| 2.
Preparations for UNFF 3
2.1.
Provisional agenda for UNFF 3 as revised by ECOSOC
The
Bureau noted with satisfaction that the provisional agenda
for UNFF 3 as revised by ECOSOC, was consistent with the
MYPOW and POA. According to the revised provisional agenda,
in paragraph 3, the order of the sub-paragraphs 3(a) and
3(b) had been reversed. The original sub-paragraph (b) now
became (a) and (a) became (b) with the following words added
at the end of (b), “as a cross-cutting issue considered
in the context of items 3(a)(i)(ii) and (iii)”. In
paragraph 4(e), the words “review of the reports of”
were replaced by the words “further discussion on”.
2.2
Status of documentation
The
Secretariat briefed the Bureau about the preparation process
for documentation to address the provisional agenda for
UNFF 3. The briefing included the titles and types of documents,
preparation of guidelines and annotated outlines, and initiation
of work by concerned CPF member organizations. In addition,
the Secretariat had begun drafting a suggested format for
the countries to report their progress at UNFF 3.
The
Bureau endorsed the Secretariat’s proposal to prepare
the following documents:
No.
Title of the document
1 Report of the Secretary-General on economic aspects of
forests
2 Report of the Secretary-General on forest health and productivity
3 Report of the Secretary-General on maintaining forest
cover to meet present and future needs
4 Note by the Secretary-General on multi-stakeholder dialogue,
transmitting discussion papers from stakeholders
5 Note by the Secretary-General on enhanced cooperation
and policy and programme coordination
6 Note by the Secretariat on intersessional work, including
further discussion on the ad hoc expert groups (transmitting
the bracketed text from UNFF 2)
7 Note by the Secretariat on the format for voluntary reporting
by countries for UNFF 3
The
Bureau suggested that the primary purpose of the reports
by the Secretary-General on the three “elements”
(documents 1-3) should be to facilitate discussion on the
implementation of the related IPF/IFF proposals for action,
and that care should be taken to avoid creating new proposals
for action. These reports would highlight related “emerging
issues”, which are not specifically covered by any
IPF/IFF proposals for action. Information on developments
related to the emerging issues would be given, but no new
proposals for action should be indicated. Thus, the final
chapters of those reports should propose] decision texts
rather than new proposals. The reports also should have
separate sections for “means of implementation”
and relevant “common items”.
The
Bureau welcomed the work on the reporting format by countries.
The reports from countries would be one of the main bases
in the preparation of the SG’s reports. The Bureau,
however, advised the Secretariat to keep such a format flexible
and simple in structure, and to provide reasonable deadline
for countries to report. It was acknowledged that the deadline
of 15 November 2002 would be difficult to meet for many
countries and, therefore, it was decided to set the deadline
after consultation with the CPF focal points on the impacts
of postponing that deadline on the preparation of the SG’s
reports.
The
Bureau members would consult among themselves and provide
their comments on the draft of the reporting format to the
Secretariat early next week (i.e. the week of 23 September).
2.3.
Organization of work of UNFF 3
The
Secretariat briefed the Bureau about the workload of and
suggested outputs from UNFF 3. It also presented its initial
proposal for the daily organization of work for the period
of two weeks during UNFF 3.
The
Bureau advised the Secretariat to include the following
while revising the draft organization of work:
(i)
Schedule the presentation of official reports (SG’s
reports, notes, etc.) and substantive discussions on three
elements and other key issues on the first week in plenary
sessions;
(ii) Consider providing opportunities for the presentation
of selective country reports to supplement the SG’s
reports and/or notes and to enrich the substantive discussions;
(iii) Allocate the second week only for negotiations and
drafting decisions in two working groups. Start informal
consultations with delegations on how to proceed with negotiations
on the first week.
The
Bureau decided to divide the substantive work of UNFF 3
in two working groups. Working Group I will deal with “Economic
aspects of forests” and “Enhanced cooperation
and policy and programme coordination”, and Working
Group II will address “Forest health and productivity”
and “Maintaining forest cover to meet present and
future needs”.
Mr.
Moeini would consult with the members to make decisions
on the chairperson of the Working Groups and the rapporteur
of the session.
Whether
to schedule the start of the negotiations on the ad hoc
expert groups in the first week or the second week of UNFF3,
would be decided by the Bureau, based on progress on the
outstanding issues.
2.4.
Ad hoc expert groups
The
Bureau reiterated that on the issue of ad hoc expert groups
it did not have flexibility to undertake any consultative
activities prior to UNFF 3.
The
Secretariat briefed the Bureau that, as a follow-up to the
guidance by the Bureau at its first meeting, it had been
exploring the possibility of country-led initiatives on
transfer of environmentally sound technologies, which could
provide some technical input to the related ad-hoc expert
group. The Secretariat reported that the Government of Nicaragua
was planning on holding a regional workshop on technologies
related to sustainable management of mangrove forests in
February 2003. In addition, some countries have indicated
some preliminary interest in organizing an international
meeting of experts on transfer of environmentally sound
technologies for all types of forests after the workshop
in Nicaragua. The Bureau welcomed the initiatives and hoped
that together with other initiatives under consideration
by some countries, such initiatives could be useful to the
concerned ad hoc expert group when established. It also
advised the Secretariat to be supportive of such initiatives
by countries.
2.5. Multi-stakeholder dialogue
The
Secretariat briefed the Bureau of its activities to organize
a more effective multi-stakeholder dialogue at UNFF 3, including
the update and enhancement of its database on participation
by particular the major groups (as identified in Agenda
21), identification of focal points for each of the major
groups, planning of consultation meetings, etc. Bureau appreciated
the briefing and hoped that the next MSD would be more participatory
and productive.
An issue
of accreditation of forest-related major groups was discussed
and it was concluded that UNFF should follow its mandate
and continue to follow the CSD practice. In this regard,
the Bureau suggested, to mention in the invitation letter
to the Member States, the possibility of participation of
representatives of the major groups in their delegations
to UNFF 3.
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