3. State Parties shall protect, conserve and develop their forests and ensure that forest resources are used in a way and at a rate that does not lead to the longterm degradation of the forest, thereby maintaining the potential of forests to meet the needs of present and future generations. 4. State Parties shall facilitate, promote and continually improve policy and legal frameworks that promote sustainable forest management. 5. State Parties shall endeavour to protect and, where possible, restore natural forests, to maintain the essential ecological functions of these ecosystems. 6. State Parties may, upon request, give nationals of other State Parties access to forests for cultural or spiritual purposes with due regard to national laws. 7. State Parties shall not use lack of scientific certainty as a reason for postponing measures to prevent or minimise potentially serious or irreversible harm to forests. 8. State Parties shall take appropriate measures to anticipate, prevent or minimise the causes of deforestation and other damage to or destruction of forests. 9. State Parties shall facilitate public participation in decision-making regarding the sustainable management of forests and the use of forest resources. 10. State Parties shall recognise that communities are entitled to effective involvement in the sustainable management of forests and forest resources on which they depend and to share equitably in the benefits arising from their use. 11. State Parties shall ensure that the person or entity whose wilful or negligent action, inaction or authorisation causes direct or indirect damage to forests, shall bear the cost of the elimination of such condition, or of compensation for such damage, including costs of restoration. 12. State Parties shall be encouraged to operate in partnership with nongovernmental organisations, inter-governmental organisations and other entities and institutions. ARTICLE 5: TENURE AND OWNERSHIP 1. State Parties shall ensure that the laws and agreements that regulate the use, management of, access to and tenure in state-owned forests: a. give sufficient security of tenure to parties managing or using forest resources to create incentives for sustainable forest management; b. clearly delineate ownership and occupancy rights. 2. State Parties shall, in taking measures to achieve the objectives of this Article, consider and where possible mitigate any potential negative effects on land tenure. ARTICLE 6: INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS The Integrated Committee of Ministers may establish a sub-committee to oversee the implementation of this Protocol. ARTICLE 7: FINANCIAL PROVISIONS 1. Projects, programmes and special studies may be financed from various sources and stakeholders such as international organisations and co-operating partners, donors or contributions by State Parties. 2. The Secretariat may accept gifts, grants, legacies, and donations from any source provided that this shall be done in conformity with the objectives of this Protocol.