The protection of forests was one of the most disputed points at the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992. But the results weren't that convincing compared to the intensity of the discussions: they only include a declaration without obligation to protect forests and the Chapter 11 of Agenda 21. Since the foundation of the German NGO Forum on Environment and development during the UNCED Conference, the Working Group Forests has urged implementations of effective international agreements to protect forests, for their sustainable use and to assure the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities. The Working Group also follows and monitors the results between the states within the bounds of the Intergovernmental Panel/Forum on Forests (IPF/IFF) and other international initiatives for the protection of forests.

The Working Group Forests has demonstrated that the concept of sustainability must not be restricted to aspects of quantity or areas. An additional and extensive evaluation of social and ecological sustainability in all forms of use is necessary. But the process of political decision-making is quite slow. Especially because political decisions rarely take care of underlying causes of deforestation or the fact that local communities and indigenous peoples are permanently robbed of their rights to take part in decisions concerning the use of the forests in future. 

On the other hand, the debate on voluntary certification of wood products is in progress for the reason that trade and industry want to document the sustainable use of the origin forests. Despite a big controversy concerning the criteria for certification giving with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the FSC is an important instrument to end forest destruction.

In 1995 and 1997, the Working Group Forests took part in the preparatory meeting and in the conference of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD). The group has also regularly taken part in negotiations in the frame of IPF and IFF. It has published several position papers concerning the sustainable use of forests in Germany and organized work-shops with the main focus on forest referring subjects.

Tasks and aims:

The Working Group Forests:

• follows permanently the process of different initiatives for certification
• indicates in the political level the connection between forests and the protection of biological diversity (because forests are the most important biotopes for plants and animals
• will continue to monitor the process of the IFF in future.