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Implementing Forest Concession Policies & Revenue Systems – World Experience & LessonsJohn GrayUniversity of Manitoba, Canada -- gray@ms.umanitoba.ca: 

Implementing Forest Concession Policies & Revenue Systems – World Experience & Lessons John Gray University of Manitoba, Canada -- gray@ms.umanitoba.ca Forest Concessions have an important role in forest utilization & forest management. In many countries, both in temperate & tropical countries – Lessons from other country experience.

Questions Addressed: 

Questions Addressed Is there a role for concessions in utilization and management of public forests? What is legal, regulatory, institutional, and operational framework for concession management? What can Russia (and other countries) learn from country experience, the failures and few successes? How can concession procedures be strengthened?

Concessions Defined: 

Concessions Defined Concessions – A contract. Two Types. - Forest Utilization Contract – for timber. - Forest Management Services Contract – to reforest and manage the forest. - Concession -- often both -- rights & obligations.

Experience Around the World: 

Experience Around the World Europe North America West & Central Africa Southeast Asia Latin America

Key Issues – from World Experiences: 

Key Issues – from World Experiences 1. Public or Private Forests 2. Concession Legislation, Procedures & Organization 3. Length of Concession Agreement 4. Concession Size. 5. Non-Timber, Environmental Values, Community Benefits.

Key Issues – from World Experiences: 

Key Issues – from World Experiences 6. Forest Fees & Revenues on Concessions. 7. Bidding on Concessions - Transparency 8. Concession Management & Performance Incentives -- defined, examples 9. Inspection, Monitoring & Auditing Forest Management.

Improving Concession Procedures & Management: 

Improving Concession Procedures & Management Concession Allocation Steps and Procedures. Step 1 -- Ensure the Area is Not Encumbered by Other Land Ownership or Land Use Restrictions Step 2 -- Initiation of Proposed Forest Management Concession: Step 3 -- Advertise the Areas and Invite Expressions of Interest: Step 4 -- Pre-Qualification of Applicants: Step 5 -- Approval of Qualified Applicants: Step 6 – Time for Applicants to Evaluate the Area and Timber, and to Prepare Proposals: Step 7 -- Submission of Proposals or Bids: Step 8 -- Selection of the Winning Applicant or Bid: Transparency Step 9 -- Concession Contract and Signing:

Improving Concession Procedures & Management: 

Improving Concession Procedures & Management Forest Concession Contract: Forest Management Conditions, Steps and Staged Approvals. Step 1 -- Boundary Marking: Step 2 -- Mapping the Concession Area: Step 3 -- Access Control: Step 4 -- Forest Inventory & Environmental Inventory: Step 5 -- Forest Management Plan & Environmental Management Plan: Step 6 -- Road Plan: Step 7 -- Forest Utilization Plan: Step 8 -- Social and Community Development Plan: Step 9 -- Initial Annual Operating Area Plan:

Improving Concession Procedures & Management: 

Improving Concession Procedures & Management Supervision, Monitoring and Auditing of Concession Operations. Review and Extension of Concession Licenses.

Suggested Forest Pricing Policies: 

Suggested Forest Pricing Policies 1. Annual Concession Fees --Annual area based concession fees. 2. Initial Concession Fees -- A modest Initial Concession Fee. 3. Bidding on Concessions -- Bonus bidding. 4. Minimum Volume-Based Stumpage Prices. 5. Minimum Area-Based Forest Concession Fees. 6. A Fund to Finance Forest Management, Supervision and Monitoring of Concessions.