Intersessional Activities, Ad Hoc Expert Groups
Consideration with a view to Recommending the Parameters of a Mandate for Developing a Legal Framework on all Types of Forests

Ad hoc expert group on consideration with a view to recommending theparameters of a mandate for developing a legal framework on all types of forests

Scope and work programme
Tasks
Composition and participation
Travel assistance
Meeting
Reports
Officers
Duration of work
Proposals and recommendations for consideration by the Forum
Secretariat

Paragraph numbers correspond to paragraph numbers of the official UNFF decision on Ad Hoc Expert Groups.

Scope and work programme

31. The ad hoc expert group shall provide scientific and technical advice to the Forum for its work on consideration with a view to recommending the parameters of a mandate for developing a legal framework on all types of forests. The work of the ad hoc expert group should be undertaken within the context of Economic and Social Council resolution 2000/35 and resolutions adopted by the Forum at its sessions, in particular those referring to the creation and scope of the ad hoc expert groups.

Tasks

32. The reports of the ad hoc expert groups on approaches and mechanisms for monitoring, assessment and reporting and on finance and transfer of environmentally sound technologies will serve as inputs to the work of this ad hoc expert group.

33. The ad hoc expert group will undertake the following specific tasks on consideration with a view to recommending the parameters of a mandate for developing a legal framework on all types of forests:

(a) Assess existing regional and international binding and non-binding instruments and processes relevant to forests; the assessment should include, inter alia, analysis of complementarities, gaps and duplications, and should take into account Forum resolution 2/3 on the specific criteria for the review of the effectiveness of the international arrangement on forests;

(b) Consider reports prepared by countries, as referred to in the decision to which this annex is attached, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests members and the Forum secretariat, and outcomes of Forum sessions;

(c) Consider other outcomes of the international arrangement on forests, inter alia countries’ efforts to implement the IPF/IFF proposals for action, other expert groups, Forum country- and organization-led initiatives and previous relevant initiatives, and forest-related work undertaken by the members of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests;

(d) Review the relevant experiences of existing forest-related and other relevant organizations and agreements, including multilateral environmental agreements and regional conventions and processes, focusing on complementarities, gaps and duplications;

(e) Provide for the consideration of the Forum at its fifth session, a balanced range of options with respect to “consideration with a view to recommending the parameters of a mandate for developing a legal framework on all types of forests”.

Composition and participation

34. The ad hoc expert group shall be composed of experts, in accordance with the decision, to which this annex is attached, of the member States of the Forum.

35. The experts shall have well-recognized scientific and technical expertise on the forest regime and the Rio conventions and knowledge of the intergovernmental forest policy deliberations of IPF, IFF and the Forum.

36. The Collaborative Partnership on Forests shall be invited to make scientific and technical contributions to the work of the ad hoc expert group to support the work of the ad hoc expert group in a resource capacity.

37. Intergovernmental organizations and representatives of major groups, with relevant expertise, may participate in the meeting, in accordance with the rules of procedure of the functional commissions of the Economic and Social Council, as well as practices established by the Commission on Sustainable Development, IPF and IFF. They may be invited to make scientific and technical contributions.

Travel assistance

38. Travel support and a daily subsistence allowance at the established United Nations rates will be provided to one expert from each developing country, as well as to one country expert from countries with economies in transition, to the maximum extent from the budget, supplemented by voluntary extrabudgetary contributions.

Officers

39. Two co-chairpersons of the ad hoc expert group shall be elected from among experts at its meeting, one from a developing country and one from a developed country.

Duration of work

40. The ad hoc expert group shall initiate its work immediately after the fourth session of the Forum and complete its work at least three months in advance of the fifth session of the Forum.

Meeting

41. The ad hoc expert group will hold one meeting for up to five days. It will also use electronic means of communication to the greatest extent possible. The ad hoc expert group meeting will be organized at a United Nations venue where meeting facilities are available, preferably in New York, taking into account cost-effectiveness.

Proposals and recommendations for consideration by the Forum

42. The proposals and recommendations of the ad hoc expert group should be provided by consensus. In the absence of consensus, the reports of the ad hoc expert group shall fully reflect the diversity of views expressed.

Reports

43. The ad hoc expert group shall adopt a report at its meeting, for submission to the Forum at its fifth session. The report shall specify major outcomes of the ad hoc expert group’s work, including proposals and recommendations for further consideration by the Forum.

Secretariat

44. The Forum secretariat shall serve as the secretariat for the ad hoc expert group, supported by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests.