ITTO Side Event at COP 13 of UNFCCC on Monday 10 Dec 2007: Sustainable forest management to reduce deforestation and forest degradation in the tropics

ITTO Side Event at COP 13 of UNFCCC on Monday 10 Dec 2007: Sustainable forest management to reduce deforestation and forest degradation in the tropics

Date & venue: 10 December 2007,Room IV GH, Grand Hyatt Hotel

Organizers

ITTO in collaboration with the Brazilian Forest Service and the United Nations University-Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS)

Sustainable forest management to reduce deforestation and forest degradation in the tropics

Photo:ENB

ITTO has been promoting sustainable forest management (SFM) in the tropics for two decades. ITTO, collaborators and project participants shared their experiences in enhancing SFM focusing on avoided deforestation and conservation of biodiversity. In addition, a tropical perspective of combating deforestation in the context of the UNFCCC was presented.

The event was covered by the Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB)
Emmanuel Ze Meka, ITTO, noted ITTO’s role in promoting sustainable forest management (SFM) and translating policy discussions into action.
Masahiro Amano, Waseda University, cautioned that focusing solely on forests’ ability to sequester carbon may lead to the conversion of natural forests to fast-growing plantations, and called for the recognition of other values such as biodiversity.
Tasso Azevedo, Brazilian Forest Service, noted that 15% of the Amazon has disappeared in the last 30 years, releasing approximately one billion tons of carbon dioxide per annum, and highlighted progress achieved through Brazil’s Action Plan to Prevent and Control Deforestation.
A.H. Zakri, UN University, presented on the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, highlighting a precipitous decline in global ecosystem services over the past 50 years.
Hermayani Putera, WWF-Indonesia, described the ITTO’s role in supporting community-based conservation of the ecologically rich Betung Kerihun National Park, Borneo, noting civil society’s strengthened ability to combat illegal logging.
Etienne Nkomo, Ministry of Forest and Wildlife, Cameroon, presented on an ITTO-supported biodiversity conservation project in Cameroon and Gabon and described protection and development approaches employed.
Carmenza Robledo, Intercooperation Switzerland, noted that few climate change mitigation options presented by forests have been considered to date. She encouraged the designation of “permanent forest estates” to be managed according to SFM principles, and stressed the need to tailor incentives to counter local drivers of deforestation.
Participants discussed the potential costs of further delaying action on REDD, and the costs of implementation.


Presentations:

Moderator: Prof Masahiro Amano, Waseda University, Japan

  1. Introductory remarks
    Emmanuel Ze Meka, Executive Director, ITTO
  2. Sustainable forest management and climate change
    Masahiro Amano, Waseda University, Japan
  3. Combating deforestation and promoting SFM in Brazil
    Tasso Azevedo, Director General, Brazilian Forest Service
  4. Tropical forests, climate change and biodiversity: Lessons from the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
    A.H. Zakri, Director, UNU-IAS, Japan
  5. Project experiences
    • Avoiding deforestation in the Betung Kerihun National Park, West
      Kalimantan, Indonesia in a community-based conservation programme
      by Mr Hermayani Putera, WWF-Indonesia
    • Biodiversity conservation in the Mengamé-Minkébé Transboundary Gorilla Sanctuary at the Cameroon-Gabon Border
      Etienne NKOMO, Ministry of Environment and Forestry of Cameroon
  6. Combating deforestation and forest degradation in the context of the UNFCCC: A new opportunity for enhancing SFM in the tropics
    Carmenza Robledo, Intercooperation, Switzerland
  7. Questions and answers (30 min)
  8. Cocktails and buffet dinner (9:30- )

Contact

Hwan Ok Ma
Projects Manager
ITTO
Email: ma@itto.or.jp