United Nations Forum on Forests

Ninth Session

9^th Meeting (PM)

United Nations Forum on Forests Meets Ahead of High-Level Segment

 

to Hear Briefings by Working Groups Chairs

 

Meeting in plenary this afternoon, the United Nations Forum on Forests again facilitated the “cross-fertilization” of information between its two working groups, and assessed their respective progress.

Co-Chair Zainol Zainuddin (Malaysia) briefed Forum members on the deliberations of Working Group 1, dealing with forests for people, livelihoods and poverty eradication, as well as on the International Year of Forests, 2011, and the high‑level segment.  He said that during the Working Group’s meetings, delegations had provided inputs on various elements, including the title of the draft Ministerial Declaration.  The Group had just begun to draft paragraphs for the next section of its work, he added, saying he hoped to have a more complete version available soon.

Also briefing was Ndiawar Dieng (Senegal), Co-Chair of Working Group 2, charged with assessing the progress made towards implementation of the non-legally binding instrument on all types of forests and the four global objectives on forests; regional and subregional inputs; enhanced cooperation and policy and programme coordination, including the provision of further guidance to the Collaborative Partnership on Forests; and implementing sustainable forest management.

Mr. Dieng said the first reading of the preambular paragraphs and other important areas had been accomplished.  However, there had been a lot of inputs on means of implementation, among other areas, so the first readings of all sections were yet to be done, he said, expressing hope of finishing later in the day so that the Working Group could continue and conclude its work on time.

Following the briefings, Jan McAlpine, Director of the Forum on Forests Secretariat, outlined the latest programme and logistical considerations for the high-level segment, to be held tomorrow in the General Assembly Hall.  She also discussed preparations for the launch of the International Year of Forests, 2011, and for the Forum’s round table discussions, both planned for tomorrow afternoon.

The Forum will reconvene at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, 2 February, for the high-level segment.

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For information media • not an official record