Forum on Forestry and
Natural Resources Issues in Africa

Final Report

BACKGROUND

Africa is a continent rich in both natural and human resources, yet it remains a paradox. Beset by formidable obstacles to social and economic development, e.g. famine, ethnic conflict, refugees, repressive and lethargic systems of government, disease, etc. (Veit et al. 1998), Africa still possesses enormous development potential. Long the focus of development investment in a myriad of projects from the developed world, some significant advances have been made—yet much more remains to be done. Indeed, many African countries have become living laboratories supporting research on strategies to achieve success. The now common use of participatory methods in both project planning and design, and implementation, is a relevant example (Hoben et al. 1998).

The rich natural resources of Africa rival those of both Asia and South America in the developing world (Figure 1). Although much lower in freshwater resources, Sub-Saharan Africa's quantities of permanent pasture, forest and woodland, and total land mass are substantial. Furthermore, across the spectrum of natural resources, the vast majority remains underutilized (Figure 2). There can be little doubt that future development in African countries is dependent upon or closely linked to sustainable use of natural resources.

Through the efforts of USAID's Environment/Natural Resources Management (E/NRM) Team in the Africa Bureau, many exciting projects have been established and progress is being made. Examples include FRAME - Strategic Analysis of Environmental Issues in Africa, Central Africa Regional Program for the Environment (CARPE), and Tracker - A Tool for Real-Time Learning from Local Resource Management Initiatives in Africa. Opportunities exist to improve the quality and quantity of development projects in Africa through closer collaboration with the U.S. university sector responsible for forestry, fisheries, wildlife, and related renewable natural resources management. The National Association of Professional Forestry Schools and Colleges (NAPFSC) is the umbrella group that represents 69 institutions from throughout the United States. The International Committee of NAPFSC, chaired by Dr. Sam Foster, Dean of the College of Forest Resources at Mississippi State University, has expressed an interest in working with USAID professionals in the area of forestry and natural resources management, with a particular emphasis on Africa. Although in recent years the level of university involvement in USAID development programs has decreased (Congress of the United States, Office of Technology Assessment, 1991), recent discussions among NAPFSC members, as well as members of the National Association of University Fisheries and Wildlife Programs (NAUFWP) have indicated a renewed willingness to further the relationship with USAID.

During 1997, a Regional Roundtable entitled USAID/Higher Education Partnership in Development identified the following issues and activities for strengthening the relationship between USAID and the higher education community in the United States (ALO 1997). The project proposed here is a first step toward greater cooperation in the E/NRM area.

Greater investments for building human capacity

More flexible funding mechanisms

Personnel exchanges from USAID and from higher education

Joint strategic planning at all levels within the agency

Greater transparency within the agency and higher education through inventories of interest and capabilities and greater access to information

Building on existing higher education partnerships and networks to address development objectives

Constituency-building for the public agenda

Approaches for continuity and predictability

Reviewing the principles of cost-sharing

Research on development cooperation—what makes a difference, and what models are appropriate given new capabilities and technologies

New mechanisms for extension and public service outreach

Building on lessons from abroad

Exploring cooperation among USAID, higher education, nongovernmental organizations, and development firms

Recent reports on the state of Africa's forests and renewable natural resources indicate disturbing trends. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in its Forestry Outlook Study for Africa, indicates the following trends over the next 20 years (FAO, 2003):

Continued loss of forest cover, at roughly the current rates;

Negligible efforts to apply sustainable forest management;

Increasing demand for woodfuel, which, in the context of high urban consumption, would deplete forest and woodland resources in the vicinity of urban centres;

Africa's wood products sector is dominated by "low value adding" industries catering largely to external demand. Growth of high value adding industries will be sluggish and Africa is likely to remain an importer of products such as newsprint and printing and writing paper;

Most wood and other products are exported without any value addition, undermining the potential for enhancing employment and income;

A decline in the state of the environment, particularly exacerbation of the water crisis because of the deterioration of watersheds, with other negative effects such as declining quantity and quality of water supplies, and increased siltation of reservoirs and other irrigation facilities;

Depletion of non-wood forest products, particularly medicinal plants;

Increased conflicts in wildlife management, undermining the potential for expansion of wildlife-based tourism.

USAID's Environmental and Natural Resources Team of the Sustainable Development Office in the Africa Bureau investigated the relationship between natural resources and economic development in Africa (USAID, 2002). They recommended the following principles to guide investments in natural resource management to benefit key elements of nature, wealth, and power:

NATURE	WEALTH	POWER
Improve information and knowledge management systems	Be strategic about the economics of natural resource management	Strengthen environmental procedural rights for rural people
Promote local land use planning and appropriate resource tenure systems	Strengthen markets and NRM market incentives	Improve rural input into public decisions and policy
Foster innovation, social learning, and adaptive management	Invest in rural organizations	Redistribute natural resource authority and functions
Build capacity and invest in human resources	Create a framework for better NRM choices	Transfer powers, rights, and responsibilities to representative and accountable authorities
Promote cost-effective technical advisory and intermediary services	Assure that local resource managers have secure access to NRM means and benefits	Explore a minimum environmental standards approach
		Promote platforms that allow for continuous and inclusive consultations

Universities in the United States with programs in forestry, fisheries, wildlife, and natural resources have an interest in improving the state of forestry and natural resource management in Africa. This interest is fueled by

faculty and research staff engaged in important research issues;

students wishing to travel and study abroad;

constituent groups with business interests;

African students and professionals seeking educational opportunities in the United States;

unique research and extension problems; and

funding from governmental agencies and private foundations.

Accordingly, the Forum on Forestry and Natural Resource Issues in Africa was convened to explore this mutual interest and develop strategies for channeling it into productive actions.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the Forum on Forestry and Natural Resources Issues in Africa are as follows:

To determine, using the knowledge and experience of selected NAPFSC and NAUFWP institutions, outside consultants, African representatives, and USAID personnel, the key forestry and natural resources issues related to development in Africa over the next 20 years.

To propose strategies for addressing those issues in a coordinated fashion, relying on partnerships with NAPFSC and NAUFWP institutions, USAID, other agencies, NGOs, and the private sector.

To present the results of the project in the form of a report to USAID Africa Bureau, and E/NRM personnel to use as reference during the impending USAID reorganization.

To propose a mechanism for continuing the USAID/NAPFSC/NAUFWP dialogue for continued cooperation.

FORUM APPROACH

The Forum on Forestry and Natural Resource Issues in Africa was convened on February 24-26, 2003, in Shepherdstown, West Virginia (see Appendix 1 for program brochure). The forum was sponsored by the following organizations:

National Association of Professional Forestry Schools and Colleges (NAPFSC)
National Association of University Fish and Wildlife Programs (NAUFWP)
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
     College of Natural Resources (Department of Forestry)
     Virginia Cooperative Extension Service
International Union of Forestry Research Organizations (IUFRO)
     Extension Working Party

Following a query to NAPFSC-member institutions (Appendix 2), representatives from the University of Arizona, Oregon State University, University of Montana, University of Minnesota, Mississippi State University, Pennsylvania State University, and Virginia Tech were invited to participate in the forum.

Invitations were also extended to the following three African universities: University of Stellenbosch (South Africa), Moi University (Kenya), and Dschang University (Cameroon). Due to visa problems, the representative from Moi University was unable to attend; however, representatives from the other two universities were present. Additionally, an Ethiopian professor, who is currently working at Oregon State University, also attended. Three USAID employees and representatives from the following non-governmental organizations also attended the forum:

Conservation International
Africa Biodiversity Collaborative Group
Society of American Foresters
Bushmeat Crisis Task Force
The Fund for Animals

For a complete list of forum participants, see Appendix 3.

The forum consisted of a day of invited presentations with the entire group, followed by a day and a half of discussions and resolutions attended mostly by NAPFSC and USAID representatives, as well as the visiting Africans.

RESOLUTIONS FROM THE FORUM

The following strategies were proposed for further engagement of NAPFSC institutions in assisting the development of forestry and natural resources management in Africa:

Develop a network of U.S. universities from the membership of NAPFSC and the National Association of University Fisheries and Wildlife Programs (NAUFWP). The network would consist of individuals and programs with experience and an interest in forestry and natural resources in Africa. This network, entitled Natural Resource Partnership for Africa (NRPA), would cooperate with USAID and other organizations to focus on critical issues, e.g., university capacity building, desertification, deforestation, conflict timber, marketing of forest products, water resources, water quality, watershed management, bushmeat crisis, etc.

Working through NRPA and SAF, create a network for involvement with the Congo Basin Forest Partnership. Develop a mutual set of goals and strategies for NRPA and SAF participation.

Discuss with NAPFSC and NAUFWP leadership and chief counsel the concept of providing lobbying for USAID programs related to forestry and natural resources.

Develop working relationships with organizations such as the International Center for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF) and IUFRO's Special Program for Developing Countries office in Ghana.

Implement the NRPA program to improve the capabilities of selected regional universities in East Africa, West Africa, and Southern Africa (see Concept Paper, Appendix 4).

Engage USAID, NRPA institutions, and relevant NGOs as to possible African universities to participate in the NRPA. Possibilities identified at the forum include: Moi University (Kenya), Sokoine University (Tanzania), Wondo Genet Forestry College at Debub University (Ethiopia), and Ibadan University (Nigeria). The University of Stellenbosch in South Africa already has a well-developed program, but would be a logical "center of excellence" in the southern part of the continent. The focus of NRPA efforts would be on forestry, fisheries, wildlife, parks and protected areas management, and water resources—with an aim to capacity building in undergraduate and graduate instruction, research, and extension.

Identify a pilot group of NAPFSC and NAUFWP faculty to visit safe Congo Basin countries on a reconnaissance trip to the key landscapes and existing institutions, as a first step. The SAF should also be represented. The purpose would be to identify existing institutions with which to partner, and begin the NAPFSC/SAF/USAID connection to the Congo Basin Forest Partnership and the Central Africa Regional Program for the Environment (CARPE). NAPFSC strengths are in education, research, and extension.

Engage other organizations and institutions, for example, NAUFWP, the Africa Biodiversity Collaborative Group, and individuals from other universities with unique African natural resources knowledge.

CONCLUSIONS

The Forum on Forestry and Natural Resources Issues in Africa brought together 19 specialists from a variety of American and African universities, government agencies, and NGOs. Participants heard 10 formal presentations, and spent a day and a half in discussions and deliberations about how NAPFSC and NAUFWP institutions could increase their level of service to the realm of forestry and natural resource issues in Africa. Generally, the institutions participating in the forum were keenly interested in an enhanced role, and in partnering with USAID and other organizations. The eight resolutions described here identify ways that NAPFSC and NAUFWP can more effectively engage with USAID and others to make this enhanced role a reality.

LITERATURE CITED

ALO. 1997. Regional Roundtable USAID/Higher Education Partnership in Development. Association Liaison Office for University Cooperation in Development and U.S. Agency for International Development, Bureau for Global Programs, Field Support and Research, Center for Human Capacity Development. Washington, DC. 30 pp.

Congress of the United States, Office of Technology Assessment. 1991. New opportunities for U.S. universities in development assistance. Office of Technology Assessment OTA-BP-F-71. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC. 99 pp.

Hoben, A., P. Peters, and D. Rocheleau. 1998. Participation, civil society, and foreign assistance to Africa. In Africa's Valuable Assets—A Reader in Natural Resource Management. Peter G. Veit (Ed.). World Resources Institute, Washington, DC. Pp. 109-154.

Veit, P.G., T. Nagpal, and T. Fox. 1998. Africa's wealth, woes, worth. In Africa's Valuable Assets—A Reader in Natural Resource Management. Peter G. Veit (Ed.). World Resources Institute, Washington, DC. Pp. 1-26.

FAO. 2003. Forestry Outlook Study for Africa—Regional Report Opportunities and Challenges Towards 2020. FAO Forestry Paper 141. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Rome. 66pp.

USAID. 2002. Nature, Wealth, and Power—Emerging Best Practice for Revitalizing Rural Africa. U.S. Agency for International Development, Africa Bureau. 35pp.

APPENDICES

Appendix 1: Forum on Forestry and Natural Resources Issues in Africa - Program Brochure

Appendix 2: NAPFSC Member Schools and Colleges

Appendix 3: List of Forum Participants

Appendix 4: Draft Partnership for Africa Concept Paper

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