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The Montréal Process
December 1999
Second Edition
CONTENTS
PREFACE
The
Working Group on Criteria and Indicators for the Conservation
and Sustainable Management of Temperate and Boreal
Forests ('Montréal Process') was formed in
June 1994 to advance the development of internationally
agreed criteria and indicators for the conservation
and sustainable management of temperate and boreal
forests at the national level. Original members of
the Working Group included 10 countries - Australia,
Canada, Chile, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea,
Mexico, New Zealand, the Russian Federation and the
United States of America - which together represent
90 percent of the world's temperate and boreal forests.
Several international organizations, non-governmental
organizations and other countries also participated
in meetings of the Working Group.
In
February 1995 in Santiago, Chile, the original 10
Montréal Process member countries issued the
Santiago Declaration containing a comprehensive set
of criteria and indicators for use by policy-makers,
forest managers, and the general public.
The
Governments of Uruguay and Argentina endorsed the
Santiago Declaration in July and October 1995 respectively,
bringing membership in the Montréal Process
to 12 countries.
Further
information about the Montréal Process can
be found at the Montréal Process Web Site at
http://www.mpci.org
and in the following documents, available from the
Montréal Process Liaison Office, Canadian Forest
Service, Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa, Canada:
NOTE:
In this edition of the Santiago Declaration, the numbering
system used for the 67 indicators has been modified
for clarity and ease of reference.
Although
the state of data collection techniques in relation
to the Montréal Process criteria and indicators
may have advanced, footnote 1 on page 5 is retained
in this revised version of the Santiago Declaration,
in the interests of retaining the original intent
of the document.
Charleston,
SC, USA
December 1, 1999
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Also
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"SANTIAGO
DECLARATION" STATEMENT ON CRITERIA AND INDICATORS
FOR THE CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF TEMPERATE
AND BOREAL FORESTS
The
Governments of Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Japan,
Mexico, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, the Russian
Federation and the United States of America, which
are participating in the Working Group on Criteria
and Indicators for the Conservation and Sustainable
Management of Temperate and Boreal Forests ("Montréal
Process") and whose countries contain a significant
portion of the world's temperate and boreal forests:
-
Recognizing
that the sustainable management of all types of
forests, including temperate and boreal forests,
is an important step to implementing the Statement
of Forest Principles and Agenda 21, adopted by
the United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development (UNCED), held in Rio de Janeiro in
June 1992, and is relevant to the United Nations
conventions on biological diversity, climate change
and desertification,
-
Also
recognizing the value of having an internationally
accepted understanding of what constitutes sustainable
management of temperate and boreal forests, and
the value of agreed criteria and indicators for
sustainable forest management in advancing such
an understanding,
-
Mindful
that the application of agreed criteria and indicators
will need to take account of the wide differences
among States regarding the characteristics of
their forests, including planted and other forests,
land ownership, population, economic development,
scientific and technological capacity, and social
and political structure,
-
Taking
note of other international initiatives regarding
the development of criteria and indicators for
sustainable forest management,
-
Affirming
their commitment to the conservation and sustainable
management of their respective forests, and
-
Having
undertaken substantive discussions to develop
agreed criteria and indicators for the conservation
and sustainable management of temperate and boreal
forests,
-
Endorse
the non-legally binding Criteria and Indicators
for the Conservation and Sustainable Management
of Temperate and Boreal Forests annexed to this
Statement as guidelines for use by their respective
policy-makers;
-
Encourage
other States which have temperate and boreal forests
to consider the endorsement and use of these criteria
and indicators;
-
Note
the ongoing nature of the discussion on these
criteria and indicators and the need to update
the annex as new technical and scientific information
and data become available and assessment capability
increases; and
-
Request
the Government of Chile, on behalf of the above
States, to present this Statement, together with
its annex, to the FAO Meeting of Ministers Responsible
for Forestry, to be held in Rome, March 16-17,
1995, and the third session of the United Nations
Commission on Sustainable Development, to be held
in New York, April 11-28, 1995.
Santiago,
Chile
February 3, 1995
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SECTION
1 - INTRODUCTION
1.0
Forests are essential to the long-term well being
of local populations, national economies, and the
earth's biosphere as a whole. In adopting the statement
of Forest Principles and Chapter 11 of Agenda 21,
the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development
(UNCED) recognized the importance of sustainably managing
all types of forests in order to meet the needs of
present and future generations.
1.1
The development of criteria and indicators for the
conservation and sustainable management of temperate
and boreal forests is an important step in implementing
the UNCED Forest Principles and Agenda 21, and is
relevant to the UN conventions on biodiversity, climate
change and desertification. It is also an important
step to furthering the joint commitment made by tropical
timber consumer countries in January 1994 to maintain,
or achieve by the year 2000, the sustainable management
of their respective forests.
1.2
The criteria and indicators listed under Sections
3 and 4 apply broadly to temperate and boreal forests.
They are intended to provide a common understanding
of what is meant by sustainable forest management.
They also provide a common framework for describing,
assessing and evaluating a country's progress toward
sustainability at the national level. They are not
intended to assess directly sustainability at the
forest management unit level. As such, the criteria
and indicators should help provide an international
reference for policy-makers in the formulation of
national policies and a basis for international cooperation
aimed at supporting sustainable forest management.
Internationally agreed criteria and indicators could
also help clarify ongoing dialogues related to international
trade in products from sustainably managed forests.
1.3
The approach to forest management reflected in the
criteria and indicators is the management of forests
as ecosystems. Taken together, the set of criteria
and indicators suggests an implicit definition of
the conservation and sustainable management of forest
ecosystems at the country level. It is recognized
that no single criterion or indicator is alone an
indication of sustainability. Rather, individual criteria
and indicators should be considered in the context
of other criteria and indicators.
1.4
It should be emphasized that an informed, aware and
participatory public is indispensable to promoting
the sustainable management of forests. In addition
to providing a common understanding of what is meant
by sustainable forest management in the temperate
and boreal region, the criteria and indicators should
be useful in improving the quality of information
available not only to decision-makers but also to
the general public. This in turn should better inform
the policy debate at national and international levels.
1.5
Each country is unique in terms of the quantity, quality,
characteristics and descriptions of its forests. Countries
also differ in terms of forest conditions relative
to national population, such as the amount of forest
per capita, the amount reforested annually per capita
or the annual forest growth per capita. National circumstances
further differ with respect to stages of economic
development, land ownership patterns, population patterns,
forms of social and political organization, and expectations
of how forests should contribute or relate to society.
1.6
Given the wide differences in natural and social conditions
among countries, the specific application and monitoring
of the criteria and indicators, as well as the capacity
to apply them, will vary from country to country based
on national circumstances. It is anticipated that
individual countries would develop specific measurement
schemes appropriate to national conditions to address
how data would be gathered. Qualitative terms such
as "significant" or "low", which
are used as indicator descriptors in some cases, would
also be defined based on national conditions. Despite
these differences, efforts should be made to harmonize
the approaches of countries to measuring and reporting
on indicators.
1.7
Changes in the status of forests and related conditions
over time, and the direction of the change, are relevant
to assessing sustainability. Therefore, indicators
should be understood to have a temporal dimension.
This means they will need to be assessed as trends
(e.g., at points in time) or with an historical perspective
to establish trends. The monitoring of changes in
indicators will be essential to evaluating whether
and how progress is being made toward the sustainability
of forest management at the national level.
1.8
While it may be desirable to have quantitative indicators
that are readily measured or for which measurements
already exist, such indicators alone will not be sufficient
to indicate the sustainability of forest management.
Some important indicators may involve the gathering
of new or additional data, a new program of systematic
sampling or even basic research. Furthermore, some
indicators of a given criterion may not be quantifiable.
In cases where there are no reasonable quantitative
measures for indicators, qualitative or descriptive
indicators are important. These may require subjective
judgments as to what constitutes effective, adequate
or appropriate national conditions, or trends in conditions,
with respect to the indicator.
1.9
Concepts of forest management evolve over time based
on scientific knowledge of how forest ecosystems function
and respond to human interventions, as well as in
response to changing public demands for forest products
and services. The criteria and indicators will need
to be reviewed and refined on an on-going basis to
reflect new research, advances in technology, increased
capability to measure indicators, and an improved
understanding of what constitutes appropriate indicators
of sustainable forest management.
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SECTION
2 - DEFINITIONS
2.0
Criterion: A category of conditions or processes
by which sustainable forest management may be assessed.A
criterion is characterized by a set of related indicators
that are monitored periodically to assess change.
2.1 Indicator:
A measure (measurement) of an aspect of the criterion.
A quantitative or qualitative variable that can be
measured or described and that when observed periodically
demonstrates trends.
2.2 Monitoring:
The periodic and systematic measurement and assessment
of change of an indicator.
2.3
Forest type: A category of forest defined
by its vegetation, particularly composition, and/or
locality factors, as categorized by each country in
a system suitable to its situation.
2.4
Ecosystem: A dynamic complex of plant,
animal, fungal and microorganism communities and the
associated non-living environment with which they
interact.
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SECTION
3 - CRITERIA AND INDICATORS FOR THE CONSERVATION AND
SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF TEMPERATE AND BOREAL FORESTS
- CRITERIA 1 - 6
3.0
The following six criteria and associated indicators
characterize the conservation and sustainable management
of temperate and boreal forests. They relate specifically
to forest conditions, attributes or functions, and to
the values or benefits associated with the environmental
and socio-economic goods and services that forests provide.
The intent or meaning of each criterion is made clear
by its respective indicators. No priority or order is
implied in the alphanumeric listing of the criteria
and indicators.
CRITERION
1 - CONSERVATION OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
Biological
diversity includes the elements of the diversity of
ecosystems, the diversity between species, and genetic
diversity in species.
Indicators:
1.1
Ecosystem diversity
- 1.1.a Extent
of area by forest type relative to total forest
area-(a) ;
- 1.1.b Extent
of area by forest type and by age class or successional
stage-(b);
- 1.1.c Extent
of area by forest type in protected area categories
as defined by IUCN or other classification systems-(a);
- 1.1.d Extent
of areas by forest type in protected areas defined
by age class or successional stage-(b);
- 1.1.e Fragmentation
of forest types-(b).
1.2
Species diversity
- 1.2.a The
number of forest dependent species-(b);
- 1.2.b The
status (threatened, rare, vulnerable, endangered,
or extinct) of forest dependent species at risk
of not maintaining viable breeding populations,
as determined by legislation or scientific assessment-(a).
1.3
Genetic diversity
- 1.3.a Number
of forest dependent species that occupy a small
portion of their former range-(b);
- 1.3.b Population
levels of representative species from diverse habitats
monitored across their range-(b).
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CRITERION
2 - MAINTENANCE OF PRODUCTIVE CAPACITY OF FOREST ECOSYSTEMS
Indicators:
- 2.a Area
of forest land and net area of forest land available
for timber production-(a);
- 2.b Total
growing stock of both merchantable and non-merchantable
tree species on forest land available for timber
production-(a);
- 2.c The area
and growing stock of plantations of native and exotic
species-(a);
- 2.d Annual
removal of wood products compared to the volume
determined to be sustainable-(a);
- 2.e Annual
removal of non-timber forest products (e.g., fur
bearers, berries, mushrooms, game), compared to
the level determined to be sustainable-(b).
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CRITERION
3 - MAINTENANCE OF FOREST ECOSYSTEM HEALTH AND VITALITY
Indicators:
- 3.a Area
and percent of forest affected by processes or agents
beyond the range of historic variation, e.g., by
insects, disease, competition from exotic species,
fire, storm, land clearance, permanent flooding,
salinisation, and domestic animals-(b);
- 3.b Area
and percent of forest land subjected to levels of
specific air pollutants (e.g., sulfates, nitrate,
ozone) or ultraviolet - that may cause negative
impacts on the forest ecosystem-(b);
- 3.c Area
and percent of forest land with diminished biological
components indicative of changes in fundamental
ecological processes (e.g., soil nutrient cycling,
seed dispersion, pollination) and/or ecological
continuity (monitoring of functionally important
species such as fungi, arboreal epiphytes, nematodes,
beetles, wasps, etc.)-(b).
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CRITERION
4 - CONSERVATION AND MAINTENANCE OF SOIL AND WATER RESOURCES
This
criterion encompasses the conservation of soil and
water resources and the protective and productive
functions of forests.
Indicators:
- 4.a Area
and percent of forest land with significant soil
erosion-(b);
- 4.b Area
and percent of forest land managed primarily for
protective functions, e.g., watersheds, flood protection,
avalanche protection, riparian zones-(a);
- 4.c Percent
of stream kilometres in forested catchments in which
stream flow and timing has significantly deviated
from the historic range of variation-(b);
- 4.d Area
and percent of forest land with significantly diminished
soil organic matter and/or changes in other soil
chemical properties-(b);
- 4.e Area
and percent of forest land with significant compaction
or change in soil physical properties resulting
from human activities-(b);
- 4.f Percent
of water bodies in forest areas (e.g., stream kilometres,
lake hectares) with significant variance of biological
diversity from the historic range of variability-(b);
 4.g
Percent of water bodies in forest areas (e.g., stream
kilometres, lake hectares) with significant variation
from the historic range of variability in pH, dissolved
oxygen, levels of chemicals (electrical conductivity),
sedimentation or temperature change-(b);- 4.h Area
and percent of forest land experiencing an accumulation
of persistent toxic substances-(b).
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CRITERION
5 - MAINTENANCE OF FOREST CONTRIBUTION TO GLOBAL CARBON
CYCLES
Indicators:
- 5.a Total
forest ecosystem biomass and carbon pool, and if
appropriate, by forest type, age class, and successional
stages-(b);
- 5.b Contribution
of forest ecosystems to the total global carbon
budget, including absorption and release of carbon
(standing biomass, coarse woody debris, peat and
soil carbon)-(a or b);
- 5.c Contribution
of forest products to the global carbon budget-(b).
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CRITERION 6 - MAINTENANCE
AND ENHANCEMENT OF LONG-TERM MULTIPLE SOCIO-ECONOMIC
BENEFITS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF SOCIETIES
Indicators:
6.1
Production and consumption
- 6.1.a Value
and volume of wood and wood products production,
including value added through downstream processing-(a);
- 6.1.b Value
and quantities of production of non-wood forest
products-(b);
- 6.1.c Supply
and consumption of wood and wood products, including
consumption per capita-(a);
- 6.1.d Value
of wood and non-wood products production as percentage
of GDP-(a or b);
- 6.1.e Degree
of recycling of forest products-(a or b);
- 6.1.f Supply
and consumption/use of non-wood products-(a or b).
6.2
Recreation and tourism
- 6.2.a Area
and percent of forest land managed for general recreation
and tourism, in relation to the total area of forest
land-(a or b);
- 6.2.b Number
and type of facilities available for general recreation
and tourism, in relation to population and forest
area-(a or b);
- 6.2.c Number
of visitor days attributed to recreation and tourism,
in relation to population and forest area-(b).
6.3
Investment in the forest sector
- 6.3.a Value
of investment, including investment in forest growing,
forest health and management, planted forests, wood
processing, recreation and tourism-(a);
- 6.3.b Level
of expenditure on research and development, and
education-(b);
- 6.3.c Extension
and use of new and improved technologies-(b);
- 6.3.d Rates
of return on investment-(b).
6.4
Cultural, social and spiritual needs and values
- 6.4.a Area
and percent of forest land managed in relation to
the total area of forest land to protect the range
of cultural, social and spiritual needs and values-(a
or b);
- 6.4.b Non-consumptive
use forest values-(b).
6.5
Employment and community needs
- 6.5.a Direct
and indirect employment in the forest sector and
forest sector employment as a proportion of total
employment-(a or b);
- 6.5.b Average
wage rates and injury rates in major employment
categories within the forest sector-(a);
- 6.5.c Viability
and adaptability to changing economic conditions,
of forest dependent communities, including indigenous
communities-(b);
- 6.5.d Area
and percent of forest land used for subsistence
purposes-(b).
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SECTION
4 - CRITERIA AND INDICATORS FOR THE CONSERVATION AND
SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF TEMPERATE AND BOREAL FORESTS
- CRITERION 7
4.0
Criterion 7 and associated indicators relate to the
overall policy framework of a country that can facilitate
the conservation and sustainable management of forests.
Included are the broader societal conditions and processes
often external to the forest itself but which may support
efforts to conserve, maintain or enhance one or more
of the conditions, attributes, functions and benefits
captured in criteria 1-6. No priority or order is implied
in the listing of the indicators.
CRITERION
7 - LEGAL, INSTITUTIONAL AND ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK FOR
FOREST CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT
Indicators:
7.1
Extent to which the legal framework (laws,
regulations, guidelines) supports the conservation
and sustainable management of forests, including the
extent to which it:
- 7.1.a Clarifies
property rights, provides for appropriate land tenure
arrangements, recognizes customary and traditional
rights of indigenous people, and provides means
of resolving property disputes by due process;
- 7.1.b Provides
for periodic forest-related planning, assessment,
and policy review that recognizes the range of forest
values, including coordination with relevant sectors;
- 7.1.c Provides
opportunities for public participation in public
policy and decision-making related to forests and
public access to information;
- 7.1.d Encourages
best practice codes for forest management;
- 7.1.e Provides
for the management of forests to conserve special
environmental, cultural, social and/or scientific
values.
7.2
Extent to which the institutional framework
supports the conservation and sustainable management
of forests, including the capacity to:
- 7.2.a Provide
for public involvement activities and public education,
awareness and extension programs, and make available
forest-related information;
- 7.2.b Undertake
and implement periodic forest-related planning,
assessment, and policy review including cross-sectoral
planning and coordination;
- 7.2.c Develop
and maintain human resource skills across relevant
disciplines;
- 7.2.d Develop
and maintain efficient physical infrastructure to
facilitate the supply of forest products and services
and support forest management;
- 7.2.e Enforce
laws, regulations and guidelines.
7.3
Extent to which the economic framework (economic
policies and measures) supports the conservation and
sustainable management of forests through:
- 7.3.a Investment
and taxation policies and a regulatory environment
which recognize the long-term nature of investments
and permit the flow of capital in and out of the
forest sector in response to market signals, non-market
economic valuations, and public policy decisions
in order to meet long-term demands for forest products
and services;
- 7.3.b Non-discriminatory
trade policies for forest products.
7.4
Capacity to measure and monitor changes in
the conservation and sustainable management of forests,
including:
- 7.4.a Availability
and extent of up-to-date data, statistics and other
information important to measuring or describing
indicators associated with criteria 1-7;
- 7.4.b Scope,
frequency and statistical reliability of forest
inventories, assessments, monitoring and other relevant
information;
- 7.4.c Compatibility
with other countries in measuring, monitoring and
reporting on indicators.
7.5
Capacity to conduct and apply research and development
aimed at improving forest management and delivery
of forest goods and services, including:
- 7.5.a Development
of scientific understanding of forest ecosystem
characteristics and functions;
- 7.5.b Development
of methodologies to measure and integrate environmental
and social costs and benefits into markets and public
policies, and to reflect forest-related resource
depletion or replenishment in national accounting
systems;
- 7.5.c New
technologies and the capacity to assess the socio-economic
consequences associated with the introduction of
new technologies;
- 7.5.d Enhancement
of ability to predict impacts of human intervention
on forests;
- 7.5.e Ability
to predict impacts on forests of possible climate
change.
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