History of the RMFN-Asia

Origins of the Model Forest concept

The Model Forest approach was first developed and implemented by the Government of Canada in the early 1990s in 10 sites across the country. It was a response to a period of intense conflict in Canada’s forest sector at a time when environmentalists, governments, indigenous peoples, communities and forest workers were struggling over forest resources and how to manage them sustainably. The idea behind the Model Forest concept was to move away from valuing forests for timber alone towards a vision where social, environmental, economic and cultural benefits and trade-offs would be considered equally.

From the beginning, Model Forests promoted the idea of forming partnerships under a neutral forum where a range of values and interests could be represented, and where partners could experiment with new ideas under a common goal of sustainable development. Each site was intended to be a dynamic “model” from which others could learn, and, together, advance their sustainability goals in forests and the larger landscapes that surround them.

The approach showed immediate promise as people came together to find common solutions to the issues they faced, such as logging practices, biodiversity conservation and economic stability.

Bolstered by the success, the Government of Canada announced the development of an International Model Forest Network (IMFN) at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, with a goal to scale up the lessons learned from Model Forests in Canada and provide a platform to share its experiences with international partners.

The IMFN Secretariat was officially established in 1995, and today continues to be hosted by the Government of Canada at Natural Resources Canada – Canadian Forest Service in Ottawa, Canada.

First Model Forests in Asia

The promotion of Model Forests in Asia began in 1997 when China initiated development of the Lin’an Model Forest, which was formally established in 1999. Also in 1999, the government of Japan provided a grant to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in support of Model Forest development in China, Thailand, the Philippines and Myanmar. This two-and-a-half-year project had its roots in a series of international workshops initiated by the Forestry Agency of Japan, held between March 1998 and October 2000, entitled the “Model Forest Approach for Field-Level Application of Sustainable Forest Management.”

With the establishment of Model Forests in these countries, an informal regional network emerged. As well, a regional secretariat based at the FAO during the project carried on and continues to be an active partner in development of the regional network and Model Forests.

Over the first several years, the main focus of regional activities was on capacity building within the Model Forests. At regional workshops, Model Forest representatives met to discuss ways to strengthen capabilities in a range of areas, such as resource mobilization, criteria and indicators (C&I) for sustainable forest management, forest policy and related legislation, and project monitoring and evaluation. Strategic planning workshops were also held. Subsequent development at the site level focused strongly on the continued exploration and use of the Model Forest governance approach. During this period there was also an emphasis on economic development projects using sustainably managed forest resources.

A regional network emerges

Strong growth in the Network globally led to discussion on how members could more effectively participate in terms of governance, funding, program planning and strengthening of Network activities. The creation of regional networks was seen as the best way to achieve this goal.

In March 2010, an RMFN–Asia secretariat office officially opened in Beijing. Its main purpose is to define, articulate and manage a regional program of work related to the sustainable management of forest-based landscapes that reflects the priorities, strengths and opportunities that are unique to the region. It also facilitates regional communications and knowledge exchange, capacity building and funding opportunities for existing Model Forests, as well as those expected to join the Network.

After several years at the Chinese Academy of Forestry, the RFMN-Asia office is now hosted by the Royal Forest Department in Thailand and works closely with the IMFN Secretariat based in Ottawa, Canada.

Milestones

• 1998 Forest Agency of Japan sponsors international workshop series on “The Model Forest Approach for Field-Level Application of Sustainable Forest Management”
• 1999 Lin’an Model Forest established in China; Government of Japan sponsors regional Model Forest project through the FAO’s Asia–Pacific office in Bangkok, Thailand
• 2000 Ngao Model Forest established in Thailand; Ulot Watershed Model Forest established in the Philippines; Paukkhaung Model Forest established in Burma (Myanmar)
• 2002 Berau Model Forest established in Indonesia
• 2004 Margowitan Model Forest established in Indonesia; National-level launch of Model Forests in Indonesia
• 2005 Kodagu Model Forest becomes member of the IMFN
• 2006 Paukkhaung Model Forest closes
• 2009 China elected as the first Chair of the Regional Model Forest Network – Asia; Berau Model Forest in Indonesia closes
• 2010 Carood Watershed Model Forest established in the Philippines
• 2011 Kyoto Model Forest in Japan becomes member of the IMFN; First CUSO International and VSO volunteers
• 2015 Thailand takes over as Chair of the Regional network from China
• 2018 Balkhila Model Forest established in India; Vietnam actively begins to explore Model Forest development in Dong Nai province
• 2019 Cambodia actively begins to explore Model Forest development in Siem Reap province