Highlights and images for 5 November 2018

Highlights for Monday, 5 November 2018

The fifty-fourth session of the International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC-54), 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, 5 November 2018 in Yokohama, Japan.In the morning, following introductory remarks by ITTC Chair Zhang Zhongtian, opening statements were made by: Alain-Richard Donwahi, Minister of Water and Forests, Ivory Coast; Félix Ngoma, Ambassador of Republic of Congo to Japan; Benito Owusu-Bio, Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Ghana; Katsunori Watanabe, Deputy Mayor, City of Yokohama, Japan; Koji Hongo, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan; Hiroto Mitsugi, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO); and Gerhard Dieterle, Executive Director, ITTO.The Council formally welcomed Venezuela as the newest ITTO member, which brings the total membership to 36 Producing and 38 Consuming member countries.In the morning and afternoon, Council members heard progress reports from the ITTO Executive Director and the Informal Advisory Group (IAG), and began consideration of agenda items relating to financial matters, including the status of implementation of Council decisions relating to the impairment of ITTO funds and recommendations from the Ad hoc Working Group on Financing Infrastructure and Fundraising Strategies.The Committees for Finance and Administration (CFA), and Economics, Statistics and Markets and Forest Industry (CEM-CFI) also convened during the afternoon.In the evening delegates attended a reception hosted by the Government of Japan.

IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage and a summary and analysis from ITTC-54.

Photos by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis

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Opening Session

Zhang Zhongtian, Chair of ITTC-54

Alain-Richard Donwahi, Minister of Water and Forests, Ivory Coast

Ambassador Félix Ngoma, Republic of Congo

Benito Owusu-Bio, Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Ghana

Katsunori Watanabe, Deputy Mayor, City of Yokohama, Japan

Koji Hongo, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan

Hiroto Mitsugi, Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)

Gerhard Dieterle, Executive Director, ITTO

From L-R: Koji Hongo, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan; Alain-Richard Donwahi, Minister of Water and Forests, Ivory Coast; Gerhard Dieterle, Executive Director, ITTO; Ambassador Félix Ngoma, Republic of Congo; Zhang Zhongtian, Chair of ITTC-54; Benito Owusu-Bio, Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Ghana; and Katsunori Watanabe, Deputy Mayor, City of Yokohama, Japan

Council Session

From L-R: Sheamala Satkuru, ITTO Secretariat; Gerhard Dieterle, Executive Director, ITTO; Zhang Zhongtian, Chair of ITTC-54; John Leigh, Vice-Chair of ITTC-54

Emmanuelle Maire, EU

Catherine Karr-Colque, US

Jorge Malleux Orjeda, Peru

Sheamala Satkuru, ITTO Secretariat

Cécile Ndjebet, The African Women's Network for Community Management of Forests (REFACOF), Cameroon (sedond from left)

Alexander Knapp, CEO, AKC Global

Jennifer Conje, Vice Chair, Ad Hoc Working Group on Financing Infrastructure and Fundraising Strategies

Joint Session of the Committee on Economics, Statistics and Markets (CEM) and the Committee on Forest Industry (CFI)

View of the dais during the session

Co-Chair Anna Tyler, New Zealand

Co-Chair Björn Merkell, Sweden

Committee on Finance and Administration

View of the dais during the session

Argyro Zerva, EU

Simon Kawaguchi, ITTO Secretariat

Between Sessions

Victoire Eheth, and Bruno Mfou'ou Mfou'ou, Cameroon

Josefina Takahashi, and Mario Bustamante, Peru

Around the Venue