Zhang Zhongtian, Chair of ITTC-54, presents a framed gavel to ITTC-53 Chair Tabi Agyarko

The Fifty-fourth Session of the International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC) and the Associated Sessions of the four Committees (Finance and Administration; Economic Information and Market Intelligence; Forest Industry; and Reforestation and Forest Management) are scheduled to be held in Yokohama, Japan, from 5 to 8 November 2018.

The ITTC is the governing body of the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), which provides a framework for tropical timber producer and consumer countries to discuss and develop policies on issues relating to international trade in, and utilization of, tropical timber and the sustainable management of its resource base. Formed in 1987, the ITTO is the oldest intergovernmental organization addressing tropical forest trade and management. Its membership represents 90% of world trade in tropical timber and 80% of the world’s tropical forests.

At ITTC-53, held in Lima, Peru, from 27 November – 2 December 2017, the Council adopted the Biennial Work Programme (BWP) for 2018-2019 and administrative budget, as well as Policy Guidelines on Gender Equality and Empowering Women. At ITTC-54, the Council will discuss progress made in the BWP, implementation of the ITTO Thematic Programmes, and other issues central to its mandate.

This will be an important session for the Council, as it continues to recover from a crisis of financial mismanagement that first came to light at ITTC-51. As identified in our analysis of ITTC-53, participants will be looking to see if new leadership, vision and strategy can continue to regain the confidence of its members.