IISD Reporting Services at ITTC-33, 4-9 November 2002, Yokohama, Japan

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SUMMARY

33rd Meeting of the International Tropical Timber Council and Associated Sessions of the Committees
4 - 9 November 2002
Yokohama, Japan

Daily Web Coverage

|Curtain|

|Sat 9|

Highlights from

Thursday, 7 November 2002

On Thursday, delegates met in Committee, Council and drafting group sessions. The Committee on Forest Industry (CFI) met in the morning to: continue reviewing progress on projects and pre-projects; and consider project and pre-project proposals, and policy work. The Council convened in the afternoon to: continue discussions on certification and forest law enforcement; consider a database on trade. Above photo: Delegates begin drafting the ITTC-33 decisions.

COUNCIL SESSION:

CERTIFICATION:

The US stressed the importance of consistency between project work and ITTO's policies, and suggested organizing an informed discussion on certification in the context of ITTO project work.

PERU suggested using a disclaimer specifying that ITTO does not endorse any particular certification scheme when funding certification projects.

DATABASE OF STATISTICS ON TRADE IN BAMBOO AND RATTAN:
Philip Wardle and Maxim Lobovikov, International Network on Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR), presented a report and a project proposal on establishing an ITTO-INBAR database on trade in bamboo and rattan (ITTC(XXXIII)/11), including recommendations on strengthening resource database, developing national databases, and improving the coding of the Harmonized System.
FOREST LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF SUSTAINABLE TIMBER PRODUCTION AND TRADE:

JAPAN called for cooperation between exporters and importers in fighting illegal logging, and studying the causes of data discrepancies.

The PHILIPPINES said data discrepancies may be reduced when value-added products are taken into account.

Assesing export and import data:

The Secretariat introduced a progress report on a case study to assess export and import data on tropical timber and tropical timber products (ITTC(XXXIII)/7), noting slow progress, low level of interest from countries, and data discrepancies between consumer and producer countries.

Issues affecting market access:

Antti Rytkönen, Finland, reported on issues affecting market access (ITTC(XXXIII)/8), highlighting tariff and non-tariff measures, subsidies and export regulation, the international trade regime, multilateral environmental agreements, government procurement, and certification.

Enhancing law enforcement:

The REPUBLIC OF CONGO said it was addressing illegal logging.

INDONESIA suggested that the ITTO consider supporting multilateral, regional and bilateral initiatives on illegal logging.

Role of ITTO in International and Regional Organization:

The UNFF suggested considering an ITTO and UNFF relationship in ITTA's renegotiating process, and outlined synergies between the two organizations.

The WORLD BANK presented its new Forest Policy and Strategy, including targeted conservation priorities and a country-ownership approach, and welcomed collaboration with the ITTO.

FAO described progress on harmonizing forest-related definitions, and relevant recommendations on adjusting definitions used by the ITTO.

COMMITTEE ON FOREST INDUSTRY:

PROJECT AND PRE-PROJECTS IN PROGRESS:

The US requested an itemized budget regarding a proposed extension of an information network project.

PROJECT AND PRE-PROJECT PROPOSALS:

CFI Chair Reyes Lee explained that the Expert Panel for Technical Appraisal of Project Proposals did not recommend for approval a pre-project proposal on a solar timber dryer in Thailand, because suitable technologies already exist.

POLICY WORK: Project ideas:

Delegates considered a document on project ideas (CFI(XXXI)/6). GHANA proposed projects on: the aesthetic value of lesser-used hardwood species; the use of plant extracts to improve hardwood durability; and composting sawmill waste for plantation development.

OPEN-ENDED DRAFTING GROUP:

WORK PROGRAMME FOR 2003: Regarding a draft decision on ITTO's work programme for 2003, delegates agreed to delete language on urging members to pay arrears in contributions and contribute to the Special Account and the Bali Partnership Fund because it is addressed in the decision on the budget.

PUBLIC RELATIONS, EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: Delegates agreed to forward to the Council the decision on public relations, education and outreach, with minor amendments and noting that activities contained in the draft are addressed in the draft 2003 work programme.


ENB SNAPSHOTS:

Reception hosted by the City of Yokohama: