Factsheet ITTO

Sustainable forest management in the tropics:
New approaches, new partnerships
Tropical forests perform many vital functions at local, regional and global
levels, but socio-economic realities mean that they are still being lost and
degraded. At a side event Switzerland is presenting together with the
International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) concrete examples of
partnerships in the field between governments, non-governmental
organizations and local communities to achieve sustainable forest
management and the conservation of biological diversity.
The ITTO is a commodity organization funded under the auspice of UNCTAD. Its
headquarters was established in Yokohama, Japan, in late 1986; currently it has 57
members which represent 95 % of the international trade in tropical timber and 75 % of
tropical forests. Among its main objectives is a commitment to assist members to meet
ITTO's Objective 2000, which states that all tropical timber products traded internationally by
Member States shall originate from sustainably managed forests. This side-event is being
organized by the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) in collaboration with
some of its partners; namely the Government of Switzerland, the Government of Japan, the
Government of the Republic of Congo, the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Philippines’
Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Sustainable Ecosystems International
Corporation, and the Brazilian state of Acre’s Technology Foundation (FUNTAC).
The ITTO and its partners will make a significant contribution to the Summit by providing
concrete examples of partnerships in the field between governments, non-governmental
organizations and local communities to achieve sustainable forest management and the
conservation of biological diversity. In particular, it will include a presentation of ITTO’s
contribution to the WSSD Congo Basin Type II Initiative, and presentations on three projects,
two of which are co-financed by Switzerland:
• Managing the buffer zone of the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, Congo, in
collaboration with government, a logging concessionaire, and local communities.
• Integrating forest-based development in the Western Amazon.
• Conservation and maintenance of biological diversity in tropical forests managed
primarily for timber production, Surigao del Sur, the Philippines.
Switzerland is a member of the ITTO since 1986. Since ist accession Switzerland is very
active in promoting sustainable forest management. Concerning project financing it is
(together with the USA) the second biggest donor of ITTO’s activities. Switzerland has led
the efforts and drive for a continuous expansion of the Organization’s work and ability to
promote and fund forest conservation actions, including the recently agreed decisions to
formulate an action plan on sustainable management and conservation of mangrove forest
ecosystems and on collaboration with IUCN on forest restoration and management of ITTOfunded
totally protected areas (14 projects covering 10.9 million hectares). Switzerland also
has contributed to ITTOs leading role as an effective agent in encouraging the development
of transboundary conservation initiatives. Presently Switzerland is holding the presidency of
the International Tropical Timber Council, the governing body of the Organization. Through
the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (seco), Switzerland is contributing annually more
than USD 2 Mio. for ITTO projects.
High Level Meeting:
Private Public Partnership in sustainable forest management in the tropics
Venue : Ubuntu Village, Japanese Center
Date and hour : August 27 2002 at 5.30 pm

Participants: State Secretary and Director General of the Swiss Agency for the Environment,
Forest and Landscape (Philippe Roch), Executive Director ITTO (Manoel Sobral), Wildlife
Conservation Society (Paul Elkan), Developing Economies Division, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Japan (Mr. Keiji Ide).
Contact:
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (seco)
Development and Transition
Trade and Clean Technology Co-operatione
Effingerstrasse 1
3003 Bern
Switzerland
Fax +41 (031) 324 07 99
Tel. +41 (031) 322 86 30
E-Mail: et.trade@seco.admin.ch
Homepage: http://www.seco-admin.ch
#330076.1 / bid

Sustainable forest management in the tropics: what it will take
A side-event hosted by the International Tropical Timber Organization* to explore the
issues around sustainable tropical forest management
Most people agree that tropical forests perform many vital functions at local, regional and global levels, but
socio-economic realities mean that they are still being lost and degraded.
This side-event is being organized by the International Tropical Timber Organization in collaboration with some
of its partners; namely, the Government of Japan, the Government of Switzerland(), the Wildlife Conservation
Society, the Government of the Republic of Congo, the Philippines’ Department of Environment and Natural
Resources, Sustainable Ecosystems International Corporation, and the Brazilian state of Acre’s Technology
Foundation (FUNTAC). It will make a significant contribution to the Summit by providing concrete examples of
partnerships in the field between governments, non-governmental organizations and local communities to
achieve sustainable forest management and the conservation of biological diversity. Moreover, it will illuminate
the obstacles that must be overcome if sustainable forest management is to be a viable alternative to forest
destruction in the tropics.
Presenter Organization Theme
To be advised
Opening remarks
Alastair Sarre ITTO Overview of efforts by ITTO
and its partners to foster
sustainable forest management
in the world’s tropical forests
Paul Elkan Wildlife Conservation Society Managing the buffer zone of the
Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park,
Congo, in collaboration with
government, a logging
concessionaire, and local
communities
Rex Victor Cruz University of the Philippines Conservation and maintenance
of biological diversity in
tropical forests managed
primarily for timber production,
Surigao del Sur, the Philippines
To be advised FUNTAC Integrating forest-based
development in the Western
Amazon
Mr. Keiji Ide, Director,
Developing Economies Division
To be advised
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Government of Japan
Provisional: Government of
Switzerland
ITTO’s programme areas
supported on a priority basis by
the Government of Japan
ITTO’s programme areas
supported on a priority basis by
the Government of Switzerland
Eva Mueller ITTO The contribution of ITTO to the
Congo Basin WSSD Type II
Initiative
Manoel Sobral Filho ITTO Closing remarks
*The International Tropical Timber Organization is an intergovernmental organization with 57 member states.
It is dedicated to sustainable development, the conservation of tropical forests and a sustainable trade in
tropical timber.