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Forests Policy & Practice

Fiftieth Session of the International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC) and Associated Sessions of the Four Committees

3-8 November 2014 | Yokohama, Japan

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Summary Highlights of ITTC-50

A view of Yokohama
Highlights for Monday, 3 November 2014
The fiftieth session of the International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC-50), and the Associated Sessions of the four Committees (Finance and Administration; Economics, Statistics and Markets; Forest Industry; and Reforestation and Forest Management) opened on Monday, 3 November 2014 in Yokohama, Japan. In the morning, delegates heard opening statements from the ITTO Executive Director, the ITTC-50 Chair, the Director General of the Japanese Forestry Agency, the Deputy-Mayor of the City of Yokohama, and ministers from Suriname, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Republic of Congo, and Gabon. Delegates also heard a keynote address from Bharrat Jagdeo, the former President of Guyana.

In the morning, the Council addressed organizational matters, including ascertainment of quorum for the meeting, redistribution of votes, and adoption of the meeting’s agenda, while postponing approval of the admission of observers.

In the afternoon, after noting the reports of the Informal Advisory Group and the panel that reviewed applicants for the position of Executive Director, the Council heard presentations from the six candidates shortlisted by the panel.


*Visit the web coverage for Monday, 3 November 2014.

Gerhard Dieterle, Germany
James K. Gasana, Switzerland
John Jack Hurd, U.S.A
Eduardo Mansur, Brazil
Sheamala Satkuru, Malaysia

Ivan Tomaselli, Brazil


Highlights for Tuesday, 4 November 2014
The fiftieth session of the International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC) entered its second day of discussions today in Yokohama, Japan.

In the morning, a joint Producer and Consumer caucus was held to pose questions to the six candidates for the position of ITTO Executive Director. Delegates then convened in a Joint Committee Session to hear the Report of the Expert Review Panel and discuss ex-post evaluations of several projects.

In the afternoon, delegates met in a Council session to discuss the ITTO Biennial Work Programme and strengthening regional ITTO presence through, inter alia, potentially creating regional offices. Delegates also briefly considered the election of the next ITTO Executive Director, with Brazil officially supporting the candidacy of Eduardo Mansur (Brazil), and committing to paying its arrears. The discussion was postponed to give time for caucus consultations.

Later in the afternoon, the Committee on Reforestation and Forest Management (CRF) and the Committee on Finance and Administration (CFA) met in parallel. The CFA discussed, inter alia: the biennial administrative budget; contributions to the administrative budgets; and a report on mobilizing new funding and partnerships for ITTO. The CRF discussed, inter alia: policy work and the Biennial Work Programme for committees.

The Committee on Economics, Statistics and Markets and the Committee on Forest Industry (CEM-CFI) met in the evening to discuss policy work and new projects and pre-projects.

*Visit the web coverage for Tuesday, 4 November 2014.
Panel (L-R): Takeshi Goto, ITTO Secretariat; Vice-Chairperson ITTC-50 Bin Che Yeom Freezailah; Steven Johnson, ITTO Secretariat
Mario Rodriguez, ITTO Consultant
Luca Perez, European Union
Zhuang Zuofeng, ITTO Consultant
Thierry Bachs, Switzerland
André Correa Do Lago, Brazil, announced his country's support for the candidacy of Eduardo Mansur (Brazil) for ITTO Executive Director
CEM-CFI Panel (L-R): Li Qiang, ITTO Secretariat; CEM Chair Shingi Koto, Japan; CFI Chair Bjorn Merkell, Sweden; Steven Johnson, ITTO Secretariat; Tetra Yanuariadi, ITTO Secretariat
Highlights for Wednesday, 5 November 2014
The fiftieth session of the International Tropical Timber Council continued its deliberations in Yokohama, Japan on 5 November 2014. In the morning, delegates convened a Joint Committee Session to continue an agenda item on ex-post evaluations of completed projects. Later in a Council session, delegates discussed enhancing cooperation with CITES.

Delegates continued discussions on the election of the next Executive Director (ED) of ITTO debating whether to hold an initial vote to narrow down the field of candidates (as proposed by the Consumer group), or to continue seeking consensus before undergoing any voting (as proposed by the Producer group). After much deliberation, delegates agreed to discuss the matter further in their respective caucuses, then hold a contact group on the matter, and only conduct an initial vote if the field of candidates is not narrowed by Thursday morning.

In the afternoon, a panel discussion was held on ITTO’s past, present and future, where several experts were invited to share their opinions on and visions for ITTO in the coming years. This was followed by the Annual Market Discussion.

The contact group on the selection of the Executive Director met into the evening.

*Visit the web coverage for Wednesday, 5 November 2014.

Ricardo L. Calderon, Philippines
Nuzarah Mohd Zam, Malaysia
André Correa do Lago, Brazil
 Ellen Shaw, U.S.A
Eva Müller, FAO

Marjukka Mähönen, Finland, spoke on behalf of the Consumers

Adrian Ngo'o Bitomo, Cameroon, spoke on behalf of the Producers

Chen Hin Keong, TRAFFIC, Malaysia urged selecting an Executive Director based on merit and not politics


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Annual ITTC-50 Marketplace Panel (L-R): Roy Southey, SawMilling Southeys, South Africa; Enzo Barattini, Retired from EU Commission; Gordon E. Gresham, Marketing Advisor, UK; CEM Chair Shingi Koto, Japan; Barney Chan, TAG Coordinator, Malaysia; Isac Chami Zygman, ABIMCI, Brazil; Cindy Squires, International Wood Products Association, U.S.A; Jirawat Tangkijngamwong, Thai Timber Association, Thailand; Michael J. Adams, Timber Industry Developent Consultant, Japan

Isac Chami Zygman, ABIMCI, Brazil
Jirawat Tangkijngamwong, Thai Timber Association, Thailand

Highlights for Thursday, 6 November 2014

In the morning of Thursday, 6 November 2014, the fiftieth session of the International Tropical Timber Council heard presentations on: developments in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change related to forests; the biennial review and assessment of the world timber situation; and the status of ITTO’s Thematic Programmes.

In the afternoon, the Committee on Economics, Statistics and Markets and the Committee on Forest Industry (CEM-CFI) and the Committee on Reforestation and Forest Management (CRF) met in parallel to continue discussions of agenda items. The Committee on Finance and Administration (CFA) met later in the day to discuss a proposed revision of ITTO staff regulations and rules.

Deliberations on the selection of the next Executive Director continued throughout the day. After meeting in caucus in the morning, Consumer countries called for a formal vote to narrow down the candidates, noting that consensus within the caucus had not been achieved. The Producers continued to call for time for building consensus. Another round of caucus meetings was held. The Council met again in the evening, and decided to proceed to a special vote the following morning.

A CFA working group met late in the evening to continue deliberating on the proposed revision of ITTO staff regulations and rules.


*Visit the web coverage for Thursday, 6 November 2014.

Gabriela Ramcke Lancaster, Mexico

Adrian Ngo'o Bitomo, Cameroon spoke for the Producers group
Nguyen Tuong Van, Vietnam
 Carlos Moreno Mericaechevarria, UNCTAD (L) and Rob Busink, Chairperson, ITTC-50 conferring after the morning session
Alicia Grimes , U.S.A.
Pedro Brançante Machado, Brazil
E. Collins Ahadome, ITTO Secretariat, demonstrates the use of the electronic voting system
Highlights for Friday, 7 November 2014
The Brazilian delegation confers outside of the plenary hall
ITTC-50 Chair Busink opens the first round of the special vote
CFA Chair Gilbert Kaya, Republic of Congo
João A. C. Vargas, Brazil
The CFA Committee considers revisions to the ITTO Staff Regulations and Rules
Highlights for Saturday, 8 November 2014
On the last day of the fiftieth session of the International Tropical Timber Council, delegates discussed at length, and into the evening, how to proceed with the election of the next ITTO Executive Director. Proposals were made to postpone the decision to the next session of the ITTC in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in November 2015, or to an extraordinary session to be held much earlier. Many delegates supported an idea to rotate the Executive Director position between Consumers and Producers, but also felt this matter needed further discussion. Many also backed the idea of creating a working group to delve into these matters. Consensus was not reached on any proposals before interpretation stopped, and the agenda item was not concluded at this session. The election of the next Executive Director will be put on the agenda of ITTC-51.

The Committee on Finance and Administration met in the morning to finalize their work. Delegates then met in a Council session to adopt the Reports of the Committees and decisions on: projects, pre-projects and activities; the ITTO Biennial Work Programme for 2015-2016; and admission and activities of observers during Council sessions.

The Council also elected Bin Che Yeom Freezailah (Malaysia) as Chair of ITTC-51, and Jennifer Conje (US) as Vice-Chair. Representatives of the Civil Society Advisory Group (CSAG) and the UN Forum on Forests delivered statements.

Executive Director Emmanuel Ze Meka and ITTC-50 Chair Rob Busink delivered closing addresses. The Chair closed the meeting at 9:28pm.



*Visit the web coverage for Saturday, 8 November 2014.
Manoel Sobral Filho, UNFF Director
Bin Che Yeom Freezailah, Malaysia and Jennifer Conje, U.S.A. were elected Chair and Vice-Chair, respectively, of ITTC-51
Cécile Ndjebet, Cameroon, delivers the CSAG statement
Rowena Watson, U.S.A, pledges US$100,000 to the Trade and Market Transparency Thematic Programme
Chair Rob Busink notes there is no consesus on the selection of the Executive Director

Luca Perez, E.U., supports a special session to elect the ED

Brazil supports postponing the decision to ITTC-51
Brazil confers with the Chairman
Cameroon confers with Brazil
The Panel consults on the way forward
At 8 pm, the interpreters offer the Chair another hour of interpretation
Chair Rob Busink explains that no further decisions can be made without intrepretation
Emmanuel Ze Meka, ITTO Executive Director, delivers the closing address
ITTC-50 closes
Funding for coverage of these meetings has been provided by ITTO
ITTO


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