Commonwealth Forests

bullet1 ANNEX 6 INTERNATIONAL FORESTRY AGREEMENTS, CONVENTIONS AND REGULATIONS

bullet2 ANNEX 6.1 International forestry-related agreements and conventions

Agreement/Convention and website
Description
Rio Declaration on Environment & Development
Arose from the 1992 UN Conference on Environment & Development (UNCED) Includes 27 Principles
Non-legally binding authoritative statement of principles for a global consensus on the management and sustainable development of all types of forest.
Agreed at UNCED
Agenda 21
The programme of action for sustainable development which arose from UNCED. Chapter 11 refers to forests.
UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD)
Established by the UN General Assembly on the recommendation of UNCED, to monitor progress and identify problems in the implementation of Agenda 21.
Intergovernmental Panel on Forests (IPF) and the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (IFF)
The IPF was established in 1995 by the members of the CSD as an intergovernmental mechanism devoted exclusively to forest issues. It was followed by the IFF in 1997.
UN Forum on Forests (UNFF) http://www.un.org/esa/forests/ 
Established in 2000 as a subsidiary body of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), to provide a forum for intergovernmental dialogue on forests. The main objective are to promote “… the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests and to strengthen long-term political commitment to this end…”based on the Rio Declaration, the Forest Principles, Chapter 11 of Agenda 21 and the outcome of the IPF/IFF Processes and other key milestones of international forest policy.
Millennium Summit
Held September 2000 in New York. Adopted Millennium Declaration, which contains, inter alia, a number of international development goals. The themes of the Millennium Declaration were elaborated and developed into the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs
Millenium Development Goals (MDG) http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/ )
The MDGs, commonly accepted as a framework for measuring progress in development, comprise eight overarching goals, 18 targets and 48 indicators. MDG#7 - ‘achieve environmental sustainability’ is directly related to forests, although the others are strongly linked.
World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) also called Rio +10
WSSD met in 2002 in Johannesburg, South Africa, and adopted two main documents: the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI) and the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development.
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands http://www.ramsar.org/ 
Dating from 1971 and thus one of the oldest of the environmental treaties. The Convention’s mission is “the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local, regional and national actions and international co-operation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world” 153 contracting parties
Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
Another long-established environmental agreement, the Protocol introduced control measures for some CFCs and halons for developed countries (non-Article 5 parties). Developing countries (Article 5 parties) were granted a grace period allowing them to increase their use of these ODS before taking on commitments. Several amendments and have been adopted, adding new obligations and additional oxygen-depleting substances (ODS), including methyl bromide, formerly used to sterilise forest nursery beds
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) http://www.biodiv.org 
The CBD is dedicated to promoting sustainable development. Conceived as a practical tool for translating the principles of Agenda 21 into reality, the Convention recognizes that biological diversity is about more than plants, animals and micro organisms and their ecosystems – it is about people and our need for food security, medicines, fresh air and water, shelter, and a clean and healthy environment in which to live
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) http://unfccc.int/2860.php 
The UNFCCC is a framework for action aimed at stabilizing atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases to avoid “dangerous anthropogenic interference” with the climate system. The gases include methane, nitrous oxide and, in particular, carbon dioxide. It came into force in 1994
In 1997, delegates to a meeting of the UNFCC in Kyoto, Japan, agreed to a Protocol to the UNFCCC that committed developed countries and countries in transition to a market economy (Annex 1 countries) to achieve emissions reduction targets. These countries agreed to reduce overall emissions of six greenhouse gases by an average of 5.2% below 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012 (the first commitment period), with specific targets varying from country to country. There are three flexible mechanisms to assist Annex I parties in meeting their national targets cost-effectively: an emissions trading system; joint implementation (JI) of emissions-reduction projects between Annex I parties; and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), which allows for emissions reduction projects to be implemented in non-Annex I parties (developing countries). There are 166 Parties to the Protocol.
Nearly all of the MDGs will be affected by climate change. The Adaptation Fund, which is based on proceeds of the Clean Development Mechanism, is not operational as yet. The website provides links to resources on climate change and adaptation and an overview of UNDP’s Adaptation Portfolio.
Convention to Combat Desertification in Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa (CCD) http://www.unccd.int/main.php 
The member countries of the CCD recognise the human and environmental cost of the degradation that contributes to the problem of desertification and that drylands are the location of some of the most magnificent ecosystems in the world
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) http://www.cites.org/ 
CITES, which came into force in 1975, is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in wild animal and plant species does not threaten their survival. CITES parties regulate wildlife trade through control and regulation of species listed in three appendices. • Appendix I - species endangered due to international trade. Trade only permitted in exceptional circumstances. • Appendix II - species that may become endangered if trade is not regulated through controls to prevent unsustainable use • Appendix III - species that are subject to domestic regulation. There are presently 169 Parties.
Global Environment Facility (GEF)
The GEF is a financial mechanism that promotes international cooperation and fosters actions to protect the global environment. Initially funding was provided to four focal areas: biodiversity, climate change, international waters and ozone layer depletion, to which were later added land degradation and persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Established in 1988 by WMO and UNEP. The purpose of the IPCC is to assess the scientific, technical and socioeconomic information relevant to understanding the risks associated with human induced climate change. It does not undertake new research, nor monitor climate-related data, but bases its assessments on published and peer-reviewed scientific and technical literature. The IPCC has prepared a series of comprehensive assessments, special reports and technical papers, which provide scientific information on climate change to the international community, and the public. This information has played an important role in the negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The International Tropical Timber Agreement (ITTA)
Negotiated under the auspices of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and entered into force in 1985 to: provide an effective framework for cooperation and consultation between countries producing and consuming tropical timber; promote the expansion and diversification of international trade in tropical timber and the improvement of structural conditions in the tropical timber market; promote and support research and development to improve forest management and wood utilization; and encourage development of national policies for the sustainable utilization and conservation of tropical forests and their genetic resources and for maintaining the ecological balance in the regions concerned. The successor agreement, the ITTA, entered into force 1997. Had broader provisions for information sharing, including non-tropical timber trade data, allows for consideration of non-tropical timber issues as they relate to tropical timber; and includes the ITTO 2000 Objective for achieving exports of tropical timber and timber products from sustainably managed sources by the year 2000. Extended twice for three-year periods and now scheduled to expire upon entry into force of the ITTA, 2006.
The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO)
The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), Yokohama, Japan, provides a framework for tropical timber producer and consumer countries to discuss and develop policies on issues relating to international trade in, and utilization of, tropical timber and the sustainable management of its resource base. ITTO has 59 members divided into two caucuses: producer countries (33 members) and consumer countries (26 members). They represent 90 % of world trade in tropical timber and 80 percent of the world’s tropical forests.

A comprehensive and still-relevant source of information on international initiatives on forestry is Soderland, M. and Pottinger, A., eds. (2001) The world’s forests - Rio+8: policy, practice and progress towards sustainable development. Commonwealth Forestry Association.