8 February 2010 The UNECE/FAO Timber section is co-organizing together with the Economic Research and Statistics Division of the WTO Secretariat, and with the Financial support from the Permanent Representation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, a one day workshop in Geneva on 23 March 2010 on Emerging Trade measures in Timber markets. It will be followed by the meeting of the FAO/UNECE Working Party on Forest Economics and Statistics on 24 March 2010. [more...]

17 December 2009 UK GOVERNMENT PRESS NOTICEAGREEMENT ON $3.5BN INITIAL FUNDING FOR DEFORESTATION Australia, France, Japan, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States have today collectively agreed in the context of an ambitious and comprehensive outcome in Copenhagen to dedicate USD3.5bn as initial public finance towards slowing, halting and eventually reversing deforestation in developing countries. A joint statement follows:“Actions to reduce emissions from forests can help to stabilize our climate, support livelihoods, provide biodiversity conservation, and promote economic development. As part of an ambitious and comprehensive deal, we recognise the significant role of international public finance in supporting developing countries’ efforts to slow, halt and eventually reverse deforestation. With this in mind, we collectively dedicate USD3.5 billion of fast-start climate change financing for ‘REDD+’ over the 2010 to 2012 period. We regard this as an initial investment in developing countries that put forward ambitious REDD+ plans and that achieve forest emission reductions according to their respective capabilities. We collectively commit to scaling up our finance thereafter in line with opportunities and the delivery of results. We invite other donors to join us in this effort to make early action on REDD+ a reality.” [more...]