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Member countries of the International Tropical Timber Agreement (ITTA) met from 10-12 November in Yokohama, Japan for the second preparatory committee meeting of the IITA, which has been in place since 1984 and is now up for renewal. Discussions focused mainly on emerging markets for tropical forest services as well as property rights of indigenous peoples. Participants noted that international trade in primary products from tropical forests was continuously decreasing both in volume and in value, concluding that trade in forest services might be the best future economic option. In this context delegates raised concerns as to how to ensure that indigenous peoples and other local communities owning the forests also take part in the economic benefits of forest services. Chairman Jürgen Blaser from Switzerland suggested establishing property rights and legal frameworks in this area. Government delegates from Norway, supported by Malaysia, Venezuela, Indonesia, the Republic of Congo and the EC, warned that the ITTA and its implementing agency the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) should not duplicate the work of other international bodies such as the WTO and the CBD. Whereas Norway supported the inclusion of property rights of indigenous peoples, the EC stressed that it would prefer the ITTA only to be an agreement on commodities.
For daily coverage of the meeting, see ENB Daily Updates.
“Ecosystem Services of Tropical Forests Growing in Importance,” ENS, 12 November 2003; “Prepcom II Highlights,” IISD’s Earth Negotiations Bulletin, 12 November 2003.
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