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CMS Seventh Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests
United Nations Headquarters, New York | 16-27 April 2007
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Forest Delegates Hear from Stakeholders, CPF Members

On Wednesday, 18 April, the Seventh Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF7) convened at UN Headquarters in New York to discuss the non-legally binding instrument (NLBI) on all types of forests, and the Multi-Year Programme of Work (MYPOW) for the period 2008-2015. In the morning plenary, delegates heard a panel discussion from member organizations of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), followed by a multi-stakeholder dialogue. In the afternoon, delegates convened in two working groups to discuss the NLBI and the MYPOW.


Wednesday, 18 April
Collaborative Partnership on Forests

UNFF7 Chair Hans Hoogeveen invited representatives of the CPF member organizations to report on priorities regarding sustainable forest management.

Pekka Patosaari, Director, UNFF Secretariat, reviewed ECOSOC resolutions regarding UNFF's role in the coordination of forest policy.

Luis Macchiavello, International Tropical Timber Organization, said SFM in tropical forests involves complex issues requiring inter-agency cooperation.

Jorge Rodriguez, UN Development Programme, urged mobilization of resources through multilateral environmental organizations.

Andrew Bennett, Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), called for clear guidance from partners about their priorities.

Warren Evans, World Bank, outlined the proposed Global Forest Alliance.

Risto Seppala, International Union of Forest Research Organizations, highlighted a new joint CPF initiative on science and technology.

Jan Heino, FAO, stressed the FAO's efforts at enhancing cooperation and coordination among partners.

Mark Zimsky, Global Environment Facility (GEF), highlighted a framework strategy for SFM to be presented to the GEF Council.

Costa Rica urged strengthening collaboration at the regional level.

Tony Bartlett, Australia, proposed allocating more time for dialogue with CPF members in the future.

The Dominican Republic advocated effective use of resources focusing on national priorities.
Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue

Farmers and Small Forest Landowners called for clear and secure tenure and land use rights and a mechanism to support public-private partnerships.

Women underscored concerns including lack of capacities within forestry institutions to design and monitor gender-responsive strategies.

Children and Youth highlighted the relationship between SFM and intergenerational equity.

NGOs cautioned against relying on market solutions to forest destruction.

Indigenous Peoples called for recognizing indigenous and local communities's rights.

Scientific and Technological Communities supported NLBI text on increasing scientific and technological capacity and cooperation.

Workers and Labor Unions called for references to relevant conventions of the International Labor Organization in the NLBI.

Senegal called for future multi-stakeholder dialogues to include local communities involved in SFM.

Tono Kružic, Croatia, urged the participation of forest certification organizations in future multi-stakeholder dialogues.
Working Group I (NLBI)

Hamidon Ali, Malaysia, and Hans Hoogeveen, the Netherlands, co-chaired Working Group I, discussing the non-legally binding instrument.

Javad Amin-Mansour, Islamic Republic of Iran, urged the working group to arrive at positive outcomes.

Argentina emphasized strengthening national forest law.

Bernardo Velloso, Brazil, opposed references to sharing traditional knowledge in the context of forest conservation.
Working Group II (MYPOW)

André-Jules Madingou, Gabon, and Arvids Ozols, Latvia, co-chaired Working Group II, discussing the Multi-Year Programme of Work.

The Institute of Cultural Affairs International proposed the first international day of forests focus on "forests with people."

South Africa, for the African Group, suggested amended text on emerging issues relating to forests. South Africa, for the African Group, proposed ad hoc expert groups provide advice about emerging forest issues.

Venezuela opposed a paragraph reiterating the seven thematic elements.

Related Links

United Nations Forum on Forests
UNFF 7
UNFF-7 Provisional Agenda

Related IISD Coverage of Forest Meetings

18th Session of the FAO Committee on Forestry, 13-16 March 2007, Rome
CLI in Support of the UNFF: Multi-Year Programme of Work, 13-16 February 2007, Bali
UNFF Ad hoc Expert Group Meeting, 11-15 December 2006, New York
Sixth Session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF-6), 13-24 February 2006, New York
CLI in Support of the UNFF: Scoping a Future Agreement on Forests, 16-18 November 2005, Berlin
Fifth Session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF-5), 16-27 May 2005, New York
CLI in Support of the UNFF: Future International Arrangement on Forests, 25-28 January 2005, Guadalajara
UNFF Ad Hoc Expert Group Meeting (AHEG-PARAM) 7-10 September 2004, New York
Fourth Session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF-4), 3-14 May 2004, Geneva

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