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Members reaffirmed the key role of the Organization in promoting sustainable forest management and emphasized the need to demonstrate its continued relevance and long-term sustainability. They also looked ahead and considered the roadmap for negotiations and the key elements of a successor agreement.
Final report
Summary report 27–31 October 2025
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The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) promotes the conservation and sustainable management of tropical forests, and the trade of sustainably produced tropical timber. It also works to strengthen sustainable tropical timber supply chains.
ITTO operates through its governing body, the International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC), which comprises all ITTO members and meets annually to develop forest-related policies and approve and finance field-level projects. The Council is assisted by the Committees on: Economics, Statistics and Markets; Reforestation and Forest Management; Forest Industry; and Finance and Administration.
The 61st Session of the ITTC (ITTC-61) and sessions of the Associated Committees continued the ITTO’s work, including negotiation of the International Tropical Timber Agreement (ITTA). The Agreement was first negotiated over 40 years ago to address concerns about the world’s tropical forests and the countries that depend on them. It has since been negotiated twice—in 1994 and 2006.
ITTA, 2006 was due to expire in 2026, but, in May 2024, the ITTC extended the Agreement until 6 December 2029 to allow time for negotiating its replacement. As part of preparations for the ITTA negotiation, ITTC-60 extended the mandate of the Preparatory Working Group (PWG) for a year, asking it to work with the Secretariat and consultants to finalize the identification of elements to be considered in the future negotiations. The PWG presented its report to ITTC-61.
ITTC-61 also considered, among other things, the report of the Expert Panel for Technical Appraisal of Project Proposals, including new projects and pre-projects.
The Committees also continued discussions on policy matters, including legality frameworks, forest and timber certification and traceability, and sustainable wood use in domestic markets.
ITTC-61 convened from 27–31 October 2025 in Panama City, Panama, alongside the sessions of the associated committees.
The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) writers for this meeting were Tomilola Akanle Eni-ibukun, Ph.D.; Gabriella Boger Prado; and Matt Sommerville. The Digital Editor was Ángeles Estrada. The Editors were Chris Spence and Pam Chasek, Ph.D.
View past and future events
Past event
32nd Session of the ITTC
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33rd Session of the ITTC
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34th Session of the ITTC
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1st Session of the Preparatory Committee for the Negotiation of a Successor Agreement to the 1994 International Tropical Timber Agreement (ITTA, 1994)
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35th Session of the ITTC
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2nd Session of the Preparatory Committee for the Negotiation of a Successor Agreement to the 1994 International Tropical Timber Agreement (ITTA, 1994)
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36th Session of the ITTC
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1st Round of the UN Conference for the Negotiation of a Successor Agreement to the International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994 (ITTA 1994)
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37th Session of the ITTC
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2nd Round of the UN Conference for the Negotiation of a Successor Agreement to the International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994 (ITTA 1994)
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3rd Round of the UN Conference for the Negotiation of a Successor Agreement to the International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994 (ITTA 1994)
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39th Session of the ITTC
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4th Round of the UN Conference for the Negotiation of a Successor Agreement to the International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994 (ITTA 1994)
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41st Session of the ITTC
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42nd Session of the ITTC
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43rd Session of the ITTC
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44th Session of the ITTC
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45th Session of the ITTC
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46th Session of the ITTC
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47th Session of the ITTC
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50th Session of the ITTC
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51st Session of the ITTC
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52nd Session of the International Tropical Timber Council and the Associated Sessions of its Four Committees
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53rd Session of the International Tropical Timber Council and Associated Sessions of the Committees
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54th Session of the International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC-54) and Associated Sessions of the Committees
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56th Session of the International Tropical Timber Council and Associated Sessions of the Committees (ITTC-56)
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57th Session of the International Tropical Timber Council
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59th Session of the International Tropical Timber Council
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60th Session of the International Tropical Timber Council
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61st Session of the International Tropical Timber Council
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