THE FIG AGENDA 21
Helge ONSRUD, Chair of FIG Task Force on
Sustainable Development
Key words: Sustainable development, role of
surveyors, role of FIG.
Abstract
Background
The International Federation of Surveyors FIG decided at the its
Congress in Brighton in 1998 to form a Task Force to prepare an FIG
statement on how the Federation will implement the concept of
sustainable development.
It was agreed to title the statement "FIG Agenda 21",
referring to the report from the United Nations 1992 Rio Conference on
Environment and Development which resulted the Agenda 21. The
statement shall, however, not be limited only to reflect Agenda 21. It
shall as well, inter alia, reflect the outcome of the United Nations
Conference on Human Settlements (HABITAT II) held in Istanbul in 1996
and its result the Habitat Agenda with the Global Plan of Action.
Further it is, in part, implementation of the Memorandum of
understanding between FIG and UNCHS (Habitat), the Bogor and Bathurst
Declarations, and the existing1991 FIG statement on sustainable
development.
Dealing with surveying, planning and management of land and water
resources, laws and systems needed for access to land and security of
tenure, and with geographic information in all its aspects, the
surveying profession is deeply involved in issues of profound
importance for sustainable development. Surveyors' training and
performance can have a significant impact on the implementation of
sustainable development. The aim of the FIG Agenda 21 is to show that
the Federation is committed to do its utmost to develop the surveying
profession and the individual surveyor to act in accordance with the
principles of sustainable development.
FIG is further committed to collaborate with all relevant United
Nations agencies and with other non-governmental organisations in
developing a mutual understanding of how surveying in all its aspects,
as well as related techniques, products and services, best can
contribute to the implementation of Agenda 21 world-wide.
The FIG Agenda 21 has been prepared by a Task Force that was
chaired by Helge Onsrud (Norway).
Why FIG Agenda 21?
FIG recognises that professions play an important role in
implementing sustainable development. The surveying profession plays
its part through, inter alia, the planning and management of land, sea
and water resources; the surveying and registration of real property;
and the handling of geographic information.
Even before Rio, the International Federation of Surveyors
expressed its support for the concept of sustainability as a principle
guideline for development. At its annual meeting in Beijing in 1991
the organisation unanimously adopted the "FIG Statement on
Sustainable Development - a Challenge and a Responsibility for
Surveyors".
During the following decade FIG translated its support into a
number of actions. Surveying for sustainable development has been a
focus of FIG congresses, annual meetings and commission gatherings.
FIG's collaboration with the United Nations has been widened and
deepened. During the UN Habitat II Conference in 1996 FIG organised,
in collaboration with the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements
and the International Federation for real Estate (FIABCI), one of the
ten Habitat II Dialogues for the 21st Century - the Dialogue on Land
and Rural-Urban Linkages - which provided valuable input to the
Habitat Agenda. A joint UN-FIG meeting was held in Indonesia in 1996,
resulting in the Bogor Declaration on Cadastral Reform The
collaboration between UN and FIG in promoting sustainable development
was further developed in a workshop in Australia in 1999 which
prepared the Bathurst Declaration on Land Administration for
Sustainable Development. Co-operation between FIG and the United
Nations Centre for Human Settlements UNCHS(Habitat) was crystallised
into a Memorandum of Understanding in 1997 with a second extension,
covering the period 2000-2003 being signed in May 2000.
These and other events have widened the understanding of the
current and potential future contribution of the surveying profession
to sustainable development, both inside the profession and within the
relevant United Nations agencies. The aim of this statement is to
present this understanding in a concentrated form to a wider circle of
parties and persons, and to present a number of guiding principles for
the implementation of sustainable development within both FIG itself
and the entire surveying profession.
By adopting the FIG Agenda 21, FIG confirms its support for the
concept of sustainable development, and renews its program for
contributing to the implementation of sustainability in policies and
actions on all levels of society.
CONTACT
Helge Onsrud
Chair of FIG Task Force on Sustainable Development
Statens Kartverk
P.O. Box 8120 Dep
Oslo
NORWAY
Tel. + 47 22 360 510
Fax + 47 22 360 304
E-mail: helge.onsrud@statkart.no
22 March 2001
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FIG Office. Last revised on 05-11-25.
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