SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT INTEGRATES SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUES

Jayapura, Nov 17 (ANTARA) - A Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) is an attempt to manage forest products, which integrates social, environmental and economic values for perpetual use by current and future generations, Deputy Director of Papua New Guinea's Forest Research Institute, Dr.Martin Golman, said here Tuesday.

Golman made the remark in relation to the conservation and management of forest products, especially those in the third countries which are rich in tropical forests.

As the third country tropical forests become deforestation targets for development reasons, the implementation of the SFM is important, he said.

Forest management, he continued, should be in line with its conservation effors and disregarding community land ownership.

Hence, the management of forest products will bring a positive impact on local communities and a contribution to increase their income, he said.

The forest management which pays attention to the existence of the community, their welfare and biodiversity conservation will make development programs sustainable.

He said that SFM implementation would depend on the government's commitment by determining the right regulations and supervision.

Besides, research is needed to get accurate data for making strategic plans required to implement SFM in accordance with local conditions.

The SFM concept constitutes the initiatives from several international meetings including the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992 and the United Nations Forum on Forests (2001 - present).