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CMS Seventh Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests
United Nations Headquarters, New York | 16-27 April 2007
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Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue and Working Groups at UNFF

On Monday, 23 April, the seventh session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF7) convened to discuss the non-legally binding instrument (NLBI) on all types of forests, and the Multi-Year Programme of Work (MYPOW) for the period 2007-2015. Delegates convened in plenary in the morning for the second multi-stakeholder dialogue, and later met in two working groups on the NLBI and the MYPOW. In the evening, UNFF7 Chair Hans Hoogeveen chaired an informal consultation on financing, the facilitative process and national targets.

Above: During a break, UNFF7 Chair Hoogeveen conferred with delegate Tony Bartlett, Australia, and Bernardo Velloso, Brazil.


Monday, 23 April
Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue


Lorraine Rekmans, National Aboriginal Forestry Association, Canada, facilitated the multi-stakeholder dialogue.

Catherine Murphy, Business and Industry, called for policies that provide a stable enabling environment and noted a moral imperative to reduce illegal logging.

NGOs called for assistance to major groups other than multinational corporations.

Science and Technology advocated identifying new obligations and responsibilities for countries receiving investments.

Children and Youth lamented the unlikelihood of education being an important aspect of the portfolio approach.

Women stressed partnership among all stakeholders.

Farmers and Small Forest Land Owners requested involving major groups and other stakeholders in decision-making.

Non-Governmental Organizations stressed political commitment to implementation and partnerships between major groups and governments.

Indigenous Peoples appealed for recognition of their efforts and better relations between indigenous peoples, governments and major stakeholders.

Bashir Ahmed Wani, Pakistan, raised concerns about poor countries' capacity to mobilize private sector funding.

Tony Bartlett, Australia, called for focused consideration of certification schemes and private sector engagement.

Jan Heino, CPF Chair, confirmed willingness to maintain dialogue with relevant groups.

Multi-stakeholder dialogue panelists representing major groups.
Working Group I - NLBI

Working Group I addressed the Chair's text on the NLBI.

Oleg Shamanov, Russian Federation, cautioned against prolonged negotiations.

Malaysia requested specifying the NLBI's purpose refers to "all types of forests."

Juan Felipe Rengifo, Colombia, suggested using language agreed upon at UNFF6.

Stephanie Caswell, US, favored opening the instrument for subscription.

Venezuela requested deleting reference to ensuring the competitiveness of SFM.

Hiro Miyazono, Japan, supported including a definition of SFM in a section on the seven thematic elements of SFM.
Working Group II - MYPOW

WGII discussed a Co-Chairs' proposed matrix based on delegates' proposals.

Christian Küchli, Switzerland, proposed UNFF8 focusing on forests and climate change.

Lillian Carillo, Peru, proposed the theme "SFM, growth and environmental sustainability."

Sierra Leone, for the African Group, asked to retain reference to the 2011 International Year of Forests in the matrix for 2009.

Abdellah Benmellouk, Morocco, for the African Group, preferred a mid-term review as an agenda item at UNFF9.

Jerilyn Levi, US, proposed inclusion of reference to community-based forest management at UNFF9.

Regarding cross-cutting issues for UNFF9, Javad Amin-Mansour, Islamic Republic of Iran, proposed including education and capacity building under means of implementation.
Around the Forum

After the day's Working Group II session, Tasso Rezende de Azevedo, Brazil, conferred with Charles Barber and Catherine Karr-Colque of the US.

Related Links

United Nations Forum on Forests
UNFF 7
UNFF-7 Provisional Agenda

Related IISD Coverage of Forest Meetings

18th Session of the FAO Committee on Forestry, 13-16 March 2007, Rome
CLI in Support of the UNFF: Multi-Year Programme of Work, 13-16 February 2007, Bali
UNFF Ad hoc Expert Group Meeting, 11-15 December 2006, New York
Sixth Session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF-6), 13-24 February 2006, New York
CLI in Support of the UNFF: Scoping a Future Agreement on Forests, 16-18 November 2005, Berlin
Fifth Session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF-5), 16-27 May 2005, New York
CLI in Support of the UNFF: Future International Arrangement on Forests, 25-28 January 2005, Guadalajara
UNFF Ad Hoc Expert Group Meeting (AHEG-PARAM) 7-10 September 2004, New York
Fourth Session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF-4), 3-14 May 2004, Geneva

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Linkages Update
MEA-L - Multilateral Environmental Agreements Listserve
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