PART III INTERNATIONAL DIALOGUE AND INITIATIVES RELATED TO FORESTS 111 for the first ministerial conference The Central American Council for forests scheduled for December 2000, to follow up on and Protected Areas the Yaounde summit The Central American Council for Forests and Protected Areas(CCAB-AP) is an advisory body Southern African Development Community of the Central American Commission on The Southern African Development Community Environment and Development(CCAD). It is (SADC) 2 provides a framework for cooperation in responsible for the implementation of CCAD forestry among its 14 member nations through its policies and strategies on the sustainable use of Forestry Sector Policy and Development Strategy forest resources and the conservation of biological of 1997. Issues addressed in the communitys diversity. CCAB-AP was established in Forestry Sector Policy are reflected in the Sadc to the Central American Agreement on Forestry Programme of Action, which is aimed at Biodiversity, which was signed by the presidents developing and implementing regional projects. of the region in 1993. It is composed of the heads The six programme components include: forestry of forest departments and national parks training and education; improved knowledge of departments of the seven Central America the forest resource base(e.g. forest resoure countries(Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador assessment and monitoring); forestry research; Guatemala, Honduras, Panama and Nicaragua) forest resources management(of"indigenous, or CCAB-AP's main strategic working areas at natural, forests and plantations); forest industries, present are: research and inventory of species, markets and marketing: and environmental conomically sustainable uses of forests and protection wildlife the valorization of environmental services. Major regional projects that are operational the strengthening and consolidation of Central cover the management of indigenous forest America's national systems of protected areas: th ecosystems(through the promotion of local economic valuation of forests; the promotion of communities participation); the strengthening of comanagement within protected forests and seed centres in many member countries; and wildlife areas; studies on the agricultural frontier support to forestry training. and on agroforestry, and the promotion of a Current sadc initiatives include regional strategy for the prevention of forest fires. the establishment of the Forest Resource Data The Council is currently emphasizing activities Bank related to the economic valuation of environmental the development of a Forestry Protocol for benefits of Central America's forest ecosystems, SADO including carbon sequestration. In collaboration support to a regional programme on ith FAO and the Tropical Agriculture Research biological diversity. and Higher Education Center(CATIE), it has the development of a regional project for the trained more than 80 professionals from the region domestication and marketing of indigenous in related fields. The conservation of biological diversity is currently an important concern for Coordination and support for SADC's forest CCAB-AP; together with its member countries, it activities are provided by the Forestry Sector is supporting an important project on the Meso- Technical Coordination Unit, based in Malawis American Biological Corridor, which will Department of Forestry. strengthen linkages between national biologica diversity activities and forest programmes Treaty for Amazonian Co-operation The Treaty for Amazonian Co-operation TCA 12See Part IV, p. 134, for more information about SADC. fosters collaboration among member countriesPART III INTERNATIONAL DIALOGUE AND INITIATIVES RELATED TO FORESTS 111 prepare for the first ministerial conference, scheduled for December 2000, to follow up on the Yaoundé Summit. Southern African Development Community The Southern African Development Community (SADC)12 provides a framework for cooperation in forestry among its 14 member nations through its Forestry Sector Policy and Development Strategy of 1997. Issues addressed in the Community’s Forestry Sector Policy are reflected in the SADC Forestry Programme of Action, which is aimed at developing and implementing regional projects. The six programme components include: forestry training and education; improved knowledge of the forest resource base (e.g. forest resources assessment and monitoring); forestry research; forest resources management (of “indigenous”, or natural, forests and plantations); forest industries, markets and marketing; and environmental protection. Major regional projects that are operational cover the management of indigenous forest ecosystems (through the promotion of local communities’ participation); the strengthening of seed centres in many member countries; and support to forestry training. Current SADC initiatives include: • the establishment of the Forest Resource Data Bank; • the development of a Forestry Protocol for SADC; • support to a regional programme on biological diversity; • the development of a regional project for the domestication and marketing of indigenous fruit-trees. Coordination and support for SADC’s forest activities are provided by the Forestry Sector Technical Coordination Unit, based in Malawi’s Department of Forestry. The Central American Council for Forests and Protected Areas The Central American Council for Forests and Protected Areas (CCAB-AP) is an advisory body of the Central American Commission on Environment and Development (CCAD). It is responsible for the implementation of CCAD policies and strategies on the sustainable use of forest resources and the conservation of biological diversity. CCAB-AP was established in response to the Central American Agreement on Biodiversity, which was signed by the presidents of the region in 1993. It is composed of the heads of forest departments and national parks departments of the seven Central American countries (Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama and Nicaragua). CCAB-AP’s main strategic working areas at present are: research and inventory of species; economically sustainable uses of forests and wildlife; the valorization of environmental services; the strengthening and consolidation of Central America’s national systems of protected areas; the economic valuation of forests; the promotion of comanagement within protected forests and wildlife areas; studies on the agricultural frontier and on agroforestry; and the promotion of a regional strategy for the prevention of forest fires. The Council is currently emphasizing activities related to the economic valuation of environmental benefits of Central America’s forest ecosystems, including carbon sequestration. In collaboration with FAO and the Tropical Agriculture Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE), it has trained more than 80 professionals from the region in related fields. The conservation of biological diversity is currently an important concern for CCAB-AP; together with its member countries, it is supporting an important project on the Meso￾American Biological Corridor, which will strengthen linkages between national biological diversity activities and forest programmes. Treaty for Amazonian Co-operation The Treaty for Amazonian Co-operation (TCA) fosters collaboration among member countries 12 See Part IV, p. 134, for more information about SADC