Friday, 26 May
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High-Level Segment: Actions for the Future
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UNFF Coordinator and Head Pekka Patosaari and UNFF-5 Chair Manuel
Rodríguez-Becerra.
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Speaking for the EU, Octavia Modert of Luxembourg noted that decisions
would have to be postponed if targets and goals could not be agreed upon.
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Jim Anderson of New Zealand stressed biennial regional meetings, assessment
of progress, and new funding arrangements.
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Dato Sri Haji Adenan Bin Haji Satem of Malaysia called for firm political
commitment, capacity building and funding.
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Buyelwa Sonjica of South Africa called for the international arrangement on
forests (IAF) to identify concrete ways in which forests can contribute
to poverty alleviation.
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Valery Roshchupkin of the Russian Federation recommended an enhanced UNFF
role in policy development.
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Shri Namo Narain Meena of India highlighted the role of his country's
national Joint Forest Management principles in poverty eradication.
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Nicolas Forissier of France highlighted the successes of the Congo Basin
Partnership, and stressed ambition and flexibility in the IAF.
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Alexandre Barro Chambrier of Gabon, on behalf of the Central African Forest
Commission, regretted that deforestation continues.
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Penelope Beckles of Trinidad and Tobago emphasized watershed rehabilitation
and the challenge posed by natural disasters.
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Juha Korkeaoja of Finland expressed disappointment that a legally-binding
instrument (LBI) would not be achieved, and said that soft law would draw
soft commitment.
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Elliott Morley of the United Kingdom stressed that the status quo is
unacceptable.
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Martins Roze of Latvia called for clear definition of the state's role
in achieving sustainable forest management (SFM).
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Lincon Ralechate Mokose of Lesotho noted that its forest policy encourages
gender equality.
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Atilio Savino of Argentina recommended time-bound objectives based on
common interests.
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Zhu Lieke of China stressed national sovereignty over SFM and involvement
of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) and major groups in
policy development.
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Sandra Suárez Pérez of Colombia called for renewed political
and financial commitment from the international community.
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Trad Hamadeh of Lebanon noted that the Collaborative Partnership on
Forests (CPF) was a success, but highlighted the effects of violent
conflict on forests.
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Imre Németh of Hungary supported voluntary responsibility on
agreed guidelines.
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André van der Zande of the Netherlands stated that the
credibility of all forest-related processes is jeopardized by the
absence of action.
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Hosny El-Lakany of the CPF emphasized the importance of streamlined
forest reporting and noted that its members are accountable to their
respective governing bodies.
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Manoel Sobral of the International Tropical Timber Organization
stated deforestation is concentrated in 15 countries and that few
environmental services are provided by plantations.
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Hama Arba Diallo of UN Convention on Combating Desertification
cautioned against blaming deforestation on its victims.
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Conrod Hunte of the Convention on Biological Diversity highlighted
contributions of their 2010 Global
Biodiversity Targets and forest program.
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Steve Lonergan of the UN Environmental Program questioned why the
IAF remains weak, despite consensus regarding the decline of forest
ecosystems, and stated that the Millennium Development Goals
review will hold the UNFF accountable for inaction.
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Speaking for women, Jeanette Gurung noted the lack of recognition of
women at UNFF-5 and called for structural changes within forestry
organizations to address gender equity.
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Speaking for youth and children, Richard Modley recommended that
forestry profits reach those living in forests.
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Speaking for workers and trade unions, James Ernest Jones noted that
ending illegal forest activity is more a matter of social justice than
enforcement.
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Speaking for NGOs, Miguel Lovera stated that dialogue on an LBI has
hampered badly needed implementation, and that without clear and
quantifiable targets and reporting mechanisms most NGOs would not
participate in an IAF.
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Speaking for farmers and small forest landowners, Natalie Hufnagel
called for securing land tenure and property rights, and acknowledging
the contributions of forests to livelihoods.
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Speaking for indigenous peoples, Victoria Corpuz requested addition of
several references to the participation of indigenous peoples in the
Chair's text.
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Mike Fullerton of Canada asked the Chair for an update on the status of
the contact group negotiations, but no update was provided.
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M.A. Oyebo of Nigeria requested capacity building, financial flows,
market access and transfer of environmentally-sound technologies.
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Edwin Angel Aguilera Antunes of Bolivia pointed to the effects of
conflict on forests, and recommended democratizing access to forest
resources.
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Lars Sponheim of Norway stressed the need for global targets and
timetables, cross-sectoral partnerships, and a regional component of the
IAF.
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F.D.C. Nhema of Zimbabwe called for additional financial resources to
address challenges in implementing SFM, including high national
indebtedness, poverty, HIV/AIDS and national disasters.
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Zakia Meghji of Tanzania pointed to a positive correlation between
forest conservation and achievment of international development goals.
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Mahmout Hajjati of Iran stated that low forest cover countries
should enjoy adequate support from the international community and an
appropriate place in the new IAF.
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Tomasz Podgajniak of Poland emphasized the global community's common
responsibility for forests.
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Leoncio Alvares Vásquez of Peru listed their initiatives toward
SFM, including recognizing the ancestral rights of indigenous people.
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Syed Mahmood Nasir of Pakistan listed its efforts to reduce dependence
on natural forests.
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Ivica Grbac of Croatia trumpeted its success in achieving Forest
Stewardship Council certification of state forests.
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Nedson Nzowa of Zambia highlighted its internalization of MEA
commitments.
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Claudia McMurray of the United States proposed development of a voluntary
code based on a shared vision and a coherent framework.
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Ramon J.P. Paje of the Philippines conveyed the urgency of addressing
deforestation through adequate means of implementation.
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Beat Nobs of Switzerland stressed its preference for an LBI that would
guarantee financing, but added they are ready to explore consensus
alternatives that contain time-bound goals complemented by national
targets.
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Mutsuyoshi Nishimura of Japan supported adopting a practical course of
action and a code of conduct.
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Duason Jovic of Serbia and Montenegro stressed the importance of
decentralization, democratization and participatory planning.
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Guido Scalici of Italy highlighted forest governance and law enforcement
as central issues, particularly in post-conflict situations.
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Ananta Raj Pandey of Nepal pointed to the lack of financial resources
for SFM.
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Sinikka Bohlin of Sweden stressed the importance of women's role in
forests.
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John Talbot of Australia emphasized regional approaches and a strong IAF
reflected in meaningful implementation.
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Jim Farrell of Canada professed commitment to official development
assistance and the IAF, but cautioned that they and other
countries would pursue alternative processes if the UNFF fails to
address deforestation and forest degradation.
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James Singh of Guyana stated that any proposed LBI must be accompanied
by assurance of adequate financial resources.
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Ty Sokhun of Cambodia supported an LBI as the most effective mechanism,
and stressed his nation's commitment to implement the Proposals for Action.
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Carlos Weber of Chile emphasized addressing underlying causes of
disagreement within the UNFF.
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Rodney López Clemente of Cuba stated that developing countries
have yet to receive necessary means of implementation.
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Marco Suazo of Honduras described Central America's regional approaches
and stated their preference for an LBI.
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Vasile Lupu of Romania chaired the afternoon plenary.
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