Report of the Regional Workshop on Implementing IPF/IFF Proposals for Action through National Forest Programmes: Strategies, Initiatives and Tools
75. The Co-Chair of the workshop, Mr. Livo Mele (Vanuatu), presented a summary report of the workshop (see Appendix F). The pre-session workshop had been attended by 67 experts, including representatives of member countries, CPF organizations, and other international, regional and sub-regional organizations, including non-governmental organizations.
76. Workshop participants had adopted 17 recommendations, primarily addressed to countries, on the following topics:
(a) implementing proposals for action;
(b) stakeholder participation;
(c) cross-sectoral cooperation; and
(d) forests and poverty reduction.
77. The workshop had concluded that there were numerous positive examples in the region of implementing the IPF/IFF proposals for action, especially through national forest programmes, despite limited capacity to implement action and to report on progress.
78. The Commission recommended that FAO, in collaboration with other CPF members, continue to facilitate the implementation of the IPF/IFF proposals for action; assist countries in sharing experiences; and help build capacity of countries to effectively participate and negotiate in international fora and follow their progress.
79. The Commission endorsed the workshop report and encouraged member countries to effectively implement its recommendations.
Report of the Workshop on Developing an Action Plan for Addressing Forest Invasive Species in Asia and the Pacific
80. The Rapporteur of the workshop, Mr. Robert Kiapranis (Papua New Guinea), presented a summary report of the workshop (see Appendix G). The pre-session workshop had been attended by 20 experts, including several national focal points for forest invasive species from AFPC member countries.
81. The workshop had inaugurated the Asia-Pacific Forest Invasive Species Network, under the auspices of the Commission, and had identified priority areas of work in the following areas:
(a) organizational structures to support the network;
(b) stock-taking of national activities;
(c) awareness raising;
(d) capacity building; and
(e) database and information sharing.
82. The Commission endorsed the workshop report and encouraged member countries to effectively implement the action plan and related activities within the framework of the Asia-Pacific Forest Invasive Species Network.
Report of the First Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission Executive Committee
83. A summary of the deliberations and recommendations of the First Meeting of the APFC Executive Committee, convened in December 2003, was presented by Ms. Oyundar Navaan-Yunden (Mongolia), on behalf of the outgoing Chair of the Commission, on the basis of Secretariat Note FO:APFC/2004/INF.6.
84. The Executive Committee had conducted an analysis of APFC strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Recommendations had been made in the following areas:
(a) enhancing the profile of APFC;
(b) enhancing the involvement of member countries in APFC activities;
(c) increasing the participation of the private sector and NGOs in APFC activities;
(d) increasing funding support for APFC activities;
(e) streamlining and clarifying the way APFC functions;
(f) increasing the roles and responsibilities of the Executive Committee; and
(g) strengthening the APFC Secretariat.
85. The Commission endorsed the report of the meeting and its recommendations. It recognized the valuable contributions of the Executive Committee in reviewing and guiding the work of the Commission and recommended that regular meetings of the Executive Committee be convened between the main sessions of the Commission, giving due consideration to budget implications.
