1. The Bureau of Alternates (BOA) met three times since the 19^th Session of the North American Forest Commission (NAFC): 13-15 July, 1999 in Qualicum Beach, British Columbia, Canada; 13-17 March, 2000 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA; and 10 June, 2000 in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada.

2. As in the past, these meetings facilitated the exchange of information on organizational changes in the three national forest services and on international events relevant to the work of the Commission. They were also an opportunity to review the progress of study groups and identify ways to support their activities, including through improving communication via Web sites and providing financial assistance to carry out tasks that they could not otherwise undertake.

NAFC'S WEB SITE

3. Since launching the Internet site in March 1997, the BOA initiated several changes to make information more accessible. By the same token, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) redesigned the site of its forestry program to feature a faster loading header to facilitate navigation by country, subject and organizational structure. The header also offers direct access to such items as news, updates, a searchable links database, a feedback mechanism and FAO forestry publications.

4. Under the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service's home page, timely updates on study group activities are posted, as are working documents of the BOA such as reports, meeting agendas and minutes. The full membership of the BOA is also listed and study groups are able to communicate directly with the chair of the BOA on matters of interest and concern. As well, a section has been developed for study groups to enter new items and have them automatically sent to relevant NAFC e-mail addresses as soon as they are posted.

5. By clicking on http://www.fs.fed.us/global/globe/n_amer/nafc/welcome.htm and http://www.fao.org/forestry/fo/statbod/nafc/nafc-e.stm, interested readers can find out about the range of topics the Commission is addressing.

REVIEW OF STUDY GROUPS

6. As follow up to its meeting in Charleston, North Carolina in March 1998, the BOA is undertaking a review of the mandates, objectives and activities of each study with a view to suggesting potential future work on current and emerging issues such as watershed restoration, urban forestry and recreation. The review should also provide the basis for recommending, as appropriate, the establishment of new groups and the modification or termination of existing ones. Another purpose is to find ways of improving collaboration on cross-cutting issues and enhancing communications within and among groups and with the FAO Forestry Department.

7. A task force has been established and will shortly submit a preliminary report to the BOA on the current functioning of study groups, including the extent to which they collaborate with each other and the extent to which they and the FAO work together. Attempts will also be made to determine areas of duplication, gaps and overlaps; assess the functioning and effectiveness of groups; identify the usefulness of the Commission's web site to study groups; and examine ways to increase the participation of the private sector in study group activities.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO STUDY GROUPS

8. In response to difficulties some of the study groups were encountering in securing extra-budgetary funds to carry out special activities, each Alternate decided he would notionally set aside the equivalent of US$25,000 annually, in financial and in-kind contributions to help defray eligible expenses. It was further agreed that the fund should not be used to cover on-going operations or regular activities of study groups, given that these form part of each country's commitment to support the work of the North American Forest Commission.

9. In the last 18 months, the BOA approved three requests from two study groups for a total of US$32,000. While, in some cases, costs significantly exceeded the amount requested, the contributions served to leverage additional funding from other sources.

STATUS OF STUDY GROUPS

10. Since the 19^th session of the North American Forest Commission, a few changes have taken place in the status of some of the study groups.

11. A new group on forest inventory, assessment and monitoring was established and held its first meeting in Portland, Oregon in January 2000. The BOA is pleased with the progress made at such an early stage, including its development of a detailed work plan outlining specific activities and timeframes for completion.

12. The study group on neo-tropical migratory species has not been active, partly because many other groups and experts are working in this area across North America and partly because of funding constraints. Attempts will be made to revamp the mandate and objectives of the group to make a more direct link with forests as habitats, if there is sufficient reason and interest in doing so. Should this not be the case, the BOA will recommend that the group be terminated.

A LOOK AHEAD

13. The main task of the BOA will be to complete the review of the study groups, make recommendations in a number of areas and produce a report with a view to enhancing their work and that of the Commission as a whole.