Daily report for 10 April 1997

Delegates to CSD-5 heard statements on the reports of the Intersessional Working Groupand the IPF. Nitin Desai, Under-Secretary-General for Policy Coordination andSustainable Development, noted that statements to date reflect the concern that muchattention has focused on resource management and major groups, but not social andeconomic dimensions and implementation. He highlighted the importance ofimplementation, availability of resources and new processes for technology transfer. Hecalled for measurable indicators of progress on Agenda 21.

HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT

OUTCOME OF THE SESSION: A number of speakers discussed their preferredoutput from the session. GHANA said UNGASS must give serious attention to new andadditional resources, global partnership, technology transfer and poverty eradication.MOZAMBIQUE stated that poverty and external debt present difficulties forimplementation of the Rio agreements. MONGOLIA noted that many poor countrieshave had to reallocate their budgets or delay implementation of Agenda 21. TheDEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA called for action-orientedmeasures to fulfill commitments to increase ODA and transfer ESTs. MONACO saidODA and technology transfer remain fundamental implementation problems and affirmedthe advantage of regional level action.

PERU noted the problem of drug trafficking. The EUROPEAN COMMISSION calledfor integrated approaches to: sustainable development and the trading system; ruraldevelopment; implementation of fisheries agreements and marine protection; andtransport. BELARUS underscored the need for measures to deal with natural andtechnogeneous disasters and for assistance and market access for economies in transition.ZIMBABWE called for investment and research in affordable renewable energy.MALTA recommended focusing on education, freshwater, pollution control, atmosphericprotection, transfer of ESTs and issues confronting SIDS. BOLIVIA emphasizedconsumption patterns and promotion of eco-efficiency, the polluter pays principle andinternalization of environmental costs. The MARSHALL ISLANDS called for improvedcoordination of international ocean-related instruments, integrated coastal zonemanagement efforts and energy activities within the UN system. SAUDI ARABIAhighlighted efforts on pollution control, environmental assessments, and combatingdesertification. IRAQ noted the consequences of economic sanctions.

The BAHAMAS called for implementing or coordinating mechanisms for SIDS,including electronic information resources. The WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHESnoted that “sustainable development” is often misused to legitimize economic approachespremised on unregulated expansion of production and consumption. TheINTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE said business attitudes have evolvedfrom pollution control to an integrated approach to environmentally-friendly products.The WOMEN’S CAUCUS called for recognition of women’s work, urgent revitalizationof the UN Transnational Corporation center, CSD mechanisms to guide and monitor theWTO, and targets for integrating women into the implementation of sustainabledevelopment. ECUADOR supported integrating a gender perspective into the outcome.

FORESTS: Many delegates commented on the report of the IPF. DavidHarcharik, FAO, said the Inter-Agency Task Force has reduced overlap, increasedefficiency, built a high level of collaboration, and is developing strategic plans toimplement IPF recommendations within members' respective mandates. He said a globalconvention must have specific objectives and a new intergovernmental forum must befocused and bear in mind existing agencies.

Several countries supported the recommendation that the CSD establish anIntergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to elaborate a global convention onforests. The EU said a convention could: fill gaps in existing forest-related instruments;address trade in products from all types of forests; offer a framework for improvedmobilization and more effective use of resources and technology transfer; strengthennational and international policies for sustainable forest management (SFM); enhance thepriority of forestry in national budgets and among the donor community; enable countriesto leverage more funding from multilateral organizations; and be completed by the year2000. CANADA said the CSD should recommend launching negotiations this year. Shenoted that while it is unlikely that more funds will become available, improved use ofexisting resources to support SFM implementation is possible, and a convention wouldhelp coordinate ODA and promote new and innovative sources of finance and technologytransfer.

COSTA RICA said a convention could supplement the framework of existing globalenvironmental agreements. MALAYSIA called for improved access to markets anddownstream value-added processing and denounced restrictive and punitive actionsagainst tropical timber trade, particularly unilateral trade bans and boycotts by sub-national authorities. He supported seeking consensus on a time-bound schedule leading toan equitable and comprehensive global forest convention, provided that it covers allforests and has adequate economic, technological and environmental provisions.GERMANY supported a convention that sets out general principles, guidelines,commitments and standards. She called for economic incentives for environmentallysound forest management and noted that the IPF agreed on basic principles for voluntaryand market-oriented labelling and certification.

VENEZUELA supported deciding how and when a convention would be discussed,including its objectives, scope and financial mechanisms. The convention must alsoinclude all types of forests and maintain an integrated approach. The RUSSIANFEDERATION said forests belong to the world community as a whole, and he favored aconvention even if such an instrument could not work perfectly. AUSTRIA said aconvention would be the most effective way to support the implementation of SFM,including financial support. INDONESIA stressed the need for an international fund tosupport the management, conservation and sustainable development of forests. He calledfor one set of rules that apply to all producers. FRANCE supported a legally-bindinginstrument that establishes general principles and takes into account the long-rangefunctions of forests.

NORWAY said if broad consensus emerges, he would support establishing an INC on alegally-binding instrument on all types of forests with a focused and time-limitedmandate,. The PHILIPPINES stated that before rushing into convention negotiations, itscontents must be carefully examined. A possible convention must: include all types offorests; reflect varying national circumstances; consider the role of existing instruments;recognize countries’ sovereign right to manage their forests; include a financialinstrument; and involve NGOs.

Others preferred to create an intergovernmental forum on forests or some otherarrangement. CHINA said it is necessary to consider which option has the widest supportand noted that most countries are not yet ready to negotiate a convention. The US said theIPF outcome reveals that consensus is still lacking on key issues, and countries are notready to negotiate a meaningful convention. She recommended: convening anintergovernmental forum to review progress in implementing the action proposals;targeting assistance to national and local capacity-building; encouraging responsibleprivate sector activities such as voluntary codes of conduct for SFM; and promotingmarket mechanisms and economic instruments for SFM.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA said outstanding challenges include political will for a legally-binding global regime covering all types of forests with a sound, predictable financialmechanism. He asserted that forests involve a sovereign right. BANGLADESH does nottotally oppose a convention, but is in no hurry to draft one. IUCN proposed that the finalCSD-5 report urge implementation of IPF conclusions. He called for consideration offorests within the wider contexts of biodiversity and trade.

AUSTRALIA supported establishing an intergovernmental forum under the CSD toprovide high-level policy guidance with a review of the need for its continuation in fiveyears. He was not yet convinced of the need for a convention. PERU said regional andsubregional processes should be consolidated before beginning an internationalnegotiation. COLOMBIA questioned the need for a legally-binding instrument and theeffectiveness of existing institutions. He said SFM demands adoption of cross-sectoralpolicies and measures.

INDIA emphasized countries’ sovereignty over their resources. He did not support aconvention until its basis is fully established and necessary consensus on its objectivesemerges. It must address poverty and consumption patterns and provide financialresources. ECUADOR supported national forest programmes, consideration of varyingnational contexts, and recognition and protection of traditional communities andknowledge. GUYANA advocated improved implementation and fulfillment of existinginitiatives and commitments before plunging into convention negotiations. He noted thatmany countries that depend heavily on their forest resources have legitimate concernsabout rushing into a convention.

BRAZIL supported a continued forest policy dialogue in an intergovernmental forumwith a mandate to implement the IPF recommendations and examine the possibilities fora convention without prejudging its outcome. The REPUBLIC OF KOREA supported theestablishment of a high-level policy forum under the CSD without time limits. NEWZEALAND said regional initiatives regarding indicators for SFM should be givenpolitical impetus, and a high-level forum should seek implementation of the IPFrecommendations.

The GLOBAL FOREST POLICY PROJECT proposed that the CSD establish an open-ended intergovernmental forum on forests that is transparent and participatory andfocuses implementation and follow-up of the IPF’s recommendations. He said theconvention question should not be considered until 2000 lest it dominate the forest policydebate and detract from much-needed implementation. ISRAEL highlighted therelationship between forests and combating desertification and the special needs ofcountries with low forest cover. JAPAN called for coordinated implementation of the IPFaction proposals and for a forum to discuss and reach consensus on key issues, includingfinancial mechanisms and coordination, and then to enter into convention negotiations.

URUGUAY said a forest convention is premature until coordination between existinginstruments is improved. CHILE supported stable and equitable standards recognized byall, but said there is not yet sufficient consensus to enshrine this in a convention. EGYPTstressed that forest management in tropical zones requires efficient water managementand highlighted the close relationship between forest management and combatingdesertification. ARGENTINA supported a continued dialogue with a limited time-frameand favored laying the groundwork to eventually negotiate a convention. A SIBERIANFOREST REPRESENTATIVE said the post-IPF implementation phase would serve asan indicator of serious political intent and that forest discussions at CSD-5 and UNGASSshould not be dominated by debate on a convention.

IN THE CORRIDORS

At his informal sessions with ministers, CSD-5 Chair Tolba has explored ways toimprove national feedback on finance, targets, implementation and follow-up. One ofTolba’s suggestions is the development of a five- or ten-year plan and an annual reportingprocedure at the CSD where specific obstacles to national implementation could bediscussed with experts. Chair Tolba is also determined to pursue the issue of agreementon technical or financial solutions once problems have been identified.

THINGS TO LOOK FOR TODAY

PLENARY: The Plenary will meet in Conference Room 3 in the morning to hearpresentations on preparatory activities and to consider issues not dealt with in theIntersessional Working Group (national reporting, Barbados Programme of Action andbudget) during the afternoon.

DIALOGUE WITH MAJOR GROUPS: Dialogue sessions will be conductedduring the morning with Youth and during the afternoon with the Scientific andTechnological Communities in Conference Room 1.