RAP Publication 2005/03

RAP Publication 2005/03
Forest Perspectives 2

Forests and floods
Drowning in fiction or thriving on facts?

   
 

Table of Contents


The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

All right reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the permission of the copyright owner. Applications for such permission, with a statement of the purpose and extent of the reproduction, should be addressed to the Senior Forestry Officer, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, 39 Phra Atit Road, Bangkok, Thailand.

ISBN 979-3361-64-6

© 2005 by FAO & CIFOR
All rights reserved. Published in 2005
Printed by Indonesia Printer

Cover photo:
Donkey riders wade through flood waters after a heavy monsoonal downpour in Lahore, Pakistan, 2003

Published by
Center for International Forestry Research
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Center for International Forestry Research
Jl. CIFOR, Situ Gede, Sindang Barang
Bogor Barat 16680, Indonesia
Tel.: +62 (251) 622622; Fax: +62 (251) 622100
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.cifor.cgiar.org

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Maliwan Masion, 39 Phra Atit Road
Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Tel.: + 66 (2) 697-4000; Fax: +66 (2) 697-4445
E-mail:  [email protected]
Web site: http://www.fao.or.th

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and debate policy. FAO is also a source of knowledge and information, helping developing countries and countries in transition modernize and improve agriculture, forestry and fisheries practices and ensure good nutrition for all. Since its founding in 1945, FAO has focused special attention on developing rural areas, home to 70 percent of the world’s poor and hungry people. FAO’s activities comprise four main areas: (1) Putting information within reach, (2) Sharing policy expertise, (3) Providing a meeting place for nations and (4) Bringing knowledge to the field.

The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) was established in 1993 as part of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) in response to global concerns about the social, environmental and economic consequences of forest loss and degradation. CIFOR research produces knowledge and methods needed to improve the well-being of forest-dependent people and to help tropical countries manage their forests wisely for sustained benefits. This research is done in more than two dozen countries, in partnership with numerous partners. Since it was founded, CIFOR has also played a central role in influencing global and national forestry policies.

Donors

The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) receives its major funding from governments, international development organizations, private foundations and regional organizations. In 2004, CIFOR received financial support from Australia, African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), Asian Development Bank (ADB), Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Carrefour, China, CIRAD, Conservation International Foundation (CIF), European Commission, Finland, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Ford Foundation, France, German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ), German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Indonesia, International Development Research Centre (IDRC), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Innovative Resource Management (IRM), International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, Norway, Organisation Africaine du Bois (OAB), Overseas Development Institute (ODI), Peruvian Institute for Natural Renewable Resources (INRENA), Philippines, Sweden, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Switzerland, The Overbrook Foundation, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Tropical Forest Foundation, United States, United Kingdom, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Waseda University, World Bank, World Resources Institute (WRI) and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).


Contents

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Introduction

Distinguishing fact from fiction

Policy implications

Taking an integrated approach

Towards more effective watershed management

Towards more effective floodplain management

Making rational policy decisions

Bibliography

Forest Perspectives Series

Back cover