tovar and
Ben Moody, since the book targets land managers. The
goal for the Working Group is to hire an editor and
obtain USD$80-100K for publishing. Rob Mangold will
draft a letter, requesting edits, to the USFS Rocky
Mountain Station Director.
FOREST
DISEASES OF MEXICO BOOK-The book is proceeding and
has received favorable comments. Most chapters have
been completed, and the final version will be completed
by July 2002. The funding is to be divided among four
partners, three of whom are contributing USD$40K,
while Chapingo, the fourth partner, will contribute
USD$45K. The US has already contributed $10K to pay
for scientific illustrators. The total cost for the
publication amounts to USD$280K for 3,000 copies.
FOREST
INSECTS OF MEXICO BOOK-This book is in its second
printing (3,000 copies) and has been paid for by the
University of Chapingo. The book has been distributed
throughout Mexico and Central America, and is sold
at the University of Chapingo for USD$60. NAFC members
can obtain copies of the book for free by contacting
David Cibrian Tovar (dcibrian@taurus1.chapingo.mx).
HEAT
TREATMENT-A summary of the heat treatment methods
by NAPPO Forestry Panel was provided to NAPPO and
NAFC. Recently, Dave Dwindell reported that 56?C/30
minutes will not kill mesophyllic fungi but 61?C/60
minutes will. It was suggested that IPPC should include
in the standard a mechanism to revisit recommendations
based on new material. The Working Group resolved
that members will write to individual country quarantine
organizations to include in comments to IPPC that
IPPC should insert some "flexible review process"
in the Standard to allow for new research, e.g. on
heat treatment.
PEST
RISK ASSESSMENT (PRA) OF SUDDEN OAK DEATH-As requested
by the NAFC, the USDA Forest Service completed the
PRA on Sudden Oak Death and provided copies to APHIS
and the State of California. Rob Mangold will write
a letter to USDA-APHIS, stating that the risk is unacceptable
and encouraging APHIS to take regulatory action.
CONE
AND SEED INSECTS-Jean Turgeon et al proposed to write
a revision of the 1987 Book on Cone and Seed Insects.
Because the Working Group is also currently occupied
with two other major publications, this proposal was
tabled until next year.
QUARANTINE
PEST RESEARCH SUBCOMMITTEE-The committee met in Mexico
in September 2000, and a Summary of the Research Testing
Document was completed and introduced to confirm the
NAPPO Standard. Mexico would like to send staff to
participate in Canadian (Vancouver and Montreal) port
inspections.
PROPOSED
NEW NAFC WORKING GROUP ON INVASIVE SPECIES-There was
a suggestion that NAFC wants to form a new NAFC Working
Group on invasive species with subgroups of plants
and animals. This issue was raised at the October
2000 Meeting of the NAFC Bureau of Alternates. No
information was available to the Group. Tom Hofacker
will gather and provide information to the Working
Group.
BIOSYSTEMATICS
SUBCOMMITTEE-This subcommittee needs to carry out
a Problem Analysis and develop a Directory of Taxonomists
for forest pests for the three countries. This list
can also serve as a gap analysis. The gap analysis
requires a network of people and a process for sending
specimens and proposal for supporting a network that
moves us forward. It would involve regulators and
researchers. Additionally this needs a proposal and
support for specific groups of insect and disease
species and a sorting system.
José
Cibrian Tovar, Mexico, will chair the Working Group
over the next two years. The next meeting will take
place in Mexico and will be held in conjunction with
the Atmospheric Change and Forestry Working Group.
This joint meeting will take place on September 23,
2002. The possible theme for the meeting will be "The
Effects of Global Change on Forest Pests" or
"Effects of Air Pollution on Forest Pests."
Next meeting: September 23,
2002 with the Atmospheric Change and Forests Working
Group.
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8.
Forest Inventory,
Monitoring and Assessment (V. Mezainis-United
States)
The
second meeting of the Working Group was held in Victoria
in January 2001. The meeting's agenda included an
update on country activities, a theme session on large
scale remote sensing of land cover, and a business
meeting during which the annual business plan was
prepared. The Working Group would like to host a third
meeting in 2002, but there has been little involvement
by Mexico, which is scheduled to host the meeting.
All
three countries are currently revising their approaches
to national scale forest inventory.
WEB
SITE-The contents of the development Intranet site
for the Working Group were transferred to the NAFC
page hosted by the USDA Forest Service.
UPDATE
OF WORKING GROUP CHARTER-The updated charter and reports
on national forest inventories are appended to the
annual meeting minutes, which are on the NAFC Working
Group website.
TECHNICAL
EXCHANGE AND COLLABORATIVE WORK-The three countries
will be asked to present their land cover classification
and land use classification systems at the next meeting.
Initial meetings were held to discuss design concepts
for a North America State of the Forests report. National
level players from the three countries are involved
in the development of an inventory and monitoring
system for the Mexican States of Jalisco and Colima.
This initiative should provide guidance for the development
of a National Inventory Program for Mexico.
INCORPORATION
OF REMOTE SENSING INTO OPERATIONAL FOREST INVENTORIES-Countries
reported on progress in this area.
Mark
Gillis is currently the chair. The membership list
is out of date.
Next
Steps: work with Insects and Disease as well as Fire
Management Working Group.
Membership
with Mexico: Hugo Ramirez (INIFAP) is a potential
participant from Mexico, and he will be invited as
a technical expert to attend the next meeting.
Forest
Service and others have looked at Mexico's capacity
to do inventory and monitoring. USAID sees this as
an opportunity to create a national program for inventory.
FAO
has a new initiative with funding from Sweden to try
to help specific developing countries do a more organized
forest inventory study. A coordination meeting will
be held in Finland, in July.
Action
Items:
- D. Kneeland (FAO) will approach Peter Holgren to
prepare a draft for review of the FAO initiative and
include input from the Working Group.
- C. Karr (USA) will hand report of Working Group
to L. Paqueo (USA), who will post it on the website
and update the membership list. Participants list
may not have Mexico participants.
Next
possible meeting: May 2002 in Oaxaca
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D.
UPDATE ON SCOPING GROUPS
1.
Watersheds (J. Sedell-United States)
The
National Forests in the West provide high quality
water for both rural and urban users. Forest Management
has a lot of impact on water quality and quantity.
Good forest management is the solution to pollution,
but people link forestry with agriculture and some
of agriculture's negative effects (sedimentation,
fertilizer).
The
Forest Service currently has several community-based
watershed restoration partnerships. Each of these
projects has business plans. Water supply and sanitation
are the major themes of the water summit in Bonn.
At the UNFF, many countries and organizations highlighted
the need to work in partnership on water issues.
J.
Sedell is scheduling a meeting in early June to discuss
watershed collaboration and draft a technical paper
for the Commission meeting in October. There is not
yet official confirmation of participation from Mexico.
Members may include an NGO representative and someone
from the National Water Commission. Cesar Toledo will
be able to participate in the group, and Mexico will
identify another person.
-
Potential Canadian participation: Rob Steedman, Celina
Campbell
- USA: Jim Sedell, Karen Bennett
- Mexico: unconfirmed
The
outcome of the June meeting will be a paper framework
(6-8) pages with recommendations to the Commission
on how to address watershed issues. The group will
identify 2-4 relevant subject areas. Tage Michaelson
(FAO) is in charge of watershed issues and may be
interested in attending the June meeting.
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2.
Invasive Plants (C. Karr-United States)
Invasive
plant species are a critical economic and environmental
problem, altering basic ecological properties and
nutrient availability in ecosystems. While the problem
is global in nature, the individual impacts on forests
and associated resources are largely unknown.
Invasive
plants species are characterized by their aggressiveness
and their capacity to colonize new areas and rapidly
develop undesirable population levels. This is due
to specific traits (high seed viability, rapid reproduction,
even under adverse conditions; efficient dispersion
mechanisms; few strict environmental requirements
for germination, etc.) that render them less susceptible
to natural controls and competition.
It
is estimated that invasive plants in the US: a) cost
more than $137 billion in damage each year; b) exacerbate
the threatened status of more than 60% of species
already considered at risk; c) affect more than 100
million acres, and d) propagate at a rate of 3 million
acres per year.
There
was meeting held with Mexican and US representatives
in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico on March 20-22, 2002.
Julie Denslow (USDA Forest Service, International
Institute of Tropical Forestry) represented the United
States. Canada could not send an appropriate representative.
FAO did not attend. They were able to agree on economic
and ecological cost of invasive plants.
There
is a lack of information on invasive plants in Hawaii
and the continental US, with an even more serious
dearth of knowledge on invasive plant problems in
forests in Mexico. Only a small number of invasive
species and their associated risks have been adequately
identified. The problem is internationally recognized,
under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the
International Convention on Phytosanitary Protection.
While the problem has been identified, there is not
enough information to assess the potential and magnitude
of risks, whether in the short, medium or long term.
As a result, a more complete diagnosis of the problem
is necessary to determine the extent of the problem,
the associated risks and impacts, and how the issues
should be addressed (bilaterally, regionally, etc.)
The
Scoping Group recommends that an ad-hoc group be created
within the Forest Insects and Diseases Working Group.
This ad-hoc group would prepare national and regional
assessments of the problem. In addition, the Scoping
Group encourages Canada's participation in the ad-hoc
group.
The
BOA notes that Forest Insects and Diseases Working
Group does not want to create an ad-hoc group. BOA
recommends, then, that the ad-hoc group be formed
on invasive plants and work independently of the Working
Group.
Action
Item:
- G. Miller (Canada) will provide names of Canadian
representatives who will participate in the preparation
of reports on "scoping" meetings for proposed
new working groups on invasive species and watersheds.
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E.
OTHER WORKING GROUP BUSINESS
1.
Working Group Awards (J. Engert-United States)
At the BOA meeting, awards for Yves Dubé, Victor
Sosa, Basilio Bermejo and Les Whitmore were presented.
D. Kneeland (FAO) will deliver the award to Dubé,
while the other awards will be distributed through
appropriate channels in the US and Mexico. BOA will
think about any other nominations for longevity and
superior service.
2.
Establishing a Protected Areas Scoping Group (C.Karr-United
States)
Mexico wanted to look at this from a continental perspective.
BOA recommends putting this on the back burner.
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5.
Details of Meeting - April 4, 2002
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A.
XX1 SESSION OF NAFC
1.
Participation
FAO
and the BOA are concerned about the possibility that
Mexico will not attend the Commission Meeting in October-especially
since Mexico will assume chairmanship of the Commission
for the next two years. FAO reminds the BOA that it
is often common for countries not to send a delegation
to regional meetings. The regional meetings, nevertheless,
continue as planned. Therefore, the NAFC meeting in
October will still take place.
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2.
Preliminary Meeting Details
The
meeting will take place at the Keahou Hotel in Kona,
located on the Southwest region of the Big Island.
The Meeting will officially begin on Tuesday, October
22, 2002. Monday, October 21, will be a travel day.
There will be a field trip on Friday, and the closing
session will take place on Saturday.
Since
there will be an Iron Man Competition on the Big Island,
it will be difficult to make reservations in advance
of October 21st. If, however, participants would like
to stay later than the conclusion of the meeting,
they may still receive the conference rates for up
to 6 days after.
In
order to coordinate the logistics of the meetings,
J. Engert, C. Karr and D. Janisch (USA) traveled to
Kona, Hawaii in early March. The trio made necessary
conference room, accommodations and field trip arrangements.
All the logistic and agenda details will appear on
a special section of the website designed for attendees.
BOA will send out this URL along with the invitation
to the meeting.
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3.
Preliminary Agenda
A
preliminary agenda was reviewed. D. Kneeland (FAO)
recommended that Working Group report presentations
should last no longer than one hour. He also recommended
scheduling one technical paper per day in order to
end early on Thursday, so there is time available
for the drafting committee.
Action
Items:
-
D. Kneeland (FAO) will fax an example of a timetable,
chairman's notes and a meeting agenda to J. Engert
and C. Karr (USA).
- C. Karr (USA) will contact technical paper presenters
to inform them that they will have 30 minutes for
their presentation followed by a 30 minute Question
and Answer Session.
- Canada will talk about the World Forestry Congress-as
a separate agenda item-and mention the International
Criteria & Indicators work in Guatemala.
- BOA will encourage presenters to use Power Point
Presentations.
- El-Lakany will give opening remarks/welcoming
comments.
- J. Engert and C. Karr (USA) will develop internal
detailed agenda/chairman's notes for Dale Bosworth,
the USDA Forest Service Chief.
- G. Miller (Canada) will contact US to let us know
how many of the Working Group Chairs can attend
the Hawaii Meeting.
- BOA will remind the presenters and Chairs of the
guidelines mentioned below.
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4.
Technical Papers
A.
Criteria and Indicators-
1. Canada (lead)-To be determined
2. Mexico-To be determined
3. USA-Pam Wright
B.
Plantation Forestry-
1.
Canada-Patrick Nantell
2. Mexico (lead)-To be determined
3. USA-John Stanturff
C.
Watershed-
1. Canada-Rob Steedman, Celina Campbell
2. Mexico-Cesar Toledo
3. USA(lead)-Jim Sedell, Karen Bennett
Action
Items:
- Canada and Mexico need to identify leads and participants
for technical papers. C. Karr (USA) will follow
up.
- D. Kneeland (FAO) will facilitate contact between
technical paper authors and appropriate FAO focal
points:
o
Watershed: Tage Michaelsen
o Plantation Forestry: Jim Carle
o Criteria and Indicators: Christel Palmberg
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5.
Timeline for Official Documents
The
following is a list of guidelines for all presentations
and reports. BOA recommends that all presenters follow
these guidelines and deliver high quality presentations.
A. Working Group Packages (reports, presentations
and summaries)-Guidelines
a.
Deadline-All Working Group Chairs/Presenters must
submit their packages by October 1, 2001.
b. October 21, 2002-In addition to the October 1st
deadline, all Working Group Chairs/Presenters should
bring the above-mentioned materials (latest version)
to the meeting and are responsible for making the
necessary copies for the attendees.
c. The reports will be no longer than three pages.
d. Presenters will develop a 30-minute PowerPoint
presentation (in their original language).
e. Presenters will write a one-paragraph summary (in
their original language) as part of the draft input
for the session report.
f. The outline of the reports should include:
i.
Membership
ii. Recent outputs and activities over the last
two years
iii. Planned activities for the next two years
iv. Issues/recommendations to the Commission
g.
Presentation can be submitted in one of two ways:
i. Mail a CD by a courier service
(i.e. FedEx, DHL, etc)-not through the US Postal
Service-to:
Attn:
Catherine Karr
USDA Forest Service International Programs
1099 14th Street, NW
Suite 5500W
Washington DC, 20005-3402
ii.
E-mail the presentation to ckarr@fs.fed.us
B.
Technical Papers
1. Guidelines for Technical Papers
a.
Deadline-All technical papers must be submitted by
July 1, 2001.
b. Technical papers should be organized in the following
manner:
i.
Introduction
ii. Issues associated with the topic of the paper
iii. The role of the topic (may include specific
aspects of forest and natural resource management,
environmental health, ecosystems, etc.)
iv. Constraints
v. New opportunities and global linkages
vi. Conclusion
vii. Acknowledgements
viii. References
ix. Annexes/Case studies
c.
Papers should be no more than 3000 words. Authors
are more likely to receive the full attention of commissioners
when the technical papers are concise and brief. We
do recommend brevity and do not recommend submitting
additional documentation, such as annexes and case
studies.
d. The technical paper may be submitted in English,
Spanish or French. The paper will be reviewed, edited
and circulated by FAO in its original language.
e. A separate abstract of approximately 500-750 words
must be submitted. The abstracts may be submitted
in English, Spanish or French and will be translated,
edited and circulated in the three languages.
f. Papers should be submitted electronically, in Word
for Windows format, to douglas.kneeland@fao.org and
to becky.ortiz@fao.org.
g. The BOA strongly recommends a PowerPoint presentation,
which should last no longer than 30 minutes, at the
Commission meeting. Deadline: Please submit presentations
to C.Karr (see above for details)
by October 1, 2002.
C.
BOA Report and Agenda Guidelines
a. Deadline-BOA will submit
its report to the Commission and the Meeting Agenda
by July 1, 2002.
b. BOA will give a 30 minute PowerPoint Presentation
at the meeting and will submit this by October 1,
2002.
D.
State of Forestry Reports
a. Deadline-State of Forestry
Reports must be submitted by July 1, 2002.
b. Reports must be no longer than 5 pages.
c. Presenters are encouraged to do a 30-minute PowerPoint
presentation.
d. Papers should be submitted electronically, in Word
for Windows format, to douglas.kneeland@fao.org
and to becky.ortiz@fao.org.
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B.
OTHER ACTIVITIES OF INTEREST
International
Model Forest Network: There has been interest from
Japan and other potential donors. There is going to
be an expansion of that Network to Central and South
America. The Network has been renewed for another
two years. CIDA has been the primary funder.
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C.
WEBSITE AND MEMBERSHIP LIST UPDATE (L. Paqueo-United
States)
It
has been difficult to update the website and membership
list of the Working Groups. BOA moved that the country
chair directly manage all Working Groups for duration
of chairmanship. During the next two years, FAO plans
to communicate more with Working Group chairs. FAO
will provide Secretariat services to the BOA. L. Paqueo
(USA) will continue to provide website and database
support and move with the Secretariat.
FAO
has agreed to allow L. Paqueo (USA) to develop a website
specifically designed for the Commission meeting in
Hawaii. This website will provide information on the
Commission meeting-hotel information, meeting details,
travel information-and meeting registration for the
participants. FAO will send invitations, which will
include the URL of the website, to the meeting participants.
Participants
are encouraged to register online for the meeting
by July 15, 2002.
NOTE: This is not a registration for hotel or travel.
Participants must make their own hotel and travel
arrangements as early as possible (preferably by July
15, 2002).
Action
Item:
- L. Paqueo (USA) and team will finish the database
and the Commission website by June 1, 2002.
- L. Paqueo (USA) will place International Wildland
Fire Conference announcement on the USDA Forest Service
International Programs website, under the What's New
section.
- L. Paqueo (USA) will work with C. Karr and chairs
of Working Groups to update information on website
as well as membership lists.
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D.
FUNDING REQUESTS
1.
Atmospheric Change and Forests-
Al Riebau presented a proposal for a comprehensive
study for the three countries to look at the ozone
effects-technique: passive sampling. Funding request:
$2 million over 3 years. The BOA would like to know
if the Working Group has explored existing data/reports
from the three countries and recommends that the Working
Group present the proposal to NSF and CEC.
Action
Item: C. Karr (USA) will contact the Atmospheric Change
and Forests Working Group to discuss BOA decision
on funding proposal.
2.
Funding for Silviculture-
Tropical Tree Seed Manual-this publication has a long
history with the NAFC. The Working Group has expressed
interest in funding to finish this publication but
no formal request was made. It was unclear how much
funding would be needed and how it would be allocated.
Action Item: BOA will request formal funding
proposal from both Working Groups.
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E.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
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6.
Details
of Meeting - April 5, 2002
Field trip to Long-Term Ecological Research watershed
and stream management project in Baltimore and environs.
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