ENB:13:32
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WORKING GROUP I
UNDERLYING CAUSES: In the paragraph listing causes of deforestation under conclusions, IRAN, supported by COLOMBIA, proposed deleting references to oil exploitation. GABON retained this reference with the Co-Chair’s language “oil exploitation in forested countries, not conducted in accordance with appropriate national legislation.”
TRADITIONAL FOREST-RELATED KNOWLEDGE: In the reference to protection of indigenous rights in the conclusion on locating valuable new products (in E/CN.17/IPF/1997/WG.I/L.3), BRAZIL, on behalf of the G-77/CHINA, proposed substituting “and appropriate payment to indigenous people and relevant local communities based on their IPR” for a previous proposal on “payment of royalty on IPR.” NORWAY, supported by AUSTRALIA and CANADA, noted that IPR is not a defined concept and the Panel should instead be consistent with CBD wording on “the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of TFRK.” The Co-Chair formulated text that reflects divergent views and inserted CBD language on the sharing of benefits, “which many countries consider should incorporate appropriate payment.”
Delegates had a lengthy negotiation on the new action proposal referred from Working Group II on mechanisms for benefit-sharing. CANADA, supported by NORWAY, the US, NEW ZEALAND and the EU, rejected the G-77/CHINA’s proposal to add language “to ensure mechanisms to provide payments” and “economic” benefits because this language is not consistent nor as broad as CBD language on securing benefit-sharing. The US insertion of benefit-sharing “including payments where appropriate” was adopted.
COUNTRIES WITH LOW FOREST COVER: The G-77/CHINA proposed a revised action subparagraph urging developed countries to lead reforestation, afforestation and conservation efforts. Based on a suggestion from the G-77/CHINA, and amended by the US and COSTA RICA, delegates accepted language urging assistance from developed countries “notably, as appropriate” those with low forest cover. A subparagraph on improving efficiency and procedures for cooperation in SFM was agreed with minor amendments.
FOREST RESEARCH: Delegates accepted the G-77/CHINA proposal for a revised action proposal to examine the need to expand the capacity of existing research institutions and, where appropriate, establish new centers.
CRITERIA AND INDICATORS: The EU, supported by the US, CANADA, NEW ZEALAND and the G-77/CHINA, presented text from informal consultations that was then inserted in the action proposal and conclusion on C&I initiatives in similar regions. The agreed language, with the US deletion of “convergence,” emphasizes mutual recognition among sets of C&I as tools for assessing trends in national forest management and conditions. Text on the collection, assembly, storage and dissemination of data was moved into these paragraphs.
Based on a US proposal, a conclusion suggesting consistency in methods for global forest assessments was retained. Bracketed text referring to divergent views on a core set of global C&I was placed in a separate subparagraph noting that dialogue should continue.