About UNFF
IPF/IFF Process (1995-2000)

The Intergovernmental Panel on Forests (IPF) and the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (IFF) represent five years of international forest policy dialogue. The Intergovernmental Panel on Forests (IPF), established by the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) for two years (1995-97) to provide a forum for forest policy deliberations. Subsequently, in 1997, ECOSOC established the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (IFF), for three years (1997-2000).

Deliberations by the IPF were on the following issues:

I. Implementing the forest-related decisions of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) at the national and international levels

II. International cooperation in financial assistance and technology transfer;

III. Scientific research, forest assessment and the development of criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management;

IV. Trade and environment in relation to forest products and services;

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

The IFF’s deliberations were aimed at resolving several issues on which IPF had not reached consensus, such as financial resources, transfer of environmental sound technologies, and other issues left pending, including deliberations on international arrangements and mechanisms on forests.

IFF's programme included the following:

I. facilitating the implementation of the proposals for action (see below) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests and reviewing, monitoring and reporting on progress in the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forest;

II. Considering matters left pending and other issues arising from the programme elements of the IPF process;

III. International arrangements and mechanisms to promote the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests.

In 1995, to support the IPF/IFF and to assist governments implement the proposals for action, an informal, high-level Interagency Task Force on Forests (ITFF) was created, made up of eight international organizations.

Outcomes of the IPF/IFF Processes

One of the most important legacies of the IPF/IFF process is the wide-ranging set of approximately 270 proposals for action, known collectively as the IPF/IFF Proposals for Action. These proposals provide governments, international organizations, private sector entities and all other major groups guidance on how to further develop, implement and coordinate national and international policies on sustainable forest management.

Further information on the IPF/IFF process can be found in the IPF Documents and IFF Documents.