Late Breaking News from CSD-5

Updated 10 April 1997

Under-Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development Nitin Desai

On Thursday, delegates heard statements on the reports of the Intersessional Working Group and the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests (IPF). Nitin Desai, Under-Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, noted that statements to date reflect the concern that much attention has focused on resource management and major groups, but not social and economic dimensions and implementation. He highlighted the importance of implementation, availability of resources and new processes for technology transfer. He also called for measurable indicators of progress on Agenda 21 implementation.

Several countries supported the recommendation that the CSD establish an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to elaborate a global convention on forests. These included the EU, Canada, Costa Rica, Malaysia, Germany, Venezuela, the Russian Federation, Austria, Indonesia, France, Norway and the Philippines.

Others preferred to create an intergovernmental forum on forests or some other arrangement.These included China, the US, Papua New Guinea, Bangladesh, Australia, Peru, Colombia, India, Ecuador, Guyana, Brazil, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Japan, Uruguay, Argentina and the Global Forest Policy Project. While some of these delegates did not rule out the eventual negotiation of a convention, they did not support the immediate establishment of an INC.

Friday's issue of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin summarizes Thursday's meeting. You can also download the Earth Negotiations Bulletin in either text or PDF format.