ITTO Council 47th session

At this session, the Council considered:

- implementation of the Biennial Work Programme (BWP) 2010-2011, and activities to be included under the BWP for 2012-2013;
- the current status of implementation of the International Tropical Timber Organization Thematic Programmes,
- and the administrative budget for 2012.
- the status of the deposit of instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval, or accession to the International Tropical Timber Agreement (ITTA)

Although ITTO has made significant efforts to link its work with that of other forest-related multilateral environmental agreements, namely CBD, CITES and UNFCCC, the meeting was overshadowed by concerns over the long-term financial viability of the organization.

Decisions

ITTC-47 Outcomes

Delegates to the 47th session of the International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC) reduced the proposed 2012 administrative budget down from an increase of 12.55% over the 2011 budget, to an increase of 3.95%. The Council also reviewed the status of the deposit of instruments to the International Tropical Timber Agreement (ITTA) 2006, and considered the transition to move to this Agreement, as it is expected to go into force in 2012, with only 12 accessions still needed to reach the threshold. Among other issues, discussions touched on recent shifts in the worldwide patterns of imports, and on the Organization's links to CBD, CITES and UNFCCC.

IISD-RS Coverage

ITTC-46: Outstanding issues concluded

The 46th session of the Interntional Tropical Timber Council convened from 13-18 December, 2010 in Yokohama (Japan) and concluded with compromises on two outstanding issues: the Collaborative Initiative between ITTO and CBD to conserve tropical forest biodiversity, and financial arrangements for hosting Council sessions outside of ITTO HQ in Yokohama. Decisions

It was announced during the closing of the session that additional funding of US$16.8 million had been pledged towards the conservation and sustainable management, use and trade of tropical forest resources, including $4.5 million for the implementation of its pilot thematic programme on Reducing Deforestation and Forest Degradation and Enhancing Environmental Services in Tropical Forests (REDDES) and US$12.3 million for other thematic programmes, new projects and activities.