PESHAWAR, April 16: Forestry Round Table constituted more than three years back under the NWFP Forestry Commission Act, 1999 to perform as a think-tank apparently failed to deliver the desired results as it could not lend any positive impact as far as improvement in the provincial forestry sector is concerned, according to interviews conducted by Dawn .

Constituted under a notification of the forest department, NWFP, on April 1, 1998 the forestry round table was given a permanent  status by covering it under the NWFP Forestry Commission Ordinance, 1999 which was later adopted as an Act by the provincial assembly in the same year.

Involving around 60 members representing different core groups and stake-holders of the forestry sector, the round table, in accordance with section 6 of the Act, was required to (a) work as think-tank and resource pool for the Forestry Commission [not yet constituted], (b) advise the Commission on policy, legal and institutional issues either of its own volition or at the request of the commission, (c) resolve major conflicts among the stake- holders which may be hampering the protection, management and sustainable development of forestry in the province; and (d) such other functions as may be entrusted to it by the Government.

Similarly, in accordance with section 5 of the Act the round table was assigned to assist the forestry commission in the performance of its functions and make rules to prescribe the number of its [round table’s] members, the manner for their appointment, the procedure for its operation and such other details as it may deem appropriate.

According to official sources, now that the provincial government is dragging its feet from setting up the three-member forestry commission - required under the forestry commission Act, 1999 - certain members of the round table in consonance with some of the senior bureaucrats of the NWFP forest department are trying to win more powers for the round table.

“Government has been suggested in one of the recently held meetings of the round table that as the establishment of the forestry commission is unlikely in the foreseeable future, the round table should be given powers to take on the job,” said the sources.

If done so, added the sources, it would be another clear violation of the 1999 Act thereunder government should have constituted the three-member decision making body [the commission] at least two years back.

In the absence of the forestry commission, the forestry round table — having failed to act in accordance with the role devised for it under the provincial assembly’s Act — was rendered to be a forum with least effectiveness and appearing to be more of a liability as far as arranging finances for its meetings is concerned.

Since its creation in April 1998, the round table has, so far, held less than 15 meetings — last time in February 2002 — and every time it meets the provincial government has to mobilize funds for its sessions involving over 60 members.

Insignificance, said the sources, of the round table could be gauged from the fact that the names of six probable persons recommended by it to the provincial governor for purpose of appointing any three of them on the much wanted commission went unattended.

“Instead of giving consent to any of the three nominees of the round table, the governor selected to raise questions about the financial implications of the setting up of the commission and that who among the six persons should be appointed,” said the sources.

An official of the forest department told this scribe, on request of anonymity, that the governor did not pay heed to the round table’s nominees as majority of them did not hold good credentials.

Sources said that since its creation in early 1998 the round table could not come up with a single decision that served the forestry sector, rather, the deforestation and over exploitation of the NWFP’s forest reserves kept as unabated as it was being done before its establishment.