In keeping with the amicable tone that has come to characterize the ITTO over the last decade, ITTC-37 unfolded without any real contention. In this regard, delegates were able to make swift agreement on a decision to enhance cooperation between the ITTO and CITES for ramin and mahogany, and experienced only minor delays in formulating a decision on improving the effectiveness of the ITTO project cycle. Of course, with the negotiation of the successor agreement to the ITTA, 1994 in full swing, one might expect that the negotiations might slow down the routine work of the organization. However, this did not seem to be the case at ITTC-37. The overall sense at ITTO is that there is much to gain by giving the ITTO greater visibility within the international community. By all accounts, this appears to be happening. Delegates to ITTC-37 approved 25 projects and 5 pre-projects and pledged US $10 million for project financing.

Above photo L-R: Al Hassan Attah, ITTC-37 Vice-Chair, Jan McAlpine, ITTC-37 Chair and Manoel Sobral Filho, ITTO Executive Director.

Above photo: Joe Cobbinah (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa, PROTO), announced the survey of plant resources in tropical Africa. 

Above photo: Cleto Ndikumagenge (CSAG), described the cooperation between CSAG and ITTC particularly in the areas of transparency of trade and illegal logging.

Above photo L-R: Y. Bhg. Dato’ Dr. Freezailah bin Che Yeom, talked about the Objective 2000, Bali Partnership fund, certification and the Successor Agreement; Luiz Gasser spokesperson for the Producer Group in consultation with Aulikki Kauppila, spokesperson for the Consumer Group. Aulikki Kauppila, also expressed the Consumer Caucus’s view that the improvement of ITTO’s project cycle will contribute to its good reputation and ability to attract more funds.

Ghana welcomed the election of the new ITTC Chair, Alhassan Attah (Ghana). 

Manoel Sobral Filho, ITTO Executive Director, informed delegates that US $10 million had been pledged for project financing at this Council session

Al Hassan Attah (Ghana), ITTC Chair for 2005, said that all people have a common cause to sustainably manage forests and associated trade to ensure the flow of benefits to all segments of society.

Koichi Ito (Japan), ITTC Vice-Chair for 2005, noted that SFM continues to be among the top priorities of Japanese environmental international cooperation.

Above photos: Al Hassan Attah (Ghana), ITTC Chair for 2005 presented a gift to Jan McAlpine outgoing ITTC Chair.  

Jan McAlpine (US), outgoing ITTC Chair, presented some of ITTO’s positive achievements over the years, namely its: increased visibility and recognition around the world, leadership on trade issues within the Collaborative Partnership on Forests and improved relationship with CITES, FAO and civil society.

Above photos: Jan McAlpine, ITTC-37 Chair gavelled the meeting to a close at 2:08 +9GMT; Chair McAlpine with daughter Ana McAlpine at the conclusion of the meeting.