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Sixth Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF-6) 13-24 February 2006 | UN Headquarters, New York Highlights from Wednesday, 15 February 2006 On Wednesday, 15 February, the sixth session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF-6) continued the review of the international arrangement on forests (IAF). In morning and afternoon sessions, delegates convened in two Working Groups to begin the second reading of the Chair’s draft text. Working Group 1 (WGI) discussed the general mandate of the IAF, strategic objectives, legal framework and the instrument. WGII considered the means of implementation, enhanced cooperation and working modalities.

Daily web coverage: 13 February - 14 February - 15 February - 16 February - 17 February 20 February - 21 February - 22 February - 23 February - 24 February

Working Group I

with

Jacques Andoh Alle, Minister of Environment, Water and Forests, Cote D'Ivoire, made a presentation on national efforts to strengthen sustainable forest management (SFM), and increase participation of all relevant stakeholders in decision-making. He called for strengthening international forest dialogue and establishment of a consensual non-legally binding instrument and appropriate financial mechanisms. Working Group Co-Chair Franz Xaver Perrez with Pekka Patosaari, UNFF Director

Stephanie Caswell, US, intervenes during Working Group I (left) and delegates read the daily ENB (right)

On a legal framework, South Africa, speaking for the African Group, called for language recognizing the need for ongoing discussions regarding the option of an LBI. Delegates from Guatemala and Costa Rica

Working Group II

Working Group II Co-Chairs Tono Kruzic, Croatia, and Majdi Ramadan, Lebanon

Simone Meira Dias, Brazil (left) and Ghana, speaking for the African Group in Working Group II

On mobilizing resources, the EU proposed adding text to include the use of foreign and direct investment, national development budgets and public-private partnerships.

On means of implementation, Ghana, on behalf of the African Group (left), proposed the creation of a global forestry fund to support SFM, accessible to developing countries and administered by the World Bank. A delegate from Malaysia (center); Jurgen Blaser, Switzerland, cautioned against the creation of a new forest fund, noting the focus should be on replenishing existing funds.

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Relevant links: Official website of the United Nations Forum on Forests UNFF 6 website Official documents ENB coverage of the UNFF and other forest processes: UN Conference for the Negotiation of a Successor Agreement to the International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994, 4th Part 16-27 January, 2006 Europe and North Asia Forest Law Enforcement and Governance 22-25 November, 2005 Scoping for a Future Agreement on Forests 16-18 November, 2005 ITCC-39 7-12 November, 2005 UN Conference for the Negotiation of a Successor Agreement to the International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994, 3rd Part, 27 June-1 July, 2005 UNFF-5 16-27 May, 2005 FAO Committee on Forestry: 14-19 March 2005

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