SFM Implementation
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Sustainable Forest Management (SFM)
Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) aims to ensure that products and social, cultural, and environmental services provided by forests meet the needs of the current generation, while at the same time maintaining their availability for the development needs of future generations. Despite a long history of forest conversion and forest degradation due to unsustainable logging practices, the natural forests of Southeast Asia still constitute an immense renewable resource and provide vital contributions to the economic and social development of the region. Invariably, the countries of the region are committed to the principle of sustainable forest management (SFM), as expressed in their respective forest policies and/or sector strategies. In line with international policy debates (e.g. UNCED, 1992: Rio Declaration and Forest Principles) the definition of SFM applied by these countries has gradually evolved from a focus on sustained timber production to sustainable forest management that embraces the full range of economic, environmental and social aspects.
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National Forest Programmes
In order to address environmental issues effectively, the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC)Blueprint calls for a holistic approach in regional cooperation. In forest policy, ASEAN Member States have been pursuing a comprehensive policy approach by implementing the concept of national forest programmes (nfp). In order to achieve SFM, nfp has been the framework for the work of the ASOF and their expert and working groups.
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Forest and Timber Certification
In view of the worldwide increasing demand for certified timber, and understanding forest and timber certification as an important tool for promoting Sustainable Forest Management (SFM), a number of ASEAN member states embarked during the 1990ies on the development of national forest and timber certification schemes. Several national standards for forest certification of natural and planted forests were created, taking into account the design of ITTOs C&I for SFM of natural tropical forests and/or FSCs Principles and Criteria for forest. On ASEAN level, Regional Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Management of Natural Tropical Forests were published in 2000.
