Projects

	Table of Contents
p. 8 of 16 BACK | NEXT Home About the Project Update Project Milestones Issues for Discussion Case Studies Regional Consultation 1995 ADB Forest Policy Working Paper on Forest Policy Contact Us

Project Milestones

1. The Draft Inception Report was discussed in the inception meeting on 3 July 2000. Four main issues emerged:
• clarity of RETA objectives
• implementation process and methodological issues
• country and thematic coverage
• sector policy vision and content
2. Assessment of ADB's Forestry Sector Policy and Portfolio based on its 33 projects implemented from 1980 to 1999. The key lessons learned are as follows:

   • The 1995 forestry policy
   • focused on forest protection and management
   • reviewed the major issues impinging on the forestry sector, (with focus on symptoms rather than its underlying causes)
   • encouraged wider stakeholder participation of multiple institutions in implementing projects
   • addressed gender issues
   • provided limited guidance in prioritizing interventions
   • Project Portfolio
   • projects using sector based approach seem to be experiencing difficulties
   • loans given to countries were in big amounts which cannot be managed within the seven year project duration
   • an investment of about USD 20 million seems to be within the developing member countries (DMCs) capacity to effectively implement in a seven year project cycle

3. Analysis of the forestry sector in the region revealed the following challenges for Asia and the Pacific Region's forestry sector:

• Poverty reduction as well as economic and gender equality - forestry can provide off-farm employment to both men and women; supplying affordable energy in rural areas that will benefit women and in mitigating the negative impacts of flooding and erosion.
• Effective, efficient and responsive government - improving forestry governance will benefit the poor since majority of forestry activities are in the rural areas where they live.
• Preservation and protection of the environment - the challenge posed to the forestry sector is how to minimize the effects of increasing environmental degradation brought about by increasing population and rising per capita income of about 4-6 percent per annum to achieve poverty reduction targets by 2015.

4. The Philippines Country Case Study Inception Workshop was conducted on 23 March 2001.

5. The Bangladesh Country Case Study Inception Workshop was conducted on 22 July 2001 .

6. The Sri Lanka Country Case Study Inception Workshop was conducted on 26 July 2001.

7. The Pakistan Country Case Study Inception Workshop was conducted on 31 July 2001.

8. The Planning Workshop held on 7 June 2001 discussed the country case study methodology for Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The participants agreed on the following implementation schedule.

9. The Philippines Country Case Study Final Workshop was conducted on 15-16 October 2001.

10. The Bangladesh Country Case Study Final Workshop was conducted on 24 October 2001.

11. The Sri Lanka Country Case Study Final Workshop was conducted on 26-27 October 2001.

12. The Regional Workshop on Review of ADB Forest Policy was conducted on 14-15 February 2002.

13. The The Pakistan Country Case Study Final Workshop was conducted on 26 March 2002

14. The Management Review Meeting (MRM) on the draft Policy Working Paper was conducted on 3 December 2002.

15. The second MRM on the revised draft Forest Policy Working Paper was conducted on 15 May 2003.

16. The draft Forest Policy Working Paper was discussed by the Board on 22 July 2003.

Back Update	Next Issues for Discussion