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New project to support SFM, biodiversity conservation in Africa, latest initiative under joint ITTO/CBD program

ITTO Executive Director Emmanuel Ze Meka and Japan’s Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Toshiyuki Kato commemorate the funding agreement. Photo: ITTO

ITTO Executive Director Emmanuel Ze Meka and Japan’s Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Toshiyuki Kato commemorate the funding agreement. Photo: ITTO

The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) and the Government of Japan signed a letter of understanding for funding of 278 million Japanese yen (USD 3.6 million) to implement a large capacity-building project to support five Congo Basin countries to provide training on sustainable forest management (SFM) and biodiversity.

ITTO, BirdLife International agree to pursue common goals on tropical forests

The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) and the non-governmental organization BirdLife International signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on January 24, 2012 with the objective of enhancing cooperation and collaboration and to facilitate implementation of the two organizations’ respective work programs.

Katsuhiro Kotari, eminent forester and friend to ITTO, passed away on December 25, 2011

Katsuhiro Kotari, a key member of the Japanese government team that negotiated the first International Tropical Timber Agreement (1983) in the 1970s and early 1980s, passed away on December 25th, 2011.

New accord for tropical forests enters into force

The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) announced the entry into force of the International Tropical Timber Agreement, 2006 (ITTA, 2006) effective Wednesday, December 7th 2011. The ratification of the agreement by the West African nation of Benin triggered the entry into force of this successor agreement to the Organization’s current governing treaty (ITTA, 1994).

ITTO signs MOU with UNCCD at COP 17 Side Event

ITTO and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote collaborative initiatives on shared objectives on 7 December 2011 in Durban, South Africa, at an ITTO Side Event during the COP 17 of UNFCCC.

Twenty-three fellowships awarded

Twenty-three fellowships were awarded by the International Tropical Timber Organization at the 47th session of the International Tropical Timber Council. The newest group of fellowship recipients represents 13 different countries and includes ten female fellows.