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Final session of the Council
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Chair
Candy Green
(USA) presented the report of the Committee on Forest Industry. |
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Chair
Kayoko Fukushima
(Japan) presented the report of the Committee on Finance and Administration.
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Cuba, an observer to the Council, reviewed its successes in forest
policy over the last 40 years. He commended the ITTO for its professionalism,
and the depth and quality of discussions and agreements reached. |
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The Common
Fund for Commodities
noted its role in funding specific projects and confirmed its continued
support for ITTO. |
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Barney
Chan, Chair of the Trade Advisory Group (TAG), stressed the Group's
concern with timber certification, emphasized that it does not support
any particular certification scheme, and advocated a phased approach
to certification. He underscored the severe impacts of illegal logging
to timber trade and called upon the ITTO to address the issue. |
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The Philippines,
on behalf of ASEAN,
welcomed Vietnam to join ITTC as a full member of the Council at ITTC-33.
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The European
Community
emphasized the spirit of cooperation demonstrated by the Council,
and stated that the Organization should continue to exist and work
hard to achieve the objectives its members have set out. |
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Catherine
Angele Boka née Agoussi, Minister of Water and Forests
of Côte d'Ivoire
(center), lauded the energy and commitment of the ITTO,
particularly its support for projects in producer countries.
She thanked donors and the ITTO for their financial support,
but noted that the amount of finance from the Organization is
diminishing and that many projects lack funding. She appealed
to those hesitant to provide financial support to assist producer
countries in their efforts to achieve SFM. |
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Aulikki
Kauppila (Finland), Spokesperson for the Consumers Caucus,
said that for sensitive issues, a mechanism should be created for
a thorough exchange of views before embarking on negotiations. She
stated that the Chair's proposal to have a discussion in the ITTO's
role in certification on the agenda was an example of such a mechanism.
She said consumers believe the CSAG decision will be a useful in improving
the ITTO's credibility, visibility, and reputation among those who
criticize the ITTO's work in the field of forestry. |
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Chair
Astrid Bergquist
(Sweden) presented the report of the Committee on Economic Information
and Market Intelligence. |
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Chair
Angela Andrade Perez
(Colombia) presented the report of the Committee on Reforestation
and Forest Management. |
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Panama
announced that it will host ITTC-34, to be held from 12-17 May,
2003. |
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Vietnam, also an observer, said he was particularly impressed
by the ITTO's Mangrove Workplan and emphasized its relevance to Vietnam.
He signaled his country's intention of becoming an ITTO member, and
asked for ITTO's help in organizing a workshop on awareness raising.
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New Zealand
called attention to a UNFF intersessional expert meeting on the role
of planted forests in sustainable development, to be held in New Zealand
from 24-30 March 2003. |
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In
closing remarks, Brazil
saluted the spirit of cooperation that enabled ITTC-32 to accomplish
so much, and highlighted the decision to create the Civil Society
Advisory Group (SCAG). He thanked the TAG for the lively debate engendered
at the annual market discussion, and stressed the importance of listening
to those who challenge conventional wisdom. |
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Juan Mayr,
Minister of the Environment of Colombia
said this session has demonstrated the importance and relevance of
the ITTO. He expressed his conviction that the ITTO has a promising
future, and called on donor countries to redouble their efforts to
support it and its projects. |
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Japan
hoped the activities to emerge from the decision on SFM in the Congo
Basin would help countries work toward Objective 2000. He said that
this decision, as well as that on the WSSD, would contribute to the
Summit. He welcomed progress by the Council to improve the ITTO's
overall efficiency. |
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Untung
Iskandar (Indonesia), Spokesperson for the Producer Group,
welcomed the CSAG decision, highlighting the vital roles that civil
society organizations, including environmental groups, play in supporting
efforts to achieve SFM. Regarding certification, he requested to put
on record that voluntary certification means otherwise for producers,
as they have to certify their forest management systems to allow them
to sell their forest products. |
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