GUIDELINES FOR APPLYING AND STRENGTHENING THE USE OF CRITERIA AND INDICATORS FOR SUSTAINABLE FOREST AND RANGELANDS MANAGEMENT IN THE NEAR EAST AND NORTH AFRICA REGION

The aim of the practical guidelines presented in this document is to support the adoption and usability of the criteria and indicators (C&I) for Sustainable Management of Forests and Rangelands (SFRM) adopted by the 22nd Session of the Near East Forestry and Range Commission (NEFRC). The guidelines are based on the review of existing literature and on consultations with national experts and relevant institutions in Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia regarding challenges identified in the use of the prop osed C&I for SFRM. It is clear from the consultations with national experts of the three countries that each of their forest and rangelands departments use sustainability indicators in their work on policy dialogue, advocacy and capacity building related to climate change and REDD+. This document details the seven criteria and 33 indicators which together make up the C&I for SFRM in the NENA region. Parts of this guide are based on the existing set of the C&I for SFRM and on other scientific pu blications of the Forestry Department of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Further discussion with resource agencies, forest and rangelands institutions, the environmental community, academia and other key stakeholders is needed to develop and refine linkages between the proposed C&I for SFRM.