Forest-related Conventions and Bodies
International
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), opened for signature at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, sets out to conserve biodiversity, ensure sustainable use of its components and the fair equitable shaving of benefits arising from its use. The website offers access to the convention text, it's bodies, programmes, protocols and information on activities of the CBDs bodies.
The Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD), which entered into force in 1996, is the first international agreement to mandatorily define a common understanding of the desertification problem, as well as the principles, objectives and key focuses of coordinated global action. The website offers access to the convention text and official documents from the Conferences Of the Parties, publications by the secreteriat, and information on regional and national activities.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has 152 Parties dedicated to banning commercial international trade in endangered species and to regulating and monitoring trade in others that might become endangered. The website offers information on CITES documents, bodies, programmes, databases and news.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC), opened for signature at the Earth Summit in 1992, has the objective of stablizing Greenhouse gas concentrations to prevent climate change. The website provides information on Parties and Representatives of observer organizations. News, data and information on the Secretariat, on programmes, resources, sessions, media room and site Information are offered on the website as well as access to a online Library.
The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), based on a commodity agreement initiated by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Agricultural Development (UNCTAD), facilitates discussion, consultation and international co-operation on issues relating to the international trade and utilization of tropical timber and the sustainable management of its resource base. The ITTO website offers various information about current trade-related issues, ongoing project work, a policy development series and events.
The United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) is the result of the IPF and IFF process and was established under the UN Economic and Social Committee (ECOSOC) in October 2000. UNFF is tasked with further improving the coordination among international institutions concerning forest activities. This regards promoting and facilitating the implementation of the proposals for action of the IPF and IFF. Further information about the UNFF's mandate, members, documents, and Sessions can be accessed on the homepage.
The World Comission on Forests and Sustainable Development (WCFSD) was set up to bridge the deep divisions that surfaced during discussions on sustainable development of forests at the Earth Summit in 1992. It was launched in 1995 as an independent international task force to provide "a global vision of forests in the twenty first century" and held regional public hearings in five continents where various stakeholders expressed their views. The Website offers acces to the final report released in 1999 and the reports of the regional public hearings.
Regional
The Montréal Process is the Working Group on Criteria and Indicators for the Conservation and Sustainable Management of Temperate and Boreal Forests. It was formed in Geneva, Switzerland, in June 1994 to develop and implement internationally agreed criteria and indicators for the conservation and sustainable management of temperate and boreal forests. The website offers information on the process and on citeria & indicators, meeting reports and publications.
