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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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Blue Skies, Optimism at Midpoint of Forest Forum

On Friday, 20 April, the Seventh Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF7) convened in two working groups 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 2007-2015. In the afternoon, delegates reconvened in plenary to take stock of the week's work, and Chair Hoogeveen encouraged them to enjoy the pleasant weekend weather while reviewing documents, including co-chairs' texts that will be released Sunday morning.


Friday, 20 April
Working Group I - NLBI

Working Group I completed the first reading of a draft composite text on the NLBI.

Bernardo Velloso, Brazil, preferred focusing information exchange on implementation of SFM and the Global Objectives.

The Dominican Republic said technical assistance for monitoring and reporting should not come from the UNFF Secretariat.

Costa Rica noted many existing regional processes are too general.

Luis Ernesto Barrera Garavito, Guatemala, stressed the importance of regional organizations and processes in the implementation of SFM.

Tony Bartlett, Australia, suggested the UNFF monitor and assess the instrument's implementation, provision of financial resources, and modalities for technology transfer.

Ecuador called for reference to enhancing the institutional capacity of developing countries.

On Secretariat collaboration with other bodies, Nigeria, for the African Group, opposed denoting major groups.

Sibylle Vermont, Switzerland, supported retention of text on progress review.

Oleg Shamanov, Russian Federation, opposed including non-preambular text on adoption, principles and purpose in the preamble.
Working Group II - MYPOW

Working Group II continued discussion on a proposed matrix for the MYPOW on themes and cross-cutting issues.

Mohammad Naeemi, Afghanistan, supported means of implementation as a major theme for UNFF8.

Indonesia supported the theme "Forests for Growth and Sustainability" for UNFF10.

The Philippines called for a focus on people and communities in forests.

Papua New Guinea felt strongly about the inclusion of climate change as a key task at UNFF8.

Charles Barber, US, requested equal emphasis on means of implementation and governance and law, given inter-linkages between them.

Stefanie von Scheliha, Germany for the EU, stressed climate change as an important component of the economic-themed session.
Plenary


Working Group II Co-Chair Arvids Ozols, Latvia, reported on the group's progress.

UNFF7 Chair Hans Hoogeveen complimented delegates on their hard work, and urged them to find common ground on remaining issues of contention.

Indonesia thanked the Chair and the working group Co-Chairs for their hard work.

Stephanie Caswell, US, asked the Secretariat for a report on the status of the UNFF trust fund.

Bangladesh noted an omission in the provisional list of participants.

Javad Amin-Mansour, Islamic Republic of Iran, expressed hopes that no more than two sessions would occur in parallel, for the sake of small delegations.
Around the Forum

In what has become an annual tradition, delegates from the Children and Youth major group gathered for a photo in the hall of flags.

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

IISD Linkages - Forest, Desertification, Land
A Brief Introduction to Global Forest Policy
Linkages Update
MEA-L - Multilateral Environmental Agreements Listserve
Africa Regional Coverage

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