The Taskforce of the Near East Forestry Commission (NEFC), composed of Representatives from Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen, will hold its second inter-session meeting from 3-5 July, 2007 in Rabat, Morocco. The meeting will be hosted by the High Commission on Water Affairs and Forestry, Morocco, also hosting the African Forestry Wildlife Commission to which 9 member countries of the NEFC are also members. 

The main objectives of the meeting are to provide an opportunity to follow-up on decisions and recommendations of the 1st NEFC Task Force Meeting which took place in Cairo December 2006, following the 17th Session of the Near East Forestry Commission held in Larnaca, Cyprus in June 2006. The meeting will also be a good opportunity to follow-up on the recommendations of the 18th session of FAO Committee on Forestry (COFO) held in Rome in March 2007, and will initiate preparatory work for the upcoming 18th session of NEFC, due to take place in 2008. 

The meeting will tackle key issues, including, “forests and climate change”, “Forests and Energy”, as well as issues pertaining to the preparation of “the State of the Worlds Forests 2009” and the new “FAO Forestry Strategy”. 

The Near East Forestry Commission and the African Forestry Commission have gained over the past decade strong recognition in their respective Regions where they play an important role as Regional mechanism on forestry and provide Regional forum for forestry decision makers and various stakeholders as well as international Partners to discuss forests and forestry related issues of concern to the Region and provide advice and guidance on ways to address them.