2.1.
Organization of work for UNFF2
The
Secretariat introduced an organization of work for UNFF2, with revisions based on the suggestions made at by
the informal consultation with some Bureau members on
2 August 2001. The Bureau reviewed the organization of
work and allocation of time in context of the UNFF mandate,
priority to the substantive items under consideration
at the second session and practical considerations. The
Bureau appreciated suggestions and proposals received
from countries on the organization of work for UNFF2.
The
Bureau made the following suggestions:
- Allocate only one half-day meeting for “Trade
and sustainable forest management”;
- Allocate two full days (4 Plenary meetings) for Ministerial
Dialogue with heads of CPF organizations and
- High-level ministerial segment on 13-14 March (Wednesday
and Thursday);
- Arrange a plenary meeting on the morning of Friday,
15 March to jointly consider the reports of two working
groups; and
- Undertake advance preparation towards expected outcomes
of the high-level ministerial segment.
2.2.
Status of documentation for UNFF2
The
Bureau expressed satisfaction with the arrangements and
progress being made on the preparation of documents by
the Secretariat and CPF member organizations. CPF member
organizations have agreed to assume focal agency roles
for specific topics.
The
following six SG’s reports will be prepared on the
progress in implementation:
- National forest programmes;
- Combating deforestation and forest degradation;
- Rehabilitation and restoration of degraded lands,
and the promotion of natural and planted forests;
- Forest conservation and protection of unique types
of forests and fragile ecosystems;
- Rehabilitation and conservation strategies for countries
with low forest cover; and
- Monitoring, assessment and reporting, including concepts,
terminology and definitions.
In addition, the Secretariat will prepare the following
four Notes:
- to transmit the inputs from Multi-stakeholders (as
addendum);
- on Organization of High-level ministerial segment
and Ministerial dialogue with heads of CPF member organizations;
- to transmit the Framework for CPF’s contributions
to the work of the UNFF; and
- on “Trade and sustainable forest management”.
The following additional non-papers will also be prepared
by the Secretariat on:
- terms of reference of the of ad hoc international
expert groups; and
- preliminary proposal on the formulation of criteria
for the 2005 review.
2.3.
Dialogue with heads of member organizations of the CPF,
and
2.4.
High-level ministerial segment
The
Bureau concurrently reviewed the two important agenda
items of UNFF2. As noted earlier, the Bureau decided
to allocate two full days (morning and afternoon meetings
of 13-14 March) for these two events. This would facilitate
governments to plan ahead for the participation of respective
ministers.
The
members exchanged views on the ways to organize a highly
productive dialogue between the ministers and CPF heads
with concrete outputs, and hoped that CPF member organizations
will be represented at the very senior level.
While
the dialogue would provide an opportunity for both the
ministers and CPF heads to exchange views and information
on their respective activities on forests, the Bureau
hoped that this event should also focus on:
- commitments from CPF members to support UNFF’s
MYPOW and POA;
- mobilization of financial and political support to
facilitate the work of CPF in supporting UNFF activities;
and
- ministerial commitments for the implementation of
IPF/IFF proposals for action.
Allocation
of one half-day meeting for the dialogue was proposed.
On
the planning of the high-level ministerial segment, the
members underscored the significance of this first such
high-level event in the Forum. Accordingly, the Bureau
would need to pay attention to the structure, substantive
focus and anticipated outcome of the segment. In this
regard, the members suggested to:
- follow the CSD-9 model, combining formal speeches
and interactive session;
- allocate time for formal speeches by ministers or
their representatives;
- the Government of Costa Rica to organize a ministers-only
morning (breakfast) session to set the tone and also
to encourage participation by larger number of ministers.
It would be essential to also arrange interpreter services
for the breakfast meeting;
- encourage the industrialized countries to send ministers
responsible for both forest and for development cooperation,
to effectively address the forest and international
cooperation issues;
- organize the ministerial segment close to the end
of the second week so that ministers can proceed to
Finance for Development (FfD) Conference in Monterrey,
Mexico (18-22 March 2002); and
- consider organizing a panel discussion by ministers.
The
members considered that MYPOW and POA would be the roadmap
for future ministerial segment in 2005. There was a considerable
exchange of views on the possible options for inputs to
the WSSD. It was suggested that a Ministerial message
be sent to the preparatory process of WSSD, in particular
to the WSSD preparatory Ministerial meeting in Indonesia.
The input to WSSD could include highlights of the progress
since Rio in implementation of certain aspects of sustainable
forest management as well as challenges ahead.
Mr.
Nitin Desai, underscored the significance of both the
ministerial dialogue with heads of the CPF organizations
as well as the high-level ministerial segment in the UNFF
process. He exchanged views with the Bureau on ways to
make these events effective and meaningful.
2.5.
Coordination/collaboration with CSD-10
Bureau
agreed to explore the possibility of organizing a joint
meeting with the Bureau of the CSD-10, as has been the
practice in the past. Mr. Anaedu, who is also the member
of CSD-10 Bureau agreed to coordinate this matter with
the CSD Bureau.
2.6.
Multi-stakeholder dialogue (MSHD)
The
Secretariat briefed the Bureau about the preparation towards
the organization of the multi-stakeholder dialogue, particularly
on the structure of dialogue, identification of major
groups and outlines for the discussion papers. The Bureau
agreed that this was a very significant event and that
the focus of such dialogues should be on the thematic
“Elements” of the session so as to contribute
the intergovernmental deliberations. The Bureau members
noted the desirability to include, as appropriate, inputs
from relevant major groups. The Bureau members agreed
on the need to contact appropriate major groups with a
request to facilitate the organization of MSHD and to
prepare their discussion papers as an input to MSHD. The
MSHD should be organized in the beginning of the first
week of UNFF2 to give the possibility to utilize the
outcome in the remaining part of the second session of
UNFF.
2.7.
Informal consultations for establishing expert groups
Bureau
members emphasized the importance of the international
expert groups as the subsidiary bodies of UNFF. The members
also underscored the need to select internationally well-recognized
experts on the themes of the three expert groups that
would be established by UNFF2. Regional groups will be
requested to select five experts from each region for
each of the three expert groups. Once the expert groups
are established at UNFF2, they can start functioning
under the general guidance of the Chairman of the Bureau.
Bureau members should consult and coordinate with member
countries in their respective regions on the selection
of experts, as well as on the composition, terms of reference
and scheduling of meetings; and the Secretariat will draft
terms of reference for each international expert group
for the consideration by the Bureau at its next meeting.
2.8.
Informal briefings of delegations in New York on preparations
for UNFF2
Bureau
members noted the usefulness of such briefings in the
past and encouraged the Secretariat to organize similar
meetings once the documents are finalized. The Bureau
members suggested organizing general briefing as well
as separate briefings to regional groups. The Bureau members
will make efforts to participate in such briefings.
