This text was prepared by KH Schmincke and is taken from the FAO database domunento
This article studies the evolution of the forest industry since the Second World War, discusses various issues to be addressed, as well as present and future role of FAO in this sector, and especially emphasizes the potential of the forestry industry as a positive force for sustainable development.
In almost every country in the world that have significant forest resources, forest industry (both timber and non timber) play an essential role in the overall socioeconomic development. The large and small companies that produce forest products for both domestic consumption and for export, are an important part of the economic base of almost all countries. The annual value of wood and wood products with wood in the world economy is estimated at more than 400 000 million U.S. dollars, ie 2 percent of GDP. The real value of the forestry sector's contribution to the world economy has increased in recent decades at an annual average of 2.5 percent. The production, extraction, processing and trade of timber and other products forest, along with associated secondary industries are important sources of employment and income, especially in rural areas where other options are limited. Wood is the most commonly used raw materials whose supply is renewable for many of the applications is provided, there are no alternatives potentially environmentally safe and effective in cost. The forest industry makes this resource in an economic and social value and makes it available to society, which explains that forests are an alternative use of land capable of competing with others.
However, the progress of the forestry industry has often been presented as a destructive force leading order, and not as an essential element in the process of sustainable development. The concern over the destruction or degradation of forests and consequent loss of environmental benefits, biodiversity and cultural and physical habitat has resulted in requests to reduce or even abolish the forest industry.
A sustainable forestry industry makes the resource base in economic and social values \u200b\u200b
The reduction of forest industry and the benefits it provides would be accompanied, almost inevitably, a reduction of resources devoted to conservation and management forests. This could slow the pace of development, worsening poverty among communities dependent on forests and other vulnerable rural groups and forcing them to undertake an unplanned and wasteful of forest resources in an attempt to better their lives.
Forest industry worldwide, fueled in part by economic considerations and partly by the growing pressure of public and private sectors have made great progress in adapting and improving their production techniques, responding to demand market, both a higher volume of products and better quality products, and conservation of natural resources, environmental protection and reducing pollution. Compared to other industries, forest industries have made significant progress towards the goal of being truly harmless to the environment. Modern technology allows primary energy needs of forest industries and their impact on the environment are small compared with those of other industries using non-renewable raw materials to produce products that compete with forestry. A large part of industrial waste used as raw material for manufacturing other products or for energy.
The industry itself is growing so adopting rules to regulate the extraction and transport, which are consistent the sustainable management of the resource base and implementing plans for raw materials from sources other than natural forests through afforestation of degraded lands and the establishment of plantation forests. These changes in the supply of raw materials are accompanied by changes in production techniques. The logs from plantation forests have a smaller diameter and are less resistant than natural forests. To take advantage of these small-diameter logs and get new products with physical properties equal to or better than those traditionally found in the market, new techniques have been refined processing. Composite products made of wood, such as oriented strand boards, boards of medium density fiberboard, plywood and many others, are often made from wood waste, or plantation once considered useless.
Moreover, it would be unrealistic to describe the forest industry not to mention inefficient practices and policies. There is certainly room for improvement in various aspects. The forest industry, whether public or private, should reaffirm its commitment to the use of appropriate technology, sustainable management of resources and the adoption of a holistic and balanced and also make this commitment publicly.
In all developing countries with forest resources is taking place now a forest-based industrialization in developing-country
THE ROLE OF FAO IN THE FOREST INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT FROM THE SECOND WORLD WAR
Founding FAO in 1945 coincided with the end of the second world war, which left behind countries with towns and villages razed. The end of the war raised the daunting task of repairing the damage and build new partnerships. Forests, their values \u200b\u200band benefits associated with them became a source of life and hope.
forestry and utilization of forest products have always an inseparable part of the work of FAO. It has also recognized the interaction and interdependence of agriculture and forestry. In fact, in the first issue of Unasylva, published in 1947, the FAO Director General, Sir John Boyd Orr, in his classic One World, One Forest, stated that
"in relation to forests and forest products, 48 States that work within FAO are a global policy with three main goals: the conservation of all resources that have social or protective functions useful, the wise use of all forest land in the world to continue production of materials suitable raw and new and better systems to develop and use forest products as a means of raising living standards. "
The first intervention of the FAO in the development of forest industries was to provide reliable information on a global scale to facilitate the planning and operation of industries. Over the years the complexity of the tasks of collection, analysis and dissemination of statistical information has increased, and the timeliness, accuracy and adequacy of data for planning and operation of forest industries have increased. [Ed: see also article P. Wardle.]
The good results obtained in the collection, analysis and dissemination of industry data forestry has been achieved largely thanks to strong support from the industry. During the years, FAO has established statutory and technical committees as the Advisory Committee of Experts on Pulp and Paper and the Expert Consultation on Wood-based panels, which have helped to maintain contact information with industry and have served as a channel for practical advice in the formulation of FAO programs for development of the forestry industry.
has been recognized that small forest industry are important for overall development
Shortly after they had repaired the damage caused by World War other events began to occur with consequences for the forest sector: as a result of new born descolonialización independent countries in greatest need of economic and social development. Forests represent an initial source of capital that could be used to promote the development of these countries. Formed the basis for initiating a process of industrialization aimed at diversifying the economy. The number of FAO members has increased considerably, as requests for technical assistance to develop the forestry industry. It should be noted that, at that time, FAO was practically the only option in this area, almost none countries with important forest industry had yet developed bilateral assistance programs and, for political reasons, the chain of care between the former colonial powers and their former territories often broken.
In the early stages, the method adopted by the FAO to provide technical assistance to developing countries in the forestry industry sector was to transfer industrial technology from North to South. The reconstruction of the industries in the north after the war had resulted in modernization of forest technology, designed for large-scale operations in order to exploit economies of scale. Would been desirable long-term strategy based on capacity, but developing countries were in urgent need for funds to promote the expansion of its economy, so it opted to give their forest concession to foreign companies.
For a period, the exploitation of forest resources were directed mainly to the export of raw logs. It was later revealed that this strategy was inadequate in the long term, both from the point of view of conserving the resource base and economic benefits for countries. Therefore, in all tropical regions began an industrialization forestry sector which is paying increasing attention to the processes of value-added processing in the country. Today, the primary and often secondary processing of wood at different scales has become an important source of employment and income.
also acknowledged that support for small forest-based industries was an important parameter for development, especially in rural areas. One of the activities of FAO to contribute to this development was to develop a portfolio of small sawmills and wood-based panels to provide examples that could be applied in developing countries.
In the early 1970, the world faced the first energy crisis, did a better understanding of the limits posed by non-renewable resources and social economic development and the importance of wood-based fuels, particularly in developing countries. At the same time, industrial pollution and the need to reduce it became part of national and international. The attention, interest and public concern began to focus on renewable natural resources, particularly in forests. Forests were still a source of biological wealth, but the concern for survival was increasing throughout the world.
In late 1970 and early 1980, the deforestation and degradation of forests, especially tropical forests, became the subject of international debate. Concerns about the sustainability of forest resources of all types and in all regions reached record levels in recent years of the 1980s, culminating in the Earth Summit 1992.
Therefore, the problems facing the development of the forestry industry around the world are to develop or improve safe practices for the environment, sustainable and economically viable to supply the goods and services. It is clear that only one approach based on global collaboration, and full participation of all stakeholders, governments, private sector, NGOs dealing with environment and development and people living in forests or depend directly on forest resources can make the contribution of forestry to sustainable development is as wide as possible.
FAO Brochure sustainable forestry practices
FOREST INDUSTRY ISSUES AND FAO'S CONTRIBUTION
The crucial problem facing the forest industry future to be meet the growing demand for forest products from a base limited resources and often fr gil. During the period between 1980 and 1990, global demand for industrial wood, excluding wood and charcoal, rose from 800 million to 1 600 million cubic meters, and is expected to reach 2 700 million cubic meters 2010. In industrialized countries, the projected increase in demand over that period of 20 years to be 53 percent (from 1 224 to 1 875 million cubic meters), while in developing countries be 111 percent (from 378 to 799 million cubic meters). Therefore, the long-term priority should be to move towards a sustainable use of forests for wood products and not timber, while increasing the m maximum benefits for local people and national economies, and balance between conservation and development. FAO gives preference to an important contribution to the development and implementation of efficient technologies that promote sustainable use and exploitation of forests and their products while increasing income and employment. Pay special attention to ensuring that fully takes into account the effects on the environment. In addition, FAO will continue to use its unique role as a driver of global partnership to bring together all stakeholders. This commitment was evidenced in recent meetings with representatives of private industry and NGOs, held in conjunction with meetings of the Committee on Pulp and Paper and Forestry Committee, held in March 1995.
As regards the use of forest resources in general, priority will be to limit the physical and social effects while ensuring economic viability. This will launch a program to evaluate the degradation of forests and damage associated with extraction and forest road construction globally and regionally. Be established and verified, through case studies, criteria and procedures for carrying out assessments in certain parts of the environmental effects associated with these operations in both natural forest and plantation.
The forest industry is characterized by great diversity in types, sizes, materials, products, management methods and markets. Has a constant need to improve and adapt to new trends to be effective and remain economically competitive and make the best use of limited resources. Foresters, local people and industries will have to intensify the exchange of information to formulate the best management and use strategies to meet the diverse needs of stakeholders, keeping while the environmental integrity of forests.
FAO will continue to assist the development of appropriate forest industries, giving priority to the identification, preparation and evaluation of proposed investment projects. Particular attention will be on helping existing industries to improve methods of production, and promoting more efficient use of raw materials available. Emphasis will be placed on strengthening the institutional links with the private sector. In this connection it sets up a committee to forest industries, including sectors of the wood-based panels, the mechanical sawing, pulp, the role and trade.
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