FAO Conference resolutions

Resolution

3/89

FAO ACTIVITIES RELATED TO

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

THE CONFERENCE

Recalling

the

UN General Assembly

Resolution 42/186, on the Environmental Perspectives to the Year 2000 and Beyond, and Resolution 42/187, on the report of the

World Commission on Environment and Development

Considering

that the above-mentioned resolutions underline that insufficient attention given to the environmental impact of agricultural policies, priorities and practices has been causing extensive environmental damage, such as, inter alia:

- soil degradation, deforestation and desertification;

- loss of land productivity, soil and water pollution and hazard to human health caused by excessive and improper use of agricultural chemicals;

- genetic erosion and increased vulnerability of crops to diseases and pests due in part to over-reliance on the use of high-yielding varieties,

Recalling

Resolution 9/87 entitled "FAO activities related to the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED)", requesting FAO to give greater attention to sustainable development,

Endorsing

the statement by the

Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on Sustainable Development

adopted by consensus at its Fifteenth Session,

Bearing in mind

that in Article 1 of FAO 's Constitution, inter alia, states that "the Organization shall promote and, where appropriate, shall recommend national and international action with respect to the conservation of natural resources and the adoption of improved methods of agricultural production",

Considering

that FAO is in the process of improving its Global System as a mechanism for the safe conservation, sustainable use and availability of genetic resources, that is fully complementary with sustainable development,

Agreeing

that in order to promote sustainable development, FAO must in all its relevant activities look to the long term as well as the short term, and make sure that the environment and the productive capacity of natural resources are enhanced and conserved, not impaired or destroyed,

Underlining

that FAO should play a leading international. role as the centre of excellence within the UN System in several subsectors related to environment and sustainable development, and FAO should contribute actively in further international agreements on biological/genetic diversity, tropical forestry, fisheries and other environmental matters,

Agreeing

that there is a need to stimulate inter-agency cooperation and coordination and to identify opportunities for synergetic efforts in order to achieve sustainable development, the goal being to create economic and social development and at the same time take environmental considerations fully into account,

Welcomes

the proposal of making increased allocations in the Programme of Work and Budget to activities related to sustainable development:

Decides

that:

the organization shall intensify its inter-disciplinary work to ensure integration of environmental considerations in all relevant FAO activities and further priority should be given to activities associated with sustainable development under the technical and economic programmes;

FAO in the future must give higher priority to the prevention of environmental degradation which affects agriculture, fisheries and forestry, and strive for projects and programmes which have greater compatibility with sustainable and environmentally sounddevelopment;

FAO should strengthen cooperation with other organizations of the UN System in pursuing sustainable development, including conservation and management of biological/genetic diversity, and increase its efforts in assisting governments in the formulation of conservation strategies, particularly in developing countries;

FAO should further collaborate fully with the

Secretary General of the United Nations

in the preparations for the United Nations 1992 Conference on Environment and Development and should respond affirmatively to the UNEP proposal for a joint FAO/

UNEP

meeting on sustainable agriculture as part of the preparation for this

Conference

;

the

Director-General

shall report to the Ninety-eighth Session of the FAO Council in November 1990 on the implementation of this resolution.

(Adopted

29 November 1989

)

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