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About the Project Update Case Studies Regional Consultation 1995 ADB Forest Policy Working Paper on Forest Policy Contact Us

Regional Study on Forest Policy and Institutional Reforms

Recognizing the developmental importance of the forest sector, ADB has provided significant support to the sector over the years.

ADB's 1995 Forestry Policy recognized the link between forestry, environmental conservation and poverty reduction. However, the sector's potential role for improved and enhanced livelihood opportunities; and poverty reduction has not been sufficiently harnessed.

ADB undertook a Regional Study on Forest Policy and Institutional Reforms (RETA 5900) to review and assess the 1995 ADB Forestry Policy. RETA 5900, completed in December 2005, aimed at enhancing the poverty reduction impact of ADB’s forestry operations. Expected outputs of the TA included: (i) ADB forest sector portfolio assessment; (ii) Bangladesh, Pakistan, Philippines, and Sri Lanka country case study reports that describe forest policy and institutional trends and issues in the region; (iii) a draft revised ADB forest sector policy; and (iv) enhanced awareness and recognition of poverty reduction potential of forestry among ADB staff, DMC forestry departments, development partners and stakeholders.

After the TA was completed, ADB evaluated the TA outputs and achievement of outcome. The Technical Assistance Completion Report (TCR) was published with the assessment, rating and lessons learned of the TA project. In addition to the project documents and TCR, the responsible ADB staff also undertook to prepare a synthesis report in order to further document the key findings and strengthen the institutional memory of the TA 5900.

Following internal and external consultations, a draft working paper (W-paper) was prepared and discussed during the second half of 2003. A revised draft of the paper was expected to be posted here for public comment. However, recent internal discussions have raised fundamental issues related to ADB's support to the forest sector. Further progress on the draft policy will depend on the results of these discussions, which are ongoing.

In 2006 and 2007 ADB undertook preparation of an entirely new Long-Term Strategic Framework for the Bank covering the period 2008–2020. One of the most significant results has been the elevation of the environment from a cross-cutting issue to one of the three main elements of the Bank's strategic agenda (environmentally sustainable growth) and becoming one of the five core areas of ADB's core operations (Environment). This strategic elevation of environmental issues in ADB's corporate-wide strategic framework requires ADB to examine several of its sector/thematic policies, including forest policy among others, and to redefine the scope, content, and implementation arrangements of the sector policy to strengthen its contribution to environmentally sustainable growth and to ensure that the environment is indeed a core area of Bank investment going forward. This will require an examination of how the Bank can support the forest sector within a broader framework of climate change including a particular focus on arresting deforestation. This work is ongoing.

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