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  Countries which have committed to
implement the Forest Protected Areas
Target. Current total = 22



Argentina


"I am pleased to confirm that the Argentine Republic is committed to the establishment of an ecologically representative network of protected areas covering a minimum of 10 per cent of each forest type by the year 2000, demonstrating a range of socially and ecologically appropriate models."
Rogelio Pfirter, Ambassador, 24/2/97


Armenia


"Armenia is committed to completing the establishment of a network of ecologically representative forest protected areas. As you may notice, about 65,000 hectares (19 per cent) of the forest estate of Armenia is under total protection, including 44,000 hectares of closed natural forests."
Dr Karen Shahinian, Adviser to the President of the Republic of Armenia, 14/12/96


Australia


"...Australia and its States are committed to a National Forest Policy which will ensure the development of a Comprehensive, Adequate and Representative forest reserve system... Reserves will be established according to nationally agreed criteria:
  • 15 per cent of the distribution of each forest ecosystem
    that existed prior to Europeans arriving in Australia;
  • 60 per cent or more of existing old growth forest;
  • 60 per cent or more of existing vulnerable forest ecosystems;
  • 90 per cent or more of high quality wilderness; and
  • remaining occurrences of rare and endangered forest ecosystems including old growth."
    John Anderson, Minister for Primary Industries and Energy and Robert Hill, Minister for the Environment, 26/2/97


    Austria


    "Austria is committed ... to the establishment of a representative network of 'climax, primary and other special forests' ... comprising of all regionally specific forest varieties."
    Dr Eva Nowotny, Ambassador, 20/2/97


    Bolivia


    "Bolivia is committed to enforcing legislation to complete a network of forest protected areas, representing each of the forest types found in our country. Far more than 10 per cent of our land is protected from disturbance or exploitation."
    Carlos Morales-Landivar, Ambassador, 20/2/97


    Brazil


    "The Brazilian Government has agreed to attain the protection of at least 10% of its forests by the year 2000, joining the network of protected areas of all types of forests, under the initiative "Forests for Life" of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)".
    Ambassador, 3/12/97


    Canada


    "Consistent with the goals of Canada's 1992 Forest Accord, the forest community will continue its work towards completing a network of ecological reserves by the year 2000. This network will consist of sites that are representative of Canada's diverse forests, and serve as benchmarks, protect forest land of unique biological value and preserve wilderness areas. In this way, the forest community has lent its support and given added measure to the Canadian commitment to establish protected areas representing up to 12 per cent of the land base."
    Tom MacDonald, Minister (Commercial/Economic), 25/2/97


    Chile


    "We are pleased to inform Your Royal Highness that Chile is committed to completing a network of Forest Protected Areas, which represents each forest type found in our country. At present 18.3 per cent of the continental national area, which is equivalent to 14.4 million hectares, comes under the category of Protected Forestland Area... including more than 80 per cent of the vegetational forms described in Chile."
    Juan Villarzu Rohde, Minister Secretary General of the Presidency, 4/2/97


    Colombia


    "We are irrevocably committed to forest conservation and its sustainable use, and therefore we are pleased to announce that Colombia has already established a policy for the conservation of an ecologically representative network of protected areas covering more than 10 per cent of its forest types consistent with the 'Forests for Life' initiative."
    Ernesto Samper-Pizano, President, 17/2/97


    Greece


    "Within the framework of the policy for protection of nature and on the basis of the Natura 2000 network for Special Areas of Conservation, the Greek Government will proceed in the creation of new forest protected areas, of different types, with the final target - the increase of the current 3-4 per cent to 10 per cent of the forest cover of our country."
    Mr Elias Beriatos, Secretary General of Forests, 30/5/97


    Lithuania


    "The Republic of Lithuania supports and will implement... the complete protection from disturbance or exploitation of at least 10 per cent of Lithuania's forests..."
    Albertas Vasiliauskas, Minister of Forestry, 30/9/96


    Malawi


    "The Malawi Government is committed to implement sustainable management of natural forests and will ensure that the necessary financial and other resources are set aside and other support provided to achieve total protection of all identified unique forest types to the internationally minimum accepted level of 10 per cent of all forest types..."
    T Jake Muwamba, High Commissioner, 21/2/97


    Mozambique


    "Mozambique is committed to completing the establishment of a network of ecologically representative forest protected areas. I would like to take this opportunity on this very rare occasion dedicated to "Forests for Life Campaign" to appeal to all countries of the world to take steps in order to conserve at least 10 per cent of their national forests as a practical step to achieve sustainable development in our countries."
    Pascoal Manual Mocumbi, Prime Minister, 25/2/97


    New Zealand


    "New Zealand commits to establish an ecologically representative network of protected areas to ensure the survival of the unique natural heritage of these islands. New Zealand already has far more than 10 per cent of its indigenous forests under protection and we support this worldwide initiative."
    Dr Nick Smith, Minister of Conservation, 25/2/97


    Nicaragua


    "The Embassy of the Republic of Nicaragua is committed to completing an ecologically representative network of protected areas covering a minimum of 10 per cent of each forest type."
    Ambassador, 26/2/97


    Romania


    "[Romania is committed to] the creation of a network of seventeen national parks during the next five to ten years, as well as of other protected areas covering 12 per cent of the total forested surface. In answer to the generous call of the World Wide Fund For Nature, we set forth to speed up the implementation of this target, so that, by the year 2000 cutting down trees should be prohibited..."
    Emil Constantinescu, President, 26/2/97


    Russian Republic of Sakha


    "The Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) is committed to the establishment of an ecologically representative network of protected areas covering a minimum of 25 per cent of each forest type by the year 2000, demonstrating a range of socially and ecologically appropriate models."
    Mikhail Yefimovich Nikolaev, President, 24/2/97


    Slovak Republic


    "With great pleasure I received the information on the World Wide Fund For Nature initiative supposed to contribute to effective protection of not less than 10 per cent of each forest type. The Slovak Republic supports this initiative because we presume that our legal system and its implementation already meets and exceeds its standards and aims."
    Michal Kovac, President, 25/2/97


    The People's Republic of China


    "The Ministry of Forestry - the People's Republic of China - is committed to forest conservation. By the year 2000 we will have increased forest cover in our country by 15-16 per cent. Over 10 per cent of China's forests will be completely protected in a network of ecologically representative nature reserves covering the range of forest types found in our country."
    The Ministry of Forestry, 20/6/97


    Tunisia


    "Conscious of the ecological and socio-economic role of forests and the role local population could play in the rational use and conservation of our forests,... the Tunisian Government is committed to the complete protection of at least 10 per cent of different types of forests in Tunisia."
    Minister of the Environment, 21/2/97


    Uzbekistan


    "The Republic of Uzbekistan is committed to the establishment of an ecologically representative network of protected areas covering a minimum of 10 per cent of each forest type by the year 2000, demonstrating a range of socially and ecologically appropriate models."
    Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 20/2/97


    Vietnam


    "From the context of the important course of forest protection and biodiversity conservation for development we highly appreciate the WWF Forest for Life Campaign and pledge to achieve the campaign target of protected areas covering a minimum of 10% of each forest type by the year 2000".
    Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development 10/11/ 97


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