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Leadership An uphill struggle Tools of the Campaign
Certification Conferences Buyers' Groups
HRH Duke of Edinburgh Languages and Communications
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The challenge is daunting. Of the 233 most important centres of plant diversity worldwide, 79 per
cent are now under imminent threat. Currently only 6 per cent of the world's 3,300 million hectares
of forests are formally protected. However, WWF believes there is currently no intergovernmental
process which is capable of catalysing the rapid changes needed to slow the rate of forest loss.
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Leadership
This is why WWF is setting its own goals and targets and filling the leadership gap through an integrated
mix of field programmes, policy initiatives and campaign action. This, for example, includes our
commitment to working with indigenous and local peoples for forest protection and sustainable management.
At the September meeting of the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests (IPF) in Geneva, representatives of
indigenous peoples played a major part in negotiations for the first time. WWF is providing logistical
and technical support to twenty or so indigenous groups' representatives to enable them to attend other
IPF meetings and related inter-sessional activities. There is also the development of a new phase of WWF's
project to conserve temperate forests in Chile and Argentina working in partnership with the Mapuche
people. Together, a strategic plan for the conservation and sustainable management of the forests to the
year 2000 has been drawn up which provides the long term framework for a range of WWF-supported
activities.
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An Uphill Struggle
Forest loss can only be confronted with commitment, co-operation, optimism and resources.
The Forests For Life Campaign, which began at the end of 1995, aims to accomplish two formidable
targets:
Target 1:
Establishment of an ecologically representative network of protected areas,
covering at least 10 per cent of each forest type by the year 2000, demonstrating a range of socially and ecologically appropriate models.
Target 2:
Independent certification of 10 million hectares of well-managed forest by 1998.
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Tools of the Campaign
The Forests For Life Campaign has developed a range of tools aimed at world leaders, influential
business leaders, media, and the general public. These aim to inform, educate, publicise and,
finally, encourage action which will help the world community to achieve the two targets.The first
important tool developed has been the WWF World Forest Map which shows
the fragility of the forests. It stresses how little remains and how little of this is protected.
The map has been distributed to all heads of government and other influential decision makers and
is accessible from this website. This is the first time people, other than foresters, scientists
and politicians, have had access to this worrying data. Democratising information, we feel sure,
will help us to build a constituency which can push governments to work on our targets. With maps
being updated regularly, people will be able to check the progress of our Campaign.
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Certification Conferences
Certification conferences are another tool used in our campaign strategy. These conferences, which
took place in Brussels and Tokyo during 1996, are events which help to build political support among
forestry sector personnel, business leaders, journalists and politicians, for the positive role
independent, third party certification plays in sustainable forest management.
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Buyers' Groups
Development of national Buyers' Groups is being actively promoted in
a number of key timber consuming countries. These groups, made up of consuming and retailing
companies, should provide the necessary market incentive to persuade logging companies that
certification is not only viable but is, ultimately, a positive marketing tool.
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HRH Duke of Edinburgh
WWF's International President (emeritus), HRH the Duke of Edinburgh has also written to heads of
government of major timber producing and consuming countries to make them aware of WWF's policies
and to request their support for our campaign goals. We anticipate generating support not only to
achieve the campaign targets, but also to influence intergovernmental decisions on forests in
preparation for Earth Summit II.
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Languages and Communications
Communication of the Campaign's targets are addressed through the development of a strategy which
includes publication of printed information materials in the world's most commonly spoken languages -
English, French, Spanish, German, Mandarin, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Indonesian.
(These can be ordered via e-mail.) Using innovative communication techniques,
we are providing the public with access to information which will empower them to take the actions
necessary to help save the world's forests.
Two publications at the core of the Forest For Life Campaign, the 1996 Annual Report and the WWF and
IUCN Forest Policy Book in Acrobat format can be downloaded by clicking here.
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