51st Session of the International Tropical Timber Council
and Associated Sessions of the Committees (ITTC-51)

On Saturday, ITTC-51 concluded its final day of discussions. Throughout the day, delegates discussed how to proceed with the election of the next ITTO Executive Director (ED). After a second special vote was not able to determine a clear winner between the two candidates, delegates agreed to postpone the decision on the ED selection to the next session of the ITTC in Yokohama, Japan, in November 2016. Delegates agreed on a decision to reopen the ED application process, and to consider a decision on the principle of rotating the ED between a Producer and Consumer ITTO member country.

In the morning, delegates met in separate Producer and Consumer caucus meetings, followed by concurrent sessions of the Committee on Reforestation and Forest Management, and the Committee on Finance and Administration. Delegates then met in a Council session to adopt reports of the committees and decisions on: projects, pre-projects and activities; the informal advisory group; matters related to admission of observers during Council sessions; and the terms of reference for an investigative panel into loss of funds due to failed investments.

The Council also elected Jennifer Conje (US) as Chair of ITTC-52, and Tabi Agyarko (Ghana) as Vice-Chair. Following concluding remarks, ITTC-51 Chair Freezailah closed the meeting at 7:04 pm.

On Friday, ITTC-51 entered its fifth day of discussions. In the morning, delegates met in a Joint Session of the Committees to continue discussions of ex-post project evaluations and ITTO’s application for accreditation to the Green Climate Fund.

This was followed by sessions of the Committee on Reforestation and Forest Management (CRF), the Committee on Finance and Administration (CFA), and the Committee on Economics, Statistics and Markets and the Committee on Forest Industry (CEM-CFI).

At lunch, the Working Group on admission of observers continued its discussions, as well as the CITES Advisory Committee. In the afternoon, Producers and Consumers held separate caucus meetings. Following this, Council met to discuss the selection of the new ITTO Executive Director. Although Council did not achieve consensus, delegates agreed to draft a decision establishing a “principle of rotation” which alternates between a Producer and Consumer member candidate. The Council also discussed the ITTO Fellowship Programme, which provides support for students and young professionals from Producer countries pursuing education and research in forestry and forestry-related trade.

In the evening, the CFA Working Group continued drafting a decision to establish the terms of reference for an investigation into the loss of ITTO funds due to failed investments.

On its fourth day, ITTC-51 continued discussions regarding the selection of the new ITTO executive director, with only two candidates remaining: Gerhard Dieterle, Germany, and Eduardo Mansur, Brazil. If consensus remains elusive, this will be put to a vote before the end of this session.

Council also discussed draft ITTO Guidelines on Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women, and a report on the merits of creating ITTO regional offices.

At lunch, the Civil Society Advisory Group (CSAG) held a side event on Forest Governance and Conversion of Forest to Plantations.

In the afternoon, the Committee on Finance and Administration (CFA) discussed the Biennial Administrative Budget and Contributions to the Administrative Budget, while the Committee on Economics, Statistics and Markets and the Committee on Forest Industry (CEM-CFI) met to discuss policy work including market access and forest certification.

An informal working group continued discussions on a decision on admitting observers to ITTC meetings.

On Wednesday, ITTC-51 entered its third day of discussions. In the morning, Council held a vote to select a new Executive Director, but no clear winner emerged. Council then discussed: enhancing cooperation with CITES; the ITTO/CBD Collaborative Initiative to Conserve Tropical Forests; developments within the UNFCCC related to tropical forests; and progress in implementation of the ITTO Thematic Programmes.

At lunch, the ITTO and the EU held a side event on Independent Market Monitoring, a project undertaken to evaluate the impact of the EU’s efforts to exclude imports of illegal timber. This was followed by the Annual Market Discussion, including perspectives from the US, Malaysia, and Myanmar. In the evening, a Working Group met to discuss the admission of observers, as well as meetings of the Committee on Reforestation and Forest Management (CRF); the Committee on Finance and Administration (CFA); and the Committee on Economics, Statistics and Markets and the Committee on Forest Industry (CEM-CFI).

On Tuesday, the fifty-first session of the International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC) entered its second day of discussions in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

In the morning, the Committee on Reforestation and Forest Management (CRF) and the Committee on Finance and Administration (CFA) met in parallel, followed by the Committee on Economics, Statistics and Markets and the Committee on Forest Industry (CEM-CFI). The CRF discussed, inter alia: policy work and the Biennial Work Programme, new projects and pre-projects, and the use of ITTO Guidelines on the Sustainable Management of Tropical Forests. The CFA discussed the loss of ITTO funds to failed overseas investments. An open-ended working group was formed to discuss this matter further and draft a decision on a course of action, for consideration by the Council. The CEM-CFI discussed new projects, projects that are currently in progress, and completed projects.

Later in the afternoon, the Council met to discuss the admission of observers, and after some discussion it was decided that Bruno Manser Fund would not be admitted. Delegates proceeded to discuss progress on implementing the Biennial Work Programme for 2015-2016, including strategic priorities on promoting good governance, and building human capacity to implement sustainable forest management.

In the evening, a Joint Committee Session was held to discuss ex-post evaluations of projects, including on participatory management of non-timber forest products in Indonesia, and community-based forest fire management in Ghana.

The fifty-first session of the International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC-51), 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, 16 November 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In the morning, delegates heard opening statements from the ITTO Interim Executive Director, the ITTC-51 Chair, the United Nations Forum on Forests, and ministers from Cameroon, Ghana, and Malaysia.

In the morning, the Council addressed organizational matters, including ascertainment of quorum for the meeting, distribution of votes, and adoption of the meeting’s agenda. The Council agreed to postpone discussion of admission of observers, pending the outcome of informal consultations. Council considered the report of the Informal Advisory Group, which includes revelations that US$6 million in ITTO funds had been lost in a failed investment. The IAG recommended that Council draft a decision to establish an investigation into the matter.

In the afternoon, Producers and Consumers met separately, followed by a Council session. Participants considered a report on options for admitting civil society observers to ITTC.

In the evening delegates attended a dinner hosted by the Malaysian Ministry of Plantation Industries.