Focus on Forest Principles

Many environmentalists were disappointed when the governments of the world were unable to negotiate a legally binding convention on forests at the 1992 Earth Summit and settled instead with the adoption of a non-binding set of Forest Principles.

Organizers hoped that the coming together of representatives from government, business, environmental and religious sectors would help to lay the groundwork for moving to such a Convention -- and to contribute to the discussions of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, which will take up the issue of forests in 1995.

"The purpose of the Gathering was really to pick up from Rio and to try and give further stimulus to the question of a legally binding agreement on forestry for all countries," said Guilda Walker, who organized the event on behalf of the Bahá'í International Community's Office of the Environment.


Ms. Guilda Walker, left, looks on as HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, welcomes Madame Mary Rabbání, right, to St. James's Palace. Standing next to Madame Rabbání is Mrs. Violette Nakhjavani. Ms. Walker organized the 1994 World Forestry Charter Gathering on behalf of the Bahá'í International Community's Office of the Environment.

"We were especially hoping to address the issue of forestry in a global context, to further the idea that the world's forests must be considered the common heritage of all of humanity if they are to be effectively preserved and sustainably managed," said Ms. Walker. "And that is part of the reason this particular event was cast in the form of a diplomatic luncheon."

Success on this point came not only in the Duke of Edinburgh's call, but also in some of the commitments made by governments to support this issue.

President Arap Moi wrote that "the role of forests for the common good of mankind embraces a wide and comprehensive scope beyond the environs of supply of raw materials....

"I am confident that this event will help produce a convention on forestry with the aim of preserving and re-establishing our common heritage -- world forests," President Arap Moi said.

Sir Alexander Stirling, the chairman of SOS Sahel, an association of voluntary agencies working to promote sustainable development in the Sahel and Horn regions of Africa, said he believed that obtaining such commitments from world leaders was an especially important role for the Gathering.

"What I do hope is we can refer back to what these leaders have said and that they will be prepared to give practical help to such things as a forestry convention," said Sir Alexander, who attended the 1994 Gathering.

Five years ago, the Gatherings were revived by the Bahá'í International Community in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Richard St. Barbe Baker, acting in collaboration with Dr. Baker's literary executor, Hugh Locke. That Gathering also brought together top London diplomats, forestry specialists and NGO representatives; its focus was on the Tropical Forestry Action Plan.

For the 1994 event, the support of the Duke of Edinburgh was enlisted last November, said Ms. Walker. "He was very excited about the concept of moving beyond the Forest Principles."

The International Tree Foundation, as successor to the "Men of the Trees" organization, which was founded by Dr. Baker, also lent its support early on.

"In bringing together people of influence, such events provide an ideal opportunity for further environmental awareness, and for building upon the pioneering work of our founder, Richard St. Barbe Baker," said John Caunce, director of the Foundation.

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