By invitation. Third meeting of the Organizing Committee of the fourth Mediterranean Forest Week (IV MFW) to be held in Barcelona in March 2015

By invitation only.

Collection of field data is the most important activity to undertake in order to understand the forest status and to assess forest resources. Although field data are widely collected (but with large gaps in developing countries), the data are generally not shared and data collection is often done in an uncoordinated manner. As a result, today we know the extension of forests (thanks to the use of satellite data), but we have very limited knowledge of forest health and forest characteristics. The GFS will establish a larger cooperation action among technical and research organisations to collect forest inventory data through a network of field plots all around the world. GFS will be coordinated by FAO’s Forestry Department. The data collection will be realised through three different modalities (i) gathering data from existing database and inventory efforts; (ii) collection through capacity-building actions with local institutions/organisations; and (ii) direct field data collection from specialized staff. More details are outlined under the section 4.2.3. GFS direct support for data collection will provided only to developing countries and in the pilot phase field measurements will be realized in 18 countries. The main objective is to use the plot data generated by GFS to provide information needed to characterize and to understand the status of the world’s forests. The data collection will be based on a multi-scale sampling design and measurement protocols will be developed to assess forests from basic parameters to complex dynamics. Data will be collected by partner organisations, local authorities and communities through capacity building actions and, where needed, directly by FAO specialised staff. All the data collected in the context of GFS will be freely available, accessible and downloadable through a web-based GIS-enabled portal that will also provide open source tools for data analysis. GFS will promote the worldwide use of open data policies as a factor to improve our current knowledge and understanding of forests and biodiversity, as well as the use of forest resources and the effects of climate change on natural resources. GFS will represent a reference data source for any end user who would like to increase our understanding on the aforementioned points.

Focus group discussion on FO's publications, covering relevance and quality of content, medium, format, dissemination channels, timeliness and appropriate language versions in order to reach our key target audiences. To attend this meeting, please contact Suzanne Lapstun.

FAO’s Strategic Objective 2 aims at improving and increasing the provision of goods and services from agriculture, forestry and fisheries in a sustainable manner. This ambitious objective can only be reached through a paradigm that puts sustainability at the centre of food and agriculture policies in an integrated and multi-disciplinary manner. Since mid-2013, a process has been launched within FAO to develop a vision on sustainable food and agriculture, together with a set of concepts, approaches and tools to facilitate its implementation. These efforts involved continuous cross-sectoral collaboration and intensive consultation with leading specialists in crops, livestock, forestry, fisheries, aquaculture and natural resources. The report “Sustainable food and agriculture – Vision, principles and approaches” is the result of this consultation process. It should guide the work of FAO and its member countries in the years to come in the transition to an agriculture that is highly productive, socially acceptable, economically viable and environmentally sound. The side event will be an opportunity to present the Vision document, and discuss the way forward in implementing sustainable food and agriculture.

Southern African delegates attending COFO will be invited to attend this meeting. The draft project document (PFD) for the proposed CC adaptation programme for these countries will be presented to the countries for their discussion. By invitation.

Family forests and forest families are key actors in sustainable forest management and national rural economies. The Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) and the International Family Forestry Alliance (IFFA) will bring the voices of Family Foresters to COFO to celebrate the IYFF and providing the opportunity to raise important issues related to their critical role in forest and farm landscapes worldwide. This event will build on the momentum and recommendations for policy change from the International Conference of Forest Producer Organizations in Guilin, China in November 2013, and will be part of a series of events building towards the World Forestry Congress in 2015. Why would you want to attend this COFO event? You will: • learn more about the principle characteristics of Family Forests, • hear directly from smallholder, community and indigenous producer organizations on the opportunities and challenges for family farming in forest landscapes • hear government and family forest partners discuss practical efforts to improve the enabling environment for family forests and producer organisations. • Participate in this discussion as the audience will be an active part of this facilitated talk show.

By invitation.

INBAR is the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan. It is an Inter-Governmental international organization hosted by China at Beijing, with offices in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean regions. The INBAR Director-General, Dr Hans Friederich, will present information about INBAR and the role of bamboo in landscape management. Experts and advisors from FAO, INBAR and member countries will provide focused information about bamboo and rattan resources. The Assistant Director General of FAO Forestry Department, Dr. Eduardo Rojas Briales, will make the inaugural address and, inter-alia, highlight the potential collaborative partnership regarding the thematic issue of bamboo and rattan. Concluding remarks will be made by the Chair of INBAR Board, Dr. Maharaj Muthoo. The event will start at 1315, after lunch is served near the India Room at 1230. Tea and coffee will also be served there before the beginning and after the closure of the event at 1445.

The side event will provide the COFO delegates with an opportunity to learn more about the Global Plan of Action for Conservation, Sustainable Use and Development of Forest Genetic Resources (GPA-FGR) and ongoing activities at the national, regional and global level that readily contribute to the implementation of the GPA-FGR. Contact person: Jarkko Koskela e-mail: j.koskela@cgiar.org