Other related indicator processes
InternationalPan-European Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management Many countries have now published national reports using the indicators adopted by the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE) in 1998. These indicators were reviewed in 2001-2002, and a revised set was approved by the MCPFE in 2003. Efforts were made to collect comparable data for most aspects of the Pan-European Criteria and Indicators, through the Temperate & Boreal Forest Resources Assessment (TBFRA 2000). This was published in May 2000, followed by a Global FRA in early 2001. An updated subset was compiled in June-July 2002, in preparation for the MCPFE in 2003. The Global FRA update in 2005 has tried to increase its relevance to the pan-European indicators, but country data are being collected in 2006 for a separate indicator report for the next MCPFE meeting in 2007. Other indicators The Collaborative Partnership on Forests established a portal in 2006 hosted by FAO, on streamlining forest-related reporting. This includes links to many global processes. The United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development have completed a pilot of a set of indicators and are producing guidance for a menu of indicators countries might use in their reporting on sustainable development. The UN Environment Programme Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was conceived at Rio in 1992 as a practical tool for translating the principles of Agenda 21 into reality. It includes ongoing work to incorporate outcome-oriented targets. Under the European Union Sustainable Development Strategy launched by EU leaders in Gothenburg in 2001, halting the loss of biodiversity in the EU by 2010 is a priority. The European Commission is developing a set of 'headline' environmental indicators, and also indicators which reflect the success of integrating environmental concerns into European Union sectoral policies, particularly for transport, energy and agriculture. The main forestry topic is the prevention of forest fires. The European Environment Agency (EEA) has identified a core set of 37 environmental indicators, described in a guide published in April 2005. The set does not include any indicators specifically for woodland or forestry, although woodland birds are included in an indicator of species diversity, and woodland management can impact on other indicators. - Other related international activity includes:
There has also been related work by non-government organisations, including the WWF Forest Scorecard, for which the second edition was published in January 2000. This addressed a gap in officially published information, and dealt with the issues perceived to be important by that NGO. UKIndicators of Sustainable Development Quality of Life Counts indicators of sustainable development were published in 1999. One of the 15 headline indicators used as a 'quality of life barometer' includes an index of woodland birds. These were supported by a core set of 147 indicators, updated in 2004, which included three indicators for forestry in the UK – total area of woodland, area of ancient semi-natural woodland, and certified woodland area as an indicator of forest management. A revised UK Sustainable Development Strategy was launched in March 2005. It includes 20 UK Framework indicators agreed between the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations, and a further 48 indicators supporting priorities in the UK Government Sustainable Development Strategy. The indicators are listed on the website and baseline figures were published in Sustainable development indicators in your pocket 2005, originally in June 2005 and updated in July 2006. One of the 20 UK Framework indicators include woodland birds as part of an indicator of bird populations, while one of the other 48 indicators include total woodland area as part of a contextual indicator of land use. Certification There are links between the development of indicators, monitoring at forest management unit level for the UK Forestry Standard, and certification standards such as the UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS). ScotlandFE Scotland key agency targets Forest Enterprise Scotland key agency targets are in the FC Scotland Corporate Plan 2005-2008 on page 26. They include 18 quantitative targets; of which only three (certification, management plans, harvesting) are measures that contribute directly to the current SFS indicators. SFGS Indicators A draft set of indicators for the Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme was published in December 2002. They were mostly output indicators, to show what is directly achieved by the grant scheme, but the set included a few outcome indicators (e.g. ecological condition). Ten output indicators are now used as performance measures in the SFGS management information system. Indicators of Sustainable Development for Scotland See the Scottish Executive's webpages on Sustainable Development. A set of 24 Indicators of Sustainable Development for Scotland was published in April 2002, giving priority to resource use, energy and travel. Although woodlands or forestry is not an explicit topic in this set, it can contribute to other indicators, particularly biodiversity (BAP species and habitats). Annual updates have been published; the latest in August 2005. Scottish Biodiversity Strategy Indicators Candidate Indicators of the State of Scotland's Biodiversity were prepared in 2003 by the Action Plan & Science Group of the Scottish Biodiversity Forum. The candidate indicators included a breeding bird index and an indicator of woodland tree species diversity. The Scottish Biodiversity Strategy was published in May 2004 along with a set of draft implementation plans, a draft indicators document and a draft research strategy. The Forestry Commission is contributing actively to help deliver the strategy and the final agreed implementation plans. More information is on the Biodiversity Scotland website. Social Justice Indicators of Progress Social Justice Indicators of Progress, published in 2003, do not include any aspects related to the natural environment. For Review of Progress on Environmental Justice the central concerns are that deprived communities should not bear a disproportionate burden of negative environmental impacts, and that all communities should have access to the information and to the means to participate in decisions. However recent research has extended the scope to include consideration of the extent to which deprived communities have less (or more) access to areas (e.g. woodlands) providing environmental benefits. Framework for Economic Development in Scotland (FEDS) A Framework for Economic Development in Scotland (FEDS) was published in June 2000. A short section considered interaction between the economy and environment, and referred to environmental valuation. A revised version published in September 2004 reaffirms the vision "to raise the quality of life of the Scottish people through increasing the economic opportunities for all on a socially and environmentally sustainable basis". It sets out in greater detail the underlying thinking of the strategic approach, and discusses the nature of the economic challenge that faces Scotland and of the progress that has been made in recent years since the inception of the first FEDS. Neither version explicitly mentions woodlands or forestry. Scottish statistics The Scottish Executive statistics website includes a High Level Summary of Statistics Trends. For forestry, which is linked with Agriculture and Fisheries Statistics, this gives statistics on timber harvested and sawnwood production. A selection of key forestry statistics for Scotland is included in Scottish Environment Statistics online. Forestry is not mentioned in the current Scottish Economic Statistics: England and WalesThe Environment Agency has published a set of about 70 Environmental Indicators for England & Wales. The set includes one indicator (L3) for woodland area in England and Wales, based on annual FC statistics. The set also includes woodland birds as part of the UK wild birds indicator (Wi2). EnglandEnglish Biodiversity Strategy A baseline assessment for the English Biodiversity Strategy was published in December 2003 with a major update in November 2006. It includes a vision to "focus management and creation with a view to enhancing both woodland and non-woodland species and habitats that, at the same time, provide sustainable goods, environmental services and recreational benefits enhancing people’s quality of life". It includes indicators of woodland birds (and for 2006 woodland butterflies), condition of woodland SSSIs, status of woodland BAP priority species and habitats, trends in woodland plant diversity, area of ancient woodland and public enjoyment of woodland. Ancient & Native Woodlands An Ancient & Native Woodland Strategy for England "Keepers of time" was published in June 2005. A draft set of indicators to link to the strategy has been prepared for publication in 2006. Spending Review England has a set of performance indicators for the Spending Review, and has considered using the English data from the UK Indicators of Sustainable Forestry as a supplementary set of indicators. WalesSustainable Development Indicators for Wales In Wales the Sustainable Development Annual Report includes assessments of progress for 23 indicators. The only mention of woodland or forestry is of woodland birds as part of an indicator of wild bird populations. Woodlands for Wales The Welsh Assembly Government's woodland strategy is Woodlands for Wales. A Woodland Forum working group developed a draft set of targets and indicators. These indicators were incorporated in the Woodlands for Wales Progress Report 2001-2005, published in 2006. Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland is in the process of developing a set of Sustainable Development Indicators, which take account of consultations with non-governmental organisations and Local Authority representatives. The policies for forestry in Northern Ireland were the subject of a consultation paper "Forestry in Northern Ireland" in 2002. This was followed by an Economic Appraisal of Forestry Policy in 2003. A further consultation Options for Forestry took place in early 2005. A Northern Ireland Forestry Strategy, published in March 2006, includes the aim of doubling forest cover over the next 50 years. At present there are no draft indicators linked to this strategy.
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