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Protected Areas Brochure

WWF's Global Forests for Life Campaign

Forest protection

Introduction
The world's forests are in crisis - approximately half of the world's original forest cover has been lost forever and, of what remains, only a small fraction is adequately protected.

Almost 14 million hectares1 of the world's tropical forests, (an area roughly the size of Greece or Nepal), are destroyed each year. At the same time, there has been a marked loss of forest quality across the temperate and boreal forests of Canada, Europe, Russia and the USA as many natural forests are being replaced by plantations. Worldwide it is now estimated that 26 hectares of forests, (the equivalent of 37 football pitches), are being lost every minute. Individual countries such as El Salvador, Ghana, Madagascar and Pakistan have already lost more than 90 per cent of their original forest cover and, within the next 25 years, only 10 per cent of Asia Pacific's original forests will remain.

Although the world's governments promised to address this urgent issue of forest loss when they met at the first Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, very little positive action was taken and deforestation continues to increase: in 1996 the Brazilian Institute for Space Research (INPE) announced a 34 per cent increase in deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon alone since 1992 and Brazil still loses more tropical forest each year than any other country in the world.

WWF's Forests for Life Campaign
In response to this world crisis, WWF launched the Forests for Life Campaign which promotes:

- the establishment and practical realisation of an ecologically representative network of protected areas covering at least 10 per cent of each of the world's forest types by the end of the year 2000: only six per cent of the world's forests are currently legally designated as strictly protected areas but 22 countries to date have now pledged to meet the WWF target;

- the independent certification of at least 25 million hectares of well-managed forests by June 2001 focusing on key timber producing countries: over 10 million hectares of forests have now been certified, meeting WWF's original certification target six months ahead of time.

The Forests for Life Campaign is working in tandem with WWF's International Forest Programme to achieve WWF's global goal for forests:

- to halt and reverse the loss and degradation of forests and all kinds of woodlands by the year 2000.

Protected areas: winning support
At the 1992 "Parks for Life Congress" held in Caracas, it was recommended that governments should ensure that - through international cooperation - protected areas cover at least 10 per cent of each biome by the year 2000. This has since been supported by a wide range of stakeholders, including the United Nations.

"We do not need to wait for future generations to see an impact of the interaction between people and forests. Negative consequences are already felt worldwide, disrupting traditional forms of life. A target of placing 10 per cent of the world's forests under some form of legal protection needs to be seen in a larger context. And that larger context is a future for forests thriving as life-supporting ecosystems which can meet the needs of all people." Kofi Annan, Secretary-General, United Nations

Forests under threat
To examine the extent to which forests are unprotected and to encourage governments to protect at least 10 per cent of each of their country's forest types, WWF embarked on a mapping study 2 which revealed that no region in the world achieves the internationally agreed minimum of forest protection.

"The alarming fact is that only a tiny fraction of the world's natural forests have been given any form of protection and the remainder are being exploited faster than they can regenerate." HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, WWF's International President (Emeritus)

Campaigning for action
To increase forest protection, WWF's International President (Emeritus), HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, together with Dr Claude Martin, Director General of WWF International, called on the world's leaders to intervene personally to halt forest destruction and to pledge their support for the Forests for Life Campaign. As a result, on 26 February 1997, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh was able to announce, at an international press conference, that eleven countries had committed to WWF's protected areas target: to establish an ecologically representative network of forest protected areas covering at least 10 per cent of each country's forest types by the year 2000.

The event launched a major international campaign to persuade governments to work with WWF and to pledge support for its protected areas target: 22 governments (including some of the most forested countries in the world) have now committed to increase forest protection in their countries. WWF is now working with governments, industry, indigenous groups and a range of partners, including the World Bank, to ensure that these pledges are implemented so that, by the year 2000, more than 10 per cent of the world's forests will be protected.3

Countries which have committed to WWF's Protected Areas target

Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, People's Republic of China, Colombia, Greece, Lithuania, Malawi, Mozambique, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Romania, Russian Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Slovak Republic, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Vietnam

Implementing forest protection on the ground
WWF is now working to turn all of these pledges into action and to ensure that forest protection is implemented on the ground.

To help WWF to achieve its ambitious forest protection target, an unprecedented agreement was signed between the World Bank and WWF at Earth Summit II in June 1997. At a press conference in New York, World Bank President, James Wolfensohn, announced targets for forest conservation which directly build on those of the WWF/IUCN Forests for Life strategy, pledging that the World Bank will:

- support the establishment of 50 million hectares of new forest protected areas in the World Bank's client countries by the year 2005;

- cooperate to achieve a new World Bank target of the independent certification of 200 million hectares of well-managed forests by 2005, with 100 million hectares in the temperate and boreal regions, and 100 million hectares in tropical forest regions.

"The partnership between the World Bank and WWF will play an important role in enabling countries that are committed to the preservation of their biodiversity to implement their projects." President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Brazil

The first significant step towards implementing greater forest protection through this partnership is the announcement by the World Bank and the Brazilian government to establish 25 million hectares of new forest protected areas in the Amazon by the year 2000. Funds from the World Bank will enable the Brazilian government to identify, create and implement new forest protected areas which will be established within the next five to ten years.

On 29 April 1998, to launch this commitment, President Cardoso signed decrees for four new protected areas: two in the Brazilian Amazon and two in the Atlantic forest, together totalling over half a million hectares. Forest protection will cover all forest types in Brazil, including Atlantic forest - one of the most endangered tropical forest ecosystems in the world: today only seven per cent of the original 130 million hectares of Atlantic forest survive.

"President Cardoso's Gift to the Earth represents the first tangible, major accomplishment for the World Bank/WWF alliance and shows what can be achieved when two effective, influential organisations combine their expertise with a far-sighted government in an effort to save the world's forests. It is a crucial step forward for WWF's Campaign in its goal to protect at least 10 per cent of the world's major forest types by the year 2000." Dr Claude Martin, Director General, WWF International

WWF will continue to work with those governments which have pledged to protect their countries' forests to ensure that forest protection is implemented by the year 2000.

Turning commitments into action

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

"With funding from the World Bank, Argentina has begun an ambitious project to improve its system of national parks and its management of native forests and protected areas. This is currently being jointly implemented by the Argentine government's Natural Resources and Sustainable Development Secretariat and the National Parks Administration." Rogelio Pfirter, Ambassador 23/4/98

WWF's affiliate in Argentina, Fundacion Vida Silvestre (FVSA), has been working to identify and establish protected areas in both Atlantic and Valdivian forests. It also plans to undertake an analysis of the level of protection in the Misiones and Chacko forest ecoregions.

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." 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;

- 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

"Australia has … 11 per cent of its forest and woodlands in nature conservation reserves… the Commonwealth has, in partnership with relevant State governments, been implementing criteria for a national Comprehensive, Adequate and Representative (CAR) forest reserve system through bilateral Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs)."
Robert Hill, Minister for the Environment 27/3/98

The Australian government has set itself welcome goals to meet WWF's protected areas target but implementation has so far been unsatisfactory, with significant areas of high conservation value left out of the reserve system and open to industrial logging. Although Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs) have been finalised in Tasmania and two regions of Victoria, all three have been heavily criticised by environmental NGOs.

WWF will continue to press the Commonwealth and State governments to ensure that they meet their targets so that Australia achieves the Forests for Life goal of a comprehensive, adequate and representative forest reserve system.

Forest protected areas are also receiving an unprecedented amount of political attention through the UN Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (IFF). With encouragement from WWF, the Australian government hosted an international meeting in September 1998 to launch a major new initiative on forest protected areas. A special report is now being prepared which will identify key issues and principles, outline a range of policy options available to nations and international institutions, and recommend national and international action for consideration by the IFF. This includes possible endorsement of global or regional protected area targets for adequate protection of representative forest types. In addition, the governments of Brazil and the United States will host an International Experts Meeting on Protected Forest Areas in March 1999 which will examine existing definitions and classification schemes, and develop priorities for establishing new protected areas.

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

"At present, about 90 forest protected areas have been established in Austria, so far covering 3,200 hectares. [A] further 78 reserves, covering 3,300 hectares… [were] established in 1997. In the final stage, the Austrian forest protected areas network should cover almost 10,000 hectares…Austria is committed to… forest…protection, based on sustainability."
Dr Eva Nowotny, Ambassador 6/2/98

According to a recent analysis by WWF, (European Scorecards 1998), Austria has one of the lowest percentages of forest protected areas in Europe: less than one per cent (34,338 hectares) of the forested area in Austria is "strictly" protected in IUCN categories I-IV, consisting of National Parks, Nature Reserves, Natural Forest Reserves and Genetic Reserves. Although the Natural Forest Reserve programme of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry will bring an additional 5,000 hectares under protection within the next few years, (to reach its target of 10,000 hectares), this will raise the percentage of forest protected areas in Austria to approximately one per cent.

To increase forest protection in Austria, WWF will continue to work with the government and will focus attention on the management plans of Natura 2000.

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 and exploitation."
Ambassador 20/2/97

"… the government of Bolivia … has created a National System of Protected Areas (SNAP), with the purpose of conservation of national resources, scientific investigation, recreation, education and avoidance of exploitation … This year [1998], SNAP was consolidated … and new protected areas have been created with the object of gaining a complete ecological representation of the different ecoregions that exist within the country."
Ambassador 4/9/98

Brazil
"The Brazilian government has agreed to attain the protection of at least 10 per cent 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

Within the framework of an unprecedented alliance between the World Bank and WWF, the Brazilian government announced broad-ranging plans to establish 25 million hectares of new forest protected areas, (an area equivalent in size to the UK), in the Amazon by the year 2000. Funds from the World Bank will enable the Brazilian government to identify, create and implement new forest protected areas in the Amazon which will be established within the next five to ten years.

"The decision by Brazil's President Cardoso to protect 25 million hectares is a truly remarkable one both for its size and content. This decision will help to preserve the abundant biodiversity in this remarkable tropical region. It is a true gift to the Brazilian people and, indeed, to the world."
James Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank

On 29 April 1998, to launch this commitment, President Cardoso created four new protected areas: two in the Brazilian Amazon and two in the Atlantic forest, together totalling over half a million hectares. Forest protection will cover all forest types in Brazil, including Atlantic forest - one of the most endangered tropical forest ecosystems in the world: today only seven per cent of the original 130 million hectares of Atlantic forest survive.

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, serve as benchmarks, protect forest land of unique biological value and preserve wilderness areas. In this way, the forest community has lent its support 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

In May 1998, the National Forest Strategy was reaffirmed by Canada's forest community, maintaining the stated commitment of industry leaders, politicians, Aboriginal peoples and the environmental community to a representative network of protected areas in Canada. Several recent announcements have demonstrated the importance of, and possibilities for, cooperation between stakeholders.

The B.C. government's 1997 announcement to safeguard 4.4 million hectares in core and special management areas in the spectacular Northern Rocky Mountains was the culmination of negotiations between forest workers, industry, government and others. To monitor and implement management activities, the B.C. government has since appointed a special advisory board and has set up a $2.4 million trust fund for the board. Also in 1997, the federal and Saskatchewan governments finalised negotiations to protect 176,000 hectares in the boreal forest at the Primrose (Cold) Lake Air Weapons Range. The boreal natural region is seriously threatened by logging and this announcement safeguards some of Canada's truly important and pristine lands.

The percentage of Canada set aside in protected areas is now just under six per cent with approximately 3.8 per cent of forested lands protected.

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…"
Juan Villarzu Rohde, Minister Secretary General of the Presidency 4/2/97

A new study has been completed by the government showing that there are more than 15 million hectares of forests, including plantations, in Chile. WWF estimates that more than two million hectares (or 14.4 per cent) of Chile's natural forests are currently protected in IUCN categories I-III and, although no new protected areas were created in 1997, four new protected areas will have been established by the end of 1998.

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 to 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

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 20 per cent of its forest types consistent with the "Forests for Life" initiative." Ernesto Samper-Pizano, President 17/2/97

Since committing to WWF's protected areas target, the Colombian government has drawn up the following strategies:

"…in order to achieve sustainable use of forest areas with a view to conservation and to integrating such resources into the national economy:

- forest administration is to be modernised;

- forest areas are to be conserved, rationally used and reclaimed;

- there is to be more research into conservation issues;

- international principles on conservation are to be supported.

Colombia currently has 34 national parks, eight flora and fauna sanctuaries, two nature reserves and a unique forested area covering more than nine million hectares within a network of natural national parks. A further 333,417 hectares - covering 10 per cent of the total [land] area of the country -have been declared forest protected areas."
Carlos Lemos-Simmonds, Ambassador 13/2/98

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 three to four per cent to 10 per cent of the forest cover of our country."
Elias Beriatos, Secretary General of Forests 30/5/97

WWF has been working with the Greek government to establish a new legal framework for national parks in order to achieve effective management for these protected areas. In addition, WWF-Greece is working to set up a National Implementation Committee to help the government to implement its pledge to WWF's protected areas target. WWF-Greece has presented the government with a list of forests which should be protected and it is also working towards establishing permanent legal protection in Dadia.

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

"Lithuania's forest policy is based on sustainable and multi-use management…more than one quarter of Lithuanian forests are subject to stringent forest management restrictions to ensure that forests and their biodiversity are protected…All silvicultural measures are aimed at …[the] protection of biological and genetic diversity in forests."
Algirdas Brukas, Vice -Minister, Agriculture and Forestry 19/2/98

Several new laws were introduced in 1997 to support forest protection and a list of new nature reserves to be created has been approved by the government of the Republic of Lithuania. The nature protection network has also been strengthened during the last five years so that total protected areas now cover 748, 289 hectares compared with 718, 489 hectares in 1997.

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 agreed 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."
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 17/2/97

"Since making its pledge to WWF's Forests for Life protected areas target, the New Zealand government has been implementing a range of measures to ensure greater forest protection:

- additional funding has been given to the department of conservation to prevent the collapse of nearly one million hectares of forest from browsing animals;

- additional funding was provided and recovery plans were implemented for threatened species recovery work;

- a nomination was submitted for World Heritage Status for New Zealand's sub-Antartic islands;

- 2,171 hectares of beech forest in Fiordland have been protected and have now been added to Fiordland National Park;

- an expansion of criteria for Forest Heritage Fund and Nga Whenua Rahui: government funds have been provided to help individuals protect forests on their own land; nearly 200,000 hectares have been protected through the Forest Heritage Fund and Nga Whenua Rahui since 1990 and more than 12,000 hectares were protected last year;

- a promotional campaign to encourage private land owners to protect forest and other conservation values on private land has been launched and implemented;

- joint work has been undertaken with the corporate sector to protect and enhance indigenous trees through "Project Crimson" and through tree planting programmes nation wide;

- five new 'mainland island' projects have been funded and implemented where offshore island intensive management techniques are undertaken to protect and enhance mainland ecosystems;

- animal pests have been eradicated on one of New Zealand's most important island sanctuaries, Kapit Island, protecting both the island's forests and the species within it;

- pests have been eradicated from several other island sanctuaries, including one of the islands which is home to the endangered parrot - the kakapo." Brian Sheppard, Conservation Secretary 31/7/98

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 17 national parks during the next five to ten years, as well as 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

Twelve new protected areas have been created within Romania's existing national park system in line with its commitment to WWF's protected areas target. With the additional expansion of the Retezat National Park, approximately 397,400 hectares of land are now in protected areas and 75 per cent of this is forested. More than six per cent of Romania's forests are protected within these national parks and one third of this land is protected in strict reserves. The government is committed to passing a law which will give these new national parks a stronger legal status and a management structure independent of the forestry administration.

"In 1997, a project (financed by the World Bank) on the integrated management of the conservation of protected areas was begun for three of these parks and the consultation process for the creation of two more parks is currently underway. In addition, a new policy on forest exploitation has been implemented so that there is now restrictive felling in more than six per cent of Romania's forests and there is no tree felling in three per cent of its forests."
Ministry of Waters, Forests and Environment Protection of Romania 25/4/98

Russian Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)
"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

The President of the Sakha Republic has agreed to protect 70 million hectares of pristine boreal forest - an area roughly twice the size of Germany and representing more than two per cent of the world's entire forest area. As the first step towards implementing this commitment, WWF is providing support to help establish and equip three forest areas.

Kytalyk Resource Reserve
Established in June 1997, the Kytalyk Resource Reserve covers 1,607,000 hectares of arctic wetlands and is home to an important population of Siberian crane. This wetland area has been recommended for protection under the Ramsar Convention.

Sakha - Carate Resource Reserve
This project aims to establish an efficient protection system for over 1.3 million hectares of virgin mountain taiga, bogs, large rivers and a unique system of high-mountain lakes in the foothills of the Stanovoy Chain in southern Yakutia. This area is typical of southern Yakutia and includes the water catchment areas of the rivers Carate, Tokko and Olekma, in addition to historic and cultural monuments.

One of the reserve's main objectives is to safeguard natural resources for the sustainable use of indigenous people. This implies that local people become responsible for managing and conserving the resources on which they depend and it has been agreed with the Ministry of the Environment that WWF will help to train Evenke people as game wardens and hunting inspectors in the region. In addition, an education programme will be developed for the Tyanya school in Evenke village involving experienced people from other WWF projects in Russia and a team of education experts from Lenskie Stolby National Park.

Other activities for the next six months include establishing ranger posts to protect the reserve's southern boundaries, providing field equipment for the ranger service, and developing the work of the anti-poaching squad.

Lenskie Stolby National Nature Park
Lenskie Stolby is the first National Nature Park to be established, not only in the Sakha Republic but, in the whole of north eastern Russia.

This park covers more than 485,000 hectares of land and 95 per cent of this is forests. Lake-like landscapes, which are typical in Central Yakutia, are spread throughout the park and the Lenskie Stolby, or the Lena Pillars, which are roughly 500 million years old, are an outstanding feature measuring about 200m in height and stretching 40 km along the Lena river. The park is home to 96 rare species of insects and 100 bird species nest here, including hazel grouse, Ural owl, great grey owl, hawk owl and black woodpecker.

The project aims to preserve unique natural ecosystems, to encourage ecotourism and to develop environmental education for the local population.

The Slovak Republic
"With great pleasure I received the information on the World Wide Fund For Nature initiative [designed] 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

There are more than 1.9 million hectares of forests in the Slovak Republic all of which are legally protected from "excessive exploitation and … special attention is paid to the so-called protective forests which represents 14.5 per cent of the total forest area [and] a further 17 per cent … are administered under a specific protection system."

The protection of forests in natural parks, natural reserves and other protected landscape areas cover over a quarter of Slovak's forests and "the strictest regulations are applied in the natural reserves where almost any form of forestry is excluded."
Igor Slobodnik, Ambassador 10/8/98

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

Forest fires and disease are the two main threats to Tunisian forests and, as a result, the government has created a national strategy for forest protection which aims to:

- increase forest protection through reforestation;

- reduce the average area affected by fire each year from 14 hectares to one hectare;

- adopt a forest conservation approach which involves local forest communities;

- conserve biological diversity within forests;

- safeguard the living conditions of neighbouring forest communities.

To achieve this, the Tunisian government will create new infrastructures, attempt to control and eradicate fires and build capacity through training in fire fighting techniques."
Ministry of the Environment 12/8/98

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

Uzbekistan has "expanded the state programme [of] environmental protection and the rational use of natural resources …" Taken from the book "Uzbekistan on the Threshold of the Twenty-First Century" by Islam Karimov,
President of the Republic of Uzbekistan 14/8/98

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

With funding from the World Bank, the government is working on a new project to strengthen the existing protected areas network and over 300,000 hectares are now more effectively managed. Funds are also being sought through the World Bank/WWF alliance to conserve and manage a unique and biologically important forest corridor which links the forest highlands on the border with Laos to the coastal forests of Danang Bay and offshore islands.

Gifts to the Earth

The Forests for Life Campaign has also encouraged governments to make Gifts to the Earth which have increased forest protection in countries such as Brazil, Cameroon, Gabon, the Komi Republic (Russia), Mexico and the Sakha Republic (Yakutia).

Mexico
The President of the United States of Mexico, Dr Ernesto Zedillo, has announced new plans to protect forests affected by fires in Mexico. President Zedillo's Gift to the Earth identifies 85 priority forests in 21 of the 32 Mexican states, covering a total of 188,000 hectares. These forests are to be designated as "Sites of Ecological restoration" and will now be protected by a law preventing change in land use which will enable the Ministry of the Environment to develop and implement forest recovery plans for each area.

The Komi Republic, Russia
The Head of the Komi Republic in Russia has announced protection for one of the largest surviving areas of untouched woodland in Europe - the forests of Pechora-Ilych - which represents 16 per cent of the land in the Komi Republic (an area roughly equivalent in size to the Netherlands).

Gabon
The Gabonese government has made two generous Gifts to the Earth:

- protecting 600,000 hectares of pristine rainforest in the Minkebe Forest wilderness which is home to forest elephant, lowland gorilla, chimpanzee and leopard;

- classifying Monts Doudou as a wildlife management area and protecting over 300,000 hectares of rainforest. This completes the Gamba protected area complex and makes it the largest contiguous protected area in Central Africa with over one million hectares.

Cameroon
The Lobeke Forest has been given official protection by the government of Cameroon as 220,000 hectares of tropical forests have been declared as a Gift to the Earth, helping to protect forest elephant and lowland gorilla as well as the future of two indigenous groups - the Bangando and Baka pygmies.

Brazil
The Brazilian President's Gift to the Earth was the decision to establish 25 million hectares of new forest protected areas in the Amazon by the year 2000.

The Sakha Republic (Yakutia)
An extensive new protected area has been created in the Sakha Republic, protecting 70 million hectares of boreal forests, bogs, large river valleys, high mountain lakes and arctic wetlands. More than two-thirds of these areas cover pristine forests.

WWF will continue to encourage Gifts to the Earth which enhance forest protection.

Working in partnership
The problems facing the world's forests are too large for any one group to tackle alone: as a result, WWF works in partnership with governments, intergovernmental bodies, commercial companies, aid agencies, NGOs, indigenous groups, academic bodies and research organisations. The Forests for Life Campaign will continue to work at an international level to encourage all governments to commit to protecting their countries' forests by the year 2000.

A future for the world's forests

To improve forest protection and to ensure a future for the world's forests, WWF, together with its partners, will:

- lobby government at an international level to generate new pledges to WWF's protected areas target;

- encourage governments and industry to make additional commitments to forest protection in the form of Gifts to the Earth;

- promote the establishment of National Implementation Committees (NICs) so that existing pledges are turned into effective protection on the ground;

- develop, test and promote new models of forest protected areas management.

WWF's Global Forests for Life Campaign promotes:

- the establishment and practical realisation of an ecologically representative network of protected areas covering at least 10 per cent of each of the world's forest types by the end of the year 2000;

- the independent certification of at least 25 million hectares of well-managed forests by June 2001 focusing on key timber producing countries.

For more information, please visit the Forests for Life website www.panda.org/forests4life

Let's leave our children a Living Planet

WWF's Global Forests for Life Campaign

Branksome House, Filmer Grove
Godalming, Surrey GU7 3AB
United Kingdom
Telephone: + 44 (0)1483 419266
Fax: + 44 (0)1483 427965

Avenue du Mont-Blanc
1196 Gland Switzerland
Telephone: + 41 22 364 9008
Fax: + 41 22 364 0526

Sources
1 Source: "State of the world's forests" FAO 1997
2 Source: WWF October 1997
3 WCMC data shows that when the 22 country pledges are implemented, more than 10 per cent of the world's forests will be in protected areas


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