The 17th meeting between the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) and the International Commodity Bodies (ICBs) was hosted by the International Tropical Timber Organization in Yokohama, Japan on 31 August 2010. In his Opening remarks, the Executive Director of ITTO, Mr. Emmanuel Ze Meka noted that the amount of funds mobilized by ITTO in relation to the enormity of the task of assisting its member countries in addressing the pressing problems and challenges confronting tropical forests was very modest. He also stressed the relevance and potency of the partnership between CFC, the ICBs and the FAO intergovernmental commodity groups in advancing commodity sector development as the key strategy towards improving economies and livelihoods in developing countries.
The Managing Director of the Common Fund for Commodities, Ambassador Ali Mchumo also noted that the annual meetings offered an excellent opportunity for the CFC and the ICBs to reflect on their common goal of commodity development. The meeting reviewed the impact of the financial and economic crisis on commodities; preparations for the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC IV) to be convened in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2011; the European Union commodity policies and the role of CFC and ICBs; the future role and mandate of the Common Fund for Commodities; progress report on the implementation of the Third Five-Year Action Plan of CFC; and a Joint ICB/CFC communication strategy. Commodity Bodies represented at the meeting included the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan; International Coffee Organization; International Copper, Nickel and Lead and Zinc Study Groups; International Jute Study Group; International Olive Council; International Rubber Study Group; International Cotton Advisory Council; International Sugar Organization; and ITTO. Other participants were from CFC, FAO, UNCTAD and the European Union.
ITTO hosts meeting of Common Fund for Commodities and International Commodity Bodies
Participants of the 17th CFC/ICB meeting. Photo: K. Sakaguchi/ITTO
ITTO at IUFRO World Congress
ITTO established the Children’s Environmental Education Programme (CEEP) to enhance children’s awareness and knowledge of the important role of tropical forests in addressing climate change and biodiversity loss. At the XXIII IUFRO World Congress in Seoul, Korea, ITTO provided an overview of CEEP and lessons learned from other relevant programmes at a side event on 25 August 2010. The event discussed challenges and opportunities to strengthen the network of relevant institutions and individuals contributing to environmental education on tropical forests. ITTO also launched the new World Atlas of Mangroves at IUFRO (see photo) and co-hosted an event on "Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT): Opportunities and Challenges " with the Chinese Academy of Forestry, the European Forest Institute and the European Commission.
Conference on transboundary conservation in tropical forests concludes
The International Conference on Biodiversity Conservation in Transboundary Tropical Forests which was held in Quito on 21–24 July 2010 reviewed some of the most significant transboundary conservation area initiatives in Latin America, Africa and Asia and canvassed the essential elements for their success.
Procuring favorably
Timber procurement policies have evolved rapidly in recent years. Spurred by concerns over illegal logging and unsustainable forestry (often in the tropics), policies restricting purchases to legal and/or sustainable timber have proliferated. Such policies were initially adopted by developed country governments to guide their purchases of timber for public works projects, usually the only segment of the market that governments can exert direct influence over.
World Atlas of Mangroves released
An unprecedented partnership of organizations – from forestry and conservation sectors and from across the United Nations – have released a new and comprehensive map and account of mangrove forests. These forests which straddle land and sea are found in 123 countries in tropical and subtropical regions. Globally they are rare, covering only 150 000 square kilometers. They are also disappearing faster than any other forest type on earth.
New on-line statistical database available
A database on production and trade of tropical timber is now available on-line covering all ITTO member countries for the period 1994-2009. The database, based on data previously only available from ITTO's Annual Reviews, allows users to develop their own queries and extract data for their own uses. The database will be updated annually as new data becomes available. Users are invited to access the database through the link below and provide any comments or queries to ITTO (eimi@itto.int).
