NGO STATEMENT DELIVERED PRIOR TO THE ADOPTION OF THE REPORT OF THE FIRST MEETING OF EXPERTS OF THE COSTA RICA/CANADA INITIATIVE ON IFF CATEGORY III

San José, 25 February, 1999

This statement is being presented on behalf of:

The Environmental Investigation Agency, the Institute of Cultural Affairs-Ghana, the International Alliance of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples of Tropical Forests, the International Indian Treaty council, the Global Forest Policy Project (representing Friends of the Earth-US, the US's National Wildlife Federation and Sierra Club US), Greenpeace International, Mexico's Women NGOs, and Sobrevivencia (Friends of the Earth Paraguay).

As representatives of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) as well as indigenous peoples and local communities concerned with the conservation, protection and rational utilisation of the world's forests, we were grateful for the opportunity to participate in this week's meeting.

We came to San José in the hope that a constructive and fruitful dialogue would take place to identify the action that is required to improve protection, conservation, recovery and sustainable management of the world's forests within the framework of existing international instruments. We also came genuinely with an open mind, ready to hear the views of those who believe that a new legally binding instrument ought to be adopted to regulate the use of the world's forests with a view to their conservation and sustainable management.

First and foremost, we shared the hope that this week's meeting in San José would be an excellent opportunity to initiate a thorough and comprehensive discussion on the key areas that need addressing urgently by the international community in a broad and transparent manner. These include, as a matter of priority in our opinion, the following:

· The recognition of the traditional knowledge of local communities and of indigenous peoples' rights;

· The protection and safety of forest workers;

· The enhancement of the role of women in the sustainable uses of forests;

· The conservation of biological diversity;

· The prevention of illegal trade in forest products and shifting trade to sustainably produced goods;

· Improvement of the quality of international financial and technical assistance;

· Due consideration to cross-sectorial linkages;

· Improved forest mapping, inventories and monitoring; and

· Improved enforcement mechanisms and political commitment.

We were deeply disappointed, however, that virtually no opportunity at all was provided to discuss any of these important issues. Instead, we found that the methodology that was imposed upon the meeting prevented a broad discussion of the most effective options to solve the world's most critical forest problems.

We were disturbed that - despite repeated warnings from many participants - the methodology imposed upon all of us created an unbalanced dynamic between some of the organisers and the majority of participants.

We are raising this matter in this fashion and at this stage because this week's meeting is intended to be the beginning of a process. It is intended to be followed by a series of regional meetings, and a second and final meeting of experts, in Canada in November 1999. For this reason, it is important for the organizers to take full account of the shortfalls of their methodology, and to recognise the frustration which we have experienced.

It has been said informally, on repeated occasions this week, that the desire of a few to develop at all costs a new global convention on forests was "polluting" the much needed debate (particularly on the issues which we have listed above). Having watched the proceedings this week, we would like to express jointly the view that, regrettably, this appears to be the case.

Before the organisers embark on the organisation of regional workshops, and the second meeting of experts, we trust that the comments above will be taken in to full account.

We would like to request the organisers that this statement be annexed to this week's meeting report, with no prejudice to the views of other participants.

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