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WRM Bulletin
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WRM GENERAL ACTIVITIES - Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (IFF) This forum met for its first time in New York (1-3 October), with the participation of an important number of NGOs and indigenous peoples organizations. The IFF is the continuation of the process of the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests (IPF), which presented its conclusions to the CSD in April 1997. The IFF discussed the terms of reference of its future work and grouped it under the following categories (see full text at the end of this bulletin): CATEGORY I: Promoting and facilitating the implementation of IPF's proposals for action, and reviewing, monitoring and reporting on progress in the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests CATEGORY II: Considering matters left pending and other issues arising from the programme elements of the IPF process a) Consider matters left pending on the need for financial
resources. CATEGORY III: International arrangements and mechanisms to promote the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests. NGOs present at the meeting were able to attend the sessions, to make a number of statements and to lobby government delegates. There was consensus on the positive role of NGOs and indigenous peoples’ organizations in the IFF and the need to maintain an open and participatory process. The Forum also agreed on the usefulness of holding interessional meetings on specific issues and that these could be organized jointly by governments and NGOs. Intersessionals will have an informal nature and will inform the IFF. A group of about 15 NGOs/indigenous groups presented a statement at a formal session offering to organize an intersessional workshop on underlying causes of deforestation, inviting governments and UN agencies to participate. Such workshop would include presentations by governments and indigenous organizations/NGOs. We also proposed that the organizers of this workshop prepare a synthesis report of the results, focussed on solution-oriented approaches, and that this report form a basis of a review by the IFF on the progress being made in implementing IPF proposals for action on underlying causes of deforestation. The Costa Rican delegation fully supported the proposal for an NGO-organized event, and formally offered to host this workshop in Costa Rica. Several other governments and UN agencies expressed their interest in supporting and participating in this workshop, including providing some level of financial support. A group of NGOs, governments (UK, Finland, Australia, Netherlands and Costa Rica) and intergovernmental agencies (UNEP and CIFOR) held an informal meeting to discuss ways to move forward. NGO participants, who agreed to serve on a steering committee of regional representatives, included: Marcus Colchester (Forest Peoples Program - UK), Felipe Gonzales (Fundacion Ambio - Costa Rica), Andre Laletin (Friends of Siberian Forests - Russia), Lambert Okrah (Green Earth Organization - Ghana), Rosario Ortiz (Fundacion Ecotropica - Colombia), Claudia D'Andrea (IUCN), Sheldon Cohen (BIONET) and Joji Carino (International Alliance of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples of the Tropical Forests). NGOs/indigenous organizations designated Sheldon Cohen (bionet@igc.org) to serve as the main NGO liaison point for this initiative, to facilitate communications and coordination. Finally, it is important to note that a number of NGOs met in the UK in September and agreed on a number of recommendations ( "Joint NGO conclusions of the meeting on the follow up of the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests") which could form the basis for a strategy for the next meetings of the IFF. Anyone interested in obtaining a copy, can request it from us. - Indonesia: an answer from Rio Tinto On September 4 we addressed a letter to president Suharto and Mr Robert Wilson, chairman of Rio Tinto Co., expressing our concern for the death -possibly murder- of four Ekari tribal people around Freeport and Rio Tinto’s mine, as well as for the obligation of Ekari villagers to hand over their working tools to the police. We also demanded that abuses of foreign mining companies in the region cease. We have received an answer from Mr Wilson, where he states that both Rio Tinto and Freeport have welcomed the investigations carried out to clarify the death of the above mentioned Ekari people. He says that "previous investigations have found no evidence of Freeport involvement in any earlier human rights abuse and both we and Freeport have said publicly on many occasions that we do not condone any such abuses". He adds: "Your letter makes reference to ‘abuses of foreign mining companies’ I do not know what you mean by this. If the intended reference is to any action by Freeport, I am not aware of the justification for your comment." If anyone has more information on this issue, please let us know, and we will include it in our reply to Mr Wilson. - Forest reclamation in Iceland Alvaro Gonzalez, from the WRM secretariat, participated in an International Workshop that took place in Reykjavik and Klaustur, Iceland last September. Even though forests were not the central theme of the workshop, it was a good opportunity to get to know in situ the harmful effects of woodland destruction and overgrazing in the fragile icelandic ecosystems. According to studies performed on remnants of former vegetation, traditional Sagas, historical records and farm surveys, birch (Betula pubescens) may have covered 25% to 40% of the country before human settlement that started in 874 A.D. Willows (Salix spp.) and other dwarf shrubs also dominated the vegetation in large areas. Most forests were felled for timber and woodlands were cleared for agriculture and grazing. These actions, added to the harsh climate, volcanic activity and a vulnerable soil formation, led to a desertification process affecting 40% of the total area of the country, according to the national environmental assessment carried out this year. Concerned Icelandic people and authorities are making efforts to reverse this chain of events, aiming at the reconstruction of the original grasslands and woodlands. Sources: Andres Arnalds. "Ecosystem Disturbance in Iceland", 1987. The Icelandic Forestry Association. "Why plant trees in Iceland?".
WRM CAMPAIGNS - Sarawak: in the morass of corruption According to a report from Datuk Seri Dr. Lim Keng Yaik, the Malaysian Minister of Industry, illegal logging offenses are declining as a consequence of the 1993 revision of the forestry law. This norm establishes that illegal logging can be punished with inprisonment or a maximum fine of 500,000 Ringgit (ca. U$S 172,000). If the rule of the law were applied, the Minister himself would soon be in jail. Even if the State of Sabah has prohibited the export of logs since 1993, on January 18 1997 the Forestry Department of Sabah stopped the freighter "Able Helmsman" in the harbour of Tawau, which was transporting 16,000 cubic meters of wood in the form of 3,056 tree trunks valued at ca U$S 2,1 million. Prior to this action, six shipments of logs had apparently already been sent outside the country. The Department of Forestry ignored completely this fact. An investigation was ordered by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia’s Minister of Finance, who said "we are talking about tree trunks and not about pine needles". Documents have been found confirming that Lim Keng Yaik’s department approved of the export ignoring the prohibition. At the same time, he admitted that his Ministry had issued many permits for the import of logs from Indonesia, even though this country has forbidden the export of tree trunks since the end of the 1980’s. In the meantime the Court has issued an order releasing the trunks. Nevertheless, Syarikat Raspand -the company involved- is suing the government for a total of U$S 38 million. The reason: illegal confiscation! Source: Bruno-Manser Fonds Newsletter, September 1997. - Aracruz: Tupinikim and Guarani demands close to a decision The Executive Commission of the Tupinikim and Guarani had met in the village of Comboios on 13 September to evaluate the visit of representatives of FUNAI’s Regional Administration (ADR) and FUNAI’s officials on September 9 and 10. The visitors allegated that ADR was not well-informed about the land matter and also that they had some useful information to support the indigenous struggle. Nevertheless, the leaders of the Executive Commission did not believe so. "FUNAI came here, without telling us in advance. They said that the struggle had already been going on for a long time and that it could go on for another 10 years. And if we would win this matter, Aracruz Celulose would go to court. They asked us if it would be better to have land or to get aid for the communities" states Alair, Chief of Comboios. According to Antonino, Chief of Pau Brasil, the members of FUNAI warned them that Aracruz Celulose and the Municipality would stop the aid in case they did not renounce to their demands for land. The same thing happened in other villages, as Caeira Velha, Iraja and Tres Palmeiras. Even if the visitors looked like defending the indigenous rights, they really acted under pressure from Aracruz and wanted to persuade the indigenous to cease their fight. The Chiefs are convinced that the Ministry of Justice planned the visit with the clear intention of convincing them that it would be better to make a deal with Aracruz, just as it happened in 1981. Even though the communities rejected the possibility of an agreement that will reduce their lands, FUNAI delegates said that a representative of Brasilia would visit the communities very soon. FUNAI’s visit to the villages was in fact a kind of preparation for the next step: an invitation from Aracruz Celulose to the indigenous peoples for a meeting which took place on September 19, that was attended by 30 indigenous representatives of all the villages and one CIMI-member. Aracruz wanted the indigenous peoples to approve a study of EMBRAPA (Federal office for Agriculture) in the villages, which should start the following week. This socio-economic study should result in an economic occupation plan based on the present indigenous areas for 4 years, to be presented to the Minister of Justice. The Tupinikim and Guarani understand that this proposal was aimed at challenging the Working Group’s report by presenting an economic plan -financed by Aracruz itself- which certainly should result in a minimal extension or maintenance of the present lands in order to minimise the damage for the company. At the same time FUNAI is responsible for having encouraged Aracruz to present this proposal. The indigenous peoples decision after the discussion in the communities was the following: "We, Tupinikim and Guarani, do not accept that Aracruz Celulose and EMBRAPA enter in our lands to carry out an economic occupation study or plan, because we understand that this is not for our benefit. It will only help to defend the interests of the company and will be used as an argument against our claim. Besides, the study carried out by the Working Group of FUNAI concluded that it is necessary to extend our lands, and the company already has had the opportunity to present its challenges, which were refused because of lack of legal grounds. If EMBRAPA has the intention to help us, we would like them to look for us after the land problem has been resolved. We hope that Aracruz Celulose and EMBRAPA will respect our decision." The indigenous communities are planning a general assembly for November 3, to decide how to put pressure on the Minister so that he decides soon and in favour of their claim. The Tupinikim and Guarani are willing to go to the end in this matter: they want the 13,579 hectares, not less. On October 6, the WRM International Secretariat sent letters to FUNAI, to the Minister of Justice and to Aracruz supporting the indigenous’ demands. Source: CIMI-Leste - Aracruz: Participation at UNRISD workshop in Costa Rica An international workshop on "Business responsibility for environmental protection in developing countries" took place in Costa Rica on September 22-24 1997. WRM International Coordinator Ricardo Carrere made a presentation on "The environmental and social effects of corporate environmentalism in the Brazilian market pulp industry." The aim of the paper was to compare the "green" discourse of the five main market pulp firms with reality at the local level, including social and environmental impacts of large scale tree plantations and pulp production. The paper focused on Aracruz Celulose -widely publicised as an example of environmental responsibility- and to a lesser extent on Bahia Sul, CENIBRA, Jari and Riocell. The general conclusion was that "in spite of their stated policies, the activities of all these five corporations have resulted in important negative impacts -both social and environmental- in the regions where they operate." Anyone interested in receiving this paper can request it to us and we will send it by email.
LOCAL STRUGGLES AND NEWS AFRICA - South Africa: more pulp industry development A new pulp mill that will produce between 400,000 and 500,000 metric tonnes a year, largely for export, is being planned for the Umtata-Kokstad-Ugie triangle. According to Enoch Gogongwana, provincial MEC for Economic Affairs, Environment and Tourism, such project would create 600 direct and 1000 indirect jobs. The total investment would involve some 1.5 billion Rands. The above implies a cost of 937 000 rands per job -direct and indirect- created. By comparison, a non forestry-related community project put together at Mkambati, will provide 138 jobs at a cost of 6000 rands per job, and all enterprises (more than 10) participating in the project will be owned and run by the community, with the result that the money will stay in the community. Additional problems are the environmental and health impacts associated with pulp mills, which are not something new to South Africa. It has been said that "the smell, choking and feeling of skin burning just driving past the pulp mill near Nelsruit is terrible." If the new pulp mill is to be situated in the Kokstad-Ugie-Umtata triangle, then at least one river may end up being polluted, given that all rivers in this area flow into the Umzimvubu river, which catches 56% of Transkei's water. Sources: Daily Dispatch 6/10/97; Chris Albertyn and Marlene Powell (pers.comm.)
ASIA - Indonesia’s forests in flames At the same time as the Indonesian delegate sat at the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests –a UN body aimed at the sustainable use of the remaining world’s forests- the Indonesian forests in Sumatra and Borneo were going up in smoke. As many other country delegates in international fora –both Northern and Southern- the Indonesian delegate spoke about sustainable forest management as if it were something that was really happening or about to happen in his country. He even stressed the need for NGO participation in Indonesia! One thing that is actually sustainable in Indonesia are its forest fires. They are not accidents, nor are they simply the result of droughts due to the El Nino phenomenon. They are the end results of an economic policy based on the over-exploitation of the archipelago’s natural resources and the corruption entrenched in Indonesia’s forestry industry. Indonesia has the world’s third largest area of tropical rainforest, but its forests are being depleted at a steady pace. In the 1960s, over 80% of the land was covered with forest; today forest cover is estimated at only 55%. The remaining 100 million hectares of forests are being destroyed at a rate of 1 million hectares per year. Forest fires are not a new cause of forest destruction. In 1982-83, huge fires in Kalimantan destroyed 3,5 million hectares of forests. The causes are both internal and external and the process is roughly the following: a logging company cuts the most valuable trees; plantation companies (particularly oil palm and pulpwood) cut the remaining trees and burn the brush and other debris (as the cheapest method to clear the land) and the fire extends (assisted by drought and the peat soils) to other forest areas which thus become available for further plantations. The fires bring death and destruction to forest peoples and wealth to plantation owners and industrialists, among which important members of President Suharto’s family. Oil palm and eucalyptus plantations are actively promoted by the government to supply external markets with palm oil and cellulose. Indonesian exports of palm oil and palm-oil products expanded to more than US$1 billion in 1996 and giant pulp mill projects are spreading throughout the country to supply export markets. Affluent countries’ overconsumption fuels –as in many other cases- these fires and external investors reap the benefits in association with their Indonesian counterparts. The delegates of all the countries involved sit together and pretend to discuss ways to achieve the sustainable use of forests. In the meantime, the forest destruction process continues. Sources: Down to Earth press release: "Suharto fiddles while Indonesia’s forests burn", September 1997; Cohen, M & Hiebert, M. "Where there’s smoke", Far Eastern Economic Review 2/10/97; Harrison, D. "Fire in the East, Storms in the West. Who said greed is good?". The Observer 28/9/97
SOUTH AMERICA Analysis of NOAA satellite data indicates that burning in the Brazilian Amazon increased 28% between 1996 and 1997. The average number of fires per day increased from 466 to 599. The actual increase for the year may be even greater, since 1997 is drier than 1996 and burning continues. Analysis of the NOAA-12 data under-counts the actual number of fires, so the situation is in reality worse. The most recent deforestation analyses, released last year, showed that forest clearing had risen about 34% between 1991 and 1994, reaching 14,896 square kilometers a year. Even if the number of fires is not a direct measure of new deforestation (old cattle pasture and secondary forest is also typically burned every year) increased burning strongly suggests that deforestation rates continue to rise. Burning in areas not previously cleared is a good indication of new deforestation. Increased burning in past years has in fact presaged increased deforestation. The variations in annual deforestation rates since the end of the 1980s are in part explained by economic cycles. As Brazil’s economic stabilization plan takes hold and growth picks up, most observers expect increased loss of forests. Equally important is that since 1989, Brazil’s environmental agency (IBAMA) has had no statutory authority to enforce environmental legislation. A recent Brazilian national security agency (SAE) report on forestry policy concluded that 80% of the timber produced in the Amazon is extracted illegally. Researchers at the Institute of People and the Environment in the Amazon (IMAZON) have shown that current fire use practices act synergistically with selective logging in the region to promote fire. Amazonian forest fires take place under the tree canopy and may not be detected by current satellite methods. IMAZON estimates that for every hectare of forest that is cut down and burns, at least one more hectare burns beneath the canopy. Mortality of trees subjected to even light fires can be 40%-50%. Once burned, a forest is much more likely to burn again in subsequent years. Among other consequences these recurrent forest fires have been shown to reduce living biomass in the forest and to increase carbon emissions. Source: Stephan Schwartzman. Environmental Defense Fund September 23, 1997 - Argentina: the struggle of the Kolla people The "yungas" are forest lands that spread along the Andes from northern Argentina to Venezuela, and from an altitude of 500 to 3,000 metres, according to their latitude. From the floristic point of view they belong to the Amazonian Domaine and their typical formation is the so called misty forest. These montain forests maintain high levels of endemism and biodiversity, but they are being threatened by increasing deforestation, especially for crop production. The yungas in Argentina spread in an area of about 50,000 km2, part of which in the northern province of Salta. This territory has been traditionally inhabited by the Kolla nation. When the Spanish conquerors arrived in 1540, the Omaguaca, the Zenta, the Gispira and other peoples belonging to the Kolla nation were settled in that region. After centuries of discrimination and struggle -first against the European conquerors and then against the successive governments of Argentina, centralized in Buenos Aires- the existence of indigenous peoples in that country was recognized in 1985 by Law 23302. Today 24 indigenous nations -formed by more than 1,500,000 individuals- live in Argentina. The Kolla occupy the departments of Iruya, Santa Victoria, Los Andes, La Poma, Cachi and Oran in Salta province, as well as part of the neighbouring province of Jujuy, southern Bolivia and northern Chile. It has been estimated that 120,000 people, living in communities or "ayllus", belong nowadays to the Kolla nation. Conflicts over land tenure rights between the Kolla communities and landowners are frequent. The Kolla of the communities Colanzuli, Volcan Higueras, Isla de Canas and Rio Cortaderas -that sum up 3,000 people- have fought hard for recovering Santiago Estate in the department of Iruya. After resisting the Spanish invasion for more that 110 years, the Kolla lost Santiago Estate to the hands of the invaders. The independence of Argentina was declared in 1810 and the economy of the country grew, but the situation of the Kolla did not improve, since for decades the new owners of the Estate forced the native population to work in agriculture for a miserable salary. In 1946 there was a great reaction of the indigenous peoples, who marched to Buenos Aires to claim for their rights. Two years later, Law 1012 was passed and Santiago Estate was expropriated, but the power of the sugar cane company San Martin del Tabacal was so strong in the region that the Kolla could not recover their lands. In 1950, the Spanish company Manero-Quiroc bought the estate for forest exploitation. Indigenous people were employed to cut down the trees. Their working and living conditions were terrible, but for the love of their land the Kollas resisted. According to Law 24334, put into effect in 1993, the estate was again expropriated, but once again the landowners refused to hand it to their legitimate owners and even continued to remove valuable trees from it. In August 1996 -the Pachamama (Mother Earth) month- the Kolla reacted and occupied the road, obstructing the lorries carrying the trunks. They were violently repressed by the police. But their fight was not in vain. Finally, on 19 March 1997 they officially took legal possesion of Santiago Estate. "Our Mother Earth was on our side" stated Festo Chausque, one of the Kolla leaders. A similar case of conflict is that of the Kolla communities of San Andres, Santa Cruz and Angosto de Parani in the department of Oran who are fighting for the ownership of San Andres Estate. In 1986 San Martin del Tabacal -that became a susidiary of the American company Seabord Corporation- donated those lands to the province of Salta to be handed over to the Kolla. Nevertheless, this was never realized and still in January 1997 the company continued to exploit forests under a special authorization from the Government of Salta. The indigenous communities, as well as Greenpeace Argentina, have denounced this exploitation as unsustainable. To face these abuses, the Kolla communities have sued the company for damages and reclaim the effective expropriation of the estate. Sources: Festo Chausque. "Present situation of the indigenous peoples in Salta, Argentina", 1997. Argentinian press. - Ecuador: Indigenous women defend the forest of Pastaza Indigenous women, some of them accompanied by their men and children, initiated a march on September 28 in Pastaza province -northern Ecuador- with the aim of joining the National Constitutional Assembly to be held in Quito on October 12. The Coordination of Indigenous Women "Pacha Mama" ("Mother Earth" in Quechua language) rejects the presence of oil companies in the territory of Pastaza because it is threatening the living conditions of the indigenous communities and peasants. They will ask the Ecuatorian government to establish a moratorium of 15 years for the activities of oil companies in Pastaza. "We, the indigeneous women in defence of the Pacha Mama, demand the government of Ecuador, that the indigeneous territories of Pastaza be recognized as Patrimony and Legacy for Preservation of the Biodiversity and for the Indigenous Cultural Nations" states Cristina Gualinga, Indigenous Women Coordinator. According to the Coordination, Ecuador's new pro-business government is quickly selling out the last remaining old growth rainforests to national and transnational corporations. Oil wells, logging and petroleum pipelines are posing the most eminent threat. The women also denounce that the oil companies are willing to bribe anyone who wishes to declare at the National Assembly his/her support to their activities. Source: Accion Ecologica. September 1997.
REPORT OF THE OPEN-ENDED AD HOC INTERGOVERNMENTAL
FORUM ON FORESTS ON ITS FIRST SESSION 1. The Forum considered suggestions regarding its future activities as contained in the report of the Secretary-General (E/CN.17/IFF/1997/2). 2. The Forum stressed the need for a focussed and balanced approach to its work in relation to its mandate as contained in the" Programme for further implementation of Agenda 21" adopted by the 19th special session of the GA, and as reconfirmed in the decision of ECOSOC at its substantive session in 1997 (E/1997/65). It emphasised the need to build on the positive results achieved in the IPF and that the focus should be on implementation of the proposals for action and those issues on which international consensus is yet to be achieved. In light of these considerations the Forum decided that the work of its forthcoming sessions should be conducted along the following interlinked categories, which should receive balanced intergovernmental attention: CATEGORY I Promoting and facilitating the implementation of IPF's proposals for action, and reviewing, monitoring and reporting on progress in the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests a) Promote and facilitate implementation. Consider the launching of programmes by countries, United Nations agencies and other international organizations, and major groups to implement all proposals for action developed by IPF; consider appropriate mechanisms for the mobilization of financial resources, institutional and human resources and capacity-building, with particular attention to the role of women ; b) Monitor progress in implementation. Consider mechanisms, process and format for reviewing, monitoring and reporting on progress; and assess progress in implementation, inter-alia, by countries, United Nations agencies and other international organizations, and major groups, including the private sector, and indigenous people, forest dwellers, forest owners and local communities. CATEGORY II Considering matters left pending and other issues arising from the programme elements of the IPF process a) Consider matters left pending on the need for financial resources. Consider urgently the following options for action as contained in paragraph 68 of the final report of IPF: (1) To urge the establishment of such a fund; (2) To pursue action to enhance funding in other ways, inter alia, to invite UNDP and the Bretton Woods institutions, together with other relevant international organizations, to explore innovative ways to both use existing financial mechanisms more effectively and generate new and additional public and private financial resources at the domestic and international levels in order to support activities for the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests; b) Consider matters left pending on trade and environment. Analyse the mutually supportive roles that international trade and sustainable forest management perform and in that context issues related to non-discriminatory international trade in forest products from all types of forests including the role that tariff and non-tariff barriers may perform in relation to sustainable forest management, certification issues where relevant, improved market access, taking into account the needs of developing countries, in particular those of the least developed countries. Consider the question of the relationship between obligations under international agreements and national measures, including actions imposed by subnational jurisdictions, recognizing that those matters are also considered in fora whose primary competence is to address trade issues; the relative competitiveness of wood versus substitutes, its valuation, and market transparency and the related issue of illegal trade in wood and non-wood forest products. c) Consider matters left pending on transfer of environmentally sound technologies to support sustainable forest management Examine the promoting, facilitating and financing, as well as the appropriate mechanisms, for access to and transfer of environmentally sound technologies and corresponding know-how to developing countries on favourable terms, including on concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed, taking into account chapter 34 of Agenda 21 and paragraph 11 of the Forest Principles. In this context consider technologies and technical knowledge including extension services for local sustainable forest management; and enhanced technology development, transfer, application, for improved utilization of wood and non-wood forest products and services, with a special attention to wood as an energy source and the role of women. d) Consider other issues arising from the programme elements of the IPF process needing further clarification. Consider, inter-alia, analysis of underlying causes, in particular international causes, including transboundary economic forces of deforestation and forest degradation, taking into account a historical perspective and the pressures exerted on forest by other sectors notably agriculture in the quest for food security; traditional forest related knowledge (TFRK), consistent with, inter alia, the terms of reference of the Convention on Biological Diversity; assessment of valuation of forest goods and services; assessment, monitoring and rehabilitation of forest cover in environmentally critical areas; forest conservation, including conservation in protected areas; identification and definition of global and regional research priorities, taking into account national priorities; the use and application of the range of economic instruments, including tax policies and land tenure arrangements as a means of promoting sustainable forest management; and future supply and demand of wood and non-wood forest products and services. e) Consider forest-related work of international and regional organisations. Further examine the forest related work being carried out by international and regional organisations, and under existing instruments in order to identify gaps and overlaps. CATEGORY III International arrangements and mechanisms to promote the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests Identify elements, build a global consensus and engage in further action. "The Forum should also identify the possible elements of and work towards consensus on international arrangements and mechanisms, for example, a legally binding instrument on all types of forests. The Forum will report on its work to the Commission on Sustainable Development in 1999. Based on that report, and depending on the decision taken by the Commission at its eighth session, the Forum will engage in further action on establishing an intergovernmental negotiation process on new arrangements and mechanisms or a legally binding instrument on all types of forests." Number, Dates and Venue of Future Meetings 3. The Forum recommended that ECOSOC decide to divide the Forum's work into three substantive sessions, that its sessions should be held up to two weeks, and that it establish in-sessional working groups, no more than two to be scheduled to meet simultaneously and divide the work among them. The following scheduling is recommended: Dates Venue Substantive sessions * Taking into account the offer of the Government of Switzerland and subject to further technical clarification. 4. The work schedule is recommended on the understanding that all categories are open for discussion until the Forum's fourth session. Modalities of Work 5. Following the guidance as regards modalities of work given by the ECOSOC in its decision establishing the IPF (E/1995/72) "intergovernmental organizations as well as the full range of non-governmental organizations and other groups would participate as observers in the".. Intergovernmental Forum on Forests, ..."on an open-ended and fully participatory basis".., in accordance with the rules of procedure and practises of the Commission on Sustainable Development. 6. The Intergovernmental Forum on Forests will draw inter-alia on the resources and technical expertise of the informal, high-level Inter-Agency Task Force on Forests and other relevant organizations within and outside the United Nations system, as well as secretariats of relevant conventions, with appropriate contributions from non-governmental organizations. The Intergovernmental Forum on Forests also encouraged inputs from major groups in all the activities in its programme of work. 7. Considering the complexities of the topics included in its mandate and in view of the fruitful contributions made by a large number of government- sponsored initiatives in support of the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests (IPF) process, the IFF welcomed any proposals that may be made by Governments to organize expert meetings or to conduct studies in support of the Forum's work and welcomed in particular regional approaches. The Forum suggested that all countries and organizations, planning or proposing to organize meetings or expert consultations relevant to the work of the Forum should be guided by the following principles: a. They should be informal in nature b. They should strive to be in full conformity with the tasks assigned to the Forum c. They should be of an open-ended, transparent, and participatory nature d. They should strive for a balanced representation from countries, reflecting a range of interests and views of all interested parties, with a particular attention payed to the participation of women experts. e. They should ensure that the timing and topic under consideration harmonise as far as possible with the schedule of work of the Forum. f. The organizers, in the course of their preparation, should consult with the Co-Chairmen, the Bureau and the Secretariat of the Forum, as appropriate. g. They should be invited to prepare a report to be presented to the IFF. 8. The Forum welcomed the offers made by the governments of Austria and Indonesia, and by Costa Rica to host intersessional meetings in support of the deliberations of the IFF. 9. The results of such activities will provide valuable expert input to the work of the Forum. However, any decisions on policy recommendations, to be presented for consideration of the Commission on Sustainable Development at its eight session, will rest with the Forum itself. Secretariat and Financial Support to the IFF 10. Bearing in mind the fact that the Forum's Secretariat is supported by voluntary extra-budgetary contributions, the Forum appealed to Governments and international organisations to consider supporting its work through voluntary contributions. The Forum welcomed the pledges made and intentions voiced by some Governments during its first session, to provide financial support to the IFF process. (1) This document has been posted online by the United Nations Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development (DPCSD). Reproduction and dissemination of the document - in electronic and/or printed format - is encouraged, provided acknowledgement is made of the role of the United Nations in making it available. (2) The Global Forest Policy Project would like to thank the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (IFF) for making available the following report of the first session of the IFF. We are pleased to provide it for further distribution.
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