Mr Luis Barrera Garavito, Executive Director of INAB opened the Conference. The Honourable Mr Edin Barrientos, Minister of Agriculture of Guatemala, welcomed the participants. In the name of the Government of Guatemala, he thanked FAO, ITTO and the Governments of the USA and Finland for having provided the necessary support to organize the Conference. He emphasized the importance of the Conference for the sustainability of the world's forest resources, urging participants to actively participate in plenary and working group discussions as the results of this event could greatly contribute to the work of UNFF.