Support to the sustainable management of the forest resources

This support is the logical follow-up to the actions of the 2nd Indicative Cooperation Programme in the management of natural resources, particularly forestry. With the contribution to the Forest sector support programme (FSSP), the Ministry of Environment, Green Economy and Climate Change (MEGECC) has primarily developed tools for planning, steering and monitoring its activities and now has its sectoral policy document, a three-year action plan and a programme budget structured by objectives.

Building on the achievements of the FSSP and the second forest inventory, this support enables better knowledge, preservation and sustainable management of timber and non-timber forest resources by and for the benefit of local populations. It complements the MEGECC's efforts to implement its sectoral policy, in particular its budget programmes 1 “sustainable management of forest and wildlife resources”, 3 “local governance and sustainable development”, 4 “green economy and climate change”, as well as its “steering and support” programme.

The programme, implemented under national execution, relies in particular on the strong production capacities that MEGECC has been able to develop under the FSSP. In addition, some of MEGECC's regional directorates receive more substantial support to extend and improve the management of forest development projects that supply the major urban centres with wood energy. The programme also supports the transfer of competencies to local authorities and enables them to safeguard and manage their conservation areas. Actions to protect and sustainably manage the resource are complemented by reforestation activities. Finally, support is also provided to the non-timber forest products sector and, in particular, to the many associations that derive significant income from it.

In addition to these field actions, the programme supports the strengthening of MEGECC's capacities in terms of coordination, steering and implementation of its policy. Building on continued support for the forest information system and the use of the second forest inventory, the programme also provides specific support for the functioning of MEGECC’s monitoring and evaluation system.