12.4.1 Technology Transfer within Annex I Countries
The policies in timber importing countries are critical to ensure environmentally
sound technology transfer within timber exporting countries. Annex I countries
are the dominant timber importing countries both from non-Annex I as well as
from other Annex I countries. Thus, it is very important for Annex I countries
to promote the diffusion of sustainable forest management (SFM) practices. SFM
practices are also supposed to be beneficial to timber logging countries for
conserving bio-diversity and watersheds.
Government initiated measures. Some of the measures to promote technology
transfer on SFM practices and Protected Area management are as follows:
- Application of certification and labelling schemes in a non-discriminatory
and correct manner;
- Regulations to control the import of uncertified forest products within
the framework of international trade agreements;
- Development of criteria and indicators for SFM;
- Provision of SFM principles and practices at national level;
- Preference for SFM-certified wood for public construction;
- Investment in forestry R&D;
- Recycling of paper through regulations, incentives and agreements;
- Promotion of public awareness;
- Economic valuation of forest functions.
Community-initiated measures. NGOs could contribute to creating awareness
in the consumers to promote the use of certified timber and recycled paper.
Consumer interest groups/NGOs could ensure enforcement of regulations; paper
recycling, and marketing of sustainable timber.
Private sector. The private sector in Annex I countries will play a role
in development of criteria and indicators for SFM, development of certification
schemes and their adaptation to the national/regional level, ensuring the adoption
of SFM practices in timber logging, marketing sustainably logged timber, and
in generating forestry technologies.
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