On its second day, the 60th session of the International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC-60) zeroed in on industry and trade issues. The ITTC’s committees met in a joint session billed as a “Trade and Markets Day.” The joint session featured the ITTC’s Annual Market Discussion, a civil society panel, an update on market access and forest and timber certification issues, and discussion of the implications of the European Union Regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR).
The Annual Market Discussion, organized and moderated by the Trade Advisory Group (TAG), featured the theme of “Production and Trade: Rising Costs and Weakening Demand.” It included presentations and questions from the audience about the evolution of the wood industry in Australia, Brazil, Gabon, Mexico and Viet Nam.
The Annual Market Discussion also included a presentation on China’s Global Green Supply Chains Initiative (GCSC) and the Global Legal & Sustainable Timber Forum (GLSTF) that GCSC co-hosts with the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO). The GLSTF aims to foster networking and collaboration among producers, buyers, processors and market players to support initiatives to ensure legal and sustainable wood product supply chains.
Separately, a statement delivered by the Trade Advisory Group (TAG) called for ITTO to provide a person dedicated to working with GLSTF to rebuild tropical timber demand through the promotion of legal and sustainable supply chains.
The panel organized and moderated by the Civil Society Advisory Group (CSAG) focused on “Restoration Strategies and Experiences: Challenges and Lessons Learned.” The panel discussed, among other things: the role of sustainable use in forest and land restoration strategies; the role of women in community-led forest restoration efforts; and work on a global standard on promoting protection, restoration, and enhancement of biodiversity within different landscape types.
During the day, the ITTO Secretariat briefed delegates on developments regarding: the EUDR; Phase VII of the US Lacey Act; the reintroduced US bill to create an Act relating to Fostering Overseas Rule of Law and Environmentally Sound Trade; Australia’s Illegal Logging Prohibition Act; Japan’s Clean Wood Act; revisions to the Republic of Korea’s Sustainable Use of Timbers Act; and the Viet Nam Timber Legality Assurance System.
Robert Nasi, Chief Operating Officer, CIFOR-ICRAF, provided a more detailed briefing on the trade and market implications of the EUDR.
The joint session also considered project proposals recommended by the ITTO’s Expert Panel as ready for financing and discussed an ex-post thematic group evaluation of two projects regarding forest fires. The latter featured recommendations for changes in the ITTO Guidelines on Fire Management in Tropical Forests and for the establishment or strengthening of independent national and regional centers of excellence in landscape fire management.
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All ENB photos are free to use with attribution. For ITTC-60 please use: Photo by IISD/ENB | Sean Wu
Trade and Markets Day
Christine Wulandari, Civil Society Advisory Group (CSAG)
Danièlle Ramiaramanana, African Women’s Network for Community Forest Management (REFACOF), Madagascar
The dais during the presentation by Hin Keong Chen, TRAFFIC International, Malaysia
CSAG Chair Hin Keong Chen, TRAFFIC International, Malaysia
Delphine Ahoussi, Association MALEBI, Côte d'Ivoire
Hairani Mohd Ismail, Malaysia
Dambis Kaip, Papua New Guinea
Delegates listen to a presentation by Danièlle Ramiaramanana, REFACOF, Madagascar.
Lucy Amissah, CSIR-Forestry Research Institute, Ghana
Lydia Atutonu, REFACOF, Togo
Li Qiang, ITTO Secretariat, delivers a presentation.
Krishna Bahadur Singh, India
Vaneska Bethancourt, Panama
Ximena Buitrón Cisneros, Fairwild Foundation, Ecuador
Alfonso Hernández Ángel, National Association of Importers and Exporters of Forest Products, Mexico
Braden Jenkin, Sylva Systems Pty Ltd, Australia
Panelists on the dais engage with questions posed by Council members.
LUO Xinjian, Secretary General, Global Green Supply Chain Initiative (GGSC), China
Ivan Tomaselli, Brazilian Mechanically Processed Wood Industry Association, Brazil
Sheam Satkuru, ITTO Executive Director
Cindy Cheng, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
Award and MOU Ceremonies
Sheam Satkuru, ITTO Executive Director, delivers a speech praising Delphine Ahoussi, Association MALEBI, Côte d'Ivoire, for her outstanding contributions.
Sheam Satkuru, ITTO Executive Director
Delegates applaud Delphine Ahoussi.
Delphine Ahoussi, Association MALEBI, presents "Best Actor Award in the Defense of Forests, Wildlife, & Water Resources" to ITTO for its role in helping organize African women involved in community forest management.
Haji Hamden Mohammad, Forest Department Sarawak, Malaysia, and Sheam Satkuru, ITTO Executive Director, sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on ITTO projects in Sarawak.
Sheam Satkuru, ITTO Executive Director, receives a plaque of appreciation from the government of Sarawak, Malaysia.
A group photo of the Malaysia delegation with Sheam Satkuru, ITTO Executive Director, and Gerhard Breulmann, ITTO Director of Operations
Around the Venue
