See more coverage of this event on the main IISD ENB website

We have launched a new website to better share our reports of global environmental negotiations.

As well as current coverage of new negotiations, you can find our original reports from this event by clicking here.

Linkages: a multimedia resource for environment and
development policy makers
FAO 19th Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Committee on Forestry
Rome | 16-20 March 2009
United Nations
 
Daily Web Coverage
Monday, 16 March
Tuesday, 17 March
Wednesday, 18 March
Thursday, 19 March
Friday, 20 March
Summary
HTM
HTM
PDF
PDF
Click for additional translations...

COFO Reaches Halfway Mark

Above: IUCN Director General William Jackson and ITTO Executive Director Emmanuel Ze Meka shook hands at the launch of the IUCN/ITTO Guidelines for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in tropical timber production forests.

On Wednesday, delegates met for the second day of the 19th session of the FAO Committee on Forestry (COFO) at FAO headquarters in Rome. In the morning, delegates met in plenary to discuss reducing greenhouse gas emissions from forestry and land use change. This included a joint presentation by FAO, UNEP and the World Bank on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD), with an emphasis on: measurement, assessment, reporting and verification; stakeholder engagement; and provision of multiple benefits.

A concurrent session of World Forest Week special events addressed societal needs and research realities shaping the future of public forestry research, and new perspectives on forestry education. Participants shared views and ideas on setting research agendas, securing research funds and ensuring quality research and then discussed the state of and challenges to forestry education.

In the afternoon, participants split into adjacent rooms for a series of special events. In one room, the heads of the world's forest departments engaged in a panel-led dialogue on challenges encountered in the forest sector, including: budget constraints; changing societal and stakeholder expectations; shifting government priorities and structures; and environmental stresses. In the other, participants discussed fire and climate change, highlighting linkages between the two. This was followed by a discussion of national forest monitoring and assessment for climate change mitigation and adaptation monitoring and reporting.

In the evening, delegates attended a reception celebrating the launch of the IUCN/ITTO Guidelines for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in tropical timber production forests.


Wednesday, 18 March
COFO Plenary


COFO Vice-Chair Conceição Ferreira, Portugal.

Roberto Acosta, UNFCCC.

Nalin Srivastava, IPCC National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Programme.

Gerhard Dieterle, World Bank.

Peter Holmgren, FAO.

Charles McNeill, UNDP.

Koulagna Koutou Denis, Cameroon.

Prabhat Ranjan Mohanty, India.

Sapuan Ahmad Al-Haj, Malaysia.
World Forest Week Special Events

The future of forestry research and eduation: Societal needs and research reality - the future of public forestry research.

The future of forestry research and eduation: new perspectives in forestry education.

Linkages between fire and climate change.

Heads of Forestry Dialogue: responding to change.

National forest monitoring and assessment and climate change.
Evening Reception

A long table of food and drink awaited participants.

COFO Chair Abigail Kimbell and Kentucky State Forester Leah McSwords chatted with another participant.

The fruit and dessert table.

Jan Heino and Hosny El-Lakany discussed neckties.
Around COFO

Delegates relaxed in the Nordic Lounge between sessions.

The Czech Republic displayed historic forestry uniforms.

Related Links

FAO Forestry web site
FAO Committee on Forestry
Schedule of Events
Conference Documents

Related IISD-RS Coverage

Linkages Forests, Desertification and Land
Linkages Introduction to Forests Processes
ENB Coverage of COFO 18
ENB Coverage of COFO 17
ENB Coverage of COFO 16

DigiMarc