ENB @ UNFF8, New York: Highlights for 20 April 2009

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	Eighth Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests United Nations Headquarters, New York \| 20 April - 1 May 2009


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Curtain Raiser
Mon 20 Apr
Tue 21 Apr
Wed 22 Apr

Fri 01 May &
Summary

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Eighth Session of UN Forum on Forests in New York

On Monday, 20 April, the eighth session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF8) convened at UN Headquarters in New York. In a morning plenary session, delegates heard opening statements and addressed organizational matters, progress towards sustainable forest management (SFM), and enhanced cooperation. In the afternoon, a panel discussion was held on the financial crisis and SFM, and plenary addressed means of implementation.

Jan McAlpine, Director, UNFF Secretariat, presented on the Secretary-General's report on achieving the four Global Objectives on Forests and implementing the Forest Instrument, highlighting that further work is needed in addressing forest degradation.

Jan Heino, Chair of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), presented on enhanced cooperation and the CPF Framework 2008 and 2009, and outlined CPF joint initiatives and ongoing collaborations.

Delegates then heard opening statements from member States and regional groups, which continued into the afternoon.

McAlpine presented the Secretary-General's report on finance and other means of implementation for SFM, and called for implementation to start immediately following UNFF8. A brief discussion ensued.

Monday, 20 April
Plenary

Sha Zukang, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs.	UNFF8 Chairman Boen M. Purnama, Indonesia.	Jan Heino, Chair of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests.
André De Jesus Moda, Angola.	Jan McAlpine, Director, UNFF Secretariat.
Tomás Krejzar, Czech Republic for the EU.	Ruth Turia, Papua New Guinea.	Rajan Sehgal, India.
Michael Jong Tjien Fa, Suriname.	Fernando Coimbra, Brazil.	John Matuszak, US.
Moshibudi Rampedi, South Africa.	John Talbot, Australia.	Nancy Cespedes, Chile.
Panel on The Financial Crisis and SFM: Threat and Opportunity
Invited speakers from Conservation International, the World Bank and the ITTO outlined the negative effects of the global financial crisis on the world's forests and highlighted some tools for financing SFM. They also called for UNFF to convey to the UNFCCC that a future climate agreement needs to address the role of forests, and should include natural, intact forests.
Russ Mittermeier, President, Conservation International.	Warren Evans, Director, Environment Department, World Bank.
Emmanuel Ze Meka, Executive Director, ITTO.	Hiro Miyazono, Japan International Cooperation Agency.	José Luis Sutera, Argentina.
Side Events
The NFP Facility and PROFOR presented a side event on forest financing strategies and country experiences.
Rights and Resources and ACICAFOC presented a side event on community-based forestry for forest-based climate change mitigation.
Around UNFF8
A view of plenary in the afternoon.		Tiina Vähänen, FAO, Sibylle Vermont, Switzerland, and other delegates chatted in the margins.