Intersessional Work by Ad Hoc Expert Groups

E/DEC/2003/299View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Decision of the Economic and Social Council, published in 2004.

What subjects does this mandate have?

9 subjects

Conferences Environmental Agreements Environmental Monitoring Financial Resources Forest Management Forests Groups of Experts Programme Implementation Technology Transfer

What’s in this document?

203 paragraphs

At its 49th plenary meeting, on 25 July 2003, the Economic and Social Council, bearing in mind paragraph 4 (k) of its resolution 2000/35 of 18 October 2000, and recalling the multi-year programme of work of the United Nations Forum on Forests, adopted by the Forum in its resolution 1/1,85 in particular its paragraphs 23 and 24:

(a) Decided to establish three ad hoc expert groups to support the work of the Forum, as set out in the annex to the present decision;

(b) Decided that the meetings of the ad hoc expert groups on approaches and mechanisms for monitoring, assessment and reporting, and on finance and transfer of environmentally sound technologies should be convened in Geneva from 8 to 19 December 2003. The Council also decided that the date of the meeting in New York of the ad hoc expert group on “consideration, with a view to recommending the parameters of a mandate for developing a legal framework on all types of forests” should be decided at the resumed session of the Council of 2003;

85 Ibid., 2001, Supplement No. 22 (E/2001/42/Rev.1), part two, chap. I, sect. B.

(c) Invited each of the five United Nations regional groups to nominate to the Secretariat six country experts for the ad hoc expert group on approaches and mechanisms for monitoring, assessment and reporting, and six country experts for the ad hoc expert group on finance and transfer of environmentally sound technologies, by 15 September 2003;

(d) Invited States members of the United Nations Forum on Forests to nominate to the Secretariat a country expert for the ad hoc expert group on consideration, with a view to recommending the parameters of a mandate for developing a legal framework on all types of forests, by 31 March 2004;

(e) Decided that, to ensure efficiency, transparency and balanced reflection of the range of views, the following preparations should be performed for the meeting of the ad hoc expert group meeting on consideration, with a view to recommending the parameters of a mandate for developing a legal framework on all types of forests:

(i) Presentation of factual and technical information,

including updated information on existing regional and international binding and non-binding instruments and processes relevant to forests and that of other relevant organizations and agreements, including multilateral environmental agreements and regional conventions and processes;

(ii) Compilation of the progress made and catalysts and obstacles encountered by States members and member organizations of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests in implementing the proposals for action of the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests/Intergovernmental Forum on Forests and the decisions and resolutions of sessions of the United Nations Forum on Forests;

(iii) Presentation and detailed description of a range of options, including their legal, financial and institutional modalities.

The States members of the United Nations Forum on Forests were invited to submit their views on (i), (ii) and (iii) above. The member organizations of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests were invited to provide information on (i) and (ii) above. These views and information should be provided to the Forum secretariat by 31 January 2004.

Accordingly, the United Nations Forum on Forests secretariat should compile the views submitted by the States members and the information provided by the member organizations of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests in preparation for the ad hoc expert group meeting.

For its fourth session, the Bureau of the United Nations Forum on Forests should keep States members appraised of the progress made in the preparation of documentation for the ad hoc expert group. The Bureau would undertake consultations with the member States by convening a one-day informal meeting in New York immediately after a meeting of the Bureau prior to the fourth session of the Forum.

The United Nations Forum on Forests would receive an information note at its fourth session on progress in the preparation of documentation for the ad hoc expert group meeting. This note was subject to neither discussion nor negotiation in the Forum.

The official documentation for the consideration of the ad hoc expert group should be made available to countries sixty days in advance of the meeting of the ad hoc expert group.

Ad hoc expert group on approaches and mechanisms for monitoring, assessment and reporting

Scope and work programme

The ad hoc expert group shall provide scientific and

technical advice to the United Nations Forum on Forests on

approaches and mechanisms for the work of the Forum on

monitoring, assessment and reporting. Its work should be

undertaken within the context of Economic and Social Council

resolution 2000/35 and relevant resolutions adopted by the

Forum at its sessions, and should also consider, inter alia, related

proposals for action of the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests

(IPF)/Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (IFF) and the

outcomes of Forum sessions, including its reports.

Tasks

For monitoring, assessment and reporting on progress in

implementing IPF/IFF proposals for action and progress towards

sustainable forest management, the ad hoc expert group shall:

Assess existing reporting requirements under

relevant international conventions, processes, instruments and

organizations in order to identify strengths, weaknesses and

duplication in reporting processes, taking into account the

relevant work undertaken by member organizations of the

Collaborative Partnership on Forests;

Assess existing monitoring and assessment

procedures in international conventions, processes, instruments

and organizations related to forests in order to identify strengths,

weaknesses and duplications, taking into account the relevant

work undertaken by member organizations of the Collaborative

Partnership on Forests;

Propose ways for the Forum to monitor and assess

progress, based on:

Voluntary reporting by countries on implementing

the IPF/IFF proposals for action;

Voluntary reporting by member organizations of the

Collaborative Partnership on Forests and other relevant

organizations and international and regional processes on

implementing the IPF/IFF proposals for action;

iii

Ongoing work on criteria and indicators for

sustainable forest management being undertaken at the

national, regional and international levels;

Existing data and information, as well as reporting

systems and structures;

Propose an outline for voluntary reporting to the

Forum;

Recommend options for drawing upon the reports

provided to Forum sessions to identify trends and lessons learned;

Develop recommendations on how to build capacity

in countries, including the increase of resources for that goal, for

monitoring, assessment and reporting, taking into account the

special needs of developing countries.

In carrying out these tasks, the ad hoc expert group should

take into account the results of intersessional activities related to

monitoring, assessment and reporting led by countries,

organizations and international and regional processes. Its

reports should be made available as a contribution to the

discussions at country- and organization-led initiatives of the

Forum that are related to the present terms of reference. As

relevant, the ad hoc expert group should also take into account

the results of the work undertaken by member organizations of

the Collaborative Partnership on Forests on forest-related

concepts, terminology and definitions.

Composition and participation

The ad hoc expert group shall be composed of thirty

experts in accordance with Economic and Social Council

decision 2003/299, to which the present annex is attached, six

from each of the five United Nations regional groups.

The experts shall have well-recognized scientific and

technical expertise in monitoring, assessment and reporting, and

knowledge of the intergovernmental forest policy deliberations

of IPF, IFF and the Forum.

Representatives of the States members of the United

Nations Forum on Forests shall be allowed to participate in the

first two days of the meeting of the ad hoc expert group and

remain as observers for the last three days of the meeting.

The Collaborative Partnership on Forests shall be invited

to make scientific and technical contributions to the work of the

ad hoc expert group to support the work of the ad hoc expert

group in a resource capacity.

Intergovernmental organizations and representatives of

major groups with relevant expertise may participate in the

meeting, in accordance with the rules of procedure of the well as practices established by the Commission on Sustainable

Development, IPF and IFF. They may be invited to make

scientific and technical contributions.

Travel assistance

Travel support and a daily subsistence allowance at established United Nations rates shall be provided to each of the experts, if the budget allows, with priority to developing countries, particularly least developed countries, as well as countries with economies in transition.

Officers

The chairman of the ad hoc expert group shall be elected from among the experts at its meeting.

Duration of work

The ad hoc expert group shall initiate its work after the third session of the Forum and complete its work at least three months in advance of the fourth session of the Forum.

Meeting

The ad hoc expert group shall hold one meeting for up to five days before the end of 2003. It shall also use electronic means of communication to the greatest extent possible. The ad hoc expert group meeting shall be organized at a United Nations venue where meeting facilities are available, preferably in New York, taking into account cost-effectiveness. To the extent possible, the ad hoc expert group shall hold its meeting back to back with the meeting of the ad hoc expert group on finance and transfer of environmentally sound technologies.

Proposals and recommendations for consideration by the Forum

The proposals and recommendations of the ad hoc expert group should be provided by consensus. In the absence of consensus, the report of the ad hoc expert group shall fully reflect the diversity of views expressed.

Reports

The ad hoc expert group shall prepare its report, taking into consideration the views of all participants and contributions received, and shall submit its report to the Forum at its fourth session for consideration. The report shall specify the major outcomes of the ad hoc expert group’s work, including proposals and recommendations for further consideration by the Forum.

Secretariat

The Forum secretariat shall serve as the secretariat for the ad hoc expert group, supported by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests.

Ad hoc expert group on finance and transfer of environmentally sound technologies

Scope and work programme

The ad hoc expert group shall provide scientific and technical advice to the Forum for its work on finance and transfer of environmentally sound technologies. The work of the ad hoc expert group should be undertaken within the context of Economic and Social Council resolution 2000/35 and relevant resolutions adopted by the Forum at its sessions, and should also consider, inter alia, related IPF/IFF proposals for action and outcomes of Forum sessions, including its reports.

Tasks

The ad hoc expert group shall undertake the following specific tasks on finance:

Finance

Consider previous initiatives on finance, including recommendations from the Croydon, Oslo and Pretoria workshops, as well as the relevant IPF/IFF proposals for action, background papers and strategy documents of member organizations of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests;

Assess the role and status of official development assistance directed towards sustainable forest management and consider ways for enhancing its availability and effectiveness; in this regard, identify possible means to enhance the efforts of developed countries to fulfil their commitments on official development assistance;

Review the effectiveness of existing international financing for sustainable forest management, including methods and mechanisms; analyse opportunities, country-level gaps, limitations and donor and recipient priorities, as well as the contribution of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests towards financing sustainable forest management; propose measures to improve the effectiveness of that financing for enhancing the enabling environment at both the national and international levels and to attract increased financing from all sources;

Explore the potential of new and innovative approaches to attract increased financing for sustainable forest management; discuss and make suggestions for expanded use of those approaches to address the need for financial resources for financing sustainable forest management, including through national forest programmes or equivalent processes;

Assess country experiences in the mobilization of financial resources to support sustainable forest management; in this regard, identify gaps in, and the potential and limitations of, current financing sources and financial mechanisms in implementing sustainable forest management; propose approaches to enhance and more effectively use and mobilize national and international financial resources;

Assess and consider the role of the private sector in financing sustainable forest management; in this regard, recommend measures to improve the enabling environment for private investment in sustainable forest management, at both the national and international levels; and encourage increased private resource flows to the forest sector, in particular in developing countries and countries with economies in transition.

The ad hoc expert group shall undertake the following specific tasks on the transfer of environmentally sound technologies:

Transfer of environmentally sound technologies

Review and assess existing initiatives on the transfer of environmentally sound technologies and knowledge diffusion for the promotion of sustainable forest management among countries and sectors and stakeholders, including through North-South, North-North and South-South cooperation and programmes of member organizations of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests. This should include an analysis of incentives that promote, and obstacles that inhibit, the transfer of forest-related environmentally sound technologies between and/or within countries, in particular to developing countries and countries with economies in transition, in both the private and public sectors;

Recommend approaches to improve transfer of forest-related environmentally sound technologies. The recommendation may include the role of various policy instruments, such as concessional and preferential terms, public/private partnerships and research cooperation, as well as capacity-building in the use and application of current and emerging environmentally sound technologies, including remote sensing.

Composition and participation

The ad hoc expert group shall consist of thirty experts, six from each of the five regional groups.

The experts shall have well-recognized scientific and technical expertise in finance and transfer of environmentally sound technologies and knowledge of the intergovernmental forest policy deliberations of IPF, IFF and the Forum.

Representatives of the States members of the United Nations Forum on Forests shall be allowed to participate in the first two days of the meetings of the ad hoc expert group and remain as observers for the last three days of the meeting.

The Collaborative Partnership on Forests shall be invited to make scientific and technical contributions to the work of the ad hoc expert group to support the work of the ad hoc expert group in a resource capacity.

Intergovernmental organizations and representatives of major groups with relevant expertise may participate in the meeting, in accordance with the rules of procedure of the

well as practices established by the Commission on Sustainable Development, IPF and IFF. They may be invited to make scientific and technical contributions.

Travel assistance

Travel support and a daily subsistence allowance at

established United Nations rates shall be provided to each of the

experts, if the budget allows, with priority to developing

countries, particularly least developed countries, as well as

countries with economies in transition.

Officers

The chairman of the ad hoc expert group shall be elected

from among the experts at its meeting.

Duration of work

The ad hoc expert group shall initiate its work after the

third session of the Forum and complete its work at least three

months in advance of the fourth session of the Forum.

Meeting

The ad hoc expert group shall hold one meeting for up to

five days before the end of 2003. It shall also use electronic

means of communication to the greatest extent possible. The

ad hoc expert group meeting shall be organized at a United

Nations venue where meeting facilities are available, preferably

in New York, taking into account cost-effectiveness. To the

extent possible, the ad hoc expert group shall hold its meeting

back to back with the meeting of the ad hoc expert group on

approaches and mechanisms for monitoring, assessment and

reporting.

Proposals and recommendations for consideration by the Forum

The proposals and recommendations of the ad hoc expert

group should be provided by consensus. In the absence of

consensus, the reports of the ad hoc expert group shall fully

reflect the diversity of views expressed.

Reports

The ad hoc expert group shall prepare its report, taking

into consideration the views of all participants and contributions

received, and shall submit its report to the Forum at its fourth

session for consideration. The report shall specify major

outcomes of the ad hoc expert group’s work, including

proposals and recommendations for further consideration by the

Forum. Secretariat

The Forum secretariat shall serve as the secretariat for the ad hoc expert group, supported by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests.

Ad hoc expert group on consideration, with a view to recommending the parameters of a mandate for developing a legal framework on all types of forests

Scope and work programme

The ad hoc expert group shall provide scientific and technical advice to the Forum for its work on consideration, with a view to recommending the parameters of a mandate for developing a legal framework on all types of forests. The work of the ad hoc expert group should be undertaken within the context of Economic and Social Council resolution 2000/35 and resolutions adopted by the Forum at its sessions, in particular those referring to the creation and scope of the ad hoc expert groups.

Tasks

The reports of the ad hoc expert groups on approaches and mechanisms for monitoring, assessment and reporting and on finance and transfer of environmentally sound technologies shall serve as inputs to the work of this ad hoc expert group.

The ad hoc expert group shall undertake the following specific tasks on consideration, with a view to recommending the parameters of a mandate for developing a legal framework on all types of forests:

Assess existing regional and international binding and non-binding instruments and processes relevant to forests; the assessment should include, inter alia, analysis of complementarities, gaps and duplications, and should take into account Forum resolution 2/386 on specific criteria for the review of the effectiveness of the international arrangement on forests;

Consider reports prepared by countries, as referred to in decision 2003/299 to which the present annex is attached, the member organizations of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests and the Forum secretariat, as well as outcomes of Forum sessions;

Consider other outcomes of the international arrangement on forests, inter alia, the efforts of countries to implement the IPF/IFF proposals for action, other expert groups, country- and organization-led initiatives of the Forum and previous relevant initiatives, and forest-related work undertaken by the member organizations of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests;

86 Ibid., 2002, Supplement No. 22 (E/2002/42), chap. II, sect. B.

Review the relevant experiences of existing forestrelated and other relevant organizations and agreements, including multilateral environmental agreements and regional conventions and processes, focusing on complementarities, gaps and duplications;

Provide for the consideration of the Forum at its fifth session, a balanced range of options with respect to “consideration, with a view to recommending the parameters of a mandate for developing a legal framework on all types of forests”.

Composition and participation

The ad hoc expert group shall be composed of experts of the States members of the Forum.

The experts shall have well-recognized scientific and technical expertise on the forest regime and the Rio conventions and knowledge of the intergovernmental forest policy deliberations of IPF, IFF and the Forum.

Intergovernmental organizations and representatives of major groups with relevant expertise may participate in the meeting, in accordance with the rules of procedure of the functional commissions of the Economic and Social Council, as well as practices established by the Commission on Sustainable Development, IPF and IFF. They may be invited to make scientific and technical contributions.

Travel assistance

Travel support and a daily subsistence allowance at the established United Nations rates shall be provided to one country expert from each developing country, as well as to one country expert from countries with economies in transition, to the maximum extent from the budget, supplemented by voluntary extrabudgetary contributions.

Officers

Two co-chairpersons of the ad hoc expert group shall be elected from among experts at its meeting, one from a developing country and one from a developed country.

Duration of work

The ad hoc expert group shall initiate its work immediately after the fourth session of the Forum and complete its work at least three months in advance of the fifth session of the Forum.

Meeting

The ad hoc expert group shall hold one meeting for up to five days. It shall also use electronic means of communication to the greatest extent possible. The ad hoc expert group meeting shall be organized at a United Nations venue where meeting facilities are available, preferably in New York, taking into account cost-effectiveness.

Proposals and recommendations for consideration by the Forum

The proposals and recommendations of the ad hoc expert group should be provided by consensus. In the absence of consensus, the reports of the ad hoc expert group shall fully reflect the diversity of views expressed.

Reports

The ad hoc expert group shall adopt a report at its meeting, for submission to the Forum at its fifth session. The report shall specify major outcomes of the ad hoc expert group’s work, including proposals and recommendations for further consideration by the Forum.

Secretariat

The Forum secretariat shall serve as the secretariat for the ad hoc expert group, supported by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests.

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

What subjects does this mandate have?

What’s in this document?

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