PART II SELECTED CURRENT ISSUES IN THE FOREST SECTOR sequestering carbon, given that they account Implications for forest research for an estimated 80 percent of annual In terms of research, both alleviation of poverty exchanges of carbon between terrestrial and environmental protection will require ecosystems and the atmosphere(see p 25). This better understanding of the interaction calls for substantial work on carbon budgets, between ecosystem processes and social and the costs and benefits of various interventions economic systems, and development of tools and the use of market and non-market and techniques based on more mechanisms to mitigate climate change comprehensive knowledge an increase in the production of goods and Forests and water. Access to freshwater has services required by the poor, and already become a critical limiting factor in the enhancement of employment-and income- economic development of several countries and generating opportunities; a cause of conflict in many parts of the world modification of technology to comply with However, considerable uncertainty exists environmental requirements, especially the garding the link between forests and water protection of biological diversity and the (see chapter on freshwater resources, p. 74) maintenance of key ecosystem processes Additional multidisciplinary research is The fundamental question is whether science ed in order to reach a be and technology, as a whole, and forest research, understanding of the consequences of various in particular, are moving in that direction, or land uses, including forestry, for water yield, whether the gaps in knowledge and capacities and to develop systems for equitably sharing are widening and long-term options narrowing the costs and benefits of protecting watersheds WIDENING GAP Socio-economic issues: alleviating poverty recisely when science must focus on social and and enhancing food security environmental concerns in the forest sector it spite unprecedented economic progres nat gaps in capacity among countries are gap in wealth and income is widening, and dening and that, despite the need to poverty and deprivation are persisting. An undertake more broad-based research, current estimated 815 million people suffer from shifts in priorities and institutional arrangements malnourishment(FAO, 2002), and progress towards the United Nations Millennium Development Goals is too slow(UNDP and UNICEF, 2002). Approximately half the world's population of 6 billion survives on less than Power and impotence and depend on natural resources, the lackoc bas US$2 per day. Although most live in rural ar skills,of access to appropriate technology and of secure tenure as well as a host of other "A profound paradox of power and impotence, crying out for a problems, means that they are unable to lution, now faces concerned people in every society. On the one manage and use resources sustainably. The fact hand, there is the unmatched power of basic scientific and techno- that developments in science and technology logical research, reporting one rema have bypassed large segments of society also dizzying speed On theotherhand, individuals andwhole societies contributes to the unsustainable use of are plagued by ominous problems that yield all-too-slowly, in part resources and environmental degradation. It because of persistent ignorance at the fundamental level. also aggravates poverty, and not only in developing countries, for there are pockets of Branscomb, Holton and Sonnert. 2001 deprivation everywhe e even in the m97 SECTOR FOREST THE IN ISSUES CURRENT SELECTED II PART account they that given, carbon sequestering annual of percent 80 estimated an for terrestrial between carbon of exchanges This). 25. p see (atmosphere the and ecosystems ,budgets carbon on work substantial for calls ,interventions various of benefits and costs the market-non and market of use the and .change climate mitigate to mechanisms has freshwater to Access. water and Forests the in factor limiting critical a become already and countries several of development economic .world the of parts many in conflict of cause a exists uncertainty considerable, However water and forests between link the regarding .(74. p, resources freshwater on chapter see( is research multidisciplinary Additional better a reach to order in required various of consequences the of understanding ,yield water for, forestry including, uses land sharing equitably for systems develop to and .watersheds protecting of benefits and costs the poverty alleviating: issues economic-Socio security food enhancing and the, progress economic unprecedented Despite and, widening is income and wealth in gap An. persisting are deprivation and poverty from suffer people million 815 estimated progress and), 2002, FAO (malnourishment Millennium’ Nations United the towards and UNDP (slow too is Goals Development s’world the half Approximately). 2002, UNICEF than less on survives billion 6 of population areas rural in live most Although. day per 2$US of lack the, resources natural on depend and and technology appropriate to access of, skills other of host a as well as, tenure secure of to unable are they that means, problems fact The. sustainably resources use and manage technology and science in developments that also society of segments large bypassed have of use unsustainable the to contributes It. degradation environmental and resources in only not and, poverty aggravates also of pockets are there for, countries developing of midst the in even, everywhere deprivation .plenty research forest for Implications poverty of alleviation both, research of terms In :require will protection environmental and interaction the of understanding better• and social and processes ecosystem between tools of development and, systems economic more on based techniques and ;knowledge comprehensive and goods of production the in increase an• and, poor the by required services ;opportunities generating￾income and- employment of enhancement with comply to technology of modification• the especially, requirements environmental the and diversity biological of protection .processes ecosystem key of maintenance science whether is question fundamental The ,research forest and, whole a as, technology and or, direction that in moving are, particular in capacities and knowledge in gaps the whether .narrowing options term-long and widening are GAPS WIDENING and social on focus must science when Precisely it, sector forest the in concerns environmental are countries among capacity in gaps that seems to need the despite, that and widening current, research based-broad more undertake arrangements institutional and priorities in shifts a for out crying, impotence and power of paradox profound A“ one the On. society every in people concerned faces now, solution at another after advance remarkable one reporting, research logical￾techno and scientific basic of power unmatched the is there, hand societies whole and individuals, hand other the On. speed dizzying part in, slowly-too-all yield that problems ominous by plagued are “.level fundamental the at ignorance persistent of because .2001, Sonnert and Holton, Branscomb impotence and Power