Economic and Social Council

 Distr. GENERAL
20 February 1996
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH

COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Panel
on Forests
Second session
11-22 March 1996
Item 1 of the provisional agenda


            ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

                              Provisional agenda


1.   Adoption of the agenda and other organizational matters.

2.   Implementation of forest-related decisions of the United Nations
     Conference on Environment and Development at the national and
     international levels, including an examination of sectoral and cross-
     sectoral linkages.

3.   International cooperation in financial assistance and technology
     transfer.

4.   Scientific research, forest assessment and development of criteria and
     indicators for sustainable forest management.

5.   Trade and environment in relation to forest products and services.

6.   International organizations and multilateral institutions and
     instruments, including appropriate legal mechanisms.

7.   Other matters.

8.   Adoption of the report of the Panel on its second session.


                                  Annotations

1.   Adoption of the agenda and other organizational matters

     Rule 7 of the rules of procedure of the functional commissions of the
Economic and Social Council provides that the Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Panel
on Forests shall, at the beginning of each session, adopt the agenda for that
session on the basis of the provisional agenda.

     At its first session the Panel agreed on the need to allocate to not
more than two in-session working groups the business to be considered at its
second and probably third sessions.  Each working group was to be chaired by
one of the co-chairmen of the Panel, who would propose specific arrangements
in consultation with all interested delegations.

     Also at its first session, the Panel decided that the agendas of its
forthcoming meetings should include all the issues in its programme of work in
order to allow for their consideration in a balanced and integrated manner. 
At the same time, the Panel felt that certain issues should be dealt with in
depth at particular future sessions.

2.   Implementation of forest-related decisions of the United Nations
     Conference on Environment and Development at the national and
     international levels, including an examination of sectoral and cross-
     sectoral linkages

     Documentation

     Report of the Secretary-General on programme element I.1
     (E/CN.17/IPF/1996/8)

     Report of the Secretary-General on programme element I.2
     (E/CN.17/IPF/1996/2)

     Report of the Secretary-General on programme element I.3
     (E/CN.17/IPF/1996/9)

     Report of the Secretary-General on programme element I.4
     (E/CN.17/IPF/1996/3)

     Report of the Secretary-General on programme element I.5
     (E/CN.17/IPF/1996/4)

3.   International cooperation in financial assistance and technology
     transfer

     Documentation

     Report of the Secretary-General on programme element II
     (E/CN.17/IPF/1996/5)

4.   Scientific research, forest assessment and development of criteria and
     indicators for sustainable forest management

     Documentation

     Report of the Secretary-General on programme element III.1 (a)
     (E/CN.17/IPF/1996/6)

     Report of the Secretary-General on programme element III.1 (b)
     (E/CN.17/IPF/1996/7)

     Report of the Secretary-General on programme element III.2 
     (E/CN.17/IPF/1996/10)

5.   Trade and environment in relation to forest products and services

     Documentation

     Report of the Secretary-General on programme element IV
     (E/CN.17/IPF/1996/11)

6.   International organizations and multilateral institutions and
     instruments, including appropriate legal mechanisms

     Documentation

     Report of the Secretary-General on programme element V.1
     (E/CN.17/IPF/1996/12)

7.   Other matters

8.   Adoption of the report of the Panel on its second session

     By its decision 1995/226, the Economic and Social Council decided, upon
the recommendation of the Commission on Sustainable Development, to approve
the establishment of an open-ended ad hoc intergovernmental panel on forests. 
The Panel is to pursue consensus and formulate coordinated proposals for
action towards the management, conservation and sustainable development of all
types of forests.  It is expected to present a progress report to the
Commission at its fourth session, in 1996, and the final conclusions and
policy recommendations to the Commission at its fifth session, in 1997.


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Date last posted: 7 December 1999 12:45:30
Comments and suggestions: DESA/DSD