ENB @ UNFF8, New York: Highlights for 22 April 2009

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	Eighth Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests United Nations Headquarters, New York \| 20 April - 1 May 2009


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Earth Day at UNFF8

On Wednesday, 22 April, the eighth session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF8) convened at UN headquarters. In the morning, UNFF8 delegates continued to hear general statements, and participated in a Multi-stakeholder Dialogue, which included a panel discussion on forests, women and fuelwood. In the afternoon, delegates convened in two working groups, focusing, respectively, on forests in a changing environment, and means of implementation.

Above: UNFF banners listing the Global Objectives on Forests.

Wednesday, 22 April
Plenary
Koji Hattori, Japan.	Wandojo Siswanto, Indonesia.	Pablo Cisneros Andrade, Peru.
Tarita Holm, Palau.	Aitkul Burhanov, Kyrgyzstan.	Heikki Granholm, Finland.
Multi-stakeholder Dialogue
Delegates heard statements from six Major Groups in the Multi-stakeholder Dialogue, which was moderated by Peter Mayer, Executive Director of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO).
Dialogue moderator Peter Mayer, IUFRO.	Andrei Laletin, NGOs, and Hubertus Samangun, Indigenous People.
Ghan Shyam Pandey, Farmers and Small Forest Landowners.	Joseph Cobbinah, Scientific and Technological Community.	Pieter van Midwoud, Children and Youth.
Panel: Forests, Women and Fuelwood
Assistant-Secretary-General Rachel Mayanja, Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women, moderated a panel discussion on Forests, Women and Fuelwood.
Assistant-Secretary-General Rachel Mayanja.	Carolyn Makinson, Executive Director, Women's Refugee Commission.	Lambert Okrah, Secretary-General, Institute of Cultural Affairs International.
Working Group I: Forests in a Changing Environment
Delegates continued discussions on forests and climate change, biodiversity, and land degradation, and considered a document on key challenges. Delegates then debated whether UNFF8 should send a message to UNFCCC and how to negotiate it.
Working Group II: Means of Implementation
Delegates discussed the two proposals for future SFM financing - a global forest fund and a facilitative mechanism. They elaborated on the proposals, including details on proposed administration of the fund or mechanism.
Side Events
The governments of Switzerland and South Africa hosted an event on the Durban Country-Led Initiative on forest governance and decentralization in Africa.
IUFRO organized an event, "Making Forests Fit for Change," on activities at the science-policy interface.
Around UNFF8
UNFF Director Jan McAlpine and Programme Officer Mita Sen reviewed documents.	President Evo Morales Ayma, Bolivia, smiled while discussing his country's proposal that the General Assembly recognize 22 April as "International Mother Earth Day." L-R: President Morales, Tariq Banuri, Director, Division for Sustainable Development of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann, President of the 63rd Session of the UN General Assembly.