‘PUBLIC PARTICIPATION’

1. FAO/ECE/ILO Team of Specialists ‘PUBLICPARTICIPATION’

2. Team 23 members • 15 Countries - N, W, E, S Europe, USA • 8 non Forest Government organisations: Private Sector, workers, NGOs, others • 8 State Forest Services, 4 Research Inst.

3. Mandate Clarify concept of ‘participation’ and develop framework for participatory forest management (involvement by the public), awareness of the forest, and use of forest products & services by the public.” Origin Multiple Use, Socio-Economic TOS Reports, L1

4. PP Definition • A direct public involvement process • Inclusive with respect to interests • Voluntary on participation • May complement the law • Fair and transparent to participants • Those involved act in good faith • No guarantee or predetermined outcome

5. Principles Directpublic involvement: • Includesall interests • Voluntary, fair, transparent • Basic rules agreed • Open outcome

6. Aim 'Constructive co-operation and widely accepted outcomes' which should: • Increase public and forestry awareness • Mutually improve products and services • Enhance SFM by better accepted FM

7. Levels / Stakeholders ‘No ideal or restricted level for PP, ref national, regional, or Forest Management unit levels’. • Depends on ‘issues’ being addressed • ‘Objectives’ of the process • ‘Context’ in which conducted

8. How to organise (stages) • Identify subject and possible interests • Define objectives, needs, budget • Decide on PP, or alternative approach • Open subject to all interests • Develop a joint PP plan • Implement and monitor plan progress • Evaluate progress and outcome • Communicate results, inc to wider interests • Implement and feedback implementation progress

9. Country PP experience Main areas: • Policies, plans, programmes • Advisory boards, councils • Specific projects • Public audit • (Market driven eg Forest Certification)

10. Specific Contexts • Public Forest > integrate public interest • Private Owners > multiple use • Forestry Workers >part of outreach • Community based For Man > rural dev • Countries in Transition > understanding • Increasingly urbanised society > SFM

11. 'Fire watchers in Portugal' – Fair sharing of costs between public and private sector, stakeholders involved in decision making, and resources pooled. 'Finnish FPS Strategic Forest and Land Use Planning' – Representatives from communities and cities, forest user groups, environmental orgs, on a wide, inclusive basis. Mostly local comment. 'Creation of New Urban Forests in Flanders' – A large array of local interest groups participated in the design, planning and realization of plantations PP case study examples

12. Evaluation‘measurables’ Monitoring based on: • Who involved in the process • How process parameters worked • What objectives fulfilled Quantitative eg number of interests, or Qualitative eg ‘end feel factor’

13. Public Participation Conclusions • Interacting with the public - ‘holistic, inter-sectoral, long-term, capacity’ • Emphasis is on PROCESS, a way of acting. • Purpose is to provide a basis for exchange, co-operation, and mutual support /benefit. • Levels depend on issues, objectives, context • Commitment to the process, skills, and time

14. Based on 'self' interest - “an interaction process which empowers people” PR – creating confidence and acceptance, building partnerships and alliances Learning – Most effective based on direct personal experience and interest Public Participation - An empowering process Raising Awareness report

15. Raising Awareness • Best way of connecting people to forest is to give them a personal experience of it relative to their interests/values - 'Opening a gateway' • 'Building bridges' Once a connection has been established, it is possible to create a relation – a partnership, to develop that interest, and SFM support • In a changing world relationships are dynamic and require regular adaptation /'strengthening'

17. Interest groups need to be identified, relative to forest context. In general following appeared to merit special attention: -Children - Decision makers and Opinion formers - Urban population -Media RA – Identify target groups

22. Funding for peri-urban recreation development - a wake up call for local forest managers External Agencies

23. HillDestinationsandRoutes

24. HeritageInterest

25. VisitorDestinations

26. SpecialistRecActivities

27. PublicTransportand Places to Stay

28. What public interest? • Lottery - c£120M pa • European - c£250M pa • Scottish Enterprise - c£454M pa • New Deal - c£120M pa • Corporate - c£300M pa • Landfill UK - c£90M pa • Trusts - est £30M pa • SNH - £7M pa • S Exe Rural Challenge £5.25M pa SCOTLAND c£1375M pa

29. What is needed? • Strategic Framework : Internal staff, external public /users • Corporate Planning : Where you want to be in 3 years time, be clear on structural obstacles, success factors, on an inclusive and joined up basis • Public Interest Agenda : ‘Means to an end, not end in itself for SFM’, maximise leverage, best partner delivery options, revenue consequences, risks, management

30. ‘How to proceed’ • Think longterm • Build relationships • A Strategic approach • Right mix of system • Right resources • Dedicated, resourced effort

31. A success story with spin offs

33. Multiple use sustainable forestry that maximises public participation – interest in and use of forest, appears to meet the 4 EU Forest Action Plan objectives; i) Fosters co-ordination and communication ii) Contributes to quality of life iii) Protects and improves environment iv) Improves forestry's competitiveness Conclusion