From Forest Policy Education NetworkBuilding Momentum
2005 is a historical year for the forests and the education agenda of the United Nations. The UNESCO as lead agency launches the “United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development 2005-2014” and the International Agreement on Forests (IAF) will decide at the fifth session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) on its future framework and structure.
The focal points of the Youth/Children Major Group at UNFF could successfully stress the role of education for the implementation of sustainable forest management in the last negotiations of UNFF and want to build momentum on the role of education for the implementation of sustainable forest management (SFM) for the future global arrangements on forests and emerging partnerships.
To demonstrate the potential of primary education on forest issues in the implementation of SFM and to show methods of how to use and increase this potential.
To highlight the potential of higher education on SFM and international forest policy and to show methods of how to use and to increase this potential.
To start a discussion of the need and opportunities for a stronger integration of education in international forest policy frameworks.
Opportunities
We are confident that with this side event we are able to show the capacity of education as an important tool to:
guarantee long term success of international forest policies
foster the implementation of SFM trough increased ownership and knowledge
improve transparency about international processes relevant to forests
rise awareness about international forest policies and SFM in civil society and among the future implementers of SFM
highlight the cross-sectoral link between forests, education of young people and the Millennium Development Goals to (7) ensure environmental sustainability, (2) achieve universal primary education and to (1) eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.
Organizers
The side events is organised by youth organisations (IFSA and 4H) in cooperation with UNESCO.
The primary goal of the International Forestry Students’ Association (IFSA) is to enrich forestry students´ formal education, especially in terms of a wider, more global perspective through extracurricular activities and the exchange of information and experience. Since IFSA became focal point of the major group Youth/Children (Agenda21) at the UNFF in Summer 2003 and is representing youth at the Convention on Biological Biodiversity (CBD) and the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), IFSA offers a direct link to the international processes that are about to determinate the future management of our forests. Further the youth delegates of IFSA could significantly influence the UNFF process by lobbying for the inclusion of “education” as an important element of the strategy to implement sustainable forest management.
The 4H youth movement is an international organisation with over 80 4H youth educational organisations throughout the world. Each country has its own way of working with ideals, which are based on the principle of “learning by doing”. The Finnish 4H Federation is a counselling organisation teaching practical skills to young people. 4H has strong close-to-nature approach in hobbies and activities.
Due to the global problem of the emigration of young people to the cities a significant loss of interest on forests and nature in general is evident. It is important to raise the awareness on nature and forests relations to society in the early ages. Multiple-valued understanding of forests must be provided for the youth. This means that ecological, economical and social aspects will be considered equally.
The Finnish 4H Federation is responsible for the co-ordinating a “forest model project” in Finland which aims to enhance partnership between educational bodies and enterprises/organizations that are working with forests. This model could be easily implemented in other countries, because of its universal idea of co-working for benefit of the next generation.