The 60th session of the International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC-60) opened on a positive note, with many opening speakers describing the central role of tropical forests within the global biodiversity, climate change, land degradation, and sustainable development agendas. They also underscored the importance of the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) in advancing sustainable forest management (SFM).
The Council also agreed to extend the term of the Executive Director, Sheam Satkuru, for two additional years and began discussions on the roadmap to 2029 for negotiating the successor to the International Tropical Timber Agreement (ITTA), 2006, which underpins the ITTO.
In opening ITTC-60, Chair Anna Tyler (New Zealand), Japan State Minister for Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Hirofumi Takinami, Costa Rica Environment Vice Minister Jorge Mario Rodríguez Zúñiga, and Peruvian Ambassador to Japan Roberto Seminario Portocarrero all underscored the importance of ITTO leadership in promoting SFM and sustainable and legal supply chains of tropical timber. Noting the centrality of forests in the recent biodiversity and climate change Conferences of the Parties (COPs) and the outcomes of the Group of 20 (G20) and Group of 7 (G7), Satkuru cited the ITTO’s important role and expertise.
The Council welcomed Canada back as a member after a ten-year absence. Executive Director Satkuru expressed the hope that Canada would use its G7 chairmanship in 2025 to promote the ITTO.
Satkuru announced that the ITTO has gained accreditation by the Green Climate Fund (GCF). She urged member countries to use their influence to support inclusion of the ITTO in GCF projects.
Regarding negotiation of a new ITTA, the Council considered the report of the Preparatory Working Group (PWG), which offers a revised roadmap and a series of recommendations. A consultant, Alexander Knapp, presented a synthesis of the results of a member survey about possible elements for the negotiation to consider, noting the views expressed by several members advocating a shift away from the Producer/Consumer caucus framework toward a partnership model.
In the afternoon, the Committees on Finance and Administration (CFA), on Economics, Statistics and Markets (CEM), and on Forest Industry (CFI) started their work. The CFA reviewed members’ assessed contributions toward the Administrative Budgets, the current status of the Administrative Account, and the Auditor’s report. The Committee also discussed the measure approved at ITTC-59 allowing for submission of one project proposal or one concept note for every two years of arrears paid, provided that a payment plan for the total outstanding amount is submitted at the same time. The Secretariat reported that no country has yet to avail itself of the option but discussions are ongoing with two countries that may be interested in pursuing it.
Meeting jointly, the CEM-CFI reviewed project status, decided which projects should undergo ex post evaluations, and heard reports from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Viet Nam on projects to develop domestic markets for sustainable wood products.
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All ENB photos are free to use with attribution. For ITTC-60 please use: Photo by IISD/ENB | Sean Wu
Opening Session
Takeharu Yamanaka, Mayor, City of Yokohama, Japan
Haji Len Talif Salleh, Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment, Malaysia
Roberto Seminario Portocarrero, Ambassador of Peru to Japan
Sheam Satkuru, ITTO Executive Director, delivers her opening address to ITTC-60.
Jorge Mario Rodríguez Zúñiga, Vice-Minister of the Environment, Costa Rica
The dais during the morning session
Council Session
(L-R) Anna Tyler, New Zealand, ITTC-60 Chair; Sheam Satkuru, ITTO Executive Director; and Gerhard Breulmann, Director of Operations, ITTO, applaud the news that quorum is achieved on the first day.
Daniel Carl, US
Björn Merkell, Sweden, reports on Preparatory Working Group recommendations for the ITTA renegotiation roadmap.
Delegates confer on extension of the term of the Executive Director.
Jorge Mario Rodríguez Zúñiga, Costa Rica
Marco Tulio Scarpelli Cabral, Brazil
Delegates listen to the presentation by Sheam Satkuru, ITTO Executive Director.
Nora Ricken, EU
Muhammad Zahrul Muttaqin, Indonesia
Ray Thomas Kabigting, the Philippines
Abdul Hadi bin Omar, Malaysia
Rata Muda, New Zealand
Committee Meetings
Catherine Karr-Colque, Chair of CEM-CFI Committee, US
Ngo Sy Hoai, Executive President and Secretary General, Viet Nam Timber and Forest Products Association (VIFORES), Viet Nam
Rina Kristani, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Jakarta
(L-R) Maiko Suzuki and Simon Kawaguchi, ITTO Secretariat; Pyoabalo Alaba, CFA Vice-Chair and acting chair for 2024, Togo; and Gerhard Breulmann, Director of Operations, ITTO Secretariat
Around the Venue
Takeharu Yamanaka, Mayor, City of Yokohama, Japan, and Sheam Satkuru, ITTO Executive Director
Takeharu Yamanaka, Mayor, City of Yokohama, and Hirofumi Takinami, State Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan, exchange business cards.
