The 61st session of the International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC-61) closed on Friday, with Members authorizing financing for the immediate implementation of 20 projects, pre-projects, and activities.
The Council adopted four decisions, including endorsement of nine projects and pre-projects approved through its time-bound electronic no-objection procedure. It also extended the mandate of the Preparatory Working Group (PWG) until ITTC-62, requesting it to work with the Secretariat, in line with the revised roadmap, to further analyze elements relevant to the negotiation of a successor agreement to the International Tropical Timber Agreement (ITTA) and to make recommendations for addressing these elements. The Council also requested that the PWG submit a report, including recommendations on the tentative roadmap for 2027, to the Preparatory Committee and ITTC-62.
The Council elected Cassandra Price (Australia) as Chair of ITTC-62, and Japan announced that ITTC-62 will convene in the second week of November 2026, in conjunction with the first Preparatory Committee meeting.
During the closing session, ITTO Executive Director Sheam Satkuru commended ITTO Projects Manager Polycarpe Masupa-Kambale for his contributions and long service, recognizing his forthcoming retirement this year. Members joined in expressing appreciation and congratulations, underscoring his dedication to the Organization.
The EU, Peru, India, New Zealand, Indonesia, China, Brazil, Canada, Panama, Benin, Colombia, the UK, Mexico, Thailand, Australia, and spokespersons for Producers and Consumers thanked the ITTO Secretariat for their work and expressed gratitude to Panama for hosting ITTC-61.
ITTC-61 Chair Carlos Espinosa Peña (Panama) commended the Secretariat, donors, and the governments of Japan and Panama, emphasizing Members’ shared commitment to conserving tropical forests and promoting sustainable business. He noted that each delegation’s contributions had strengthened ITTO as a cooperative platform uniting producers and consumers, affirming, “we are not two groups; we are one organization that works together and cooperates for a better world.”
Espinosa expressed hope that continued collaboration and alignment with global agreements, including the Paris Agreement and Agenda 2030, would deliver tangible outcomes for conservation and sustainable development.
The session closed at 12:07 p.m.
Council
Cassandra Price, ITTC-61 Vice Chair, Carlos Espinosa Peña, ITTC-61 Chair, Sheam Satkuru, ITTO Executive Director, and Gerhard Breulmann, Director of Operations, ITTO Secretariat
ITTC-62 incoming Chair Cassandra Price (Australia) presents a framed gavel to outgoing ITTC-61 Chair Carlos Espinosa Peña (Panama).
Kenneth Tabliga, the Philippines
Geynar Quetzali Delgado Muñoz, Mexico
Simon Jeavons, UK
Carlos Espinosa Peña, ITTC-61 Chair
Su Haiying, China
Roberto Hernán Seminario Portocarrero, Peru
ITTC-61 Members thank ITTO Projects Manager Polycarpe Masupa-Kambale for his long service and contributions to the ITTO
Masami Fukata, Japan
Ayelo Hounmenou Gauthier, Benin
Anne Theo Seinen, EU
Santosh Tewari, India
Rata Muda, New Zealand
Korogone Sinagabe Ulysse, Benin
Vaneska Bethancourt, Panama
Jerson Leonardo González Umaña, Colombia
Talha Sadiq, Canada
Committees
Kenneth Tabliga, the Philippines
Yves-Marie Leonet, EU
Björn Merkell, Sweden
Jennifer Conje, Director of Forest Management, ITTO Secretariat
Mohammed Nurudeen Iddrisu, Director of Trade and Industry, ITTO Secretariat
Rina Kristanti, Indonesia
Carmen Roseli Menezes, Brazil
Muhammad Zahrul Muttaqin, Indonesia
Jennifer Conje, Director of Forest Management, ITTO Secretariat, and Björn Merkell, Sweden
Around the Venue
ENB Team: Gabriella Boger Prado, Brazil; Tomilola Akanle Eni-ibukun, UK/Nigeria; Matt Sommerville, US, and Ángeles Estrada, Argentina
