The Third Joint Conference on Forestry in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Wood Processing and Forestry Cluster in BiH, with the support of the USAID Cluster Competitiveness Project (USAID CCA), and in cooperation with the BiH Foreign Trade Chamber of Commerce, The World Bank, and the RS and FBiH Ministries of Agriculture Forestry and Water Management, organized the Third Joint Conference on Forestry in BiH, held over November 8-9 2007 in Sarajevo. Approximately 80 leaders from the wood processing and forestry sector attended
The conference provided presentations and discussion on the following topics:
• Progress vis-à-vis the two entities’ official Action Plans against illegal forestry
• Forest certification and Chain of Custody (CoC) certification
• Development of the forestry best practices (the Benchmarking Project)
• Timber sale methods
• The BiH State Forest Inventory – pilot project results and plans for phase 2
• The World Bank-financed Forest Development and Conservation Project.
On its second day, the Conference featured a workshop led by representatives of the United States Forest Service. They presented contemporary methods of forest management in the USA, highlighting methods and practices for timber contracting, training and certification of sales personnel, chain of custody management, and implementation and enforcement of forestry-related laws and regulations. Participants indicated interest in future cooperation with USFS for exchange of experiences and training for employees.
The Conference, traditionally held in autumn every year, provides an opportunity to monitor progress across the range of advances in BiH forestry policy and practice, and to encourage continued implementation and expansion of reforms.
The primary interest in forestry reform is to accomplish sustainable and responsible forest management, to create the most advantageous effects for both social and economic development. A basic need, voiced repeatedly at the conference, is the development comprehensive and harmonized forestry strategy. A secure and sustainable supply of high-quality raw material is essential for the continued strong growth of the BiH wood processing sector – the primary interest of USAID CCA.
All presentations are available on www.usaidcca.ba
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