The people of Botswana have always depended on the forest resource base from time immemorial and they continue to depend on it for various goods and services, chief of which continues to be fuelwood. It is said that 83% of the population in Botswana still depends on fuelwood for their energy needs. However, this valuable resource base is under threat from the rapidly expanding human population and its related sectoral agricultural and infrastructural developments, persistent annual veld fires, frequently recurring drought and the subsistence utilization of the forests.

This month, we will be marking the annual World Water Day celebration on 22 March. This years theme is Water for the cities: Responding to urban challenges. In this issue, we look at some of the challenges posed to water resources by rapid migration and we consider one possible solution for improving the use of these resources. In this issue, we are pleased to welcome a new Executive Secretary to the Commission for Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and we spoke with her about the role of the Commission and its main priorities over the next months.

This paper is written in fulfilment of the requirement of the Associate Regional Advisers (ARA) Programme which is run under the auspices of the Forest Industries Advisory Group (FIAG) for Africa. The objective of the Forest Industries Advisory Group is to assist African countries in promoting the growth of forest industries and their optimum contribution to economic and social development.

This report reviews the outlook for the supply and demand of roundwood and forest products, and the balance between the two until 2020, while taking into account recycling, energy and trade issues. It covers the forest and forest products sector, including the forest itself, as well as production, trade and consumption of forest products and wood for energy

As part of phase one activities undertaken under the Sepik River Fish Stock Enhancement Project an analysis of trout stocking practices in PNG was made. Work undertaken by the project with regard to trout has been restricted for reasons outlined below. This report is, therefore, preliminary in nature and may be modified as more field data become available. Trout is an exotic species in PNG and has been, and still is, stocked by various PNG authorities. Experiences relating to trout are, therefore, highly relevant to the Sepik River Fish Stock Enhancement Project.

This case study demonstrates strengths and weaknesses of the Bioenergy Environmental Impact Analysis framework (BIAS) in its draft form of 2009. The evaluation was conducted on the 21 000 ha bioethanol project of SEKAB near Bagamoyo, Tanzania. The study shows that the BIAS framework is a useful tool in guiding the analysis of biofuel projects. It also underlines evidence that substantial site-specific data are required to sufficiently evaluate impact on all environmental areas: biodiversity, water, soil and greenhouse gases (GHG), especially soil carbon.

An introduction to the status of forest resources and forestry industries in Thailand. Forest policies are outlined in the context of the prevailing social and economic environment.

Forest resources could play a huge role in the development of the country. There is a range of NWFP used every day by the people in order to satisfy their basic needs, such as for food, medicine purposes, and other uses. The use of these products is recognized, but it is still very difficult to know how much they are used. There is very little available data concerning NWFP and no effort is made to acquire information to assist the sector in planning and ensuring its sustainable administration, management and use for the future generations as well.

Esta nota tiene como propsito el informar a la Comisin acerca de las actividades de la FAO relacionadas con el sector forestal que son de inters para la regin, financiadas con el presupuesto del Programa Ordinario y los proyectos ejecutados por la FAO financiados por el PNUD y los fondos fiduciarios donantes en el periodo 1998-99. La parte C proporciona referencias respecto a las recomendaciones y solicitudes especficas de la vigsima reunin de la Comisin.

Policy makers as well as scientists have started to acquire an honest appreciation of the possibilities of reducing the wastage of materials which could be profitably utilized for improving or maintaining soil productivity. In addition, the great opportunities offered by making more efficient use of the potentials of biological nitrogen fixation in farming systems are now fully recognized. A number of recommendations and suggested guidelines were made by the various Working Groups during the two-week Workshop.

Партнерство между Казахстаном и ФАО неуклонно развивается с момента вступления страны в Организацию в 1997 году, а в последнее время Казахстан стал уделять повышенное внимание инвестициям в сельское и лесное хозяйство и в развитие сельских районов.