Distr.
GENERAL

INTERNATIONAL TROPICALTIMBER COUNCIL

ITTC(XLIX)/7
18 October 2013
Original: ENGLISHFORTY-NINTH SESSION
25-30 November 2013
Libreville, Gabon

PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE ITTO THEMATIC PROGRAMMES(Item 12 of the Provisional Agenda)

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 1
List of Acronyms
ATIBT
BWP
CBD
CFME
CFPI
CIRAD
CORPIAA
CTFT
DDD
DIAF
FFPRI
FLEGT
IDE
INAB
ITTC
ITTO
IUFRO
IWCS
JICA
MECNT
MoU
MP
NOL
NTFP
OLMS
PSC
PTC
REDD
REDDESREFACOF
TFLET
TLAS
TMT
TP
TPAC
TPD
TPP
TWNA
UNFCCCUNFF
YPOInternational Association for Tropical Timber Technologies
Biennial Work Programme
Convention on Biological Diversity
Community Forest Management and Enterprises
Chinese Forest Products Index Mechanism
International Agronomic Research Cooperation Centre for Development
Regional Indigenous Peoples Coordinating Council
Technical Centre for Tropical Forestry
Directorate for Sustainable Development, Democratic Republic of Congo
Directorate of Forest Inventory and Management, Democratic Republic of Congo
Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute
Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade of the European Union
Industrial Development and Efficiency
National Institute of Forests, GuatemalaInternational Tropical Timber Council
International Tropical Timber Organization
International Union of Forest Research Organizations
Internal Wood Control System
Japan International Cooperation Agency
Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Tourism, Democratic Republic of Congo
Memorandum of Understanding
Monitoring Protocol
No Objection Letter
Non Timber Forest Products
Online Monitoring System
Project Steering Committee
Project Technical Committee
Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation
Reducing Deforestation and Forest Degradation and Enhancing Environmental Services
Network of African Women for Community Forest Management
Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade
Timber Legality Assurance System
Trade and Market Transparency
Thematic Programme
Thematic Programme Advisory Committee
Thematic Programme Document
Thematic Programme Profile
The Wood News Agency
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
United Nations Forum on Forests
Yearly Plan of Operation

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 2
1.

Introduction

This document is prepared pursuant to Decisions 8 (XLIV) on the Thematic Programmes (TP) subaccountunder the Special Account, 9 (XLIV) on the Operational Procedures and Guidelines of the Thematic
Programmes on a Pilot Basis and 10 (XLIV) on the Thematic Programme Profiles (TPP), requesting the
Executive Director to prepare annual progress reports on the implementation of the ITTO Thematic
Programmes for Council’s review.
The Thematic Programmes approved by the Council are:






Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (TFLET)
Reducing Deforestation and Forest Degradation and Enhancing Environmental Services in Tropical
Forests (REDDES)
Community Forest Management and Enterprises (CFME)
Trade and Market Transparency (TMT)
Industry Development and Efficiency (IDE)

In keeping with the above Decisions, this document reports on the current status of Thematic Programme
implementation and the progress made since the 48th Session of the ITTC held in Yokohama, Japan,
5-10 November 2012.
Following the completion of the Thematic Programme pilot phase and the entry into force of the International
Tropical Timber Agreement 2006 (ITTA, 2006), the TPs are now an integral part of ITTO operations, which isalso reflected in the new ITTO Strategic Action Plan 2013-2018. The draft report on the evaluation of theeffectiveness of the Thematic Programme pilot operation conducted in 2012 was presented to the 48th ITTC
and approved together with Decision 4 (XLVIII) on ‘Strengthening the ITTO Thematic Programmes’. The final
report is available electronically at:
http://www.itto.int/files/user/pdf/thematicprogrammes/TP_Review_2012_FullReport_Final.pdf

Under the Thematic Programmes 66 projects have been approved for funding, i.e. 22 under TFLET (including
8 under the ‘pre-cursor’), 31 under REDDES, 5 under CFME and 8 under TMT. Tables 4 and 5 provide an
overview of the projects funded under each programme. 21 projects have been completed, 37 projects are
ongoing, 6 projects are in the inception phase and 2 projects have gone into ‘sunset’. Chapter 4 of this reporthighlights selected achievements and impacts during the reporting period. Annex III provides an overview on
the status of the individual projects
2.

Thematic Programme Financing

During the 48th ITTC, new pledges of US$ 550,000 were received, including US$ 300,000 for REDDES from
Switzerland and US$ 250,000 for TFLET, i.e. US$ 200,000 from Japan and US$ 50,000 from the USA. In
December 2012 Australia made a pledge of US$ 1.942,098 to TFLET under its ‘Illegal Logging: Regional
Capacity Building Partnership’. The ITTO – EU/CITES program has contributed US$ 307,130 to TMT to be
used for projects with objectives relevant to both programs (TMT and CITES). The total pledges received are
US$ 2,799,228. Table 1 shows the pledges to the Thematic Programmes by programme and donor, divided
into pledges received during the TP pilot phase (2009-2012) and pledges received under the SAP 2013-2018(starting with the 48th ITTC).
Table 2 shows the pledges received, the amount committed to projects (also including 3% set aside for
proposal development) and the funding available for allocation to projects by programme.
The thematic programme on Industry Development and Enterprises (IDE) has not yet received any pledges
from donors. The thematic programme on Community Forest Management and Enterprises (CFME) has notreceived any new pledges since the 46th ITTC in December 2010. Recalling Decision 4(XLVIII) on‘Strengthening the Thematic Programmes’, Operative Clause 4 to ‘urge members to contribute to theThematic Programmes Sub-Account in order to fully implement ongoing Thematic Programmes as soon as
possible’, the Council may wish to re-emphasize the urgent need for additional financial pledges for the
implementation of all thematic programmes.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 3
Table 1 Pledges to the Thematic Programmes
TP pledges Pilot Phase
Donor

Total

TFLET

REDDES

NorwayNetherlands
Japan
Australia
Switzerland
USA
UK
EU/CITES
FinlandGermanyJLIA
New ZealandSwedenKorea
Total

8,228,960
3,000,000
2,275,953
280,608
1,883,040
1,532,456
949,380
356,356
132,888
77,76150,00037,53025,00010,00018,839,932

15,0003,000,000
991,235
280,608
683,040
757,456
949,380

8,173,960

40,000483,782

635,000

165,936

400,000
175,000

100,000
300,000

700,000
300,000

Australia
EU/CITES
Switzerland
Japan
USA
Total

1,942,098
307,130
300,000
200,000
50,0002,799,228
21,639,160

CFME

TMT

IDE

356,356
97,68935,19977,76150,00037,53025,00010,0006,887,209
9,232,742
1,100,000
TP pledges SAP 2013-2018
1,942,098

1,619,981

307,130
300,000
200,000
50,0002,192,098

300,000
Total
9,079,307
9,532,742

307,130
1,100,000

1,927,111

Table 2: TP funding status (6th TFLET cycle and 4th TMT cycle approvals to be deducted)
TPa) Pledges

TFLET
REDDES
CFME
TMT
IDE
th

$ 9,079,307$ 9,532,742$ 1,100,000$ 1,927,111n/ab) Committed$ 6,407,615$ 9,474,977$ 969,420$ 1,467,621
n/ac) Available for
Allocation (a – b)
$ 2,671,692*$ 57,765$130,580$ 459,490*
n/ath*6 TFLET cycle and 4 TMT cycle approvals to be deducted

3.

TP Proposal Cycles in 2013

In 2013, three proposal cycles were launched, including the 5th and 6th cycle under TFLET and the 4th cycle
under TMT. Table 3 shows the number of proposals received by country and proposal cycles. Under the 5th
TFLET cycle ten proposals were received from eight member countries, under the 6th TFLET cycle sixteen
proposals were received from eleven member countries (including 9 revisions from the 5th cycle) and underthe 4th TMT cycle, three proposals were received from three member countries.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 4
Table 3: TP proposals 2013 by country and proposal cycle
Country

5
TFLET

th

6
TFLET

1

1

1
1

4
1
1
1
2
1
2
1
1

Producers
Benin
Cameroon
Ghana
Guatemala
Guatemala/Honduras
GuyanaIndonesia
Mali
Peru
PanamaPNG
Consumers
Australia
Total

th

th

4
TMT

1

1
2
1
2

1
10

1
16

1
1

3

The funding available under the 4th TMT cycle was mainly through a grant from the European Union (throughthe European Commission) under the ITTO-CITES Program, which calls for part of the funds (20%) to be
devoted to activities relevant to both, the ITTO-CITES Program and the ITTO TMT Thematic Programme.
The call was therefore restricted to proposals addressing the objectives of both programs. Furthermore, due
to the limited funding available, only pre-projects (max. 9 months) and small projects (max. 18 months) of up
to US$ 150.000 were permitted under the cycle.
All proposals were subject to the common three-step review process applied under the TPs, including:•••

Proposal screening for compliance with basic requirements;
Technical review by ITTO Secretariat staff;
Technical review by the members of the Thematic Programme Advisory Committee (TPAC)

Based on the Secretariat and TPAC reviews, the ITTO Executive Director gave conditional approval to one
pre-proposal under the 5th TFLET cycle, i.e., pre-proposal TFL-PPD 040/13 Rev.2 (M) from Guatemala (seebelow). Member countries were notified of the pre-selection prior to the endorsement by the TPAC members.
Final approval was given after TPAC endorsement and the integration of reviewer comments into a revised
proposal.
5th TFLET Cycle Approvals
Country

ID #

Title

ITTO
Funding

Counterpart
Funding

Guatemala

TFL-PPD 040/13
Rev.2 (M)Development of a program to strengthen the
traceability of legally sourced forest products in
Guatemala$74,586

19,764The proposals received under the 6th TFLET cycle and under the 4th TMT cycle are currently under review by
the respective Thematic Programme Advisory Committees. The review process is supposed to be completed
by the 28 October 2013 and the pre-selection of the ED is expected in early November 2013.
4.

Achievements, impacts and lessons learned

The main achievements during the reporting period are summarized below (for more details please refer toAnnex III):
TFLET:
PP-A/43-194, ITTO - Promote trade in tropical timber and tropical timber products from sustainably
managed and legally harvested sources (ongoing)
The web-based information system has been designed and is ready to be launched. The ‘Wood News
Agency’ (TWNA) is a web-based system to support sustainable tropical timber trade. The system has been

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 5developed by TFT and has generated great interest among companies and the trade. However, the launch of
the system is unfortunately on hold as the follow-up under activity 25 of the ITTO Biennial Work Programme(BWP) 2013-2014 is still pending financing. Therefore the expected impact on the promotion of sustainable
tropical timber trade remains unrealized. Funding is urgently sought for the launch of the system underactivity 25 of ITTO BWP 2013-2014.
Following substantial delays, the implementation of the tracking system for DTL/Guyana is on track to besatisfactorily completed by the end of 2013.
PD 449/07 Rev.2 (M,I), PNG - Enhancing Forest Law Enforcement in Papua New Guinea (pending final
audit)
A pilot log and timber tracking and chain of custody verification system was designed and built to meet theneeds of the PNGFA. Field testing was carried out to trial the system and test implementation of the system.
A database to capture and store log and timber products flow information developed and tested for
implementation. An integrated system was prepared which included a database to store timber productinformation. The database was developed and tested as a component of the system developed. A legality
standard based on FLEGT/ITTO best practices guidelines and principles, and industry code of conduct has
been developed for implementation in PNG in collaboration with key stakeholders. This output will be fully
realized when the final versions have been approved by the National Forest Board towards the end of 2013.
A training module for enhancing the skills and expertise of key stakeholders particularly the PNGFA andforestry industry participants in the monitoring of forestry activities to deter and detect illegal practices has
been developed and implemented.
TFL-SPD 007/09 Rev.1 (M), Ghana - Strengthening the capacity of small-medium enterprises in Ghana
to produce and trade in timber products from legal and sustainable sources (completed)
Despite the delays encountered, the implementation of the project has been completed with the satisfactoryattainment of its planned outputs and corresponding impacts. Efficient management of wood flow information
adopted by stakeholders, involving the conduct of a tracking study, development of templates for recording
flow of materials, testing of the templates and training on data collection using the templates. The humancapacity to implement IWCS was improved, adopting ICT tools. This covered awareness creation through theconduct of workshops, trainings of SMFEs on the use of ICT in IWCS, training of SMFEs on how to
implement IWCS and development of IWCS software ‘The KWC Tim Tracker (TT)’. Standard guides andbrochures for implementing IWCS in SMFEs were developed. Furthermore a Wood Tracking Manual ofProcedure for SMFEs, brochures and implementation guides for wood tracking, and brochures on chain ofcustody schemes and wood tracking systems were produced, disseminated and utilized in the trainings
conducted. The KWC capacity in WTS, CoC and ICT was substantially strengthened, including the training of
KWC staff members and the improvement of the KWC website. The capacity of SMFEs to pursue WTS and
CoC certification was improved. This was undertaken through the project as well as parallel projects
implemented by KWC. Two of its members were awarded with controlled wood certificate and CoC certificate
by Smartwood. Collectively these outputs and impacts have contributed directly to the realization of the
project’s main objective of strengthening the capacity of SMFEs in Ghana to produce and trade legal timber
by improving the understanding of stakeholders of IWCS requirements, developing standard guides andbrochures for implementing IWCS, developing computerized wood tracking software for SMFEs, building
capacity of KWC to further support SMFEs in IWCS and CoC and supporting SMFEs to obtain WTS/CoC
certificates. This, in turn, contributes towards the achievement of the stated objectives of TFLET, particularly
specific objectives (b) and (c). In ensuring the sustainability of the project beyond its completion, a number ofsteps are being undertaken by KWC including identifying 9 enterprises to be equipped with the Tim Tracker,
networking with stakeholders to provide support to their sensitization and monitoring roles under the Ghana
TLAS, enhancing its website as platform for information sharing among SMFEs, continuing building capacityof SMFEs in certification, continuing providing support and coaching to SMFEs and sharing of knowledge andlessons learned for the project with TVD and GFC in support of national action on the implementation of VPA
with the EU.
TFL-PD 010/09 Rev.1 (M), Indonesia - Strengthening the capacity of related stakeholders in Java on
implementing new Indonesian TLAS (completed)
The realization of the project outputs has contributed to the improvement of the capacity of relevant
stakeholders in implementing the Indonesian TLAS specifically in respect of community forests andcommunity plantations forests, constituting a direct contribution to the stated objectives of TFLET particularly
specific objectives (a) and (c) on strengthening forest law compliance and governance through improved
national policy and legal frameworks, strengthened enforcement and institutions, improved data andITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 6knowledge, strengthened enforcement and institutions, improved data and knowledge, strengthened
partnerships and improved cooperation among relevant stakeholders as well as improved capacity ofcommunity and small and medium-sized enterprises to implement and demonstrate that timber produced andtrade comes from legal sources, contributing to sustainable livelihoods. To ensure the sustainability of the
project beyond its completion, a list of critical activities to be implemented following project completion,
institutions to be responsible for implementing these activities and the resources required have been drawn
up by the implementing agency.
TFL-PD 017/09 Rev 2 (M), China - Equipping small and medium sized forestry enterprises in China for
procurement of tropical timber from legal and sustainably managed forests (ongoing)
The project provides a basic ‘platform’ (FPI) and channel for Chinese SMFEs, especially flooring processing
SMFEs located in Yangtze River Delta area, to better appreciate international timber regulations. The project
also identified SMFEs weaknesses and helped improve Government communication channels as well as theflow of market information. An increasing number of SMFEs is receiving the periodic bulletin information to
obtain market information as well as sustainable information and policies of EU and US and global timbertrade situation. The ‘platform’ also provides a channel for stakeholder communication. Some associations
have connected to this project through the FPI ‘platform and these associations have helped the EA toconnect with SMFEs and timber enterprises. Two technical reports on “China’s tropical timber processing
SMFEs and their opportunities for procurement of timber from legal and sustainable managed forest” and“Policy suggestions for promoting procurement of timber from legal and sustainable managed forest in
SMFEs” have been completed and will be posted on the ITTO website once reviewed and translated into
English.
REDDES
RED-SPD 020/09 Rev.1 (F), China - Development and demonstration on schemes of payment forenvironmental services (PES) derived from degraded and secondary tropical production forests in
China (completed)
The impacts of the project include improved capacity to develop supportive policies and measures towards
the effective design and implementation of PES schemes in the Hainan Province, southern China. With suchsupportive policy development through PES schemes, the conversion of national production forests toplantations is expected to be reduced. This is in contrast to the past common practice of forest owners(collective organizations or villagers) who received forests’ property rights after the Reform of Collective
Forest Tenure System in China, to have forests converted into plantations by clear cutting.
Lessons learned and sustainability:
The project was widely recognized in Hainan Province, southern China and has contributed to policy
development for PES schemes. A number of lessons have emerged from the project’s implementation,
including:Payments for Environmental Services (PES) could be an effective economic incentive to encourage forestowners to maintain and sustainably manage their forests in southern China. Designing and implementing aneffective payment mechanism for environmental services provided by natural production forests in southern
China will be a counting challenge.
For further development of PES schemes in the Hainan Province, it is necessary that the Hainan Forest
Department continues to strengthen policy development through capacity building and training. It is also
important to continue to work with local communities to bring mutual benefits to the people and provision ofenvironmental services.
For smooth operation of any project activities in the future, promoting better understanding and cooperation
among key stakeholders especially in the minority communities will be vital. Consultative meetings with local
communities in particular with motivated community leaders, taking into account local customs and culture,
were instrumental to generate a common vision for the conservation and sustainable management of natural
production forests of the demonstration site.
It was essential that the roles and responsibilities of the institutions involved in the project implementation are
clearly defined and documented by subcontracts in the beginning and throughout the project implementation.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 7
A separate management system must be ensured to keep project files and documents. Relevant documents
and information on the project in different stages needs to be added and presented in the system. Monitoringand evaluating mechanism should be effectively implemented by projects.
Sustainability of the project has been ensured with the creation of a special management organization andrelated mechanism to take charge of the protection and management of the demonstration site by the local
government (Wuzhishan Forestry Bureau). The local government is entrusted with the responsibility ofcontinuing and extending the work of the project.
RED-PD 029/09 Rev.1 (F), Brazil - Monitoring deforestation, logging and land use change in the Pan
Amazonian Forest – PANAMAZON IIIn May 2013, the Board of the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), through the
Amazon Fund approved an amount of Brazilian Real R$23,000,000 equivalent to approximately
US$11,800,000 to ACTO to ensure the continuation and expansion of the activities initialized under RED-PD
029/09 Rev.1 (F). Over a five year period, the new ACTO project on ‘Monitoring of forest cover in the Amazon
Region’ will continue the structuring and implementation of the established observation rooms, provide
access to forest cover monitoring technology, support the development of national monitoring plans, andfoster the improvement, harmonization and standardization of institutional capacities to assess land usechanges in the participating countries. It will support regional cooperation to combat illegal logging andexchange of experiences related to public policy instruments to reduce deforestation. The project is expected
to also directly contribute to the objectives of the UN-REDD programme through improved control of
deforestation and forest degradation, and through the strengthening of monitoring systems and provision ofdata from all participating countries.
CFME
CFM-SPD 007/10 Rev.1 (F), Ghana - Enrichment of young forest plantations with selected NTFPs forlivelihood improvement and support of forest fringe communities in Atwima Mponua District ofGhana, in order to secure and protect the resources on a sustainable forest management basis
One hundred and fifty (150) MTS farmers have been convinced to go back into their forest plantations andstart operating on their NTFP enterprises in-situ in the plantations. The farmers have integrated the 3 key
NTFPs (Grains of Paradise, Black Pepper and honey) into their forest plantations (although, by the projectcompletion, they have not reached income generation level yet). The Ghana Forestry Commission and the
Resource Management Support Centre have expressed their interest to upscale this project to other areas
under the management of MTS farmers. One hundred (100) bee hives, gloves and smokers have been
supplied to 50 beekeepers as a start-up logistics for the honey enterprise. A nursery centre has been
established at Kramokrom to raise more than 12,500 seedlings of grain of paradise for distribution to sixty(60) MTS farmers for planting in four (4) communities of Akwaboraso, Kramokrom/Sreso, Kwadwo Tire and
Akentansu. Negotiations have been initialized, on financial mechanisms to support forest plantations withstrong component dealing with non-timber forest products (Grains of Paradise, Black Pepper and honey).
The most relevant lessons learnt and recommendations for future similar projects on Community Forest
Management and Enterprises (CFME), can be summarized as follows:Integration of the NTFPs has motivated the MTS farmers and contributed to bring them back into the forest
plantations;
Other MTS farmers outside the project target areas, as well as surrounding community members, haveshown interest to replicate the new NTFP-related farming intervention, as they have been concerned by theissue of securing land titles and forest resources ownership rights to them;
MTS farmers have been committed to abstain from destructive environmental practices such as bush fire,
encroachment and cutting down of trees on their plantation after realizing they could continue to benefit fromthe resources of their forest plantations, after securing land titles and forest resources ownership rights tothem;As main recommendation, the project Executing Agency should continue to follow-up the administrative
process of securing land titles and forest resources ownership rights to MTS farmers until the signing by the
Ghana Forestry Commission of the Benefit Sharing Agreement, for the benefit of MTS farmers involved in theimplementation of this project. All current direct project beneficiaries and stakeholders share a common viewfor the need of a 2nd Phase of this pilot project.
The Executing Agency (RUDEYA) in collaboration with GFC/RMSC has taken practical steps to secure land
tenure and resource rights for the 600 Taungya MTS farmers via the future signing of Benefit Sharing

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 8Agreements. The farmers have been assured by GFC/RMSC about the will to finalize this agreement. This
could contribute to forest governance enhancement and sustainable community forest management in
Ghana.
TMT
TMT-PD 006/11 Rev.3 (M) – Strengthening market information systems to enhance trade and market
intelligence in the forest sector of Guyana
A framework as well as a methodology for strengthening data collection efforts was developed. This builds onthe existing system which is available and improves on areas where there were evident data gaps andinefficiencies in data process and management time.
The completion of three main reports on Critical Data gaps, review of the market framework for tradedevelopment in Guyana, and the assessment of factors affecting markets and measures impacting on tropicaltimber use, were completed. The Marketing Strategy document and the Report on Competitiveness are indraft preparation. These key documents will contribute to the achievement of the objective and theimplementation of the project.
5.

Follow-up on the Decision 4 (XLVIII), Strengthening the ITTO Thematic Programmes

In response to Decision 4 (XLVIII), Strengthening the ITTO Thematic Programmes, a number of actions havebeen taken by the Secretariat.
In response to the request to identify reasons for lack of donor interest in the Thematic Programme on
Industry Development and Efficiency (IDE), the Secretariat has consulted the ITTO Country Focal Points,
TAG and CSAG. The report of the consultations including options to move forward is attached as Annex I.
Member countries have been invited to nominate/confirm members for the Thematic Programme Advisory
Committees and new TPACs have been established for the operational programmes, i.e. TFLET, REDDES,
CFME and TMT.
With the launch of a proposal cycle, ITTO Focal Points are now routinely reminded of the recommendations
made to improve project formulation and appraisal [Document ITTC(XXXVI)/5], particularly with regard to theadvice to set up a “National Clearing House” mechanism for the screening of proposals taking into accountnational priorities and relevance to ITTO goals prior to submission.
A weighting system has been developed and implemented for the TP proposal review. The system is basedon the weighting system applied by the Expert Panel, but adjusted to the specific requirements under the
Thematic Programmes. The system has been applied under the 2013 TP cycles.
The issues of better awareness on lessons learned from the TPs and the improvement of inter-sessional
information to members are addressed within the framework of BWP Activity 22 to develop and strategy andguidelines for an ITTO Knowledge Management System and with the ongoing restructuring of the ITTO
website. Both efforts are currently ongoing. The lessons learned & good practices from the ITTO Meta
Evaluation towards sustainable management of tropical forests have been translated and posted on the ITTO
website to assist stakeholders in implementing sustainable management of tropical forests and to support
project formulators and implementers in designing and executing ITTO projects. The Secretariat is also
developing ‘factsheets’ for each project summarizing the main information on each project on one page forquick reference. A draft factsheet is shown in Annex II.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 9
Table 4: TP approved projects
Project ID
PP-A/43-193
PP-A/43-194
PP-A/43-200

SubmittedbyUnder BWP
2008/2009
Under BWP
2008/2009
Under BWP
2008/2009

PP-A/43-202

Under BWP
2008/2009

PD 124/01 Rev.
2 (M) Phase II –Stage 2
PPD 138/07
Rev.1 (M)PD 449/07 Rev.2(M,I)
PD 493/07 Rev.1(F)

Africa

TFL-PPD 005/09
Rev.1 (F)Thailand

TFL-PPD 001/09
Rev.2 (M)Colombia

TFL-PD 003/09
Rev.2 (M)
TFL-SPD 007/09
Rev.1 (M)Cameroon

TFL-PD 010/09
Rev.1 (M)
TFL-PD 014/09
Rev.1 (M)Indonesia

TFL-PD 017/09
Rev.2 (M)China

TFL-PD 019/10
Rev.2 (M)
TFL-PPD 023/10
Rev.1 (F)Indonesia

TFL-PD 024/10
Rev.2 (M)

Guatemala

TFL-SPD 028/12
Rev.1 (M)
TFL-SPD 029/12
Rev.1 (M)
TFL-SPD 030/12
Rev.1 (M)

Ghana

TFL-SPD 040/13
Rev.2 (M)

Guatemala

TFLET pre-cursor approved projects
Title
Enhance capacity of small and medium size enterprises to produce
and trade timber from legally and sustainable source
Promote trade in tropical timber and tropical timber products fromsustainably managed and legally harvested sources
Provide technical assistance for selected poor local/indigenous
communities to formulate project proposals for submission to ITTO
for management of forests and sustainable timber production
Global assessment of the status of tropical forest tenure withidentification of trends and implications for investment andmanagement, and for convening an expert workshop on Tropical
Forest Tenure and Business Models, including formulation of a
project to assist Civil Society Organization(s) to set up and operate
on a pilot basis a remote sensing system to detect illegal logging
activities in areas known to be critically affected by such activities
Promotion of Sustainable Management of African Forests(ITTO/ATO)

Peru

Verifying the Legality of Timber Forest Products in Peru

PNG

Enhancing Forest Law Enforcement in Papua New Guinea

CambodiaStrengthening Capacity of Forest Law Enforcement and Governance(Cambodia)
TFLET Spring Cycle 2009 approved projects
Strengthening the capacity of local communities of Chaiyapum
Province (Thailand) to manage community forest
TFLET Autumn Cycle 2009 approved projects
Implementing and promoting sustainable forest management
through formulation of an action plan for improved forest law
enforcement and governance in Colombia
Improving governance and transparency of timber harvests andtrade in Cameroon
Strengthening the capacity of small-medium enterprises in Ghana to
produce and trade in timber products from legal and sustainablesourcesStrengthening the capacity of related stakeholders in Java on
implementing new Indonesian TLAS
Reduction of illegal logging through better governance of community
forests in the Lom et Djerem Division, East region, Cameroon
TFLET Spring Cycle 2010 approved projects
Equipping small and medium sized forestry enterprises in China for
procurement of tropical timber from legal and sustainably managed
forests
Developing collaborative management in the Cibodas Biosphere
Reserve, West Java Indonesia
Development and implementation of a species identification andtimber tracking system in Africa with DNA fingerprints and stable
isotopes
Improvement of forest law enforcement at the national level topromote forest governance in Guatemala
TFLET Spring Cycle 2012 approved projects
Empowering civil society organizations and other non-state actors toeffectively contribute to forest law compliance in Ghana
Marketing of timber from legal and sustainable sources byindigenous communities in Ucayali, Peru for the fair trade market
Improved governance and implementation of transparent negotiation
mechanisms for indigenous community forestry in Atalaya (Ucayali),
Peru
TFLET 5th Cycle (2013) approved projects
Development of a program to strengthen the traceability of legallysourced forest products in Guatemala

Ghana

Cameroon

Germany

Peru
Peru

ITTO
Funding$ 300,000
completed$ 600,000

Project
Total$ 300,000$ 100,000
completed$ 100,000$ 200,000
completed$ 200,000$ 544,070
completed$ 591,070$ 79,844
completed$ 473,040$ 79,844$ 600,000$ 473,040$ 561,195
completed$ 561,195$56,970
sunset

78,678$91,498
completed

122,598$365,526

418,626$163,039
completed180,704$474,163
completed$302,562

555,163$322,056$505,036$496,670$591,278$155,522
completed$178,022$563,339$804,419$147,701$188,456$137,941$230,291$131,236$191,263$74,586

94,350355,562ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 10

Project ID
RED-A 004/09
Rev.1 (F)
RED-PD 005/09
Rev.2 (F)

Submitted
by
ITTO

GuyanaRED-PPD 006/09 Guatemala
Rev.2 (F)
RED-PD 007/09
Rev.2 (F)Indonesia

RED-SPD 009/09 Indonesia
Rev.2 (F)

RED-PD 018/09
Rev.1 (F)Peru

RED-SPD 020/09 China
Rev.1 (F)
RED-A 023/09
Rev.1 (F)DRC

RED-PD 026/09
Rev.1 (F)
RED-PD 029/09
Rev.1 (F)

Ghana
BrazilREDDES Spring Cycle 2009 approved projects
Title
Building a voluntary carbon marketing scheme to promotesustainable forest management
REDDES Autumn Cycle 2009 approved projects
Strengthening Guyana's capacity to manage forest resources andenvironmental services through resources assessment andmonitoring changes in deforestation and degradation
Local REDDES programme for development and addressing climatechange in Guatemala: Building social processes fror sustainability
Enhancing forest carbon stock to reduce emission fromdeforestation and degradation through sustainable forest
management (SFM) initiatives in Indonesia
Promoting the partnership efforts to reduce emission fromdeforestation and forest degradation of tropical peatland in south
Sumatra through the enhancement of conservation and restoration
activities
Sustainable forest management and utilization of ecosystemservices in forests managed by the Ese'Eja naïve community inInfierno, Peru
Development and demonstration on scheme of payment forenvironmental services (PES) derived from degraded and secondary
tropical production forests in China.
Technical Support for the Development of a National Forest
Inventory in the Democratic Republic of Congo to assess carbon
stocks and changes in carbon stocks of forest land
Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation
through collaborative management with local communities
Monitoring deforestation, logging and land use change in the Pan
Amazonian Forest - PANAMAZON II

ITTO
Funding$97,180
completed

Project
Total$97,180$400,680
completed$540,880$82,080
completed$177,660$447,071
completed$539,617$149,493$181,287$356,519$523,319$149,040
completed$203,040$476,820
completed$510,220$658,716$760,408$1,124,784$6,262,784$478,894$773,349

st

REDDES 1 Cycle 2011 approved projects
Rehabilitation and restoration of residual forests and arid savannahlands in the Akpé and Akama valleys

RED-PD 031/11
Rev.1 (F)

Togo

RED-PD 033/11
Rev.2 (F)

Peru

Value adding to environmental services from managed forests
belonging to seven communities in the Ucayali region$415,384$654,965

RED-PD 037/11
Rev.2 (F)Malaysia

Reducing forest degradation and emissions through sustainable
forest management (SFM) in peninsular Malaysia$590,922$864,622

RED-PD 038/11
Rev.3 (F)

MyanmarCapacity building for developing REDD+ activities in the context ofsustainable forest management$571,890$645,692

RED-SPD 039/11 Thailand
Rev.1 (F)

Improving the quality and coverage of the estimates of carbon
stocks in Thailand's forests and trees outside forest: Phase I$113,373$158,279

RED-PPD 041/11 Honduras/
Rev.2 (F)
GuatemalaDesigning a Programme for Capacity Building and Meaningful
Stakeholder Participation in Forest Governance and REDD+ in
Honduras and Guatemala$144,650$170,320

RED-PD 045/11
Rev.2 (M)Mexico$470,682$871,825

RED-PPD
050/11 Rev.1(F)
RED-PPD
051/11 Rev.1(F)

Cameroon

Environmental assessment and economic valuation of ecosystemservices provided by coastal forests (mangrove forests, flood
forests, rain forests and scrub forests on dunes) and theiragricultural replacement systems on the central coastal plain of
Veracruz, Mexico
Participatory development, conservation and rehabilitation of
degraded forest areas in the Bamboutos Mountain chain, West
CameroonContribution to the implementation of REDD mechanisms byenhancing the participation of stakeholders in sustainable forest
management in Cameroon$73,613$93,713$81,864
completed$100,864

RED-SPD
055/11 Rev.1(F)

Ecuador$149,922$207,744

Cameroon

Integrating sustainable livelihoods, environmental mortgages, andscience-based reforestation for tangible forest conservation change
in the Ecuadorian Chocó

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 11st

Project ID
RED-PA 056/11
Rev.1 (F)

Submitted
by
ITTO

RED-SPD 058/11 Brazil
Rev.2 (F)
RED-PD 064/11
Indonesia
Rev.2 (F)
RED-PA 069/11
Rev.1 (F)ITTO

RED-PPD 074/12 Cameroon
Rev.1 (F)RED-SPD 075/12 China
Rev.1 (F)RED-SPD 077/12 Ghana
Rev.1 (F)RED-SPD 079/12 Guatemala
Rev.1 (F)RED-SPD 084/12 Liberia
Rev.1 (F)RED-SPD 092/12 Togo
Rev.1 (F)
RED-PD 093/12
Rev.3 (F)

Ghana

REDDES 1 Cycle 2011 approved projects (cont.)
Title

ITTO
Funding$253,120

Project
Total$348,120$142,110$146,610$504,317$555,887$143,510$143,510$101,117$126,739$145,800$199,000

Rehabilitation of degraded forests for sustainable wood fuelproduction and climate change mitigation in the forest-savannatransition zone of Ghana
Strengthening of governance and sustainable management ofmangrove ecosystems in Guatemala as a climate change adaptation
measureImproving efficacy of forestry policies and activities in Liberia through
REDD+ demonstration projects$121,662$169,360$146,751$215,223$149,922$308,718

Reducing deforestation and forest degradation in the Natchambonga
and Djiyega community forests by promoting participatory forest
management actions
Advancing REDD+ in Ghana: preparation of redd+ pilot schemes in
off-reserve forests and agro-forests$149,904$290,377$297,205$69,749

Strengthening capacity of stakeholders for the development ofcommunity-based plantation forest at 3 selected areas in Indonesia
Increasing access to markets and capital for teak plantation
smallholders in Thailand
Enabling customary landowners to participate effectively in CFM and
REDD schemes within four pilot areas of PNG$465,151$553,711$31,104
sunset$122,040$53,904

Enrichment of young forest plantations with selected NTFPs forlivelihood improvement and support of forest fringe communities in
Atwima Mponua District of Ghana, in order to secure and protect theresources on a sustainable forest management basis
International Conference on Forest Tenure, Governance and Smalland Medium Forest Enterprises with Focus in the Asia Pacific$149,229
completed$290,079$ 200,000
completed$ 200.000

Strengthening the capacity of ITTO producer countries in Africa ingenerating and disseminating scientific information on Reducing
Deforestation and Forest Degradation and Enhancing Environmental
Services from Forests
Developing REDD+ES in the Brazilian Atlantic Rain Forest
Promoting Local Community Initiative on the Rehabilitation ofMangrove Ecosystem with Demonstration Activities in Bintan Island
to Reduce further Deforestation and Forest Degradation
Quantifying the REDD+ effect of ITTO projects
REDDES Spring Cycle 2012 approved projects
Identification of a project on gender mainstreaming in thedevelopment of actions to control deforestation and forest
degradation, to improve the well-being of communities dependent on
forests and other ecosystems in Central and West Africa
Demonstration on investigation and assessment of typical forest
ecotourism resources in Hainan province, China

CFME Spring Cycle 2010 approved projects
CFM-PD 001/10
Rev.1 (F)CFM-PPD 005/10
Rev.1 (M)
CFM-PPD 006/10
Rev.1 (F)Indonesia

CFM-SPD 007/10
Rev.1 (F)Ghana

CFM-PA 009/10
Rev.2 (F)ITTO

Thailand
PNG$156,040

TMT Spring Cycle 2010 approved projects
TMT-SPD 002/10
Rev.1 (M)ITTO

Improving resilience of the tropical timber sector to the impacts ofglobal and regional economic and financial crisesst
TMT 1 Cycle 2011 approved projects$150,000
completed$150,000

TMT-PD 004/11
Rev.2 (M)

Guatemala$359,716$656,562

TMT-PD 006/11
Rev.3 (M)
TMT-PA 007/11
Rev.1 (I)GuyanaStrengthening of the forest information system of Guatemala toimprove market and trade transparency and decision-making in theforest sector.
Strengthening market information systems to enhance trade andmarket intelligence in the forest sector of Guyana
Methodological Development for Life Cycle Analysis of Tropical
Wood Products to Improve their Competitiveness in International
Markets$320,920$420,820$60,116
completed$60,116ITTO

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 12

Project ID
TMT-SPD 010/12
Rev.1 (M)Submitted
byFranceTMT Spring Cycle 2012 approved projects
Title
st

Preparation of the publication “atlas of tropical timber species – 1
Edition: Technological characteristics and uses of 273 tropical timber
species (and 17 temperate species)

ITTO
Funding$138,033

Project
Total$273,789

TMT-SPD 011/12
Rev.2 (M)

Gabon

Adaptation and application at the national scale of the Trace BoisGabon (Gabon timber tracking) for the collection and processing offorest and timber statistics in Gabon$138,996$411,996

TMT-SPD 012/12
Rev.1 (M)
TMT-SPD 013/12
Rev.1 (M)Ghana

Improving intra-African trade and market transparency in timber andtimber products
Analysis of the Economic Impact of Governmental Procurement
Policies on Tropical Timber Markets$111,931$149,996$150,000$ 150,000

ITTO

Table 5: TP projects by country/region and funding commitments

Country/Region
Cameroon
DRC
Gabon
Ghana
Liberia
Togo
Africa Total
China
Indonesia
Malaysia
Myanmar
PNG
ThailandAsia Pacific Total
BrazilColombia
EcuadorGuatemala
GuyanaHonduras/Guatemala
MexicoPeru
Latin America Total
TFLET pre-cursor
FranceGermany
ITTO Secretariat
Others Total

TFLET
2

REDDES
3
1

CFME

TMT

2

3
1
2
10
2
3
1
1

1

1
1

1

2

4
1
2

(1)
3 (1)

1
8
2

1

1
(1)
2 (1)

1
2

2
5
8

1
2
1
1
1
2
10

1
1

2
1

1

3
1
3
9
3
1
4
21 (1)
314 (1)8(1) indicates projects gone into sunset, not counted in the totals.

Fundedprojects
5
1
1
7
1
2
17
3
6
1
1
1
1
13
2
1
1
5
2
1
1
4
17
8
1
1
7
17
64 (2)

Funding
US$924,682
476,820
138,996
1,649,483
149,922628,798
3,968,701
616,896
2,536,865
590,922571,890122,040
113,373
4,551,986
1,266,894
91,498
149,9221,226,472
721,600
144,650
470,682
1,041,080
5,112,798
2,792,998
138,033
155,522
1,053,926
4,139,479
17,772,964

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 13
Technical Reports currently available from the ITTO website include: Additional reports and outputs will be
posted once the (ongoing) revision and re-design of the website has been completed.
PP-A/43-202: Tropical Forest Tenure Assessment


Tropical Forest Tenure Assessment

RED-A 004/09/ Rev.1 (F): ‘Building a Voluntary Carbon Marketing Scheme to Promote Sustainable Forest
Management’

Building a Voluntary Carbon Marketing Scheme to Promote Sustainable Forest Management’

RED-PD 005/09 Rev.2 (F) ‘Strengthening Guyana’s capacity to manage forest resources and environmental
services through resources assessment and monitoring changes in deforestation and degradation’.


Guyana's Forest Resources and Environmental Services
Requirements necessary for Guyana to access identified Payments of Ecosystem Services Markets
Guyana Forestry Commission: REDDES Monitoring - Guyana's National Forest Estate Model

RED 007/09 Rev.2(F) ‘Enhancing Forest Carbon Stock to Reduce Emission from Degradation throughSustainable Forest Management (SFM) Initiatives in Indonesia’Enhancing Forest Carbon Stock to Reduce Emission from Degradation through SFM Initiatives in Indonesia
REPORTS on the International Meeting on Forest Based Climate Change Policies and Action Plans inIndonesia

RED-PD 18/09 Rev.1 (F) "Sustainable forest management and utilization of ecosystem services in forests
managed by the Ese'Eja native community in Infierno, Peru"
Diagnóstico Uso de Recursos CN Infierno

Estimación De Carbono CNIEstudio Socioeconomico CNI 2012

Guia Estimacion CO2 Bosques
Informe legal Derechos Bosque Comunal CNI
Informe Topografia Infierno 2012 finalLinea base Infierno REDD feb 2012
Plan Gestión Bosque Comunal CNI
Note: The above reports are available in Spanish only

TMT-SPD 002/010 Rev.1 (M) ‘Improving resilience of the tropical timber sector to the impacts of global andregional economic and financial crises’Riding out the storm: Improving resilience of the tropical timber sector to the impacts of global and regional
economic crises

TMT-PA 007/11 Rev.1 (I) ‘Methodological Development for Life Cycle Analysis of Tropical Wood Products to
Improve their Competitiveness in International Markets

Wood product accounting and climate change mitigation projects involving tropical timber
Workplan for accounting methodology development for wood products in climate change mitigation projects
involving tropical timber

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 14

ANNEX I: DRAFT REPORT IDE CONSULTATIONSITTC Decision 4 (XLVIII) ‘Strengthening ITTO Thematic Programmes’
Operative Paragraph 8(c)Request the Executive Director to identify reasons for lack of donor interest in the Thematic Programme on
Industry Development and Efficiency (IDE) and, consider ways to address these issues and to report on
options for moving forward at the Forty-ninth Session of the Council.
Responses to Operative Paragraph 8(c)Note: Respondents= Member countries + TAG + CSAG; Responses received: 10 (9 countries + TAG);

Summary
TPP status and identified reasons:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)

7)
8)
9)
10)
11)

Mismatch between its current formulation and donor’s priorities;
Does not provide sufficient indication of poverty reduction and/or environmental impacts;
TP IDE is rather broad, reflects little understanding for the private sector;
Does not clearly identify key challenges for the industry to be addresses by the TP and thus does
not identify entry points for the TO;
Scope and shape are not yet fully clear;
Overlapping ‘objectives’, ‘outcomes’ and ‘strategy’ with other TPs (objective: poverty alleviation;
outcomes: improvements of market opportunities for legally harvested logs and NTFPs; strategy:enhancing small-medium forest enterprises);
From the general objective, it is not clear who should be supported and through with channel(country? Industry?);
The profile does not spell out how the IDE TP will organize engagement with industry/private sector,
government, ITTO and other stakeholders;
In principle investment in profit-making companies running timber processing facilities is seen as anarea where loans are more suitable than grants.
Conflicts and sensitivities in relation to domestic industries;
It became clear over the years that forest industry and trade lost importance in ITTO work. ITTO
was more interested in forest management and conservation.

Ways to address the issues:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

Initiate a process of revision/reformulation, in close consultations with ITTO members, with theobjective of making the TP more ‘investment attractive’.
Develop a Programme Document based on the revised profile (note: PD will be developed uponreceiving pledging notification from donors);Should there not be an agreement on a significant reformulation of the programme, and noconcrete signs of interest from potential donors, the option of discontinuing the IDE TP.
Explore an innovative means of distributing/channeling funds from other TPs to IDE;
Emphasis the important of IDE TP to the SFM.

Option for moving forward:
1)

2)
3)

A thorough analysis should also be carried out with regard to possible partnership with relevant
multilateral agencies with a strong mandate in the sector in questions (UNIDO, International
Financial Institutions, etc.);
Explore ‘public-private partnership’ implementation modalities for projects under IDE TP;
Seek closer collaboration with representatives of the industry in the design and the implementationof the TP.

Scope/contents of the revised profile:1)

Concentrate on areas where the development impacts are more obvious and funding more easily
justified in terms of potential poverty reduction objectives (e.g. forest micro-enterprises, informal
sector);ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 15
2)
3)
4)
5)

6)

Contribute to the green economy/taking into account the relevant outcomes of Rio+20/South-South
cooperation;
Ensure that the activities have an impact beyond the direct beneficiary and that support does not
distort competition in the producer country;
The issue of ‘lesser known species’ has been around for decades. More topical issues will attract
more attention by donors;
The ‘industry development’ used in the IDE TP’s name may not be attractive to donors. The TP
should be changed to: ‘Research and capacity buildings for effective production, processing andutilization of forest products’. The activities of the TP should be focused on capacity building ofindustry-related personals including the workers;
Incorporate environmental considerations related to energy efficiency, waste reduction, resource
conservation and carbon storage in wood products, among others. However, it should be balancedwith economic benefits that could generate such industries.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 16
Annex II: TP PROJECT FACTSHEET (DRAFT)ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 17

ANNEX III: STATUS OF APPROVED ACTIVITIES, PRE-PROJECTS, SMALL PROJECTS AND
PROJECTS
TFLET
Enhance capacity of small and medium size enterprises to produce and trade timber from legally andsustainable source
Project number:

Activity PP-A/43-193

Project country:

GlobalBudget:Total:

US$ 300,000

ITTO Contributions:

US$ 300,000

Submitted by:

Included in ITTO Biennial Work Programme 2008-2009: Activity ref. 12

Implementing agency: ITTO
Duration:

24 months

Financed at:

TFLET pre-cursor

Status:Completed

Summary:
Assist countries in developing initiatives that will enhance capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises to
produce and trade timber from legal and sustainable sources with the aim of promoting progress towards
sustainable forest management, verifiable legality and certification.
Progress:
The Activity has been reported as completed in the TP report to the 48th ITTC

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 18
Promote trade in tropical timber and tropical timber products from sustainably managed and legally
harvested sources
Project number:

Activity PP-A/43-194

Project country:

GlobalBudget:Total:

US$ 600,000

ITTO Contributions:

US$ 600,000

Submitted by:

Included in ITTO Biennial Work Programme for 2008-2009, Activity ref. 13

Implementing agency:

ITTO

Duration:

24 months

Financed at:

TFLET pre-cursor

Status:Ongoing

Summary:This activity is divided into two components namely (a) establishment and operation of a web-based
information system and (b) development of timber tracking systems. It is included in the ITTO Biennial Work
Programme 2008-2009 in a reverse sequence of the two components and a planned commencement of
implementation during the second half of 2008. The objectives of the activity are to be achieved principally
through the establishment and maintenance of a website containing relevant information on legally andsustainably produced timber and providing ITTO funding of approved proposals from private sector forest
companies operating in ITTO producer and developing consumer member countries to develop innovative(paperless) timber tracking systems using commercially available hardware and software, building upon theexperience gained from previous work on ITTO pilot schemes on the feasibility of adopting timber tracking
systems under the ITTO Biennial Work Programme 2006-2007. The approved funding of US$300,000.00 forcomponent (b) of the activity at the Forty-third Session of the ITTC in November 2007 will enable ITTO to
support six proposals, two for each of the three producing regions at a maximum amount of US$44,247.00 foreach approved proposal.

Progress:
Component (a)Conceptualization, determination of feasibility and cost-effectiveness of options to be finalized for
implementation in 2009.
Invitations sent out in March 2009 to relevant NGOs to submit proposals for consideration by the ITTO
Secretariat.
Selection of the proposal from The Forest Trust (TFT) by the Executive Director in May 2009.

Component (b)Review and updating of procedures, guidelines and criteria for selecting proposals previously applied
under the ITTO pilot schemes on the feasibility of adopting timber tracking systems.
Posting an invitation for the submission of proposals on innovative timber tracking systems to private
sector forest companies operating in ITTO producer and developing consumer member countries on
ITTO website on 23 October 2008. The invitation indicates a maximum amount of ITTO funding of
US$44,247.00 for each approved proposal and requests proposals not exceeding five pages
containing the purpose and goals, methodology, intended outputs and impacts, key activities to be
carried out, duration, budget by activity and sources including counterpart funding if it exceeds
US$44,247.00 and workplan
Similar invitations have been disseminated to the ITTO official contact points in member countries on
27 October 2008 and through the Tropical Timber Market Report, the Tropical Forest Update, the
ITTO Trade Advisory Group (TAG) and the ITTO Civil Society Advisory Group (CSAG)ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 19Eleven (11) proposals were received and assessed by the ITTO Secretariat and six were eventually
selected for funding

Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
The web-based information system has been designed and is ready to be launched. The ‘Wood News
Agency’ (TWNA) is a web-based system to support sustainable tropical timber trade. The system has beendeveloped by TFT and has generated great interest among companies and the trade. However, the launch of
the system is unfortunately on hold as the follow-up under activity 25 of the ITTO Biennial Work Programme(BWP) 2013-2014 is still pending financing. Therefore the expected impact on the promotion of sustainable
tropical timber trade remains unrealized. Funding is urgently sought for the immediate launch of the system
under activity 25 of ITTO BWP 2013-2014.
Five of the six selected companies have completed the implementation of their innovative timber tracking
system while another is at an advanced stage of developing its system. Two companies, PTSFM/Indonesia
and JBCL/Ghana, have successfully implemented their proposals and submitted all deliverables to the ITTO
Secretariat. One company, FEL/PNG has yet to submit a few deliverables to the ITTO Secretariat. The thirdand final installment of ITTO funds amounting to US$4,247.00 each has been withheld in respect of GGF/Peru
and IFB/CAR pending submission of outstanding deliverables to the ITTO Secretariat. Following long delays,
the implementation of the tracking system for DTL/Guyana is on track to be satisfactorily completed by the endof 2013.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 20
Provide technical assistance for selected poor local/indigenous communities to formulate project
proposals for submission to ITTO for management of forests and sustainable timber production
Project number:

PP-A/43-200

Project country:

GlobalBudget:Total:

US$ 100,000

ITTO Contributions:

US$ 100,000

Submitted by:

Included in ITTO Biennial Work Programme 2008-2009: Activity ref. 15 (a)Implementing agency: ITTO
Duration:

12 months

Financed at:

TFLET pre-cursor

Status:Ongoing

Summary:This activity is included in the ITTO Biennial Work Programme 2008-2009 with a planned commencement of
implementation during the first half of 2008.
The activity will provide a maximum of US$20,000.00 to up to five communities to prepare, in collaboration
with relevant national agencies, project proposals to improve forest management and the marketing of forest
goods for submission to ITTO or other relevant funding bodies. As part of this activity, project proposals will
be submitted to ITTO and other funding agencies by forest-dependent communities.
Consultants have been engaged in early 2009, in order to assist the forest-based communities to develop up
to five project proposals.
Progress:
A consultant was engaged in the preparation of a pre-project proposal in Thailand, a small project proposal in
Guatemala and a project proposal in Cameroon. The pre-project proposal from Thailand proposal TFL-PPD
005/09 Rev.1 (F) was submitted to the ITTO Secretariat and subsequently approved by the Executive Director
for funding and implementation under the ITTO TFLET Thematic Programme. The small project proposal
from Guatemala was submitted to the ITTO Secretariat and had been returned to the submitter for revision.
The project proposal in Cameroon has not been submitted to the ITTO Secretariat for approval and funding
under the ITTO TFLET Thematic Programme.
The Secretariat has yet to receive the submission of the revised small project proposal from Guatemala aswell as the project proposal from Cameroon.
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
Three proposals were developed and submitted to ITTO, with one approved for funding and two to be revised.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 21
Global assessment of the status of tropical forest tenure with identification of trends and implications
for investment and management, and for convening an expert workshop on Tropical Forest Tenure
and Business Models, including formulation of a project to assist Civil Society Organization(s) to set
up and operate on a pilot basis a remote sensing system to detect illegal logging activities in areas
known to be critically affected by such activities
Project number:

PP-A/43-202

Project country:

GlobalBudget:Total:

US$ 200,000

ITTO Contributions:

US$ 200,000

Submitted by:

Included in ITTO Biennial Work Programme 2008-2009: Activity 15c

Implementing agency: ITTO
Duration:

Activity under the 2008/2009 BWP

Financed at:

TFLET pre-cursor

Status:Completed

Summary:
The task refers to Activity 15c of ITTO Biennial Work Programme 2008-2009 ‘Global assessment of the statusof tropical forest tenure with identification of trends and implications for investment and management, and forconvening an expert workshop on Tropical Forest Tenure and Business Models, including formulation of a
project to assist Civil Society Organization(s) to set up and operate on a pilot basis a remote sensing system
to detect illegal logging activities in areas known to be critically affected by such activities’
The main activity was an international conference on forest tenure, governance and enterprises held in
Yaoundé, Cameroon, on 25-29 May 2009 co-organized with various partners including the Government of
Cameroon, Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI), FAO, IUCN, CIFOR, InterCooperation, the Global Alliancefor Community Forestry and ICRAF.
Progress:
The Activity has been reported as completed in the TP report to the 48th ITTC

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 22
Promotion of Sustainable Management of African Forests (ITTO/ATO)
Project number:

PD 124/01 Rev.2 (M) Phase II Stage 2

Project country:

AfricaBudget:Total:

US$ 544,070

ITTO Contributions:

US$ 544,070

ATO

US$ 47,000

Submitted by:

ITTO/ATO

Implementing agency: ITTO
Duration:

24 months

Financed at:

TFLET pre-cursor

Status:Completed

Summary:This project is designed to assist ten ITTO African member countries (all of which are also members of theAfrican Timber Organization - ATO) to implement the harmonized ITTO/ATO Principles, Criteria and Indicators(PCI) for the Sustainable Management of African Tropical Forests. The specific objectives of the Project areto establish key elements of adequate capacity to implement ATO/ITTO PCI at national level in the African
member countries of ITTO and for effective regional-level cooperation through ATO to support individual
Member countries to implement the ATO/ITTO PCI. It involves extensive capacity building in ten member
countries and within ATO itself. The project has been divided into three phases, with the first and second
phases split again into two stages each to facilitate funding.
Progress:
The project was reported as completed to the Committee on Economic Information and Market Intelligence(Document CEM-CFI(XLIV)/2).
Funding (US$500,000) for Stage 1 of Phase III was approved at the Forty-sixth ITTC Session. The revised
workplan and budget for Phase III Stage 1 incorporating the above aspects are available on request from theSecretariat (French only).

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 23
Verifying the Legality of Timber Forest Products in Peru
Project number:

PPD 138/07 Rev.1 (M)Project country:

Peru

Budget:Total:

US$ 79,844

ITTO Contributions:

US$ 79,844

Submitted by:

Government of Peru

Implementing agency: ITTO
Duration:

9 months (planned)

Financed at:

TFLET pre-cursor

Status:Completed

Summary:This pre-project was approved and financed by the ITTC at its Forty-fourth Session in November 2008. The
development objective of the pre-project is to contribute to the consolidation of the system of forest
concessions for timber production purposes in Peru by establishing favourable conditions to ensure that the
Peruvian products that reach the international market can demonstrate their legal origin from sustainably
managed forests. The specific objective of the pre-project is to design and test a pilot system for the
traceability of Peruvian export timber, while assessing the status of the export chain and identifying therequirements for the implementation of the traceability system as well as institutional and budgetaryrequirements for the voluntary implementation of the system by national companies, to be reflected in a
project proposal.
Progress:
The pre-project was reported as completed in the TP report to the 48th ITTC.
The full proposal developed (PD 621/11 Rev.2 (M)) has been rated Category 1 by the 44th Expert Panel.
Relevant reports and presentations concerning the pre-project can be accessed from the pre-project website
www.trazabilidadforestal.com.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 24
Enhancing Forest Law Enforcement in Papua New Guinea
Project number:

PD 449/07 Rev.2 (M,I)

Project country:

Papua New Guinea

Budget:Total:

US$ 473,040

ITTO Contributions:

US$ 473,040

Submitted by:

PNG

Implementing agency: ITTO
Duration:

24 months

Financed at:

TFLET pre-cursor

Status:Ongoing

Summary:This project was approved and financed by the Council at its Forty-third Session in November 2007.
The development objective of this project is to further improve PNG’s sustainable forest management regime
by enhancing forest law enforcement and governance in the forestry sector. The specific objective is toenhance a forest law enforcement regime including products tracking and chain of custody verification
systems, complemented by enhanced training and monitoring, to further support sustainable forest
management in PNG’s forestry sector.
Progress:
Following the signature of the project agreement on 19.05.2008 and the disbursement of the first installmentof funds, the project experienced some delay due to the need to replace some project staff and consultants.
After necessary adjustments/revisions to the work plan and YPO, the implantation of on the ground activities
commenced on 1 August 2010.
The implementation of this project has experienced a substantial delay due to the replacement of project
personnel and the preparation for the Project Completion Report and the Technical Reports. The
Implementing Agency has finalized and submitted the Project Completion Report and the Technical Reports
on 27 August 2013 but is still working on the Final Financial Audit Report.
According to the Completion Report outputs were achieved as follows:







A pilot log and timber tracking and chain of custody verification system was designed and built tomeet the needs of the PNGFA. Field testing was carried out to trial the system and test
implementation of the system;
A database to capture and store log and timber products flow information developed and tested for
implementation. An integrated system was prepared which included a database to store timber
product information. The database was developed and tested as a component of the systemdeveloped;
A legality standard based on FLEGT/ITTO Best Practices guidelines and principles, and industrycode of conduct has been developed for implementation in PNG in collaboration with key
stakeholders. This output will be fully realized when the final versions have been approved by the
National Forest Board towards the end of 2013;
A training module for enhancing the skills and expertise of key stakeholders particularly the PNGFA
and forestry industry participants in the monitoring of forestry activities to deter and detect illegal
practices has been developed and implemented. This output will be fully realised when the final
versions have been approved by the National Forest Board towards the end of 2013.

Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
The Project has given Papua New Guinea (PNG) the opportunity to further enhance its forest law
enforcement. The project has provided the PNG Forest Authority (PNGFA) with a sound basis for

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 25
implementing a Legality Assurance System that responds to timber procurement policies and stakeholder
objectives.
Identification and implementation of the project was adequate and timely for the PNG Forest Industry sector
to realign and enhance its operating mechanisms to meet market demands. A timber tracking and chain ofcustody system including a timber products database has been developed and pilot-tested in PNG provingthat this can be achieved.
The system developed shows the manner in which a system can be implemented in PNG when a suitablesource of implementation funding has been developed and has to run in parallel to the existing system to be
successful.
A legality standard based on FLEGT guidelines and principles, together with an industry code of conduct“template”, has been prepared for future implementation in PNG. A set of monitoring tools incorporating theexisting PNGFA Logging Code of Practice as reference points in the monitoring forms to enable independent
verification. This has also been developed and pilot-tested for assessing forest industry participant
compliance with PNG’s Timber Legality Standard.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 26
Strengthening Capacity of Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (Cambodia)
Project number:

PD 493/07 Rev.1 (F)Project country:

Cambodia

Budget:Total:

US$ 561,195

ITTO Contributions:

US$ 561,195

Submitted by:

Cambodia

Implementing agency: ITTO
Duration:

36 months

Financed at:

TFLET pre-cursor

Status:Completed

Summary:This project proposal is the output of PPD 128/06 Rev.1 (F) “Strengthening Capacity of Forest Law
Enforcement and Governance in Cambodia” that has been completed in December 2007. In order to control
illegal logging, forest clearing an encroachment in Cambodia, the pre-project recommended that appropriate
facilities and equipment should be in place with well qualified trained staff in all Forestry Administration
offices.
The project aims to facilitate the implementation of the Government's policy platform in combating illegal
logging, forest clearing and land encroachment through the improvement of capacity of human resources andthe upgrading of operational means/equipment to ensure effective Forest Law Enforcement and Governance(FLEG) in Cambodia. In addition to staff members of the Forestry Administration, selected local communities
will be trained in how an effective FLEG operation can benefit the community by protecting their interests,
promote legal forest activities and ensure their legal access to timber and non-timber forest products andservices.
The expected outputs of the project are: improved facilities and staff capabilities, effective monitoring anddocumentation of illegal forest activities, effective judicial processing, and effective extension of measures toall stakeholders. These outputs contribute directly to the on-going capacity building program of the Forestry
Administration of Cambodia as a high priority topic.
Progress:
The project has been reported as completed in the TP report to the 48th ITTC.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 27
Strengthening the capacity of local communities of the Chaiyaphum Province (Thailand) to manage
community forests
Project number:

TFL-PPD 005/09 Rev.1 (F)Project country:

Thailand

Budget:Total:

US$ 78,678

ITTO Contributions:

US$ 56,970

Government of Thailand:

US$ 21,708

Submitted by:

Government of Thailand

Implementing agency: Bureau of Community Forest Management of the Royal Forest
Department, Thailand
Duration:

6 months

Financed at:

TFLET Spring Cycle 2009

Status:SunsetSummary:
The pre-project will develop a project proposal aimed at enhancing forest law enforcement and governanceand strengthening communities’ capacities to use their forests for poverty alleviation in the Chaiyaphum
Province. To ensure an adequate project design, the pre-project will collect necessary baseline informationon community forestry and define clear strategies on how to solve problems inhibiting sound community
forestry development. The development objective of the pre-project is to contribute to the sustainable
development of rural communities of the Chaiyaphum Province through the promotion of law enforcement,
good governance and sustainable management and use of community forests. The specific objective is todevelop a comprehensive project proposal aimed at strengthening the capacity of communities of
Chaiyaphum Province to sustainably manage their forests.
Progress:
Council Decision on Sunset which specifies that approved projects for which funds have been committed, but
for which implementation has not yet begun, shall be valid for a period of 26 months [Decision 2(X), Annex 2].
In accordance with that decision and after granting an additional no-cost extension of 3 months requested by
the Director General, Royal Forest Department of Thailand, the implementation of the pre-project has been
withdrawn on 1 July 2012 since the validity period has expired and the Thai Government internal procedure
for the signature of the pre-project agreement had not been completed. ITTO has withdrawn its financial
commitment under the pre-project and the funding will be re-allocated under the future TFLET proposal
cycles.
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
Project sunset

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 28
Implementing and promoting sustainable forest management through formulation of an action planfor improved forest law enforcement and governance in Colombia
Project number:

TFL-PPD 001/09 Rev.2 (M)Project country:

Colombia

Budget:Total:

US$ 122,598

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 91,498

Government of Colombia:

US$ 31,100

Submitted by:

Government of Colombia

Implementing agency

Asociación de Corporaciones Autónomas Regionales y de Desarrollo
Sostenible (ASOCARS)[Association of Regional Autonomous Corporations and Sustainable
Development]

Duration:

12 months

Financed at:

TFLET Autumn Cycle 2009

Status:Completed

Summary:
The pre-project will develop a full project proposal to specify and integrate the problems related to illegal
logging as well as the weaknesses of the forest legislation and the forest management capacity of therelevant institutions, so as to facilitate the future formulation of a strategic action plan for the improvement offorest law enforcement and governance in Colombia.
The pre-project is specifically aimed at analyzing and evaluating policies, programs, management capacity
and the national forest legislation and their compatibility with the policies and sectoral programs andstandards of the agricultural and mining sectors, through a participatory process with relevant stakeholders.
The output of the pre-project will be a sound project proposal developed in cooperation with forest sector
stakeholders.
Progress:
The project has been reported as completed in the TP report to the 48th ITTC.
A full project proposal was developed and submitted to ITTO under the title “Implementing and Promoting
Sustainable Forest Management through Forest Law Enforcement and Governance in Colombia” [PD 640/12(F)], which received category 2 from the 43rd Expert Panel for Technical Appraisal of ITTO Project Proposals.
A revised proposal submitted in June 2012 to the 44th Expert Panel was again ranked Category 2 and further
refinement will be required.
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
With the input from the workshops and the interviews an analysis of the current forest legislation has been
done. The analysis includes the revision of 36 national laws; 53 regional laws; 5 national policies, and 12
international treaties. The analysis points out the gaps that need to be filled for the enforcement of the current
forest laws, and highlights the critical points of illegal activities in terms of harvesting, transportation andsurveillance. After completion of the pre-project, Colombia counts on reliable information of its reality in theforestry sector, as well as with a database of relevant stakeholders directly involved in forest law enforcement
and governance.
As a result of the workshops held, most of the primary stakeholders expressed their commitment to improvetheir harvesting operation and comply with the forest legislation. Main recommendations provided by the
primary stakeholders are the creation of dissemination materials which should be easy to understand, as well
as closer interaction with the authorities enforcing the forest legislation.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 29
Improving governance and transparency of timber harvests and trade in Cameroon
Project number:

TFL-PD 003/09 Rev.2 (M)Project country:

Cameroon

Budget:Total:

US$ 418,626

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 365,526

Traffic International:

US$ 53,100

Submitted by:

Government of Cameroon

Implementing agency: Traffic International
Duration:

24 months

Financed at:

TFLET Autumn Cycle 2009

Status:Ongoing

Summary:
The project is designed to contribute to the improvement of governance and transparency of timber harvest
and traded in Cameroon and internationally by strengthening the national process for controlling illegal
logging and associated trade in Cameroon in order to contribute to transparency of timber trade in Cameroon
with a view to address the problems of unsustainable timber harvesting, weak forest law enforcement andillegal trade of the country’s timber.
Progress:
The project has experienced a substantial delay during the inception phase. Although the project agreement
has been signed on 22 March 2010, the project implementation only commenced on 12 October 2011, when
the Executing Agency confirmed receipt of the first financial installment. The delay was due to the need forrevisions to the work plan and the inception report, and arrangements between the Executing Agency and thecollaborating counterparts at MINFOF, Cameroon.
Activities carried out over the reporting period include:









Participation in two meetings of COMIFAC on In-Transit Timber in Central Africa.
Drafting of the first workshop ‘communiqué final’ related to the organization of the first workshop heldfrom 27-28 November 2012 in Douala (General).
Drafting of ToRs of upcoming workshops and studies related to outputs 2&3; On one hand ToRs forthe organization of the two upcoming workshops were finalized with the entire support of TRAFFIC
colleagues and the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF) nominated Focal Point and on theother hand, ToRs related to the studies to be implemented.
Continuously following up on the implementation of the timber trade routes study and carrying out thereview process of the draft report submitted by the consultant.
Regarding the production of the two maps to support this study, drafts submitted by the consultant
were shared with TRAFFIC Central Africa (TCAF) colleagues for comments and edits, and withMINFOF, notably the Focal Point (FP) and the National Forest Control Brigade (NFCB).
Participation in several meetings with various partners : MINFOF, IUCN, WWF, IO, etc.
Working on communication materials and on fundraising front with partners

Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
According to activities conducted so far, there is a positive step forward towards achievement of the project
outputs in general. Major activities related to capacity building are to be completed with the holding of the two
upcoming workshops and positive feedback have been registered from beneficiaries and some partners forthe relevance of actions towards fighting against illegal logging and corruption.
The ‘communiqué final’ that was drafted was related to the two-day’s workshop in Douala (November 27-28,
2012) and where more than a hundred participants coming from different Cameroon administration (MINFOF,

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 30
Finance (Custom and Taxes), Justice, Police and Gendarmerie); the civil society, the private sector andMagistrates from other Central African countries (Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon and Democratic
Republic of Congo) with synergy with the Central Africa Regional Programme for Environment (CARPE). This‘communiqué final’ was shared among all participants and posted online in the Congo Basin Forest
Partnership (CBFP) website.
Regarding the celebration of the International Forest Day (21 March) which has been declared by United
Nations, TRAFFIC submitted to ITTO two shorts stories (Story 1 ‘towards fighting illegal logging andassociated trade in Cameroon’ and story 2 ‘The technical committee of the project "strengthening the national
process for controlling illegal logging and associated trade in Cameroon" is operational’). The stories wererelated to the Official launching of the TRAFFIC/MINFOF/ITTO project.
TRAFFIC wrote an article for RIFFEAC’s scientific review in June 2013 that will be published soon entitled:“Gouvernance forestière: renforcement des capacités des administrations camerounaises impliquées dans lecontrôle forestier”. This article highlights aspects of the illegal logging and associated trade throughout the
supply chain of the timber trade in Cameroon and therefore presents the capacity building activities under the
TRAFFIC/MINFOF/ITTO project.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 31
Strengthening the capacity of small-medium enterprises in Ghana to produce and trade in timber
products from legal and sustainable sources
Project number:

TFL-SPD 007/09 Rev.1 (M)Project country:

Ghana

Budget:Total:

US$ 180,704

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 163,039

Government of Ghana:

US$ 17,665

Submitted by:

Government of Ghana

Implementing agency: Kumasi Wood Cluster Association (KWC)
Duration:

24 months

Financed at:

TFLET Autumn Cycle 2009

Status:Completed

Summary:
The project will address the weak capacity of Small Medium Forest Enterprises in forest law enforcement andgovernance in Ghana. The main objective is to strengthen the capacity of SMFEs to produce and trade inlegal timber through the development and implementation of internal wood control system (IWCS) consistent
with legal and sustainable timber trade requirements. At the completion of the project, SMFEs will
demonstrate understanding of the various standards covering Chain of Custody and wood tracking by
documenting and implementing procedures to comply with and monitor compliance with legal timber traderequirements enabling an appreciable number of them to begin efforts towards CoC certification. Activities
and approaches include training selected SMFEs on proper record capturing and storage practices,
information management, how to use and implement IWCS; assisting SMFEs to set up their own IWCS andliaising with stakeholder institutions to audit SMFEs interested in certification. In order to ensure thesustainability of the project, SMFEs will be encouraged to join the Kumasi Wood Cluster Association (KWC)
or form similar network(s) or association(s) to encourage and promote trade in legal and sustainable timber.
Progress:
The implementation of the project commenced in July 2010 and was completed satisfactorily in June 2013,
involving an extension of its duration by twelve months without additional ITTO funding. The extended
duration of project implementation was principally due to the delay by the Timber Validation Department of
the Ghanaian Forestry Commission (GFC) in completing its pilot work on the Ghanaian Wood Tracking
System (WTS) being developed in the context of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) which Ghana
signed with the European Union under its Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action
Plan. As a result of this externality, more time was required to ensure that the key project outputs would bebased on the specifications of the national WTS. As the development and finalization of the national
protocols took longer than planned, delay was encountered in the development and application of the
project’s software for tracking flows. It took further time for the software to be readied for training andapplication by the SMFES.
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
Despite the delays encountered, the implementation of the project has been completed with the satisfactoryattainment of its planned outputs and corresponding impacts:Efficient management of wood flow information adopted by stakeholders. This involved the conductof a tracking study, development of templates for recording flow of materials, testing of the templates
and training on data collection using the templates.
Improved human capacity to implement IWCS, adopting ICT tools. This covered awareness creation
through the conduct of workshops, trainings of SMFEs on the use of ICT in IWCS, training of SMFEs
on how to implement IWCS and development of IWCS software: The KWC Tim Tracker (TT).
Standard guides and brochures for implementing IWCS in SMFEs developed. Wood Tracking

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 32Manual of Procedure for SMFEs, brochures and implementation guides for wood tracking, andbrochures on chain of custody schemes and wood tracking systems were produced, disseminatedand utilized in the trainings conducted.
KWC capacity in WTS, CoC and ICT strengthened. This included training of KWC staff members
and improvement to the KWC website.
Capacity of SMFEs to pursue WTS and CoC certificate improved. This was undertaken through the
project as well as parallel projects implemented by KWC. Two of its members were awarded with
controlled wood certificate and CoC certificate by Smartwood.

Collectively these outputs and impacts have contributed directly to the realization of the project’s main
objective of strengthening the capacity of SMFEs in Ghana to produce and trade in legal timber by improving
the understanding of stakeholders of IWCS requirements, developing standard guides and brochures for
implementing IWCS, developing computerized wood tracking software for SMFEs, building capacity of KWC
to further support SMFEs in IWCS and CoC and supporting SMFEs to obtain WTS/CoC certificates. This, inturn, contributes towards the achievement of the stated objectives of TFLET, particularly specific objectives(b) and (c).
In ensuring the sustainability of the project beyond its completion, a number of steps are being undertaken by
KWC including identifying 9 enterprises to be equipped with the Tim Tracker, networking with stakeholders toprovide support to their sensitization and monitoring roles under the Ghana TLAS, enhancing its website as
platform for information sharing among SMFEs, continuing building capacity of SMFEs in certification,
continuing providing support and coaching to SMFEs and sharing of knowledge and lessons learned for the
project with TVD and GFC in support of national action on the implementation of VPA with the EU.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 33
Strengthening the capacity of related stakeholders in Java on implementing new Indonesian Timber
Legality Assurance System (TLAS)
Project number:

TFL-PD 010/09 Rev.1 (M)Project country:

Indonesia

Budget:Total:

US$ 555,163

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 474,163

Government of Indonesia:

US$ 81,000

Submitted by:

Government of Indonesia

Implementing agency: Secretariat Directorate General of Forest Production
Duration:

24 months

Financed at:

TFLET Autumn Cycle 2009

Status:Completed

Summary:
The Timber Legality and Verification System (Sistim Verifikasi Legalitas Kayu - SVLK) was developed toprovide legal assurance on timber products from Indonesia. In June 2009 the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry
issued a ministerial decree on sustainable forest management and timber legality verification through the
Minister of Forestry decree No. P.38/Menhut-II/2009 concerning Standard and Guidelines on Assessment
and Performance of Sustainable Production Forest Management and Verification of Timber Legality whichapplies to state and private forests. Additionally, with regard to the standard, an assessment guideline isstipulated under a decree of the Director General of Production Forest Management No. P.6/VI-Set/2009.
The effective implementation of the regulation requires capacity building of relevant stakeholders andorganizations, in particular for the owners of community forests. The project will focus on the dissemination of
information on the new TLAS standard to communities and relevant stakeholders through workshops. It will
support the establishment of institutions for independent monitoring of TLAS for timber resources from
community forests and community plantation forests, conduct a series of training events to introduce andimplement the standard to license holders of community forests and community plantation forest as well as
local government officers and representatives of small/medium wood processing industries.
Progress:
The implementation of the project commenced in July 2010 and was completed satisfactorily in September
2012, involving and extension of its duration by three months without additional ITTO funding, to enable theimplementing agency to conclude the implementation of a few project activities.
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
The implementing agency was able to implement all planned project activities with few approved
modifications and two additional activities aimed at strengthening the project outcome, resulting in therealization of its three planned outputs:Information on TLAS for community and relevant stakeholders disseminated. This was undertaken
through the conduct of stakeholder meetings, intensive consultation with forest community groups
and the convening of two national workshops on the application of TLAS to community forests.
Institutions for monitoring the implementation of TLAS for community forests and plantations
assessed. Independent institutions assessed during consultative meetings held and guidelines formonitoring have been developed.
Training on standard for assessment of performance of sustainable forest management andverification of legality for community forests conducted. A series of training for relevant stakeholders
on TLAS application to community forests were conducted in several districts and provinces involving
some 200 trainees.

The realization of the project outputs has contributed to the achievement of the project specific objective of

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 34
improving the capacity of relevant stakeholders in implementing the Indonesian TLAS specifically in respectof community forests and community plantations forests. In turn, this achievement constitutes a directcontribution to the stated objectives of TFLET particularly specific objectives (a) and (c) on strengthening
forest law compliance and governance through improved national policy and legal frameworks, strengthened
enforcement and institutions, improved data and knowledge, strengthened enforcement and institutions,improved data and knowledge, strengthened partnerships and improved cooperation among relevant
stakeholders as well as improved capacity of community and small and medium-sized enterprises toimplement and demonstrate that timber produced and trade comes from legal sources, contributing tosustainable livelihoods.
To ensure the sustainability of the project beyond its completion, a list of critical activities to be implemented
following project completion, institutions to be responsible for implementing these activities and the resources
required have been drawn up by the implementing agency.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 35
Reduction of illegal logging through better governance of community forests in the Lom et Djerem
Division, East region, Cameroon
Project number:

TFL-PD 014/09 Rev.1 (M)Project country:

Cameroon

Budget:Total:

US$ 355,062

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 302,562

Government of Cameroon:

US$ 52,500

Submitted by:

Government of Cameroon

Implementing agency: Forestry Department, Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF)
Duration:

24 months

Financed at:

TFLET Autumn Cycle 2009

Status:Ongoing

Summary:This project seeks to reduce illegal logging and poverty in the Lom and Djerem Division through better
governance and development of community forestry. The specific objectives include to sufficiently satisfy thedemand of wood in the north and neighboring countries through better organization of timber markets andpromotion of the creation and implementation of legal timber titles; and to reduce poverty at the community
level through good governance in managing existing community forest and micro-development projects in the
Lom and Djerem Division. The expected outputs are:









to assist 6 communities in obtaining and managing community forests;
to sensitize the Lom and Djerem councils on the creation of council forests;
to supply the Northern markets with sawmill residues;
to better understand and disseminate the timber market chain from Lom and Djerem to the Northern
regions;
to put in place a wood tracking system from the Koundi community forest;
to reinforce the capacities of members of the Koundi community in increasing and better managing
revenues from their forest; andto sensitize all actors on legal wood trade; andto install and have a functional Coordination Unit in place

Progress:
Following the project implementation in January 2011, the project has experienced a delay in project Year 2
due various factors, including the transfer/re-assignment of several officials (in charge of the project) within
the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife and difficulties to comply with reporting requirements. In addition some
negative impacts of bad weather particularly at the project site in the Eastern Region.
The following project activities have been carried out:






Two sensitization meetings held with strong representation and very active participation of the local
communities, organized by both MINFOF and Forum in Diang and Belabo respectively.
The six local communities selected to participate in the project include: Moundi, Mbeth II and Kanda(in the Diang Sub-Division); Ndjangané-Adiah, Belabo -Ekak-Yoa village and Mambaya (in the
Belabo Sub-Division).
Six management entities were created by the selected local communities. These include the TANG
BALA CIG in Moundi, the BWOK CIG in Mbeth II, the FOFFA CIG in Kanda, the NA CIG in
Ndjangané-Adiah, the BEY CIG in Ekak-Yoa Village (Belabo) and the NYALODJO’O CIG in
Mambaya. These groupings have to date, all gained legal recognition under the adopted appellationof ‘Community Initiative Group’ (CIG).
The species inventory of the community forest allocated to the FOFFA CIG in Kanda has been

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 36








completed.
The communes/counties of Lom and Djerem are sensitized for the creation commune’s/county’s
forests;
Northern regions are supplied with residues of sawmills;
The trade channel of timber products from Lom and Djerem to northern regions is identified anddisseminated/publicized;
The chain-of-custody system for timber products from the existing community forest of the village ofKoundi is established;
The capacity of the member of the advisory committee of the village of Koundi is reinforced for the
management of revenue from their community forest;
All stakeholders are sensitized on legal timber trade
A coordination structure is established.

Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:






The Government of Cameroon by getting required information for the formulation elaboration of theappropriate policy aiming to mitigate the problem of illegal logging in Cameroon in compliance withinternational regulations.
Regions and Departments near Lom and Djerem will benefit from the chain-of-custody systemestablished for timber products trade to address similar problems.
Local communities who will have fair access and rights to forest resources, for poverty reduction Lom
and Djerem through good governance and good management of community forests with a significant
impact on local development.
Communities having their capacity to negotiate with timber traders improved.
Northern regions and neigbouring countries will be supplied with legal timber products.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 37
Equipping small and medium sized forestry enterprises in China for procurement of tropical timberfrom legal and sustainably managed forests
Project number:

TFL-PD 017/09 Rev.2 (M)Project country:

China

Budget:Total:

US$ 505,036

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 322.056

Government of China:

US$ 112.820

Industry Association (China):

US$ 70.160

Submitted by:

Government of China

Implementing agency: Institute of Forestry Policy and Information, Chinese Academy of Forestry(CAF)
Duration:

36 months

Financed at:

TFLET Spring Cycle 2010

Status:Ongoing

Summary:
Small and medium sized wood processing enterprises (SMFEs) in China play a vital role in the domestic andinternational markets for processing wood products as they account for around 90% of the total output valueof China’s timber enterprises. The project will provide the means for SMFEs to become equipped for
procurement of timber from legal and sustainably managed tropical forests. SMFEs in Zhangjiagang in the
Jiangsu Province, Huzhou and Jiashan in the Zhejiang province and in Shanghai will be surveyed to assess
the status of their procurement management. Training and advice will be delivered to enterprises along withinformation (via a technical bulletin) on marketing, trade, procurement and corporate social responsibility.
Policy suggestions will be made and selected SMFEs will be guided through COC certification. A web-based
platform for better communication between SMFEs, government and other stakeholders will be established.
Progress:
The project implementation formally commenced on 1 May 2011 and the project is well on track inaccordance with the work plan. The following activities have been carried out:










The new SMFEs-Government stakeholder Information exchange platform has been set up under thename ‘Forest Products Index Mechanism’.
The periodical information exchange activities between SMFEs and Government officials based onmonthly data and policy exchange had been set up.
Web structure and function designed, and website information updates are in execution.
Reports on “China’s tropical timber processing SMFEs and their opportunities for procurement oftimber from legal and sustainable managed forest” and “Policy suggestions for promoting
procurement of timber from legal and sustainable managed forest in SMFEs” have been completed
and translated.
Disseminate information on issues related to procurement of tropical timber from legal andsustainably managed forest and technology for China’s SMFEs has been carried out throughShanghai Timber Newsletter was released periodically every two month.
The training course on Policies, Regulations and Technology about procurement of timber from legal
and sustainably managed forest seminar was held on 10th July 2013 in Beijing and more than 20
participants including officials from SFA, experts from Universities, NGOs and Associations andenterprises.
The specific proposal for the International Workshop on “procurement of timber from legal andsustainably managed forest and trade of international tropical forest products: challenges andopportunities for SFMEs” was confirmed. The international representatives from tropical timber
producing countries, the domestic representatives and other participants will be invited.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 38

The monthly policy and information exchange platform between SMFEs and stakeholders-theChinese Forest Product Index Mechanism(FPI) continued to support the online forum.
The monthly timber products index “FPI Index”, which was released since April 2012, had issued 17
indexes reports (6 issues in this period) to the public monthly.
A bulletin on issues related to international market demands and trends on procurement of timber
products from legal and sustainably managed forest and US, EU and Japan timber market reports on
legal and sustainably managed forest were disseminated to China’s SMFEs every month for 17
issues (6 issues in this period).
Website information updates are in execution.

Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
This project has provided the means for a close look at Chinese SMFEs especially in the wood flooring
manufacture area in Yangzi River Delta and for finding the gaps in understanding between the EU and US
market demand and the capability of Chinese SMFEs to satisfy these demands.
In terms of filling gaps and helping improve Chinese SMFEs understanding of legality issues and in ensuring
only legal timber is processed this project has made a valuable contribution in the following aspects:







The establishment of the Forest Products Index Mechanism (FPI)-the Government-Enterprises
forum, which involves government agencies, associations, research institutes and timber productenterprises, is the first timber information exchange mechanism and online forum in China. The FPI
was launched in March 2012 and well operated and attracted attentions from across the timber sector
and the press.
The project has received recognition by both the US and Chinese sides through the China-USA
Strategic Economic Dialogue held in 2012 and 2013. The project was briefed to the dialogue by
introducing the background, objectives, implementation status and impact.
The project provided a basic ‘platform’ (FPI) and channel for Chinese SMFEs, especially flooringprocessing SMFEs located in Yangtze River Delta area, to better appreciate international timber
regulations. The project also identified SMFEs weaknesses and helped improve Government
communication channels as well as the flow of market information. An increasing number of SMFEs
is receiving the periodic bulletin information to obtain market information as well as sustainable
information and policies of EU and US and global timber trade situation.
An increasing number of SMFEs is receiving periodic information through website to obtain market
information as well as sustainable information and policies of EU and US. An increasing number of
SMFEs have made certain communications through the channel bulletin and website tocommunication with the government. Beside these, the ‘platform’ also provides a channel for
stakeholder communication. Some associations have connected to this project through the FPI ‘
platform and these associations have helped the EA to connect with SMFEs and timber enterprises.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 39Developing collaborative management in the Cibodas Biosphere Reserve, West Java Indonesia
Project number:

TFL-PD 019/10 Rev.2 (M)Project country:

Indonesia

Budget:Total:

US$ 591,278

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 496,670

Government of Indonesia:

US$ 94,608

Submitted by:

Government of Indonesia

Implementing agency: Balai Besar Taman Nasional Gunung Gede Pangrango Mountain Gede
Pangrango National Park, Directorate General Forest Protection andNatural Conservation, Ministry of Forestry
Duration:

24 months

Financed at:

TFLET Spring Cycle 2010

Status:Ongoing

Summary:
The project will support the implementation of a collaborative management activity as the key tool for theeffective management of the Cibodas Biosphere Reserve. The specific objective of the project is tostrengthen forest law enforcement and governance, conservation, and the sustainable use of biodiversity andenvironmental services rendered by the Cibodas Biosphere Reserve. The expected outputs of the project are:1) increased stakeholders commitment to the effective management of the Cibodas Bioshpere Reserve; 2)
Development of an integrated management plan for the Cibodas Biosphere Reserve; and 3) Enhanced
community awareness on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and environmental services,and on forest law enforcement and governance.
Progress:
The signing of the project agreement governing the implementation of the project was completed on 25May
2011 and the Inception Report incorporating YPO1 and appointment of the Project Coordinator was approved
on 19 August 2011. The first PSC meeting was held on 24 May 2012 and, in the process of reviewing the firstprogress report, was informed of delays in the implementation of the project. It was recommended thatappropriate action to speed up the implementation of all activities under YPO1 during the final three monthsof project Year 1. A second progress report and YPO2 for 2012-2013 was submitted on 7 September 2012.
The conduct of a series of coordination and consultation meetings amongst key stakeholders was initiated.
On 25 June 2012 a workshop on synchronization and synergy in the management of biosphere reserves wasconvened, in collaboration with Bakorwil. It was presided by the head of Bakorwil I Bogor and was attended
by the Head of Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park (Mr Agus Wahyudi), Director of MAB Program,
farmers community, local government representatives, as well as Bakorwil staff. Three districts had been
selected as pilot locations for implementing the development of Cibodas Biosphere Reserve management
plan and a series of training workshops for stakeholders to improve the capacity and the understanding
regarding the importance of biosphere reserve had been conducted in those districts. Training included
subjects such as ”The Processing of Plastic Waste and Organic Fertilizer”, ”Integrated Agricultural
Management” or ”Utilization of Biogas as Alternative Energy from Waste Cow Dung and Plastic Waste
Management”.
At the second and final PSC meeting held 18 April 2013, the committee noted that the overall progress in theimplementation of the project under YPO 2 had been satisfactory and the project team had been able to
make grounds in addressing and overcoming the delays in implementation experienced under YPO 1.
In the fifth and latest progress report submitted on 26 August 2013, the implementation of all activities inrelation to Output 1 and Output 2 have been completed. For Output 3, two of the three activities have been
completed while the remaining on-going activity is expected to be completed in October 2013. The request
by the implementing agency for the duration of the project to be extended to 30 November 2013 without
additional ITTO funding has been approved by the Executive Director.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 40Pre-project to develop a proposal on ‘Development and implementation of a species identification andtimber tracking system in Africa with DNA fingerprints and stable isotopes’
Project number:

TFL-PPD 023/10 Rev.1 (F)Project country:

Germany, Cameroon, CAR, DRC, Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya

Budget:Total:

US$ 198,242

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 175,742

vTI:

US$ 22,500

Submitted by:

Government of Germany

Implementing agency: Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute (vTI), Federal Research Institute for
Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries
Duration:

7 months

Financed at:

TFLET Spring Cycle 2010

Status:Completed

Summary:
Based on experiences from pilot-studies in Cameroon and Latin-America the pre-project will develop a fullproject proposal on “Development and implementation of a species identification and timber tracking system
in Africa with DNA fingerprints and stable isotopes” with regional focus on the timber producing countries
Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo Dem. Rep, Congo Rep. and Gabon, Ghana, and Kenya as animportant timber transit country. The pre-project will (a) define the role and contribution of collaborating
agencies (b) seek support and agreements with the governments of African countries involved in the project;(c) draw conclusions from former pilot studies and to define the technical work plan, (d) identify the
stakeholders and define their roles in the full project; and (f) seek additional financial support for the fullproject. Expected outputs of the full project to be developed include (a) a timber tracking system with DNA
and stable isotopes working for 5 important timber species in Africa, (b) reference databases on genetic andisotopic spatial patterns ready for control uses, and (c) facilities for DNA-fingerprinting and stable isotopes
with trained staff in timber producer and timber consumer countries.
Progress:
The pre-project has been reported as completed to the 47th ITTC.
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
The full project developed is funded under the regular cycle, PD 620/11 Rev.1 (M) with funding from
Germany, USA and Australia.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 41
Improvement of forest law enforcement at the national level to promote forest governance in
Guatemala
Project number:

TFL-PD 024/10 Rev.2 (M)Project country:

GuatemalaBudget:Total:

US$ 804.419

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 563.339

Government of Guatemala:US$ 200.880

IUCN:

US$ 40.200

Submitted by:

Government of Guatemala

Implementing agency: National Institute of Forests (INAB)
Duration:

36 months

Financed at:

TFLET Spring Cycle 2010

Status:Ongoing

Summary:
The project will improve the effective implementation of sustainable forest management plans in Guatemala,through strengthening the capacity of forest institutions to enforce the forest management legislation andrelevant regulations, as well as through the provision of better services and instruments for the promotion ofsustainable forest management. It will strengthen the capacity of INAB to control forest law enforcement
through improvement of observation systems and inter-institutional coordination at the national, regional andlocal levels. The project will increase the involvement of civil society, institutions and local governments in theimplementation of activities aimed at strengthening actions to reduce illegal activities and ensure compliancewith current forest laws and regulations, among other activities focused on improving forest governance.
Progress:
Project activities have commenced in February 2012, since then progress has been made as follows:
Output 1, “The National Forest Service has been strengthened in the promotion and monitoring of sustainable
forest management”: During the course of 2012 workshop on regulations for sustainable forest management
took placed. A technical report which reviews all the relevant norms and regulations for SFM is now available.
Workshops are now taking place to homologate governmental procedures for SFM, including harvesting
licenses, timber transportation, and timber depots. Training of trainers was carried out in February and March2013 for staff of the National Forest Authority (INAB) on SFM and forest monitoring.
Output 2, “Community and institutional participation mechanisms generated to promote forest governance”:
The National Inter-institutional Plan against Illegal Logging (signed by the Vice-president of the Republic) has
been presented and is now in force. Institutional presence of INAB has been strengthened in the interinstitutional tables against illegal logging in the regions of Chimaltenango, Sacatepequez and Baja Verapaz.
Concrete actions have been carried out by INAB against illegal logging as of 30 June 2013, including followup to 9 denouncements for illegal land use change, 11 raids to monitor and combat illegal logging, monitoringa total 204 timber industries, and seizures for transport of illegal timber.
Output 3, “Information and experiences on sustainable forest management are available to society”: Activities
under this output are in the planning phase and the Executing Agency envisages further cooperation with the
project TMT-PD 044/11 Rev.2 (M), in particular for the development of information systems.
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
As of today there is a document that has fully reviewed the current regulations and norms of Guatemala,regarding SFM. Participation of the forest communities and stakeholders has been crucial for the execution of
the project. The Executing Agency is creating synergies with TMT-PD 044/11 Rev.2 (M) particularly in areasof information systems, which will be beneficial for both projects.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 42
Empowering civil society organizations and other non-state actors to effectively contribute to forest
law compliance in Ghana
Project number:

TFL-SPD 028/12 Rev.1 (M)Project country:

Ghana

Budget:Total:

US$ 188.456

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 147.701

Government of Ghana:

US$ 40.355

Others:US$

Submitted by:

400

Government of Ghana

Implementing agency: WWF West Africa Forest Programme
Duration:

18 months

Financed at:

TFLET Spring Cycle 2012

Status:Inception phase

Summary:
Ineffective forest law enforcement and the consequent non-compliance undermine the rule of law, reinforce
forest level corruption and represent major threats to the forest ecosystems and the associated biodiversity in
Ghana. Ineffective forest law enforcement also threatens the livelihoods of local communities and undermines
the efforts of both private and public sector organizations to develop sustainable approaches to forest
management. It is acknowledged that civil society organizations and other non-state actors can play a criticalrole in ensuring effective forest law enforcement in Ghana. However, civil society and other non-state actors
in the country have insufficient knowledge of the established models of legality and sustainability
requirements as well as practical forest operations along the timber supply chain. In addition, civil society
organizations’ knowledge of modern tools of engagement with forest authorities leaves much to be desired.
This makes it nearly impossible for civil society and other non-state actors to play the watchdog roleeffectively. This intervention is intended to build capacity of civil society organizations and other non-state
actors on established models of legality and sustainability requirements, modern tools of engagement and toraise interest of the general public in forest law enforcement so as to widen compliance with and enforcementof forest laws in the country. The intervention which will be implemented in the forest zone of Ghana willemphasize a paradigm shift to a proactive civil society that is ready to defend the rights of the poor and toensure that responsible forest management is not unduly sacrificed
Progress:
The project has been approved under the 4th TFLET Cycle (2012) and is in the inception phase.

Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
Nothing yet to reportITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 43
Marketing of timber from legal and sustainable sources by indigenous communities in Ucayali, Peru
for the fair trade market
Project number:

TFL-SPD 029/12 Rev.1 (M)Project country:

Peru

Budget:Total:

US$ 230,291

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 137,941

AIDER:

US$ 92.350

Submitted by:

Government of Peru

Implementing agency: AIDER
Duration:

15 months

Financed at:

TFLET Spring Cycle 2012

Status:Ongoing

Summary:
The local native communities (NCs) currently have FSC certification for the management of their forests,
which produce timber at a small scale and in less than optimal conditions to meet market requirements. The
FSC market demands the same quantity and quality standards as ordinary markets, a requirement thecommunities cannot meet as they operate with low production capacity and low environmental impact
equipment and machinery. In this context, it is necessary to assist the native communities to penetratespecific markets that pay a fair price for the timber they produce so as to improve their income levels. The fairtrade market does not demand high production volumes and pays a higher price for timber of demonstrated
legal and sustainable origin. This project, to be implemented in the Department of Ucayali, located in the
Peruvian Amazon Region, is aimed at enabling seven Shipibo Conibo indigenous communities to improvetheir marketing of timber from legal and sustainable sources with a view to penetrating the fair trade market.
The forest enterprise management capacity of community members will be improved and an innovative joint
production and marketing strategy will be implemented on the basis of strategic partnerships with privatecompanies. Improved CoC procedures will be established and adjusted to fair trade production standards. By
the end of the project, there will be a validated community forest enterprise model that will contribute toimproved forest governance in the Department of Ucayali. It should be stressed that the innovative approachof this project lies in the enterprise-community partnership to be developed as this type of alliance has so far
been successful in the timber sector of Peru. In addition, this would represent the first Fair Trade Market
experience in the country's forest sector.
Progress:
The conditions for release of funds have been met and the first instalment was transferred in August 2013.
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
An association called PROMACER has been formed, currently composed of five native communities.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 44
Improved governance and implementation of transparent negotiation mechanisms for indigenous
community forestry in Atalaya (Ucayali)
Project number:

TFL-SPD 030/12 Rev.1 (M)Project country:

Peru

Budget:Total:

US$ 191,263

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 131,236

Government of Peru:

US$ 10,800

Atalaya Local Government

US$

Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation

US$ 40,227

Submitted by:

9,000

Government of Peru

Implementing agency: Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation
Duration:

12 months

Financed at:

TFLET Spring Cycle 2012

Status:Ongoing

Summary:
The province of Atalaya, in the Department of Ucayali (Peru) covers 3,892,443 ha of tropical forests, including
more than a million hectares of forests rich in high commercial value species, which are home to more than
50 indigenous communities. Illegal timber logging and trade represents one of the most serious threats to theindigenous communities’ forests and to their socio-economic development expectations, maintaining andexacerbating their situation of poverty and extreme poverty (Veeduria 2011)1. This situation is perpetuatedbecause the community leaders that negotiate timber logging contracts do not have the tools required toassess the value of the forest resources harvested from their lands and do not have sufficient knowledge
about the legislation to establish fair and transparent contracts with third parties. Furthermore, the indigenousorganizations of Atalaya do not have the necessary capacity to assist their member communities and do nothave a communications system in place to help them be informed. Thus, the project will contribute to improve
community forest governance by promoting the implementation of the Community Forest Watch mechanismin the province of Atalaya so as to provide technical assistance to indigenous communities and enable themto negotiate with third parties in a transparent, equitable and legal manner for the harvesting of their forest
resources. This will in turn help to curb illegal logging in the territories of the communities. In addition, an
integrated communications/outreach program will be implemented in support of forest governance in the
Atalaya area. The primary beneficiaries of this project will be 20 indigenous communities and the indigenousorganization CORPIAA.
Progress:
The conditions for release of funds have been met and the first installment was transferred in September
2013.
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
Nothing yet to reportITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 45Development of a program to strengthen the traceability of legally sourced forest products in
Guatemala
Project number:

TFL-PPD 040/13 Rev.2 (M)Project country:

GuatemalaBudget:Total:

US$ 94,350

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 74,586

INAB

US$ 19,764

Submitted by:

Government of Guatemala

Implementing agency: National Institute of Forests - INAB
Duration:

11 months

Financed at:

TFLET Spring Cycle 2013

Status:Inception phase

Summary:
It is estimated that more than 95% of forest product flows in Guatemala, or approximately 28.6 million m3 outof the 30.7 million m3 harvested in 2006, are extracted out of the control of the government (URL, IARNA,
2009. Integrated Forest Accounting). The lack of information on the domestic market for forest products is
widespread and leads to a lack of transparency. The domestic market for forest products is not very
demanding and the general public has a limited knowledge of timber uses, which is reflected in low productquality and a lack of coordination in the secondary processing industry (FAO, 2003. Forest Sector Trends to2020). This pre-project is expected to achieve the following objectives:

Improve the traceability and legality of forest products from Guatemalan forests;
Analyze the traceability and legality conditions of forest products in Guatemala and develop a project
proposal to establish effective monitoring and control mechanisms.

Progress:
The project has been approved under the TP Spring Cycle 2013 and is in the inception phase.
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
Nothing yet to reportITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 46
REDDES
Building a Voluntary Carbon Marketing Scheme to Promote Sustainable Forest Management
Project number:

RED-A 004/09 Rev.1 (F)Project country:

GlobalBudget:Total:

US$ 97,180

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 97,180

Submitted by:

ITTO Secretariat

Implementing agency: ITTO Secretariat
Duration:

9 months

Financed at:

REDDES Spring Cycle 2009

Status:Completed

Summary:
The Activity will develop a feasibility study for the establishment of a mechanism in ITTO to capture funds
from private sector and other potential contributors, to fund voluntary forest related carbon offsetting schemes,
including REDD and PES projects. The Activity shall also generate a design and strategy for the
implementation of the proposed scheme.
Progress:
The activity was reported completed to the 46th ITTC.
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
The report is available from the ITTO website at http://www.itto.int/direct/topics/topics_pdf_download/topics_id=2137&no=0

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 47
Strengthening Guyana’s capacity to manage forest resources and environmental services throughresources assessment and monitoring changes in deforestation and degradation
Project number:

RED-PD 005/09 Rev.2 (F)Project country:

GuyanaBudget:Total:

US$ 540,880

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 400,680

Government of Guyana:

US$ 140,200

Submitted by:

Government of Guyana

Implementing agency: Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC)
Duration

12 months

Financed at:

REDDES Autumn Cycle 2009

Status:Completed

Summary:This project seeks to address two main areas: conducting, at a demonstration level, an assessment of forest
resources and environmental services including the completion of a feasibility study of targeting remuneration
systems for environmental services; and secondly, by supporting sustainable forest management andresources utilization at the community level to maintain forest resources and prevent deforestation anddegradation. The outcome of the project will be the strengthening of Guyana’s capacity to manage forest
resources and environmental services through resources assessment and monitoring changes indeforestation and degradation. This will allow for planning and management of these resources to besignificantly enhanced as will management of deforestation and forest degradation. Also, capacity building
exercise will see improved management of forest and environmental resources by target communities andstronger compliance with sustainable forest management practices. These immediate benefits of these will beenhanced ability at the national and community level to manage forest and environmental services in Guyana.
Progress
The project has been reported as completed to the 48th ITTC.
The Executing Agency has produced several products, among them studies, maps and technical documents,
including:Guyana’s Forest Resources and Environmental Services
Requirements Necessary for Guyana to Access Identified Payments for Ecosystems Services
Markets
Guyana Forestry Commission: Reddes Monitoring – Guyana’s National Forest Estate Model

The publications are available for download from the ITTO website at:
http://www.itto.int/project_reports/

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 48
Local REDDES programme for development and addressing climate change in Guatemala: Building
social processes for sustainability
Project number:

RED-PPD 006/09 Rev.2 (F)Project country:

GuatemalaBudget:Total:

US$ 177,660

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 82,080

Government of Guatemala

US$ 95,580

Submitted by:

Government of Guatemala

Implementing agency: Foundation of Integrated Development of Men and Environment,
CALMECAC
Duration:

12 months

Financed at:

REDDES Autumn Cycle 2009

Status:Completed

Summary:
In order to reduce deforestation and forest degradation, INAB and CALMECAC are seeking to develop
sustainable forest management and establish financial mechanisms derived from the management andconservation of resources and environmental services in 16 municipalities of the Departments of
Huehuetenango and Quiché, while at the same time providing a climate change adaptation mechanism. Thus,
this project is aimed at consolidating information and agreements with local communities on the managementof natural resources, while generating quantitative and qualitative data on forest resources and environmental
services potential in the area. Given the importance of the participation of local social stakeholders and theneed to raise awareness on the significance of forests and climate change impacts on the implementation of
a REDD project, the establishment of a local stakeholder network is also envisaged to create effective social
processes geared to poverty and vulnerability reduction. This pre-project links and creates social dynamics
between different sectors based on new models of participatory management of natural resources andsharing of benefits at the local level.
Progress:
The project has been completed. The progress since the report to the 48th ITTC can be summarized asfollows:
Output 1.1: Stakeholders’ social factors and interests relating to forest resource management identified in aparticipatory manner for 16 municipalities of Huehuetenango and Quiché.
All activities have been completed under this output, and the output achieved. Several inter-municipal
workshops were organized for consultation and consensus-building on the collective use and management oflocal forest resources; the information on consensus-based alternatives and mechanisms on REDD, forest
harvesting and climate change, identified at the workshops, was systematized; and a diagnostic study on thecollective use and management of local forest resources was finalized;
Output 1.2: Potential environmental services identified and quantified in 6 localities of the region in relation
Four medium-scale forest inventories have been carried out within the community and municipal forests toestimate the carbon stocks and other forest values. In addition, a characterization study of the superficial
waters in 4 watersheds has also been finalized and documented;
Output 1.3: Analysis of forest cover dynamics in 16 municipalities and identification of risks and vulnerability
to climate change in the poorest 5 municipalities.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 49
The analysis of forest cover for 16 municipalities of the northern region of Huehuetenango and Quiché hasbeen completed, including the analysis of risks and vulnerability to climate change in the poorest 5
municipalities.
Output 1.4: Local REDD project document formulated with wide-based participation of local stakeholders,
exploring the feasibility of developing a municipal and community program for transboundary conservation
forests between Mexico and Guatemala.
A regional workshop was organized for the presentation of results of the diagnosis for the area and to collectinformation for the design of a local REDD program. The REDD project proposal was formulated in aparticipatory manner and was submitted to ITTO before the June 3rd, 2013 deadline.
Output 2.1: Networks linking municipalities, communities, civil society organizations, private sector andMexican institutions organized.
All activities have been completed under this output, and the output achieved. A database was developed on
relevant stakeholders at the state, municipal, community and private sector levels; several workshops werecarried out for the consolidation at the regional level to promote and further develop a REDD initiative in theregion; and a consensus-based action plan was developed to reduce deforestation and forest degradation in
the region;
Output 2.2: Dissemination and awareness program on climate change and REDD initiatives.
The awareness-raising tools on climate change and REDD initiatives have been designed and have been
disseminated. Activity 2.2.3 has also been completed. A regional workshop was organized to promote an
initiative on the reduction of deforestation and forest degradation.
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
Overall, there was a delay in the implementation of the pre-project. This was mainly due to the execution of
the forest inventories, which took much longer than initially planned. The Pre-Project, has produced several
products, among them a project proposal, studies, maps and technical documents including:









Forest inventory of the Sumal Cerro Grande communal lands;
Watershed characterization of the Amelco river;
Characterization of the upper watershed of the Xacbal river;Analysis of the forest cover dynamics in the north of Huehuetenango and Quiche;
Vulnerability and risk analysis to climate change in the Municipalities of Nebaj, Chajul and Barillas;
Diagnostic study on the use and management of the forest resources in northern Huehuetenango
and Quiche;
Strategy and action plan for the prevention and reduction of illegal logging in Huehuetenango andQuiché, Guatemala;A project proposal entitled PD 721/13 (F) “Building a participatory and inclusive sustainable forest
management process for the reduction of deforestation and forest degradation in the Ixil forest areasof the Municipality of Nebaj, Quiché, Guatemala”

These publications, describing the achievements, impacts and lessons learnt of the project, will shortly
uploaded onto the ITTO website for a greater dissemination to all our member countries and other interested
parties.
The crucial longer-term achievement of the pre-project is the implementation of the full project proposal
submitted to the 46th ITTO Expert Panel, aimed at reducing deforestation and forest degradation by seeking
the development of a sustainable forest planning system and the establishment of financial mechanisms
derived from the management and conservation of resources and ecosystem services, through thedevelopment of a model for the Municipality of Nebaj, Quiché, that may also serve as a climate change
adaptation strategy.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 50
Enhancing Forest Carbon Stock to Reduce Emission from Degradation through Sustainable Forest
Management (SFM) Initiatives in Indonesia
Project number:

RED-PD 007/09 Rev.2 (F)Project country:

Indonesia

Budget:Total:

US$ 539,616

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 447,071

Government of Indonesia:

US$ 92,545

Submitted by:

Government of Indonesia

Implementing agency: Director General of Forest Production Development & Directorate ofPlanning Development for Forest Utilization, Ministry of Forestry ofIndonesia
Duration:

24 months

Financed at:

REDDES Autumn Cycle 2009

Status:Completed

Summary:
The project will promote SFM as an important option for forest based climate change mitigation to reduce
emission from and by tropical forest. As a first priority it will focus on initiating multi-stakeholder processes fordevelopment of a national strategy to maintain and increase forest carbon stock through implementation of
SFM. The expected outputs of the project are:(1) Information on SFM forest based carbon, C stock, CO2
sequestration, and green products; (2) Supporting infrastructure and mechanism to bring additional incentives
in implementing SFM as important option in reducing emission from deforestation and forest degradationassessed; (3) Outreach activities to promote public awareness among relevant stakeholders on SFM
initiatives in enhancing forest based carbon stock, sequestration, and carbon storage in green products inorder to reduce GHG CO2 developed. After project completion it is expected that the strategy will beinstitutionalized. The successful implementation of the project will generate awareness among local people
and other related stakeholders to participate in managing forestland in a sustainable way. Local government,
communities and private sector will get incentives from the ongoing effort in implementing conservation andforest management in reducing emission from deforestation and degradation.
Progress:
The project was reported as completed to the 48th ITTC.
Achievement, impacts and lessons learned:

A database of all REDD+ and forest carbon related projects in Indonesia established
Methodologies for establishing forest carbon baselines and for estimating the contribution of SFM
activities to reducing GHG emissions established and disseminated widelyOver 500 representatives of national/local government and a diverse range of other stakeholders
aware of the importance of SFM to achieving Indonesia’s REDD+ goals.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 51
Promoting the partnership efforts to reduce emission from deforestation and forest degradation oftropical peatland in south Sumatra through the enhancement of conservation and restoration
activities
Project number:

RED-SPD 009/09 Rev.2 (F)Project country:

Indonesia

Budget:Total:

US$ 181,287

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 149,493

Government of Indonesia:

US$ 31,794

Submitted by:

Government of Indonesia

Implementing agency: Regional Research Center of South Sumatra
Duration:

24 months

Financed at:

REDDES Autumn Cycle 2009

Status:Ongoing

Summary
The project is intended to enhance sustainable management and conservation of tropical PSF to reduce
emissions and to increase carbon stocking through the involvement of stakeholders and local community inthe conservation and rehabilitation of degraded PSF in South Sumatra. It is part of Reduced Emission from
Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD)-Indonesia, on the context of PSF. There are two major issues
addressed in the project:

resolving the conflict of interest between authorities in the management of PSF andreducing the emission from deforestation and forest degradation through the promotion ofconservation and restoration of PSF ecosystem.

Five options for strategic management intervention specific to peatland, under REDO in Indonesia (Indonesia
Forum on Climate Change Alliance-IFCA, Consolidation report 2008) will also be addressed, namely (1)Regulate and restore water table, (2) Prevent peatland from fire, (3) Build coordination and consistency
across government jurisdiction and sectors to control cross boundary impacts of fire by controlling its sources
and spread, (4) Regulate further conversion of peatlands and revise and reinforce rules for management ofexisting peatlands plantation sites and (5) Implement land swaps where possible to retain high carbon value
forest and peat while allocating alternative land for new plantation. The project intervention will put the priority
on the third and fourth option for strategic management intervention through awareness raising, capacity
building and coordination and field implementation of restoring ecosystem function in the degraded peatland
through plantation. Local-indigenous species, which have been identified earlier, will be used in thisrestoration of ecosystem.
Progress:
The Agreement regulating the implementation of the project was duly signed in May 2010. The project
activities have been initiated since November 2010 after the completion of necessary administrative
arrangements for the implementation of the project. The Exciting Agency has completed all project activities
and is in the process of finalizing the preparation of Project Completion Report, Technical Reports and Final
Financial Audit Report.
Output 1.1 Institutional setting to prevent further deforestation and forest degradation.


Review of existing schemes and lessons learned from the management of peat swamp forest (PSF)
at the national and surrounding local levels has been carried out and a technical report has been
prepared and presented in early April 2011. Further discussions and analyses have been carried out
in conjunction with a stakeholder consultation meeting in July 2012 including representatives from
Provincial Forest Service of South Sumatra, District Forest Service of OKI, Musi Banyuasin andBanyuasin to ensure achieving sustainable management of PSF ecosystem in South Sumatra.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 52


Stakeholders consultations, awareness rising, capacity building and resolving disharmony acrossauthorities in PSF management have been carried out. This activity includes various presentations:(i) fact findings on the existing programs, schemes and activities related to reducing the rate of
deforestation and forest degradation in South Sumatra; (ii)the current situation on theimplementation of government policy, rules and regulation on the management of PSF and REDD
related in South Sumatra by Local Government of South Sumatra (Provincial Forestry Service); (iii)the community awareness and practices in the managing and utilizing the existing forest resourcesand ecosystem by local Research Institutions, Merang REDD Pilot Project and NGO; and (iv) setting
a priority list of actions towards improved implementation of sustainable management of PSF in
South Sumatra.
A preparation meeting was held on 9 June 2011 to discuss possible topics and identify competent
speakers and parties to be invited, a venue and dates. A stakeholder consultation was carried out in
Palembang on 17 July 2012. Recommendations of this stakeholder consultation meeting included
future research on carbon sink in various land covers on landuse and landuse changes on forestry(LULUCF); trade-off between economic return and retaining forest status; population
dynamic/biodiversity observation in concession areas (either industrial forest plantation or oil palm
plantation); management technique (system) of PSF in concession areas; and social mapping andlocal wisdom in PSF management

Output 1.2. Sound and applicable technology in restoration and rehabilitation of PSF improved, disseminatedand applied degraded PSF
Data and information on sound and applicable technology in restoration and rehabilitation of PSF
have been collected since May 2011. This activity includes literature search and collection on thoserelated to rehabilitation, restoration and conservation on PSF. Some of the sources are Wetland
International, WWF-Indonesia Program and others.
A comparative study in Selangor, Malaysia was carried out on 4 – 8 June 2013.

Output 1.3. Demonstration activities with the plantation of indigenous species initiated and enhanced







Collection and propagation of indigenous local forest tree species has continued. At least 8,000
nursery grown seedlings for 5 selected species (appr. 40,000 seedlings) have been produced andused for the establishment of demonstration activities.
Five indigenous local forest tree species have been collected and propagated based on their potentialof generating incomes (i.e. Jelutong and Melaleuca) and enhancing conservation needs. These are:Jelutung (Dyera lowii) propagated for 8,000 seedlings; Meranti (Shorea belangeran) propagated for
8,000 seedlings; Gelam (Melaleuca leucadendron) propagated for 10,000 seedlings; Punak(Tetramerista glabra) propagated for 8,000 seedlings; and Gemor (Alseodhapne sp.) propagated for
8,000 seedlings
Field rehabilitation and restoration activities in selected areas of South Sumatra using indigenous
species have been conducted since February 2011. Partner in this restoration include (1) District
Forest Service of OKI, (2) Industrial Forest Plantation, PT. Bumi Mekar Hijau – South Sumatra, and(3) Palm Oil Plantation Company PT. Andira Agro – South Sumatra, (4) Local NGO Wahana Bumi
Hijau – South Sumatra, and (5) Local community in OKI – South Sumatra.
Total area allocated for planting is around 70 ha distributing across the project partners. A large
number of community members are expected to be directly involved in plantation activities. Plantingof the demonstration Plots has been started since late January 2012 and maintenance of the planting
sites is underway.

Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
Nothing yet to reportITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 53
Sustainable forest management and utilization of ecosystem services in forests managed by the
Ese'Eja native community in Infierno, Peru
Project number:

RED-PD 018/09 Rev.1 (F)Project country:

Peru

Budget:Total:

US$ 523,319

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 356,519

Government of Peru

US$ 166,800

Submitted by:

Government of Peru

Implementing agency: Association for Investigation and Development, AIDER
Duration:

36 months

Financed at:

REDDES Autumn Cycle 2009

Status:Ongoing

Summary:
The project is aimed at strengthening the management of forests over which the community has acquired
utilization rights, so as to penetrate the emerging ecosystem services markets and thus generate additional
income to allow the community to obtain resources for the adequate management of their territory andecotourism concession. It will be implemented in the Ese’Eja native community of Infierno where a forest
concession was granted by the Peruvian Government to the community for ecotourism purposes in areas
located in the Madre de Dios region (Peru), within the buffer zone of the Tambopata National Reserve andthe Bahuaja Sonene National Park. Community capacities will be developed for the planning andestablishment of agreements approved by all community members for the use of forest resources andservices, thus establishing the basis for the development of a project for the reduction of emissions fromdeforestation and degradation (REDD). Recognizing that well-defined utilization and marketing rights are avital prerequisite for access to these markets, the project will facilitate the formalization of rights to trade
ecosystem services and to resolve existing land tenure conflicts in the concession area. These objectives will
be met with support from the Peruvian government, which will allow the community to progress towards
sustainable development.
Progress:
Administrative Progress:
Currently there appear to be delays in the implementation of some of the project’s activities due to external
factors, particularly as regards the periodic updating of the standards required to produce REDD Project
Design Documents (PDD) developed by the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance (CCBA) and theVoluntary Carbon Standard (VCS), which does not allow for the finalization of the PDD for the Ese’Ejacommunity forests of Infierno.
Technical Progress:
Since the most recent progress report on the ITTO REDDES Thematic Programme presented in November
2011, and in accordance with the most recent progress reports submitted via ITTO’s Online Monitoring
System, progress in project implementation to June 2013 can be summarized by major outputs as follows:
Output 1: There is community consensus on the priority actions for the management of forest resources

Utilizing the completed socio-economic study of the communities as a basis, several community-wide
workshops were organized to evaluate the current and potential use of natural resources. Moreover,based on the inputs obtained at these workshops, a diagnosis was carried out on the use, impact andactors involved in the management of the natural resources in the region;
A strategy and an action plan for community forest management are was developed in a participatory
manner and the action plan is currently being implemented by the community; andITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 54An office has been established and furbished in the community centre so as to enable capacity
development within the community and is now fully operational. Several presentations andworkshops have already been carried out at this new communal facility.

Output 2: Legal rights for the use of forest resources in the community territory and ecotourism concession
area are endorsed and securedThe study on legal community rights over their forest resources and territory has been completed andsocialized with the communities involved;
Some legal and topographic exercises are currently being finalized in order to physically delimit thecommunal territory and further define and permanently attain the legal ownership rights. Moreover,negotiations are currently underway with the National Authority for Protected Natural Areas(SERNANP) and the authorities of the Tambopata National Reserve so as to define the limits
between the community and the aforementioned reserve; andCommunity involvement in developing policy on PES is being ensured via several participatory subactivities.

Output 3: Community forest management incorporated as part of a REDD scheme








AIDER is currently participating in the development of the Madre de Dios Regional Baseline.
Moreover, it is presiding over the Deforestation Analysis and Modelling Sub-Commission of theMadre de Dios Roundtable on Environmental Services and REDD (MESAR), and is also a member of
the Carbon Sub-Commission. However, these being political processes, it appears that consensus ona broad variety of issues may take longer than initially contemplated;
Thematic cartography has been completed, and the community now has a forest stratification map of
its territory and its ecotourism concession. An analysis of the historic deforestation within the
aforementioned area has also been completed. In addition, the carbon inventory has been finalized
and disseminated among the locals as a technical document;
The community is managing and further harvesting their communal forests based on the forest
management plan recently approved by the competent authorities in Peru;
15 hectares of degraded forests have been rehabilitated by the community via reforestation activities;
The project is currently designing the methodological process for the formulation of a REDD Project
Design Document (PDD) for the Ese’Eja community forests of Infierno, following the standards
developed by the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance (CCBA) and the Voluntary Carbon
Standard (VCS). However, the periodic updating of the standards required to produce REDD Project
Design Documents (PDD) developed by the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance (CCBA)
and the Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS) for now does not allow the swift finalization of the PDD
being developed for the Ese’Eja community forests of Infierno, and further obtain the neededvalidation to offer the carbon credits.

Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
Overall, the Executing Agency has already produced several products, among them studies, maps andtechnical documents. These publications, describing the interim achievements, impacts and lessons learnt of
the project, will be uploaded onto the ITTO website and include:








A Socioeconomic Study of the Ese’Eja Community at Infierno
A Diagnosis of the Use, Impact and Actors involved in the Management of Natural Forest Resourcesof Infierno .
A Field Guide for Estimating the Carbon Stored in the Forest Biomass in the Ecotourism Concession
managed by the Native Community of Infierno Ese'Eja in the Madre de Dios Region
Estimating Changes in Carbon Stocks and Greenhouse Gas Emissions caused by Unplanned
Deforestation: A Baseline Scenario for Infierno - Madre de Dios Region .
A Legal Study to confirm and maintain the legal rights of use of forest resources in the communal
territory and ecotourism concession of Infierno
Legal Topography of the Ese'Eja Native Community at Infierno
Action Plan for the Management of Infierno’s forests

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 55
Development and demonstration on scheme of payment for environmental services (PES) derived
from degraded and secondary tropical production forests in China
Project number:

RED-SPD 020/09 Rev.1 (F)Project country:

People’s Republic of China

Budget:Total:

US$ 203,040

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 149,040

Government of China:

US$ 54,000

Submitted by:

Government of the People’s Republic of China

Implementing agency: InstituteofForestResource
Chinese Academy of Forestry (CAF)
Duration:

24 months

Financed at:

REDDES Autumn Cycle 2009

Status:Completed

Information

Technique,

Summary:
The project attempts to reduce deforestation and forest degradation, enhance environmental services andhelp improve forest dependent livelihoods in the tropics of China. The Lingshui Li Autonomous County of the
Hainan Province has been selected as project area and one typical forest-dependent community (village) will
be chosen in the demonstration area. The project will develop an assessment report on environmental
services derived from degraded and secondary tropical production forests in the selected area. A scheme of
PES derived from degraded and secondary tropical production forests in demonstration areas based oncommunity and other stakeholders' participation will be discussed, consulted, optimized, identified andimplemented. Policy suggestions on the scheme of PES will be developed and submitted to local
governments.
Progress:
The project has been reported as completed to the 48th ITTC.
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
The project has contributed to the capacity of local stakeholders in designing and implementing PES
schemes for secondary tropical production forests in southern China. The key stakeholders benefitted by the
project include the Chinese Academy of Forestry, Wuzhishan Forestry Bureau and Hainan Forestry
Department, and villagers of the demonstration site (Maohui community). It furthermore provided an excellent
learning opportunity and experience on PES for young researchers of the Chinese Academy of Forestry
engaged in the project, as well as young government officers from Wuzhishan Forestry Bureau and Hainan
Forestry Department. Local villagers, indigenous groups and communities in the demonstration site havebenefited from the project directly because the project helped them to get the PES for tropical natural
production forests. Villagers of the demonstration site have better understood the importance of the natural
production forests in providing various goods and services including cultural value. The implementation of a
PES scheme, commits the villagers to preserve the ecosystem in the demonstration site and prevent
degradation.
The impacts of the project include improved capacity to develop supportive policies and measures towards
the effective design and implementation of PES schemes in the Hainan Province, southern China. With suchsupportive policy development through PES schemes, the conversion of national production forests toplantations is expected to be reduced. This is in contrast to the past common practice of forest owners(collective organizations or villagers) who received forests’ property rights after the Reform of Collective
Forest Tenure System in China, to have forests converted into plantations by clear cutting.
Lessons learned and sustainability:

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 56
The project was widely recognized in Hainan Province, southern China and has contributed to policy
development for PES schemes. A number of lessons have emerged from the project’s implementation. These
include:









Payments for Environmental Services (PES) could be an effective economic incentive to encourage
forest-owners to maintain and sustainably manage their forests in southern China. Designing andimplementing an effective payment mechanism for environmental services provided by natural
production forests in southern China will be a counting challenge.
For further development of PES schemes in the Hainan Province, it is necessary that the Hainan
Forest Department continues to strengthen policy development through capacity building andtraining. It is also important to continue to work with local communities to bring mutual benefits to thepeople and provision of environmental services.
For smooth operation of any project activities in the future, promoting better understanding andcooperation among key stakeholders especially in the minority communities will be vital. Consultative
meetings with local communities in particular with motivated community leaders, taking into accountlocal customs and culture, were instrumental to generate a common vision for the conservation andsustainable management of natural production forests of the demonstration site.
It was essential that the roles and responsibilities of the institutions involved in the project
implementation are clearly defined and documented by subcontracts in the beginning and throughout
the project implementation.
A separate management system must be ensured to keep project files and documents. Relevant
documents and information on the project in different stages needs to be added and presented in thesystem. Monitoring and evaluating mechanism should be effectively implemented by projects.

Sustainability of the project has been ensured with the creation of a special management organization andrelated mechanism to take charge of the protection and management of the demonstration site by the local
government (Wuzhishan Forestry Bureau). The local government is entrusted with the responsibility ofcontinuing and extending the work of the project. PES schemes of tropical natural production forests in the
project area through demonstration work in Maohui community are likely to be extended to many parts ofsouthern China, in particular in the Hainan province. It is also vital that the Hainan Forest Department
continues to strengthen policy development to address the issues of establishing sustainable and equitablepayment mechanisms for environmental services rendered by natural production forests in southern China.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 57
Technical Support for the National Forest Inventory Development in the Democratic Republic ofCongo for the Evaluation of the Carbon Stock Changes in Forest Lands
Project number:

RED-A 023/09 Rev.1 (F)Project country:

Democratic Republic of Congo

Budget:Total:

US$ 510,220

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 476,820

Government of D.R. Congo:

US$ 33,400

Submitted by:

Government of D.R. Congo

Implementing agency: Directorate of Forest Inventory and Planning (DIAF)
Duration:

12 months

Financed at:

REDDES Autumn Cycle 2009

Status:Completed

Summary:
The activity was implemented in support to the UN-REDD Programme in the DRC, in order to complement
the work of FAO in this exercise by ensuring the existence of a technical and logistical capacity in the DRC tocarry out this Activity. The objective of this Activity was to lay the strong foundations required for supporting aforest carbon inventory on national forest lands in the DRC by providing national institutions:

Qualified personnel to undertake field measurements and manage the information generated;
Office equipment (e.g., laboratory with computers and printers) and field operations equipment.

The aim of this activity was to support the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in developing a system ofmeasurement, reporting and verification (MRV) for the REDD mechanism under the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The goal of this Activity was to establish cooperation
with between ITTO, FAO and the DRC to support the development of UN-REDD programme in the DRC. The
Activity was funded as a special support to the UN-REDD Programme in the DRC and a complement to thework of FAO regarding the initiative of carrying out the national forest inventory focusing on forest carbon.
The goal of this Activity was to build the capacities of appropriate institutions and lay the foundation for thedevelopment of such a field-level MRV system in the DRC, in order to ensure that the country could betechnically and logistically capable of performing a national forest carbon inventory. The specific objective
was to enable the effective participation of the DRC in a potential REDD mechanism through thedevelopment of a national forest carbon inventory, which is a prerequisite to operationalize a system of MRV
in DRC.
Progress:
The project has been reported as completed to the 48th ITTC.
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
The achievements, impacts and lessons learnt deriving from the implementation of this Activity can besummarized as follows:The capacity of national institutions, including the Directorate of Forest Inventory and Management(DIAF) and the Directorate for Sustainable Development (DDD), within the Ministry of Environment,
Nature Conservation and Tourism (MECNT), was substantially strengthened in terms of carbon forest
inventory;
DIAF’s mandate to conduct the national forest inventory on a continual basis was adapted to thetechniques and methods for the forest carbon inventory, and its technical personnel was trained forthat purpose;
DDD has become operational on the techniques and methods for the analysis of information and dataon forest carbon stocks, thanks to the expertise acquired by its selected technical staff members;

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 58
The activity provided (for the first time) the opportunity to the experts at UNIKIS and IFA, as well as
those of WCS-DRC, to participate in practical training sessions on the carbon forest inventory;
The vehicles, equipment and materials purchased through the implementation of this activity allow
the DIAF technical staff members trained to immediately start the field activities regarding the national
forest carbon inventory. However, the field activities have not been implemented yet due to a delay inthe release of FAO funding promised by the UN-REDD Programme for the Democratic Republic ofCongo.

The main beneficiaries of the ITTO thematic programme activity are the DRC government and more
specifically the Directorate of Forest Inventory and Planning (DIAF) and the Directorate of Sustainable
Development (DDD) within the Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Tourism (MECNT), theUniversity of Kisangani (UNIKIS) associated with the Faculty of Agronomy of Yangambi (IFA) and theenvironmental non-governmental organization WCS-DRC. The Activity has largely contributed to get the DRC
technically and logistically capable of performing a national forest carbon inventory. It laid the foundation forthe development of a field-level system dealing with monitoring, reporting and validation (MRV) for REDD
implementation in the DRC. By doing so, ITTO has supported the DRC to take the first step towards
operationalizing a MRV system for REDD. The strategy to involve relevant stakeholders, through apartnership between the stakeholders and targeted beneficiaries (Government of DRC through the DIAF and
DDD within the ministry in charge of forestry, University of Kisangani, environmental NGO with WCS-DRC
Programme), was a key to the achievement of the project’s objective. The involvement of experts fromUNIKIS, IFA and WCS-DRC is an asset for the replication and sustainability and reduces the need forexternal expertise on forest carbon inventories.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 59
Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation through Collaborative Managementwith Local Communities
Project number:

RED-PD 026/09 Rev.1 (F)Project country:

Ghana

Budget:Total:

US$ 760,408

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 658,716

Government of Ghana

US$ 101,692

Submitted by:

Government of Ghana

Implementing agency: Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG)
Duration:

48 months

Financed at:

REDDES Autumn Cycle 2009

Status:Ongoing

Summary:
The project aims to contribute to sustainable management and conservation of Ankasa Conservation area toimprove the provision of environmental services and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Ankasa
Conservation area incorporates the Nini-Suhien National Park and the Ankasa Resource Reserve and isconsidered as the most biologically diverse forest ecosystem in Ghana. The project specifically intends todevelop and implement participatory, good governance and management system for the Ankasa conservationarea, determine the financial value of the environmental services as well as methods for measurement,
assessment reporting and verification (MARV) for forest carbon. The project will be participatory and thus willbuild on a high level community involvement and capacity building.
Progress:
The Project Agreement regulating the implementation of the project was duly signed on 05 March 2010. The
project implementation began with the disbursement of the first installment of TP funds on 20 April 2010, witha focus on the following main activities:

Development of management plans through a participatory process (identification of management
options for different areas, selection of appropriate management strategy, preparation of draft
management plans, and validation of draft management plans) in close collaboration with local
communities;
Development of a framework for good governance and benefit sharing based on three basic pillars(assessing the clear coherence of policy, legal, institutional and regulatory frameworks with thesesystems; considering the degree of transparency, accountability and inclusiveness of key forest
governance processes and institution while exploring their characteristics on the planning anddecision-making; and examining the extent of the implementation, enforcement and compliancerelated to the policy, legal, institutional and regulatory frameworks while considering the level of
effectiveness, efficiency and equitability of implementation);
Determination of baseline forest carbon stocks and development of verifiable method for forest
carbon estimation and monitoring (reviewing existing methodologies for forest carbon inventory;
preparing the standard guidelines for field measurements of forest biomass; and undertaking pilot
surveys of biomass stocks in selected forest lands).

These plans and documents have been developed through a participatory process involving relevant
stakeholders including the following nine (9) communities: Amokwaw, Fia, Nungua-Cocoatown, Tweakor
Navrongo, Aiyinasi-Ayawora, Ohiamadwen-Fiasoro, Asomasi, Naptoma and New Adiembra of the project
area (Ankasa Conservation Area).
The progress in project implementation can be summarized as follows:ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 60















Article prepared by the project team and published in Ghanaian newspapers regarding thesensitization on the problem of forest degradation in the Ankasa region;
The inception workshop was held on 10 -12 May 2010, in Kumasi (Ghana), for sixty (60)representatives of the following nine (9) communities involved in the project implementation:
Amokwaw, Fia, Ghana-Nungua-Cocoatown, Tweakor Navrongo, Aiyinasi-Ayawora, OhiamadwenFiasoro, Asomasi, Naptoma and New Adiembra of the Ankasa Conservation area. The workshop
report was submitted through the on-line monitoring system;
The Executing Agency has started the strategic analysis of the drivers of forest degradation anddeforestation at identified sites, through a participatory process. The aim is to establish baseline dataon forest cover changes in the Ankasa Conservation Area, as a demonstration area on SFM for
REDD with an effective participation of identified local communities;
Development of a draft management plan for the Ankasa Conservation Area (ACA), with the
involvement of all relevant stakeholders, through a participatory approach for the identification anddevelopment of management options of different sub-areas of the ACA. A draft management plan
has been circulated for review, prior to its validation by relevant stakeholders;Development of a draft framework for good governance and benefit sharing scheme based on FAO,World Bank and CBD references and adaptation to the particular conditions of the Ankasa
Conservation Area through a participatory consultation process of all relevant stakeholders, including
local communities. For validation, a draft document on good governance and benefit sharing scheme
has been circulated, for review by stakeholders;
A study for the monitoring of 25 years of land cover change within the Ankasa Conservation Area
was initiated by the project through the analysis of satellite images taken in January 1986, February
2000 and January 2011 combined with field surveys to collect information and data for the crosschecking process;For the determination of the financial value of the environmental services provided by the Ankasa
Conservation Area, studies and surveys had been for the following actions: i) identification of key
ecosystem services provided by the conservation area; ii) identification of key ecosystem services
and marking the area from where services are provided; iii) determination of the financial value ofthese services; andAn international consultant was hired for to carry out participatory methods for measurement,
assessment, reporting and verification (MARV) for forest carbon developed to be implemented in the
future with the involvement of relevant stakeholders of the Ankasa Conservation Area through thefollowing activities: i) build capacity of stakeholders in methodologies for quantifying emission
reductions and enhancement in carbon stocks; ii) participatory estimation of emissions reduction andenhancement in sequestered carbon under REDD project scenario; iii) estimation of the extent offorest cover changes from 1986 – 2011; iv) establishment of baselines of forest cover changes.

Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
Nothing yet to reportITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 61
Monitoring deforestation, logging and land use change in the Pan Amazonian Forest – PANAMAZON
II
Project number:

RED-PD 029/09 Rev.1 (F)Project country:

PanAmazonian

Budget:Total:

US$ 6,262,784

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 1,124,784

ACTO Contribution:

US$ 1,389,600

ACTO Member Countries:

US$ 3,748,400

Submitted by:

Government of Brazil

Implementing agency: Amazon Cooperation Treaty Agency (ACTO)
Duration:

48 months

Financed at:

REDDES Autumn Cycle 2009

Status:Ongoing

Summary:
The project will address constrains that are limiting the use of the Indicator of the Forest Cover byimplementing national monitoring systems as a key element so as to increase the governance in the Amazon.
In order to facilitate countries interaction and integrated action in boundary zones the project will strengthen
the dialogue and coordination platforms linked to the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO). The
project is divided in three components:

Coordination of participatory processes for the development of Forest Cover National Monitoring
Systems;
Implementation of Forest Cover National Monitoring Systems; andStrengthening of the existing platforms for regional dialogue and coordination on forest management,with focus on forest cover monitoring with the possibility to include other criteria and indicators forsustainable forest management.

The systems will make use of the technology platform developed by the Government of Brazil and themethodology already adopted in this country will be considered for the implementation of the National
Systems. Furthermore, the project will contribute to the improvement of knowledge in the sector, to share newtechnologies, to prioritize lines of action for the regional cooperation and to share experiences on theenforcement of forest laws.
Progress:
The installation of the Observation Rooms in each country has been completed and ORs are operational. The
preparation of a Regional Deforestation Map 2000 -2010 is ongoing, but experiencing some delays (andtherefore the map could not be presented at the 10th UNFF. The project held a side event “Advances in the
Amazon Cooperation: Deforestation Monitoring” instead during the meeting. Progress made on thecoordination among countries was explained and joint efforts among countries at the regional level to prevent
deforestation were presented.
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
In May 2013, the Board of the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), through the
Amazon Fund approved an amount of Brazilian Reais R$ 23 million or approximately US$ 11.8 million to
ACTO to ensure the continuation and expansion of the activities initialized under RED-PD 029/09 Rev.1 (F).
Over a five year period, the new ACTO project on ‘Monitoring of forest cover in the Amazon Region’ willcontinue the structuring and implementation of the established observation rooms, provide access to forest
cover monitoring technology, support the development of national monitoring plans, and foster the
improvement, harmonization and standardization of institutional capacities to assess land use changes in the

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 62
participating countries. Continuing the efforts under RED-PD 029/09 Rev.1 (F) and utilizing the infrastructure
established under the ITTO project, it will support regional cooperation to combat illegal logging andexchange of experiences related to public policy instruments to reduce deforestation. The expected project
results also directly contribute to the objectives of the UN-REDD programme through improved control of
deforestation and forest degradation, and through the strengthening of monitoring systems and provision ofdata from all participating countries.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 63
Rehabilitation and restoration of residual forests and arid savannah lands in the Akpé and Akama
valleys
Project number:

RED-PD 031/11 Rev.1 (F)Project country:

Togo

Budget:Total:

US$ 773,349

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 478,894

Government of Togo

US$ 294,455

Submitted by:

Government of Togo

Implementing agency: Office de Développement et d’Exploitation des Forêts
Duration:

36 months

Financed at:

REDDES 1st Cycle 2011

Status:Ongoing

Summary:
The project is the result of pre-project PPD 7/98 Rev. 2 (F) and simultaneously aims to implement therehabilitation and restoration of residual forests and the conversion of arid savannah lands in the AkpossoAkébou landscape for timber production with the involvement of local communities in order to improve thesocio-economic conditions of local communities.
It provides for the enrichment planting of natural forests (200 ha), agro-forestry lots (50 ha), gallery forests (50ha) and the establishment of 300-ha new forest plantations. To secure the sustainability of this rehabilitation:i) a co-ordination mechanism will be established between stakeholders; ii) local communities will beeffectively trained in participatory management; iii) and most of all, a management plan will be establishedand implemented by a management unit to be created.
Progress:
The Project Agreement regulating the implementation of this project was duly signed on 12 January 2012. An
Inception Report and related first Yearly Plan of Operation were submitted on 26 January 2012 and approvedby the ITTO Secretariat. The project implementation began with the disbursement of the first installment of TP
funds on 01 February 2012. The first Project Steering Committee was held on 02 April 2012 with the aim toprovide guidance the way to smoothly implement this project under the requirements of the REDDES
Thematic Programme as well as those related to the rules and procedures applying to ITTO projects.
The progress in project implementation can be summarized as follows:






Sensitization campaigns had been conducted to explain the project objective in order to ensure theinvolvement of relevant stakeholders (local authorities, local traditional chiefs, local communities,
local NGOs and associations, etc.) in the implementation of some project activities in the Akpe andAkpama valleys;
Purchasing of equipment and materials for the project implementation (one vehicle, two motorbikes,
two desktop computers, one laptop computer and one photocopier);
Training on participatory management of forest resources in Alaousso and Bato Counties for key
leaders of selected local communities; andEstablishment of forest nurseries in Alaousso and Bato Counties for the production of forest
seedlings for rehabilitation/restoration activities in Alaousso and Bato Counties, on degraded forest
lands demarcated through a participatory approach.

Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
Nothing yet to reportITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 64
Value adding to environmental services from managed forests belonging to seven communities in the
Ucayali region
Project number:

RED-PD 033/11 Rev.3 (F)Project country:

Peru

Budget:Total:

US$ 654,965

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 415,384

Government of Peru

US$ 239,581

Submitted by:

Government of Peru

Implementing agency: Asociación para la Investigación y el Desarrollo Integral – AIDER
Duration:

24 months

Financed at:

REDDES 1st Cycle 2011

Status:Ongoing

Summary:
The project is to be implemented in the territories of 7 native communities of the Ucayali Region. It is aimed atstrengthening the management of community forests and enhancing the capacities of indigenous
communities to incorporate the marketing of carbon and other environmental services into integrated forest
management practices in order to penetrate carbon markets. This will allow the communities to generate
additional income, providing them with the resources required for the adequate administration of theirterritories and management of their forests. The project will develop community skills for the planning andconclusion of agreements among all members regarding the use of forest goods and services, thus
establishing the basis for the development of a project to reduce emissions from deforestation anddegradation (REDD) and for the adjustment of forest production processes to the PES (payment forenvironmental services) scheme. The proposal is based on the premise that clearly defined use andmarketing rights are an essential pre-requisite to access these markets. These objectives will be achieved
with the support of the Peruvian government, which will ensure the progress of the communities towards
sustainable development
Progress:
Administrative Progress:
The Project Agreement regulating the implementation of the project was duly signed on 28 February 2012.
The Project Inception Report and the Detailed Work Programme have been received and approved by the
ITTO Secretariat and the first disbursement of funds was transferred to the Executing Agency on 3 April 2012and project activities commenced shortly after that. The project’s Steering Committee met for the first time at
the end of August 2012 in Lima to review and guide the project in its start-up activities. To date two additional
disbursements of funds were transferred to AIDER after verifying the executing agency’s compliance with theconditions established for each of these, and the Project’s Steering committee is slated to meet for a second
time in Pucallpa in October 2013.

Technical Progress:
Since the most recent progress report on the ITTO REDDES Thematic Programme presented in November
2011, and in accordance with the most recent progress reports submitted via ITTO’s Online Monitoring
System, progress in project implementation to July 2013 can be summarized by major outputs as follows:
Output 1: Native communities have acquired the technical capacity to improve their efficiency in forest
management, complying with the conditions required by REDD.


A diagnostic study was carried out in each of the seven communities via participatory workshops, inorder to establish their training needs in forest management for timber, non-timber forest products

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 65and environmental services;
Based on the results of the aforementioned diagnostic studies, a training plan was developed basedon their knowledge needs; andBased on the training plan, several specific training modules have been designed, developed and todate continue being implemented at the 7 native communities, with a current emphasis on thestrengthening of community organizational capacities.

Output 2: REDD forms part of the forest management planning in the 7 communities.







A participatory rural diagnostic was carried out and a plan was further developed for the communal
awareness campaign;
REDD training workshops have been carried out in five of the seven communities: Buenos Aires,
Curiaca, Flor de Ucayali, Pueblo Nuevo and Roya;
A study to stratify the forest and other areas in the project’s area of influence has been completed;
A study on the carbon stocks has been completed for the project’s area of influence;
A study on the historic quantification of the accumulated deforestation in the project’s area ofinfluence is also been finalized; andA modeling study on future deforestation is being carried out and is well advanced.

Output 3: Native communities have acquired management capacity for the production and marketing oftimber, NTFPs and forest carbon.






Workshops on community self-evaluation and refection were carried out and each community
established a consultative group conformed by 6 community members. Moreover, these groups
actively participate in the community’s forest management activities and in the elaboration andexecution of the communal REDD strategies of the project;
A training plan for enterprise management is being elaborated with a view towards improving themarketing of the goods and services provided by the communal forests;
Timber and non-timber forest product business plans are also being developed; andA Project Consultative committee, comprised of 6 public and private institutions has been establishedand has already met once to discuss project implementation.

Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
So far only partial achievements have been achieved.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 66
Reducing forest degradation and emissions through sustainable forest management (SFM) in
peninsular Malaysia
Project number:

RED-PD 037/11 Rev.2 (F)Project country:

Malaysia

Budget:Total:

US$ 864,622

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 590,922,

Government of Malaysia

US$ 273,700

Submitted by:

Government of Malaysia

Implementing agency: Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)
Duration:

36 months

Financed at:

REDDES 1st Cycle 2011

Status:Ongoing

Summary:
Forest management in Malaysia is based on the Selective Management System (SMS) which involves theselection of a management regime to optimize not only the objectives of efficient and economic harvestingand sustained yield but, more importantly, to ensure that forest development is ecologically andenvironmentally sustainable. However, forest degradation in terms of carbon stocks is occurring in production
forests as a result of logging operations. Logging operations in Malaysia in the past have also been reported
to be damaging, but significant improvements have been made. The extent of current forest degradation interms of carbon stocks needs to be further studied as it is still not well understood in Malaysia. Reports haveindicated that improved forest management could reduce degradation and reduce carbon emission. However,
all these studies are confined to specific areas and with limited information for scaling up activities.
Consequently, this project is implemented to assess enhancement of climate change mitigation throughreduced emissions from forest degradation in Malaysia. Specifically, the project will determine emissions fromforest degradation in logged forests and assess the value of enhancing forest management practices toreduce emissions from forest degradation. Financial evaluations of the improved management practices will
be undertaken to provide avenues for assessing payment for ecosystem services.
Progress:
The Project Agreement regulating the implementation of the project was duly signed on 18 January 20122012. The Project Inception Report and the Detailed Work Programme have been received and approved by
the ITTO Secretariat and the first disbursement of funds was transferred to the Executing Agency on 20
December 2012 and project activities commenced from the beginning of February 2013.

In order to maximize the value of the ITTO project, FRIM has requested support from the five year USAIDfunded LEAF (Lowering Emissions in Asia’s Forests) program for institutional strengthening and capacity
building in relation to REDD+ and PES. A training needs assessment was carried out in April 2013. Based on
the assessment, a few recommendations were made to ensure that capacity building interventions are
effective and sustainable in nature. These include self-initiative of FRIM team to update knowledge throughcurrent media links and grey literature on REDD+; farming REDD+ research questions around stakeholder
needs; and site based tailor made technical trainings.
A first stakeholders consultation workshop was held on 23 April 2013 in collaboration with the Forest
Department of Pahang. It was attended by various Federal and Pahang government agencies as well as
NGOs. The workshop identified relevant agencies/institutes with the arrangement of leaders, national
consultants and counterparts for the efficient and successful implementation of each of the four project
outputs. The workshop also recognized the REDD+’s contribution to permanent forest management, forest
resources maintenance and improvement of ecosystem quality; climate change management by enhancing
carbon stocks and regulating micro climate as well as protecting water resource; and FD Pahang as a modelITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 67
state to the rest of the other states because they have experienced in conducting various pilot projects andthey have established a good database of forest resources including the extent of degraded forests.
Other relevant government and non-government agencies such as the Wildlife Department and Departmentof Environment indicated their willingness to assist and play a role in the project in terms of sharing relevant
information and data as well as synchronizing with related bodies. The involvement of Universities will be in
the participation in seminars/courses as well as helping in related-research activities. On the other hand,NGOs such as WWF–Malaysia are willing to support the implementation of REDDES at the national and subnational level in the areas of Payments for Environmental Services (PES) and awareness programs.
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
Nothing yet to reportITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 68
Capacity building for developing REDD+ activities in the context of sustainable forest management
Project number:

RED-PD 038/11 Rev.3 (F)Project country:

Myanmar

Budget:Total:

US$ 645,692

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 571,890

Government of Myanmar

US$ 73,802

Submitted by:

Government of Myanmar

Implementing agency: Forest Department/Forest Research Institute. Ministry of Environmental
Conservation and Forestry (MOECAF), Myanmar.
Duration:

36 months

Financed at:

REDDES 1st Cycle 2011

Status:Ongoing

Summary:
Forests in Myanmar have contributed to the provision of abundant benefits to local, regional and global
communities especially in reducing Green House Gas (GHG) emissions and enhancing forest carbon stocks
and environmental services. The Toungoo District in the Bago Yoma region of Myanmar is approximately
1,064,939 ha and it will be used as project site. Implementation on Reducing Emissions from Deforestationand forest Degradation and Enhancing Forest Carbon Stocks (REDD-plus) through sustainable forest
management requires understanding and participation by all stakeholders. As the concept and methodologies
of REDD-plus are new to Myanmar, capacity building and awareness raising for all levels of stakeholders areof crucial importance, and urgently needed. Accordingly, the development objective of this project is tocontribute to sustainable forest management in the Bago Yoma region to improve the provision ofenvironmental services and reduce GHG emissions from deforestation and degradation and enhancement ofcarbon stocks. The specific objective of the project is to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Forestry in
REDD-plus initiatives. The expected outputs are: (i) REDD-plus national strategies prepared, (ii) Institutionalsetting for capacity building on REDD-plus strengthened and (iii) Capacity built to conduct MRV of the carbon
stock
Progress:
The Agreement regulating the implementation of the project was duly signed on 8 November 2012. Afterconclusion of administrative arrangements, the project has begun its activity from December 2012.








The Project organized the first Project Steering Committee as well as a National Workshop on
Formulation of REDD+ National Strategy in December 2012. In order to develop the capacity of staffof MOECAF, the Project also organized a Technical Training on REDD+ from 18 to 22 February 2013at the Forest Research Institute, Yezin.
In parallel with capacity building trainings, the Project has also been working together with UN-REDD
Programme for formulation of REDD+ Roadmap and National Strategy through the engagement ofrelevant stakeholders from Government Ministries, non-governmental organizations, civil societies,
private sectors and academic institutions. Three technical working groups (TWG) have been formed
in order to focus the development of REDD+ Roadmap and National Strategy.
So far, two technical working group meetings have been organized to ensure the effective
coordination of key stakeholders. REDD+ Roadmap and National Strategy formulation process is
expected to accomplish in the second half of 2013. The outcomes of the project will play an importantrole in the REDD+ Readiness Phase, strengthening the institutional capacity and building capacity of
MOECAF and relevant stakeholders.
Preparation for the REDD+ Readiness Phase has been enhanced as follows:- Forming a core unit under the Forest Department for REDD+- Establishing coordination mechanisms among stakeholders including concerned Ministries- of NGOs, Academic Institutions, Local authorities- Awareness raising about REDD+ and capacity building through workshops and trainings

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 69-Participating international REDD+ meetings forum, training and workshops.
Myanmar becomes a Partner Country of UN-REDD Progeramme and project staff participated in
National Consultation on REDD+ Readiness Road map through a multi – stakeholder
consultation process.
National consultation workshops on REDD+ roadmap have been drawn up better understating of
REDD+ and elements for REDD+ roadmap development. The workshops have been organized asfollows:- Bago Region at Bago on 30 May 2013 attended by 63 participants and an opening address wasdelivered by Regional Minister of Mining and Forestry- Shan State at Taungyi on 5 June 2013 attended by 71 participants and on opening address wasdelivered by Chief Minister of Shan State- Ayeyarwardy Region at Boglay on 11 June 2013 attended by 65 participants and an opening
address was delivered by Regional Minister of Mining and Forestry- Sagaing Region at Kather on 18 June 2013 attended by 71 participants and an opening address
was delivered by Regional Minister of Mining and Forestry.

Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
Nothing yet to reportITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 70
Improving the quality and coverage of the estimates of carbon stocks in Thailand's forests and trees
outside forest: Phase I
Project number:

RED-SPD 039/11 rev.1 (F)Project country:

Thailand

Budget:Total:

US$ 158,279

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 113,373

Government of Thailand

US$ 44,906

Submitted by:

Government of Thailand

Implementing agency: Kasetsart University, Faculty of Forestry
Duration:

18 months

Financed at:

REDDES 1st Cycle 2011

Status:Inception phase

Summary:
The small project aims to develop and pilot-test methodology to construct new equations to estimate carbon
stocks in Thailand’s natural forests and tree resources outside forest (TROF). The existing tree carbon
equations are inaccurate, the national reporting of carbon stocks is incomplete especially in TROF areas, andthere is limited knowledge of the methods and benefits of carbon stock assessment among the potential
stakeholders. This project shall contribute to well-informed policy decision-making and balanced publicdebate on climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration by trees. The project strategy is toconstruct tree carbon estimation equations for selected major tree species groups in a pilot project area
(Ngao Demonstration Forest, Lampang province), and to promote carbon stock assessment methods andbenefits through a national workshop. The Phase I project outputs are 1) methodology for constructing newtree carbon equations, and 2) an action plan to develop and promote new national equations for the major
tree species groups in Thailand. The project main target beneficiaries are the various national agencies
reporting on carbon stocks and a number of universities interested in the information for research andeducation.
Progress:
The small project has been approved under the REDDES 1st Cycle 2011. The project is currently in the
inception phase.
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
Nothing yet to reportITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 71
Designing a Programme for Capacity Building and Meaningful Stakeholder Participation in Forest
Governance and REDD+ in Honduras and Guatemala
Project number:

RED-PPD 041/11 Rev.2 (F)Project country:

Guatemala, Honduras

Budget:Total:

US$ 170,320

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 144,650

Client Earth

US$ 25,670

Submitted by:

Government of Guatemala; Government of Honduras

Implementing agency: Client Earth
Duration:

9 months

Financed at:

REDDES 1st Cycle 2011

Status:Ongoing

Summary:
The pre-project is to specifically assist in the formulation of a comprehensive and appropriate programme ofwork that will build the capacity of stakeholders to effectively participate in forest governance and thesuccessful implementation of REDD+ in Honduras and Guatemala. It will lay the groundwork for the intended
project by assessing and reporting on existing stakeholder capacity and the need for further capacity building,as well as the desired processes and means necessary for effective multi-stakeholder processes for REDD.
The major outputs include: (1) Information on stakeholders‘ capacity constraints and needs to be gathered
and assessed, and comprehensive understanding of the processes and means necessary for effective
stakeholder participation in forest governance to be established and documented; (2) The specific context
and dynamics related to capacity building and participation in Honduras and Guatemala to be analyzed andreported on; and (3) A full project proposal for work on capacity building and participation of stakeholders in
REDD+ in Honduras and Guatemala has been produced and is fully supported by all stakeholders.
Progress:
Administrative Progress:
The Pre-project Agreement regulating the implementation of the project was duly signed on 13 June 2012.
The Project Inception Report and the Detailed Work Programme were further received and approved by the
ITTO Secretariat. The first disbursement of funds was transferred to the Executing Agency on September
18th, 2012, after project staff and consultants were put in place and the Secretariat was notified that the
project was ready to commence its activities. Moreover, the second and last disbursement of funds for the
implementation of the pre-project was made on April 22nd, 2013, after the Executing Agency submitted therequired documentation and the ITTO Secretariat evaluated and approved them. The project’s first and onlyTechnical Committee met on May 21st, 2013. At this meeting, the Committee assessed the current situationin the implementation of activities and its problems, and further provided recommendations to complete thepre-project’s activities by November 2013. It further appraised all technical documents and other products
finalized to date, and discussed with the EA the critical pending issues, such as the project proposal which is
the main output, prior to reporting the pre-project as completed before the end of this year. Last but not least,
it took note that the current executing Agency, ClientEarth, would not be able to act as the Executing Agency
in the implementation of the project proposal, if approved and financed, as it did not receive expectedcollateral funds to continue its REDD Latin America Programme.
Technical Progress:
In accordance with the most recent progress reports submitted via ITTO’s Online Monitoring System,
progress in project implementation to June 2013, it can be mentioned that both all outputs have beenachieved with the exception of the final Project Proposal and its submission to ITTO. The EA is currently
finalizing the project proposal and in negotiations with the Rainforest Alliance for it to take over as thepotential EA for the new proposal.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 72

Overall, Information on stakeholders' capacity constraints and needs has been gathered and assessed, andcomprehensive understanding of the processes and means necessary for effective stakeholder participation
in forest governance has been established and documented. Furthermore, the specific context and dynamics
related to capacity building and participatory mechanisms for forest governance in Honduras and Guatemala
have been analyzed and reported on. Moreover, the latter two outputs are covered in detail in two technicalreports submitted to ITTO. These documents will also be uploaded onto the ITTO website for further
dissemination to all our member countries and other interested parties shortly.
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
The first phases of the pre-project were orientated towards gathering information on the gaps and constraintsof stakeholders on forest governance. The workshops, meetings and communications with key stakeholders
in Honduras and Guatemala allowed for the compilation of quantitative and qualitative data on the necessary
elements to include in a work programme to build capacities and strengthen participation. The key capacity
constraints identified in both countries were a strong lack of knowledge at all levels about forest governanceissues and mechanisms such as REDD+. The identification of these constraints was one of the key projectpriorities. Stakeholders also highlighted a lack of resources and will to enforce existing forest governanceregulations and mechanisms. Gaps were identified at institutional level, notably a lack of coordination
between government institutions. Along with weak legal frameworks, these constraints have translated into alack of participatory mechanisms for full and effective participation in decision-making. The needs identified
by stakeholders include capacity building activities (including workshops and tailored learning materials), andthe dissemination of information at all levels, from local to national, in order to facilitate the understanding andparticipation of all stakeholders.
The pre-project further provided a space for national stakeholders to discuss forest governance issues
surrounding REDD+ and FLEGT. In Honduras it provided a space for government and indigenous actors to
renew dialogue, leading to advances in discussions and agreement over the national R-PP and FLEGT
negotiations. In Guatemala, the pre-project also fed into REDD+ discussions, bringing key stakeholders to thetable and guiding the work of the National Social and Environmental Safeguards Committee (CNSA).
The crucial longer-term achievement of the pre-project is the implementation of the yet-to-be-finalized fullproject proposal, which consists of the programme to build capacities and meaningful stakeholder
participation in forest governance and REDD+ in Honduras and Guatemala. Perhaps most importantly, thetarget beneficiaries of the project have been consistently involved throughout the pre-project in building thework plan and the full final proposal. From the creation of the pre-project, the governments of Honduras andGuatemala had to approve and support the project.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 73
Environmental assessment and economic valuation of ecosystem services provided by coastal
forests (mangrove forests, flood forests, rain forests and scrub forests on dunes) and theiragricultural replacement systems on the central coastal plain of Veracruz, Mexico
Project number:

RED-PD 045/11 Rev.2 (M)Project country:

MexicoBudget:Total:

Submitted by:

US$ 871,825

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 470,682

Institute of Ecology (INECOL), Mexico

US$ 401,143

Government of Mexico

Implementing agency: Institute of Ecology (INECOL)
Duration:

36 months

Financed at:

REDDES 1st Cycle 2011

Status:Ongoing

Summary:
The project aims at a quantitative assessment of the goods and services provided by the various types oftropical forests and coastal forests (mangrove forests, tropical flood forests, rain forests and scrub forests ondunes), on the coastal plains of Veracruz in the Gulf of Mexico. Services to be evaluated will include flood
containment, carbon sequestration, improved water quality, and accelerated regeneration). These services
will also be assessed from the economic point of view, and criteria will be developed jointly with local
communities for monitoring and valuing these benefits, thus encouraging sustainable use of theseecosystems. A comparison will be drawn between technical data and local community perceptions ofpotential benefits and products from these tropical forests, and the evaluation of services gained for paddocks
and agricultural fields created by cutting down these ecosystems. Material will be developed to publicize
valuation and assessment of environmental services outcomes among the population, and workshops will beorganised with government sectors to transfer information and seek their inclusion in payment forenvironmental services schemes. The project will contribute to sustainable forest management and to thevaluation of coastal forests with similar conditions throughout the Gulf of Mexico and the Mexican PacificRegion.
Progress:
Output 1 “Environmental and socio-economic diagnosis of resources derived from forests and coastal forestson the central coastal plains of Veracruz, Mexico”
Results on “perceptions on local communities”:The survey has been completed (171 surveys within 5 types of questionnaires) and the analysis ofcollected data is being carried out.
The book on “Perceptions on the uses of trees and ecosystems from coastal forest” is being drafted,along with some supportive material such as a poster and flyers.

Preliminary results on “restoration techniques”:
The study is on-going with the purpose of designing simple and economical system for forest
restoration that can be used by the local communities.

Preliminary results on “economic valuation of Payment of Environmental Services (PES) of the selectedecosystems”:


Estimates of the value of carbon sequestration VS the price of sugar cane (major crop in the region)
are now available.
This study was also used for a thesis of a Masters programme.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 74
Output 2 “Aerial technical evaluation of plant productivity, in coastal forests and their replacement agricultural
systems and organic carbon content in these ecosystems”:The traps for monitoring leaf litter have been installed in 98% of the selected sites, and monitoringand measuring activities have been carried out.
Samples of soil profile have been collected from 60% of the selected sites and laboratory analysis isbeing conducted. Preliminary results show a bigger sequestration of carbon in wetlands VS
mangroves ecosystems.
Activities for monitoring water level fluctuations have been carried out in all the selected sites for aperiod of 2 months (as of 30 June 2013). Preliminary results show that wetlands retain water 3 times
its weight (for 1 gr of soil there are 3 gr of water), meaning that wetlands have greater capacity toretain water and act as a buffer against flooding than in comparison with mangrove and agricultural
systems.

Output 3 “Evaluation of the role of the soil in the containment of floods and in hydrological flows and water
quality in mangroves and flood forests”:The surveys on the use of trees in good management practices have been completed. The datacollected is being analyzed with a progress of 98%
Work has been started on connectivity elements of five plots, and some data from the field has beencollected so far.
Activities have been also carried out for monitoring the flora and fauna under tree canopy.
Preliminary results are showing the role of trees as of post for migratory birds for distribution of
germplass.
The first workshop with local communities on Good forest management practices was carried in themunicipality of Jamapa, Veracruz,

Output 4 “Evaluation of the role of native trees in these ecosystems in various agricultural-silviculturallivestock benefits”:
The study of the economic value of environmental services is being carried out, preliminary results
taking as a base the prices for carbon in the voluntary market show that carbon sequestration of theecosystems studied under the project is relatively more profitable than livestock, but cannot compete
against sugar cane crops.

Output 5 “Economic valuation of environmental services, included in an economic value that can beincorporated into government policies and instruments”: Activities are on-going, but yet nothing to report.
During project monitoring it was possible to verify the involvement of the following communities in the project,(i) Cienegas del Fuerte, (ii) Ejido Guadalupe and (iii) Ejido La Victoria. So far the Executing Agency has
assisted the communities with 3 project proposals for PES, which at the time of reporting are being evaluatingby donors.
Output 6 “Implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the results obtained in the pilot restoration sites, andreproduction of plants for forest restoration”:
Work has started for pilot restoration projects, in particular in the community of Cansaburros andVega Alatorre.
Material started to be collected for the production of dissemination pieces.
Work has started for strengthen existing nursery production groups.

Output 7 “An agreed proposal and operational strategies for its implementation by local users, relevant
government authorities and NGOs with experience in the payment of the environmental services evaluated”:


The Executing Agency has already participated in a workshop for PES on Carbon, where contacts
have been established with governments, NGOs and other relevant stakeholder.

The EA presented one technical document prepared under the project: the Thesis mentioned under output 1,
entitled “Diagnosis and perspectives for the sustainable management of the wetlands in the lake system ofAlvarado, Veracruz, Mexico”. Due to the seasonality, field monitoring activities may be schedule forcompletion by November 2014 and this may require an extension of 4 months without additional funds. Thisissue will be reviewed again at a later stage. In terms of project sustainability, the EA foresees a proposal on
PES mechanism for carbon sequestration, and valuable information to influence the policy and decision
making of PES in Mexico for the selected ecosystems. In general, implementation of activities vs the work

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 75
plan is within the budget and planned schedule, so far. Total disbursements as of 30 June 2013 stand at
US$156,434.37 for ITTO funds, with counterpart contribution standing at US$297,305.00
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
The study on “economic valuation of Payment of Environmental Services (PES) of selected ecosystems” hasproduced estimates of the value of carbon sequestration vs the price of sugar cane (major crop in the region)
and was subject of a master thesis prepared. The Mexican Government, through the National Forestry
Agency, has expressed its expectations in order to use the outputs of the project for improvement of thenational programmes for payment of environmental services.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 76
Participatory development, conservation and rehabilitation of degraded forest areas in the
Bamboutos Mountain chain, West Cameroon
Project number:

RED-PPD 050/11 Rev.1 (F)Project country:

Cameroon

Budget:Total:

US$ 93,713

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 73,613

Government of Cameroon

US$ 20,100

Submitted by:

Government of Cameroon

Implementing agency: MINFOF
Duration:

8 months

Financed at:

REDDES 1st Cycle 2011

Status:Ongoing

Summary:
The degradation of the mountain ecosystem in the Bamboutos Range – the ‘water tower’ of the West
Cameroon region, an area with high cultural tourism potentials which acts as a climate-control system – hasreached a critical threshold during past twenty years. The cause of this degradation process has been
ascribed to a combination of three main factors, which are: climate variability, the fragility of this particular
ecosystem and population pressure. The pre-project aims to provide for the development of a strategic
framework for sustainable management of the regional forests on the basis of a consensus that takes into
account the interests of all stakeholders in generating an integrated management plan that includes a priority
action plan. Such action plan will contribute to improving the welfare of communities, mitigate the degradationof the ecosystem and implement the restoration process. The implementation of this pre- project will also
remove the constraints hindering the process of classification as Integral Reserve, currently under way in theregionProgress:
The Agreement regulating the implementation of this pre-project was duly signed on 17 April 2012. An
Inception Report and related Detailed Work Plan were submitted in April 2013 and approved by the ITTO
Secretariat. The starting of the pre-project implementation had been delayed due to the problem of banktransfer of the first installment of REDDES Thematic Programme funds to the bank designated by the
Executing Agency. It was advised to the Executing Agency to change the bank, after three unsuccessful banktransfers made by the ITTO Secretariat.
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
Nothing yet to report.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 77
Contribution to the implementation of REDD mechanisms by enhancing the participation of
stakeholders in sustainable forest management in Cameroon
Project number:

RED-PPD 051/11 Rev.1

Project country:

Cameroon

Budget:Total:

US$ 100,864

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 81,864

Government of Cameroon

US$

IUCN

US$ 10,000

Submitted by:

9,000

Government of Cameroon

Implementing agency: International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Duration:

6 months

Financed at:

REDDES 1st Cycle 2011

Status:Completed

Summary:
Since the early 90s, Cameroon has embarked on a series of initiatives aimed at placing its forest resources
under sustainable management. Despite a substantial body of legal and institutional framework, it has been
noted that deforestation and ecosystem degradation continue abated together with persistent poverty. Thissituation could be explained partly by the lack of involvement of all stakeholders, including the local
communities, in efforts to achieve the sustainable management of forest resources, which could be causedby the inadequate dissemination of relevant information in the sector, the low conspicuity of the beneficial
impacts the sustainable management of these resources can achieve and the lack of adequate stakeholders’capacity. The pre-project will develop a project proposal for strengthening the participation of all stakeholders
in the sustainable management of forest ecosystems in Cameroon. It will contribute to poverty reduction
through minimizing the effects of deforestation and forest degradation through the enhanced participation andinvolvement of communities and all other stakeholders.
Progress:
The pre-project agreement regulating the implementation of this pre-project was duly signed on 17 April 2012.
An Inception Report and related Detailed Work Plan were submitted on 16 July 2012 and approved by the
ITTO Secretariat. The pre-project implementation began with the disbursement of the first installment of the
REDDES Thematic Programme funds on 7 August 2012. In accordance with the pre-project document,
technical reports and completion report, all pre-project activities were carried out and contributed to thefollowing main outputs:

The consultant reports had been finalized for the collection of data and information on environmental,social and economic aspects required for the formulation of a project proposal which could contributeto the implementation of REDD mechanisms leading to poverty reduction through minimizing theeffects of deforestation and forest degradation and also through the enhanced participation andinvolvement of communities and all other relevant stakeholders;
The project proposal, dealing with the implementation of REDD mechanisms by enhancing theparticipation of key relevant stakeholders in sustainable forest management in Cameroon, wassubmitted to ITTO for its regular project cycle and assessed by the 46th expert panel meeting.

Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
The main pre-project achievement and impact was dealing with the awareness of key stakeholders on theimportance of implementing the REDD+ process in the southern party of Cameroon.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 78
Integrating sustainable livelihoods, environmental mortgages, and science-based reforestation for
tangible forest conservation change in the Ecuadorian Chocó
Project number:

RED-SPD 055/11 Rev.1 (F)Project country:

EcuadorBudget:Total:

US$ 207,744

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 149,922

Government of Ecuador

US$ 25,222

OthersUS$ 32,600

Submitted by:

Government of Ecuador

Implementing agency: Pinchot Institute for Conservation
Duration:

24 months

Financed at:

REDDES 1st Cycle 2011

Status:Ongoing

Summary:
In one of Ecuador’s two remaining Chocó forest expanses, a new economic incentives program will be pilot
tested, aimed at permanently reversing deforestation by facilitating livelihood improvements that are
intrinsically linked to environmental stewardship. Toward creating a viable economic alternative for the
reserve’s 50-some rural communities, the current cacao market system will be revamped. Required funding
for achieving this aim will be run through the new “environmental mortgages” microfinance model, in whichlines of credit are calculated against the conservation value of a community’s surrounding de facto
environmental assets. The rural poor typically have no access to globally perceived existence values (e.g.
carbon offsets, biodiversity) of these assets, which are often their most valuable. Tying the capital in a lending
trust to that value creates incentives for sustainability, while providing the financial resources needed to climb
out of poverty. The two year initiative will focus on developing and implementing the environmental
mortgages framework in three reserve communities. Year one will focus on necessary due diligence (sociopolitical analyses, asset monitoring/evaluation protocols, microfinance details, market development) andcommunity organization. Year two we will pilot the program.
Progress:
The Project Agreement regulating the implementation of the small project was duly signed on 22 August
2012. The Project Inception Report and the Detailed Work Programme have been received and approved by
the ITTO Secretariat and the first disbursement of funds was transferred to the Executing Agency on 24
August 24, 2012, after project staff and consultants were put in place and the Secretariat was notified that the
project was ready to commence its activities.
During the first year of project implementation, the EA realized that three specific modifications would be
required in order to achieve the pilot's primary objective during the two-year time frame, and within budgetary
constraints. These changes were presented, thoroughly discussed, and adequately justified in the PSC
meeting, and are as follows: 1) reduce pilot communities from three to two in order to address logistical realityof a highly ambitious program with too many components simultaneously under development, 2) remove thelending component from the project's financial design in favor of a direct livelihood improvement service –forest conservation exchange, to guarantee the efficacy of socioeconomic improvements and streamline thepilot's implementation phase, and 3) postpone the incorporation of reforested lands as a calibrated'environmental asset' until post-pilot phases, again due to time and funding limitations. While the PSC
committee was in favor of the proposed modifications, it was stipulated that the EA should formalize thesechanges with the ITTO Secretariat, which is ongoing.
Technical Progress:
The work completed during the second semester of the project focused on two main themes: 1) the design

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 79
and adaptation of an incentive mechanism suitable for the reality of pilot communities, relative to income
dynamics and forest holdings and 2) detailed preparation for the implementation phase, i.e. planning thespecifics of prioritized steps toward revamping the local cacao market.
The following specific advances were achieved, organized by principal components of the Detailed Work
Plan:
Participatory meetings with candidate communities: A total of ten communities were visited on multiple
occasions as potential candidates for the pilot. This process resulted in the selection of two communities
which fit well within four key criteria: the possession of an extensive area of forest, a pronounced livelihood
focus on cacao, notable 'social capital' in community dynamics, and physical location within Mache-Chindul
Reserve boundaries.
Defining the program's financial structure: While the environmental mortgage was originally envisioned as a
new microfinance model, with the mechanism's performance-based incentives grounded in loan terms andavailable credit, it was determined that for the pilot the incorporation of a lending scheme would actually
detract from the project's aim.
Iterative analysis of prioritized steps for revamping the cacao market: based on the relationship between
harvesting periods relative to project start and end dates, the current state of community agricultural
practices, and the logistics of time required to achieve specific improvements, a mandatory sequence was
identified for livelihood improvement services: a) the construction of mini drying and fermenting centers inconjunction with direct connection to international markets, b) acquisition of third-party certifications requiredby buyers, and c) capacity building in production techniques.
Comprehensive planning for the first livelihood benefit – forest conservation exchanges
Structuring the incentive mechanism: 'exchange rates' of forest area versus livelihood benefit and therelationship of fixed and dynamic program incentive components to community income requirements areunder intensive investigation via income surveys and comprehensive mapping efforts. Maximum
environmental asset enrollment levels, current cacao production levels, and future cacao production potential
are also under analyses via GIS and ground trusting, with an eye toward incorporating long-term financial
sustainability. In particular, a candidate mechanism that would simultaneously incentivize greater cacao
volume and further forest enrollment is being investigated. Potential long-term sources for program operating
costs (both EA and community) are also being scoped.
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
With respect to the design of incentive mechanisms, the EA accomplished the following:

Identified appropriate financial structure for value transfer (i.e. direct trades), following extensive
investigation of potential financial institution partners.
Identified and collected data required for the incentive mechanism structure (e.g., accuratequantification of maximum forest holdings, current cacao production, future cacao potential, andcurrent cacao + logging investment requirements and earnings).
Completed a working draft of incentive mechanism design, which consists of 1) a fixed incentive tosecure initial forest conservation commitments, 2) a dynamic incentive to ensure continued enrolmentof forest above initial level and provide incentives at the individual level based on environmental
performance. The latter will likely be scaled using some simplistic scheme based on accessibility ofenrolled areas for logging.

With respect to forest conservation, the EA has achieved the following:Both pilot communities have confirmed that they are willing to set aside fully one quarter of their landholdings as conserved, untouchable forest in exchange for the first livelihood improvement benefit.
This represents approximately 200 and 1000 hectares of primary Chocó rainforest, respectively, andwill be achieved for a program operating cost investment of approximately US$ 3500 in each.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 80
Strengthening the capacity of ITTO producer countries in Africa in generating and disseminating
scientific information on Reducing Deforestation and Forest Degradation and Enhancing
Environmental Services from Forests
Project number:

RED-PA 056/11 Rev.1 (F)Project country:

Cameroon, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria

Budget:Total:

US$ 348,120

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 253,120

International Union of Forest Research
Organizations (IUFRO)

US$ 95,000

Submitted by:

ITTO (Secretariat)

Implementing agency: ITTO
Duration:

24 months

Financed at:

REDDES 1st Cycle 2011

Status:Ongoing

Summary:
The project will support ITTO producer countries in Africa in dealing with the challenges of reducing
deforestation and enhancing the rehabilitation of degraded tropical forests. The project will generate scientificinformation on specific REDDES pilot areas in Cameroon, Ghana, Liberia and Nigeria, and disseminate theinformation to policy makers and forest practitioners at the national and regional level through science-policy
interactions in close cooperation with the African Forest Forum (AFF). Regional networking and capacity
building is further strengthened by jointly organizing a regional forest congress for forest scientists, policy
makers and other forest stakeholders. The congress will mainstream project results, foster regional
cooperation and strengthen the role of ITTO in the region and in networks such as FORNESSA and AFF.
Progress:
The letter of agreement regulating the implementation of this activity was duly signed on 26 January 2012.
The activity implementation began with the disbursement of the first installment of funds on 22 February
2012, and in accordance with the activity’s reports, progress in its implementation can be summarized asfollows:


FORNESSA information managers in four countries (Cameroon, Ghana, Liberia and Nigeria) haveshared information with forest policy makers and forest stakeholders at the ITTO/AFF Forest Policy
Day during the IUFRO/FORNESSA Regional Congress, held from 25 to 29 June 2012, Nairobi(Kenya). The theme of the ITTO/AFF Forest Policy Day was “The Policy/Science interface forsustainable forest management in Africa”. The IUFRO/FORNESSA Regional Congress, which wasco-sponsored by ITTO through the implementation of this activity, gathered African forest scientists
with the aim of reinforcing their networking capacity.
Draft reports on REDDES pilot sites selected in Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria, had been preparedand circulated to the country team of experts, for comments. The circulation of the draft report for the
REDDES pilot site selected in Liberia was delayed due to some difficulties experienced by thecountry team of experts to collect data and information in the field.

Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:

The congress, including the ITTO/AFF Forest Policy Day, provided and excellent opportunity for
African forest scientists to share experiences among themselves and with scientists from othercontinents. The ITTO/AFF Forest Policy Day was attended by 134 participants from governments,organizations and institutions based in 33 countries of all five continents.
The preparation for the holding of a regional workshop gathering experts from Cameroon, Ghana,
Liberia and Nigeria has been initiated by the Executing Agency, in order to share the findings andresults on REDDES pilot sites selected in these four countries.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 81
Developing REDD+ES in the Brazilian Atlantic Rain Forest
Project number:

RED-SPD 058/11 Rev.2 (F)Project country:

BrazilBudget:Total:

US$ 164,610

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 142,110

Instituto BioAtlantica (IBio)

US$

Fibria, Brazil

US$ 18,750

Submitted by:

3,750

Government of Brazil

Implementing agency: Instituto Bio Atlantica (IBio)
Duration:

12 months

Financed at:

REDDES 1st Cycle 2011

Status:Inception phase

Summary:
Due to its exceptional biological diversity, the Brazilian Atlantic Rain Forest is among the five top priority
conservation areas in the world. The biome hosts 80% of the Brazilian GNP and is home to more than 110
million people (or 60% of the Brazilian population), who depend on key environmental services produced byforests, such as fresh water, clean air, and climate stability. Due to deforestation activities, only 7% of theAtlantic Forest original vegetation is left. To further protect and recover the forest, additional incentives andfinancial resources, including sales of carbon credits, must be identified and channeled to landowners andlocal communities. REDD+ is a promising mechanism with the potential to assist the conservation andrecovery of forests, however requirements for the development of on-the-ground projects are very technicaland complex. This proposal aims to identify the potential of using the REDD+ mechanism to help restore andpreserve the Atlantic Forest.
Progress:
The project has been approved under the REDDES 1st Cycle 2011. The project is facing difficulties as the key
collaborating agency has unexpectedly declined to participate in the project. The Executing Agency iscurrently considering possible alternative collaborators.
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
Nothing yet to reportITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 82
Promoting local community initiatives on the rehabilitation of mangrove ecosystems withdemonstration activities in Bintan Island to reduce further deforestation and forest degradation.
Project number:
Project country:
Budget:RED-PD 064/11 Rev.2 (F)Indonesia
Total:
US$ 555,887
ITTO Contribution:
US$ 504,317
Government of Indonesia
US$ 51,570
Submitted by:
Government of Indonesia
Implementing agency: Directorate General of Watershed Development and Social Forestry,
Indonesia
Duration:
24 months
Financed at:
REDDES 1st Cycle 2011
Status:Ongoing
Summary:This project aims at the improvement of mangrove ecosystem quality in Indonesia through local community
participation, using a demonstration area on Bintan Island. The specific objective is to control, through local
communities, the further exploitation of mangrove areas in order to reduce further forest degradation. The
expected outputs of the project are: (1) A Draft Policy Legislation on Mangrove Forest Management
formulated; (2) Improved capacity of communities to rehabilitate degraded mangrove forest area. It is
expected that after project completion, Bintan’s strategy on mangrove forest management will beinstitutionalized and adopted at various levels for an action program to improve mangrove ecosystems by
local communities and thus also promote the reduction of deforestation and degradation. The successful
implementation of the project will generate awareness among local people and stakeholders to participate inmanaging mangrove forest in a sustainable way. Local governments, communities and private sector will get
incentives from the ongoing effort in implementing conservation and forest management in reducing
deforestation and forest degradation.
Progress:
The project was approved under the REDDES 1st Cycle 2011. The project commenced implementation in
March 2013 and the first project steering committee meeting is scheduled for December 2013.
The first project progress report was received on schedule in August 2013 and is available on request fromthe Secretariat. The government of Indonesia introduced new forest legislation relevant to mangroves in 2012prior to the start of project implementation, so activities and relevant budget lines were adjusted with theapproval of ITTO to take this into account. Relevant project staff and experts have been recruited and work
has recently begun on activities to establish baseline data on the extent/condition of Bintan’s mangroves,including studies on carbon emissions and sequestration potential. A study on the social and economic
condition of Bintan communities living in or near mangroves has been carried out and existing mangroverelated policies and regulations in Bintan have been reviewed. Activities to facilitate stakeholder coordinationin development of Bintan’s mangrove policies/regulations will commence once activities to establish baseline
data have been completed. The project has made good progress in its first six months of implementation andis on track to successfully achieve planned outputs and objectives within the planned 24 month duration.
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:

Draft Report received from consultants on the socio-economic condition of Bintan mangrovecommunities
Draft Report received from consultants on Bintan’s existing mangrove regulations/policies

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 83
Quantifying the carbon benefits of ITTO projects
Project number:

RED-PA 069/11 Rev.1 (F)Project country:

GlobalBudget:Total:

US$ 143,510

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 143,510

Submitted by:

ITTO (Secretariat)

Implementing agency: ITTO Secretariat in collaboration with Intercooperation
Duration:

14 months

Financed at:

REDDES 1st Cycle 2011

Status:Ongoing

Summary:
Taking into account the large ITTO operational experience forest management at the project level – which
covers a wide range of activities such as sustainable forest management, restoration of secondary forest,
conservation efforts and the management of plantations and newer experiences gained through the REDDES
Thematic Programme, the proposed review will be an important input helping bridge the remaining gap
between policies and implementation about how REDD+ can be implemented at the operational level. The
purpose of this study looking into the carbon effects of ITTO projects is to show the extent to which theoperational work of ITTO has already been contributing to the reduction of emission from deforestation andforest degradation, to come up with methods how to estimate carbon stock baselines and climate mitigation
services of operational activities, and how to screen for co-benefits of forestry activities. Systematicallyassessing the costs and benefits of forest management activities and the relation to changes in carbon stocks
in a number of selected projects will help to understand the challenges and opportunities, and will show theco-benefits of different alternatives. The study will allow developing concrete guidance how future ITTO
projects can best be developed to achieve maximum effects. The new knowledge is not only valuable forparties interested in submitting a project proposal, but for demonstrating the value of the ITTO as a key
partner for institutions and countries interested in operationalizing REDD strategies.
Progress:
The activity has been approved under the REDDES 1st Cycle 2011. The implementation of this activity was
subcontracted to HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation in April 2012.
A comprehensive review has been completed for existing methodological approaches for carbon assessment.
These include the Good Practice guidelines of the IPCC for the Forest sector (GPG-LULUCF, 2003) andcarbon standards such as the Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS), the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
and the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standards (CCBS) vis-`a-vis their use in existing and future
ITTO projects. Draft methods for Quantification of Carbon Benefits in ITTO projects have been tested forselected projects in restoration, conservation and forest management.
A draft "Technical Guidance for the Quantification of Carbon Benefits in the Design and Implementation of
ITTO projects" has been prepared and circulated for comments. It is designed to combine knowledge frompractice, policy-making and science. It intends to present a taxonomy of the major mitigation frameworks(UNFCCC, USA regulated markets and voluntary markets) and provide a step-wise approach at Forest
Management Unit level for making choices from the design of a project to monitoring. This draft Technical
Guidance will be presented under Item 4 - Technical Guidance for the Quantification of Carbon Benefits in
ITTO projects of the Agenda of the Joint Session of the Committees at their Forty-seventh session in
November 2013.
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
Nothing yet to reportITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 84
Identification of a project on gender mainstreaming in the development of actions to control
deforestation and forest degradation, to improve the well-being of communities dependent on forestsand other ecosystems in Central and West Africa
Project number:

RED-PPD 074/12 Rev.1 (F)Project country:

Cameroon

Budget:Total:

US$ 126,739

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 101,117

REFACOFUS$ 25,622

Submitted by:

Government of Cameroon

Implementing agency: Network of African Women for Community Forest Management REFACOF
Duration:

6 months

Financed at:

REDDES Spring Cycle 2012

Status:Ongoing

Summary:
In Central and West Africa, women are recognized as being among major players responsible for suchcauses as deforestation and forest degradation. The pre-project proposal places special emphasis on
REFACOF Member Countries which are also ITTO Members given their achievements through theirrespective activities. Women in these organizations’ member countries are also identified at once as agentsof some major causes of climate change and victims of the negative impacts climate change is having on
their environment. Combating and mitigating these climate change phenomena calls for a new awareness of
their causes and consequences and to build the capacities required, especially in technical, managerial andfinancial aspects, while contributing to socioeconomic development of relevant communities in Central andWest Africa. The implementation of such an initiative has a number of prerequisites including theimplementation of a baseline study, analyzing existing opportunities and establishing a programme relating
thereto. This is the purpose of this pre-project aimed at the implementation of studies to develop a project
enhancing the inclusion of gender in the development of actions against deforestation and forest degradation,and the improved well-being of forest-dependent communities who also depend on other ecosystems inCentral and West Africa.
Progress:
The Agreement regulating the implementation of this pre-project was duly signed on 23 April 2013. An
Inception Report and related first Detailed Work Plan were submitted in July 2013 and approved by the ITTO
Secretariat. The project implementation began with the disbursement of the first installment of the REDDES
Thematic Programme funds in August 2013.
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
Nothing yet to report.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 85
Demonstration on investigation and assessment of typical forest ecotourism resources in Hainan
province, China
Project number:

RED-SPD 075/12 Rev.1 (F)Project country:

China

Budget:Total:

US$ 199,000

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 145,800

Government of China:

US$ 53,200

Submitted by:

Government of China

Implementing agency: Chinese Academy of Forestry, Division of Forest Resource Information
Techniques
Duration:

18 months

Financed at:

REDDES Spring Cycle 2012

Status:Ongoing

Summary:
Forest ecotourism is an important part of the construction of the Hainan International Tourism Island. Forest
ecotourism is an important and effective way to enhance environmental services and local livelihoods in theprovince and investigation and assessment of tropical forest ecotourism resources is the most important stepfor implementing and promoting ecotourism. Six typical tropical forest ecotourism resources at the forest
landscape and/or forest community level will be selected as demonstration objects to assess the potential ofdeveloping tropical forest ecotourism. A sound methodology for investigating and assessing tropical forest
ecotourism resources in the Hainan Province will be developed through reviewing relevant knowledge andbest practices and participatory multi-stakeholders consultation process. A comprehensive assessment reporton the six typical forest ecotourism resources will be published and circulated to interested parties in China.
Progress:
The project has been approved under the TP Spring Cycle 2012 and the Agreement regulating theimplementation of this project was duly signed on 28 December 2012. The disbursement of the first
installment of funds was made on 19 April 2013. The project implementation began in May 2013.


A literature review has been carried out for better understanding of methodologies for investigating
and assessing tropical forest ecotourism resources based on stakeholders participatory approaches.
Relevant international and national literatures and cases on tropical forest ecotourism were collected
and analyzed.
Developed a draft method for investigating and assessing tropical forest ecotourism resources in
Hainan Province.
A field survey of six types of ecosystems is being carried out for the effective identification andmanagement of forest ecotourism resources in Hainan Provinces.

Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
Nothing yet to reportITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 86
Rehabilitation of degraded forests for sustainable wood fuel production and climate change
mitigation in the forest-savanna transition zone of Ghana
Project number:

RED-SPD 077/12 Rev.1 (F)Project country:

Ghana

Budget:Total:

US$ 169,360

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 121,662

Government of Ghana:

US$ 47,698

Submitted by:

Government of Ghana

Implementing agency: FORIG
Duration:

24 months

Financed at:

REDDES Spring Cycle 2012

Status:Ongoing

Summary:
The project aims at contributing to reduction in rural poverty and improved income and employment while
reducing deforestation and degradation and contributing to carbon sequestration in the forest savannatransition zone of Ghana. This will be achieved through sensitizing and building the capacity of commercial
charcoal and firewood producers in the transition zone to plant and/or manage wood fuel plantations
sustainably. Participatory approaches will be employed at all stages of the project to ensure that stakeholder
needs are adequately incorporated in the choice and design of plantation regimes. Management plans will
also be produced to guide communities for efficient utilization of wood fuel resources. The government of
Ghana will benefit through improved resource base and sectoral information for policy decisions. Other
benefits to be derived include building up of the capacity of resource managers to support forest communities
to sustainably utilize and manage wood fuel resources and to reduce pressure on the natural forest estate.
Progress:
The Project Agreement regulating the implementation of this small project was duly signed on 06 February
2012. An Inception Report and related Detailed Work Plan were submitted on 18 March 2013 and approvedby the ITTO Secretariat. The project implementation began with the disbursement of the first installment of TP
funds on 14 May 2013.
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
Nothing yet to report.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 87
Strengthening of governance and sustainable management of mangrove ecosystems in Guatemala asa climate change adaptation measure
Project number:

RED-SPD 079/12 Rev.1 (F)Project country:

GuatemalaBudget:Total:

US$ 215,223

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 146,751

INAB:

US$ 58,320

ARCAS:

US$ 10.152

Submitted by:

Government of Guatemala

Implementing agency: INAB
Duration:

24 months

Financed at:

REDDES Spring Cycle 2012

Status:Ongoing

Summary:
The lack actions aimed at mangrove forest protection and management has led to the loss and degradationof mangrove ecosystems outside of protected areas; weak mangrove forest management and governance;
food insecurity; and limited economic opportunities for the local communities. This project on mangrove forest
protection, restoration and conservation as a climate change adaptation measure will help address these
problems. It will produce increased knowledge about the dynamics and contribution of mangrove forests so
as to improve their management and rehabilitation and it will strengthen and consolidate a sustainablecommunity forest management model. At least 15 sites directly linked to the protection and management ofmangrove ecosystems in the seven prioritized departments will be actively promoting the restoration,
management and special protection of at least 700 hectares of mangrove forests, with the effective
participation of local partners. It is expected that the development and systematization of the projectexperience will help strengthen and consolidate the Mangrove Forest Regulations, which include agreed
guidelines for the prioritization of mangrove forests, and the management, restoration and conservation
mechanisms to be implemented through the effective participation of local and government stakeholders.
Through improvement of mangrove forest management and restoration, the project will create new economic
opportunities and improved food security for the local communities, while contributing to the conservation ofmangrove ecosystems.
Progress:
Administrative Progress:
The Project Agreement regulating the implementation of the project was duly signed on 10 March 2013. The
Project Inception Report and the YPO have been received and approved by the ITTO Secretariat and the first
disbursement of funds was transferred to the Executing Agency on 1 August 2013 and project activities
commenced shortly after that. The project’s Technical Committee is to meet for the first time in midNovember 2013 in Guatemala City to review and guide the project in its start-up activities.
Technical Progress:
Project field activities commenced in August 2013
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
Nothing yet to reportITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 88
Improving efficacy of forestry policies and activities in Liberia through REDD+ demonstration projects
Project number:

RED-SPD 084/12 Rev.1 (F)Project country:

Liberia

Budget:Total:

US$ 308,718

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 149,922

NORAD:

US$ 158,796

Submitted by:

Government of Liberia

Implementing agency: Forest Development Authority and Flora & Fauna International (FFI)
Duration:

12 months

Financed at:

REDDES Spring Cycle 2012

Status:Ongoing

Summary:
As Liberia emerges from conflict, avoidable threats to its forests remain, including shifting agriculture, illegal
and quasi-legal logging, and wide-scale conversion to agro-industrial crops. Underlying these issues are key
threats associated with low national capacity coupled with a lack of large scale livelihood development
interventions. Faced with these challenges, the Government of Liberia has been actively exploring options for
REDD+ development- however, a demonstration site is critically lacking. The project proposes to support theestablishment of two on-the-ground demonstration projects for testing pro-poor REDD+ approaches that are
replicable and will feed into improving the efficiency, equity and efficacy of forestry policies and activities in
Liberia. Adopting a grassroots and participatory approach, the project will support the establishment of tenurearrangements and equitable benefit sharing and ensure good governance, with a key focus on community
rights and gender equity. Project activities will support the development of sustainable livelihoods, with a propoor approach underpinning all activities.
Progress:
The Project Agreement regulating the implementation of this small project was duly signed on 27 May 2013.
An Inception Report and related Detailed Work Plan were submitted in June 2013 and approved by the ITTO
Secretariat. The project implementation began with the disbursement of the first installment of the REDDES
Thematic Programme funds in July 2013 in September 2013 with the aim to provide guidance on the way tosmoothly implement this small project under the requirements of the REDDES Thematic Programme as wellas those related to the rules and procedures applying to ITTO projects. The monitoring mission was also an
opportunity to train key project implementing team members on the utilization of the ITTO project on-line
monitoring system (OLMS).
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
Nothing yet to report.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 89
Reducing deforestation and forest degradation in the Natchambonga and Djiyega community forests
by promoting participatory forest management actions
Project number:

RED-SPD 092/12 Rev.1 (F)Project country:

Togo

Budget:Total:

US$ 290,377

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 149,904

Government of Togo:

US$ 140,473

Submitted by:

Government of Togo

Implementing agency: Water and Forest Authority
Duration:

24 months

Financed at:

REDDES Spring Cycle 2012

Status:Ongoing

Summary:
The project aims to contribute to the restoration and rehabilitation of the Natchambonga and Djiyega forests
to ensure the value-added development of environmental services and to improve the livelihoods of people inthe savannah region of Togo. It will reduce unplanned deforestation and forest degradation for the benefit oflocal communities. Project activities aim to establish 50 ha of grazing pastures, 100 ha of fuel woodplantations; to redefine transhumance corridors (for seasonal movement) through stakeholders’ consensus;
to establish 10 reservoirs; to support forest protection; to improve charcoal production technology; to improve
agricultural practices; to conduct extension work and raise awareness of regulations; to train stakeholders in
SFM/SLM techniques; to train 50 stakeholders in GHG evaluation; and to train and equip local forest
management committees.
Progress:
The Agreement regulating the implementation of this small project was duly signed on 31 January 2013. An
Inception Report and related first Detailed Work Plan were submitted on 22 February 2013 and approved by
the ITTO Secretariat. The project implementation began with the disbursement of the first installment of the
REDDES Thematic Programme funds on 10 April 2013. The first monitoring mission and associated ProjectTechnical Committee was held on 02 April 2012 with the aim to provide guidance the way to smoothly
implement this project under the requirements of the REDDES Thematic Programme as well as those related
to the rules and procedures applying to ITTO projects. The monitoring mission was also an opportunity to
train key project implementing team members on the utilization of the ITTO project on-line monitoring system(POLMS) in Lomé (Togo).
In accordance with most recent progress report, the progress in project implementation can be summarized
as follows:Sensitization campaigns had been conducted to explain the project objective to the Natchambonga
and Djiyega communities in order to ensure their involvement in the implementation of some project
activities;
Purchasing of equipment and materials for the project implementation (computers and accessories);andTraining workshops on participatory management of forest resources with the involvement of the
Natchambonga and Djiyeaga communities.

Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
Nothing yet to report.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 90
Advancing REDD+ in Ghana: preparation of REDD+ pilot schemes in off-reserve forests and agroforests
Project number:

RED-PD 093/12 Rev.3 (F)Project country:

Ghana

Budget:Total:

US$ 366,954

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 297,205

Government of Togo:

US$ 69,749

Submitted by:

Government of Ghana

Implementing agency: Ghanaian National REDD+ Secretariat
Duration:

12 months

Financed at:

REDDES Spring Cycle 2012

Status:Ongoing

Summary:
The project is preparing a major support component to Ghana’s Readiness Preparation Proposal (RPP) andaims at strengthening Ghana’s capacities to prevent and reduce deforestation and forest degradation andenhancing carbon stocks (REDD+). The specific objective of the REDDES project is to lay out the groundwork for the development or enhancement of off-reserve production systems under REDD+ schemes, in linewith its efforts to reduce GHG emissions in forests. The project is a preparatory step for an additional support
component for the implementation of Ghana’s R-PP and is mainly concerned with developing a number ofanalytical works and the definition of REDD+ pilots in off-reserve areas. It is also aimed at developing aframework to guide the implementation of REDD+ from the national to the local level. This shall allow Ghana
to take stock of existing initiatives that have the potential to be considered under REDD+, as well as toconcretely analyze promising REDD+ activities, which will be an integral part of the RPP. The information
produced through this project shall prepare the further implementation of agricultural and secondary forest
production schemes that feature climate smart practices.
Progress:
The Project Agreement regulating the implementation of this project was duly signed on 07 January 2013. An
Inception Report and related Detailed Work Plan were submitted on 23 March 2013 and approved by the
ITTO Secretariat. The project implementation began with the disbursement of the first installment of the
REDDES Thematic Programme funds on 29 March 2013. The first Project Steering Committee was held in
April 2013 with the aim to provide guidance the way to smoothly implement this project under therequirements of the REDDES Thematic Programme as well as those related to the rules and procedures
applying to ITTO projects. The monitoring mission was also an opportunity to train key project implementing
team members on the utilization of the ITTO project on-line monitoring system (POLMS) in Kumasi (Ghana).
In accordance with most recent progress report, the progress in project implementation can be summarized
as follows:

Demarcation of selected sites in Ghana’s off-reserves and agro-forests where to implement REDD+
pilote schemes with the involvement of local communities through the implementation of some project
activities;
Purchasing of equipment and materials for the project implementation (computers and accessories);
andField works and surveys had been initiated on existing initiatives that have the potential to beconsidered under REDD+, as well as to concretely analyze promising REDD+ activities, which could
contribute to prevent and reduce deforestation and forest degradation and enhancing carbon stocks(REDD+).

Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
Nothing yet to reportITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 91
CFME
Strengthening capacity of stakeholders for the development of community-based plantation forest at
3 selected areas in Indonesia
Project number:

CFM-PD 001/10 Rev.1 (F)Project country:

Indonesia

Budget:Total:

US$ 553,711

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 465,151

Government of Indonesia:

US$ 88,560

Submitted by:

Government of Indonesia

Implementing agency: Directorate of Plantation Forest Development, Directorate General of
Production Forest Development
Duration:

24 months

Financed at:

CFME Spring Cycle 2010

Status:Ongoing (Project extension until December 2013)

Summary:
The government of Indonesia has initiated new policies and legislation allowing local communities to be
actively involved in forest management especially in the state production forest. Community-based plantation
forest (HTR) is offered as a priority program in Indonesia to achieve SFM mission. HTR was launched in2007. Constraints to the development of HTR include limited managerial and technical capacity. The projectwill improve the knowledge and skills of CBPF owners in managing their forest. It will enhance the capacity ofcommunities to plan, utilize, monitor and manage their forest resources, which is critical to reduce illegal
logging and associated trade. Expected outputs of the project include: 1) Improved capacity of community
group in developing community based production forest (CBPF) management plan and in forest cultivation; 2)Increased number of facilitators and technical persons in the field of forestry at the district level, provincial
and central to guide the community in managing their plantation forest; 3) Improved market access for forest
products from CBPF and other plantation business.
Progress:
The Agreement regulating the project implementation was duly signed on 15 February 2011. The project
inception report and the first YPO were approved on 7 July 2011. The project implementation began with the
disbursement of the first installment of REDDES Thematic Programme funds on 12 July 2011. The extensionof the project implementation was granted until December 2013, without additional ITTO funds, by the ITTO
Secretariat, based on an official request including proper justification with appropriate detailed work plan andbudget.
In accordance with the most recent progress report and monthly highlight submitted through the ITTO project
on-line monitoring system, progress made in the project implementation can be summarized as follows:






Preparation of training modules, to be used as guidelines for facilitators and technical persons, on
how to guide communities regarding the management of forest plantations. The modules werevalidated and implemented in three selected project sites (West Lampung, Minahasa Utara andNorth Sulawesi Districts) for the reinforcement of capacity of intermediaries, facilitators and technicalpersons in the field of community-related forestry at the district level;
Training workshops were carried out for field facilitators and technical persons operating in the threeselected districts which are located in three different provinces;Training on land delineation and boundary marking of community-based forest plantations (CBFP)
had been conducted in the project target sites, to improve knowledge and technical/managerial skillsof communities, smallholders and their organizations to sustainably manage their plantations;
In West Lampung District, the preparation of simplified and operational management plans ofcommunity-based forest plantations (CBFP) had been finalized and approved by the Forestry District

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 92

of West Lampung. With the approved simplified and operational management plans, the Executing
Agency had been coaching the representatives of Cooperatives established for the management of
CBFPs, for the funding process with the Centre of Public Service (BLU), since one of the basic
requirements to get a loan from BLU is the approved simplified and operational management plan
for a CBFP;
Additional technical workshops, aimed at providing guidance on technical subjects for thedevelopment of community-based forest plantations, had been held in Central Lombok District andattended by 30 participants selected among communities involved in the project implementation,with the technical support of trainers from the Ministry of Forestry of Indonesia;
Three National Consultants had collected data and information in the field regarding market
strategies of forest products from community-based forest plantations, for the preparation of the draft
report which should provide recommendations on the appropriate market strategies to bedisseminated in the project target areas; andIn Central Lombok and West Lampung Districts, extensions on entrepreneurship for communitybased forest plantations and on the establishment and management of cooperatives as community
forests enterprises had been conducted for the benefit of selected local communities involved in the
project implementation, with the technical support of specialists from the Ministry of Forestry ofIndonesia. These extensions had been part of the sensitization campaigns which could contribute to
motivate local communities to establish and manage community-based forest plantations.

Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:Training modules on the establishment and management of community-based forest plantations had
been prepared, validated and implemented in all three Districts covered by the implementation of thisproject, through the holding of technical workshops;
Simplified and operational management plans of community-based forest plantations (CBFP) had
been finalized and approved by the Forestry Districts; andFinancing process has started with the approved simplified and operational management plans,
under the technical guidance/coaching of the Executing Agency, for the funding process (loan) with
the Centre of Public Service (BLU).

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 93
Increasing access to markets and capital for teak plantation smallholders in Thailand
Project number:

CFM-PPD 005/10 Rev.1 (M)Project country:

Thailand

Budget:Total:

US$ 53,904

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 31,104

Government of Thailand:

US$ 22,800

Submitted by:

Government of Thailand

Implementing agency: Forest Resource Management Office 3 (Lampang), Royal Forest
Department of Thailand
Duration:

6 months

Financed at:

CFME Spring Cycle 2010

Status:SunsetSummary:
Smallholder tree plantations are contributing significantly to income generation in rural households. Many
countries have developed conclusive policies and regulations to establish such plantations, involving in manycases various forms of government subsidy schemes. However, there are still considerable barriers ingovernment legislation to create a supportive environment for enabling smallholder’s easy access to markets.
The main objective of this pre-project is development of a full proposal to improve both the quality andquantity of the supply base for high value timber plantations, at the same time increasing income andcontributing to poverty reduction through smallholder forestry in rural areas of Thailand.
Progress:
The agreement for the implementation of the pre-project was sent to the submitting government forconsideration and signing. After repeated reminders, the submitting government had not responded andreturned the agreement duly signed. In accordance with Section VI, para 2 of the ITTO Manual on Standard
Operating Procedures for the ITTO project cycle, the submitting government has been informed that thevalidity of the pre-project has lapsed.
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
Nothing to reportITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 94
Enabling customary landowners to participate effectively in CFM and REDD schemes within four pilot
areas of PNG
Project number:

CFM-PPD 006/10 Rev.1 (F)Project country:

PNG

Budget:Total:

US$ 156,040

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 122,040

Government of PNG:

US$ 34,000

Submitted by:

Government of PNG

Implementing agency: PNG Forest Authority
Duration:

9 months

Financed at:

CFME Spring Cycle 2010

Status:Ongoing

Summary:
The Pre-Project Proposal is a direct outcome of the “PNG Forestry and Climate Change Policy Framework for
Action”, highlighting the need for engaging customary landowners at the local level and enhancing thecapacity of government institutions at the national level. Forest communities in the four pilot areas are
dependent upon forest products and services for subsistence and commercial purposes. The Pre-Project will
enable the PNG Forest Authority to formulate a Full-Project Proposal to support CFM and REDD schemes in
PNG through the establishment of a model platform for collecting and managing data and other information
related to customary land ownership and forest quality. The Pre-Project will enable participating communities,
the PNG Forest Authority and other stakeholders to systematically gather and consolidate forest and land
tenure information using a single platform to jointly address the interrelated challenges of CFM and REDD.
Progress:
The pre-project agreement regulating the implementation of the pre-project was duly signed in April 2011.
The first installment was delivered on 1 November 2012. The Executing Agency began the implementation of
pre-project activities in January 2013.
OUTPUT 1: Eight demonstration sites selected with customary landowners and local CFM / REDD partners inplace.

Assessed 5 local partners and selected 3 using a partner assessment survey. Six partners have now
been selected with a low-medium risk assessment

Visited selected local partners to (i) collect any additional assessment information needed; and (ii)discuss selected sites and landownership mapping with reference to PRA guidelines and tools.

Received landownership maps of selected sites from 2 local partners.
OUTPUT 2: Local forest resource assessment and land ownership mapping system is designed forcustomary landowners and CFEs.

Completed PRA guidelines and tools for local partners.
Baseline data received from 2 local partners.
OUTPUT 3: An interactive online platform is designed for managing forest and land tenure data andfacilitating collaboration between the PNGFA, forest communities, NGOs and investors.
Completed literature review with annotated biography of articles on 8 key topics and 127 publications.
These were uploaded to the project "drop-box".
Completed an organizational review with background information on 28 key organizations.

Updated the CFM-REDD database of information on CFM-REDD partners.
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
Nothing yet to report.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 95
Enrichment of young forest plantations with selected NTFPs for livelihood improvement and support
of forest fringe communities in Atwima Mponua District of Ghana, in order to secure and protect theresources on a sustainable forest management basis
Project number:

CFM-SPD 007/10 Rev.1 (F)Project country:

Ghana

Budget:Total:

US$ 290,079

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 149,229

Government of Ghana:

US$ 140,850

Submitted by:

Government of Ghana

Implementing agency: Rural Development and Youth Association (RUDEYA)
Duration:

24 months

Financed at:

CFME Spring Cycle 2010

Status:Completed

Summary:
The development goal of the small project was to establish sustainable Community Forest Management andEnterprises (CFME) in order to reduce rural poverty through improved livelihood options, reduced landdegradation, and soil fertility management in young reforestation area in the Atwima Mponua District ofGhana. The project used a participatory approach to initiate and establish pilot forest enterprises for short tolong-term management of young forest plantations for 150 farmers using beekeeping, grains of paradise andblack pepper. It is noticed that at the end of the project that business management groups were involved in
the process of establishing CFMEs while ensuring them to be parties with agreed legal rights to the land andforest resources to be managed by them. This contributed to improve community participation in sustainable
forest management, enhance livelihoods, promote community based forest enterprises and reduce poverty
among farmers and forest communities using modified taungya system (MTS).
Progress:
The Agreement regulating the small project implementation was duly signed on 5 January 2011. The
inception report and first Yearly Plan of Operation were approved on 25 January 2011. The project
implementation began with the disbursement of the first installment of TP funds on 3 February 2011. The
Completion Report was submitted in July 2013. In accordance with the project document, technical reports
and completion report, all project activities were carried out and contributed to the following main outputs:The project with the support from project legal consultant has captured and compiled in bothelectronic and hard copy versions data of six hundred (600) MTS farmers using the computerized
form that was provided by the Ghana Forestry Commission (GFC) through the Resource
Management Support Centre (RMSC). At the project completion, the process has been continuingwith the Resource Management Support Centre of Ghana Forestry Commission to makeadministrative arrangement and add the lease and benefit sharing agreement document for the final
signing. This major achievement, to be formalized by the joint signing of an agreement with GFC, has
contributed to ensure additional income for MTS farmers when their trees are harvested and sold,while conferring on them, tree and tenure rights;
One hundred and fifty (150) MTS farmers have been trained and gained skills on how to cultivate
non-timber forest products (NTFPs) such as Grains of Paradise and Black Pepper.
The farmers have been trained in simple business management practices and basic financial
records/book keeping, to empower them with entrepreneurial skills in order to manage their NTFP
enterprises in a profitable and sustainable manner

Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
The main project achievements and impacts can be summarized as follows:ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 96











One hundred and fifty (150) MTS farmers have returned into their forest plantations and start
operating on their NTFP enterprises in-situ in the plantations. They have been engaging in good
forest management practices including weeding in and around of their forest plantations, practicing
tree tending and management, creation of fire belts to prevent bush fires and checking against chain
saw operations in their plantations and the forest reserves;
One hundred and fifty (150) MTS farmers have integrated 3 key NTFPs (Grains of Paradise, Black
Pepper and honey) into their forest plantations.
The Ghana Forestry Commission and the Resource Management Support Centre have expressed
the interest to upscale this project to other areas under the management of MTS farmers. They haveencouraged the EA to do a step by step documentation of the project implementation processes andlessons for up-scaling and replication, as a way to secure land titles and forest resources ownershiprights to MTS farmers;
One hundred (100) bee hives, groves and smokers have been supplied to 50 beekeepers as a startup logistics for the honey enterprise. These honey producing materials were supplied to the MTS
farmers in consultation and under technical services from the Technology Consultancy Centre (TCC)of Kwame Nkrumah University of Sciences and Technology (KNUST);
A nursery centre had been established at Kramokrom to raise over 12,500 seedlings of grain ofparadise for distribution to sixty (60) MTS farmers for planting in four (4) communities of Akwaboraso,
Kramokrom/Sreso, Kwadwo Tire and Akentansu.
Four thousand (4,000) seedlings of black pepper had been distributed to forty (40) MTS farmers(40% were female) from three (3) communities namely: Nyamebekyere, Awadua and Nyinanufu.
Negotiations have been initialized, but not finalized at the project completion, on financial
mechanisms to support forest plantations with strong component dealing with non-timber forest
products (Grains of Paradise, Black Pepper and honey).

The most relevant lessons learnt and recommendations for future similar project, on Community Forest
Management and Enterprises (CFME), can be summarized as follows:










Integration of the NTFPs had motivated the MTS farmers and contributed to bring them back into theforest plantations;
Other MTS farmers outside the project target areas, as well as surrounding community members,
had shown interest to replicate the new NTFP-related farming intervention, as they had been concern
by the issue of securing land titles and forest resources ownership rights to them;
MTS farmers had been committed to desist from destructive environmental practices such as bush
fire, encroachment and cutting down of trees on their plantation after realizing they could continue tobenefit from the resources of their forest plantations, after securing land titles and forest resources
ownership rights to them;
As main recommendation, the project Executing Agency should continue to follow-up theadministrative process of securing land titles and forest resources ownership rights to MTS farmers
until the signing by the Ghana Forestry Commission of the Benefit Sharing Agreement, for the benefit
of MTS farmers involved in the implementation of this project;
The project Executing Agency should continue the consultation process with GFC/RMSC on theways and means to provide appropriate supports the MTS farmers facilitating them to have access tomedium-term alternative livelihoods, as incentives for the management of MTS forest plantations
established by them; andThe project Executing Agency should respond to the call of local community surrounding the projecttarget areas through the implementation of the second phase of the project to be submitted to ITTO.
The farmers consider the NTFPs they have integrated as economic goods which can bring them
additional income to improve their well-being and are therefore willing to take practical steps tosecure them. Also, there was a will to develop them into viable entrepreneurial models and value
chains. The current project performance show that more time is needed to come to such a level. All
current direct project beneficiaries and stakeholders share a common view for a 2nd Phase of thispilot project.

The Executing Agency (RUDEYA) in collaboration with GFC/RMSC had taken practical steps to secure land
tenure and resource rights for the 600 Taungya MTS farmers via the future signing of Benefit Sharing
Agreements. The farmers had been assured by GFC/RMSC about the will to finalize this agreement. This
could contribute to forest governance enhancement and sustainable community forest management in Ghana.

ITTC(XLVI)/9Page 97
International Conference on Forest Tenure, Governance and Small and Medium Forest Enterprises
with Focus in the Asia PacificProject number:

CFM-PA-009/10 Rev.2 (F)Project country:

Asia Pacific

Budget:Total:

US$ 200,000

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 200,000

Submitted by:

ITTO Secretariat

Implementing agency: ITTO Secretariat
Duration:

12 months

Financed at:

CFME Spring Cycle 2010

Status:Completed

Summary:
The Activity focuses on Activities 32 and 47 of the ITTO Biennial Work Programme 2010-2011; approved by
the 45th Session of the ITTC (Decision 2/XLV), requiring ITTO to organize an International Conference on
Forest Tenure, Governance and Small and Medium Forest Enterprises with focus in the Asia-Pacific; as wellas to develop a global study on gender in relation to tropical forests, to assess the status of gender equity inforest ownership and forest enterprises in the tropics. The Conference will complete a series of similar
conferences organized by ITTO and partners with previous focus in Latin America (Brazil, 2007) and Africa(Cameroon, 2009).
Progress:
The activity was presented as completed to the 47th ITTC.
The International Conference on Forest Tenure, Governance and Enterprise: Experiences and Opportunities
for Asia in a Changing Context was held on 11-15 July 2011 in Lombok, Indonesia. The Conference was
jointly organized by ITTO, the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) and the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry,
with the support of 20 other organizations, including the Global Alliance of Forest Communities. The
Conference was attended by about 300 participants from Indonesia and other countries in the Asia-Pacificregion, Europe, Africa and the Americas. Participants comprised representatives of governments, civilsociety, local communities, traditional authorities, regional and global organizations, and donors. Conference
participants identified key issues, challenges and lessons and made recommendations for governments,
donors and international organizations, communities, and civil-society organizations.
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
The outcomes of the Conference were presented to the Forty-fifth Session of Committee on Reforestation
and Forest Management.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 98
TMT
Improving resilience of the tropical timber sector to the impacts of global and regional economic andfinancial crises
Project number:

TMT-SPD 002/10 Rev.1 (M)Project country:

GlobalBudget:Total:

US$ 150,000

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 150,000

Submitted by:

ITTO Secretariat

Implementing agency: ITTO Secretariat
Duration:

12 months

Financed at:

TMT Spring Cycle 2010

Status:Completed

Summary:
The proposal is a response towards the lack of resilience of the tropical forestry sector to the impacts of therecent global financial and economic crisis. It will particularly address the concern of ITTO producer member
countries that detailed analyses of the impacts of the crisis and policy responses were required to enable
them to be better prepared for future economic and financial downturns. In addition, the study will address theconcern of ITTO consumer member countries that the analyses will improve the understanding of theunderlying factors impacting demand for tropical wood products in consumer markets. The proposal focuseson increasing the resilience of the tropical timber sector to the threats arising from global economic andfinancial shocks by increasing the capacity of ITTO producer member countries to manage, adapt, recoverfrom and anticipate such crises. The study will develop a knowledge base for informed decision-making at
international, regional and national levels on strategies for minimizing the risks to the tropical timber sector
from global economic and financial shocks.
Progress:
The project has been reported as completed to the 46th Session of the CEM-CFI.
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
Ghana’s forest industries were exposed to the crisis by the predominance of small- and medium-sizedenterprises (SMEs) and reliance on commodities, with production and exports of most wood products
declining over the crisis period. Brazil’s large and growing domestic market had buffered the tropical forestry
sector from the impacts of the global financial and economic crisis, although export oriented firms were mostaffected. Remedial measures employed by the private sector and the government initiatives focused on
macroeconomic issues but had indirect impacts on the forestry sector. Malaysia had been more exposed tothe crisis because of its high proportion of trade in GDP. Exports of primary wood products had fallen sharply
during the crisis and had negatively impacted the wood processing sector. The Malaysian Timber Council
had played an important role in assisting the industry to remain competitive and well positioned during thecrisis.
It was concluded that the forestry sectors in all three case study countries had been impacted by the global
downturn, and although their risk profiles were somewhat different, there were some common elements interms of how tropical timber industries could minimize impacts and become more competitive during severe
economic downturns. These included the need to develop market intelligence capabilities in the tropicalforestry sector through better cooperation between private sector, government and internationalorganizations; the importance of investing in the development of new products and geographical market
opportunities, including domestic and regional markets; the need to continuously make gains in productivity to
reduce costs and maintain competitiveness; the need to focus on value-added and innovative products which
would be less affected by global economic downturns and the need to strengthen industry and tradeassociations, including marketing and promotional support organizations, which would be crucial for
implementing policies to ensure export competitiveness during downturns.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 99
Strengthening of the forest information system of Guatemala to improve market and tradetransparency and decision-making in the forest sector
Project number:

TMT-PD 004/11 Rev.2 (M)Project country:

GuatemalaBudget:Total:

US$ 656,562

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 359,716

Government of Guatemala

US$ 270,278

IUCN

US$ 26,568

Submitted by:

Government of Guatemala

Implementing agency: Instituto Nacional de Bosques (INAB)
Duration:

36 months

Financed at:

TMT 1st Cycle 2011

Status:Ongoing

Summary:
Guatemala has launched the implementation of a national forest statistics information system available at
http://www.sifgua.org.gt/. In this second system enhancement phase, the project will strengthen strategic
information access and availability with a view to increasing the sustainable management of the country's
forest resources. To this end, processing tools need to be developed to link the various systems and toautomate technical procedures. The project also aims at fostering a pro-forest and environment culture bydeveloping and implementing a plan to build awareness on the system. Simultaneously, the project willcompile and analyse the strategic information required to support forest product monitoring and tracking, thus
contributing to the reduction of illegal activities in this sector.
Progress:
Project activities commenced on January 2013, and as of 30 June 2013, progress is reported as follows:
Output 1, “There is a system to analyse and process SIFGUA's forest sector statistical data”: Some progresshas been made in developing the design of application and tools for the Information System, incorporating
information such as statistical databases, and linking the current systems of the National Forest Authority(INAB) and the National Authority for Protected Areas (CONAP). In general the Information system will allow
registration, administration and monitoring of forest management plans, issue timber transport bills, andrequest of issue of CITES certificate.
Output 3, “At least five forest management processes have been automated through SIFGUA”: Currently
analysis of input and output of information is being carried out; from such analysis the following processes are
expected to be automated through the Information system:For forest management outside natural protected areas: (i) registry, management and monitoring oflicenses for forest harvesting, (ii) forestry incentives, (iii) national forest registry, (iv) bills for timbertransport, (v) others.
For forest management inside natural protected areas: (i) registry, management and monitoring of
harvesting licenses, (ii) registry of forestry specialist, (iii) bills for timber transport, (iv) issuance of
CITES certificates.
Module for forest industries: (i) submission of reports of timber inventories, processing and finish
product, (ii) bills of transport.

The regulations involved in the above mentioned process are being revised, so automation can be done
accordingly.
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
Nothing yet to reportITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 100Strengthening market information systems to enhance trade and market intelligence in the forest
sector of Guyana
Project number:

TMT-PD 006/11 Rev.3 (M)Project country:

GuyanaBudget:Total:

US$ 420,820

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 320,920

Government of Guyana

US$ 99,900

Submitted by:

Government of Guyana

Implementing agency: Guyana Forestry Commission
Duration:

18 months

Financed at:

TMT 1st Cycle 2011

Status:Ongoing

Summary:
The specific project objective is to improve the Guyana market information systems, and the capacity topromote trade and especially to develop an integrated market and trade information system that will benefit
the regulatory agency and those directly or indirectly involved in the production, processing or trade of timber.
Ultimately, through greater foreign exchange and domestic earnings, the benefits will filter to the wider
population of Guyana through increased revenue, employment opportunities and service provision.
Additionally, the main advantage of enhancing market information system will be to allow for a more diverse
market and trade environment to be developed in Guyana’s forest sector which then will allow for a more
dynamic and sustainable forest industry. A major change envisaged will be a more thorough and rational
approach to tropical timber trade issues and marketing based on greater knowledge and capacity. By
involving stakeholders – including local communities – during the development of the activities, target groups
will have a sense of ownership of the outcomes. The project will establish the technical capacity (hardware,
software and human resource) to sustain the outcomes and GFC will provide the labor and finance tocontinue the utilization of the technology/systems developed.
Progress:
The project implementation has started in June 2012 and the project is well on track in accordance with thework plan. The following activities have been carried out:













Execution of Procurement Processes for the following main project positions: International Marketing
Specialist, National Systems Specialist, and Trade Specialist
Plans for commencement of consultancy activities and overall project activity execution havecommenced.
Continuation and finalization of the procurement process for the 3 consultants
Conducting discussion with stakeholders’ group of matters relating to production, markets and trade.
Conducting a diagnostic study on factors affecting markets and measures impacting tropical timberuse, andConducting a technical study and market survey on factors related to competitiveness such as chainof custody, demand and supply, niche markets and other producers.
Development of Draft Marketing Strategy
Preparation of diagnostic report/study on critical specific data gaps related to production, markets andtrade and data collection methods
Preparation of draft diagnostic report on factors affecting markets and measures impacting tropicaltimber use
Preparation of draft technical study and market survey on factors related to competitiveness such as
chain of custody, demand and supply, niche markets and other producers.
Development of a draft country level marketing strategy for Guyana
Preparation of the framework for the integrated information system

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 101


Draft report on the review of market framework for trade development in Guyana

Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
A framework as well as a methodology for strengthening data collection efforts were developed. This builds
on the existing system which is available and improves on areas where there were evident data gaps andinefficiencies in data process and management time.
The completion of three main reports on Critical Data gaps, review of the market framework for tradedevelopment in Guyana, and the assessment of factors affecting markets and measures impacting on tropicaltimber use, were completed. The Marketing Strategy document and the Report on Competitiveness are indraft preparation. These key documents will contribute to the achievement of the objective and theimplementation of the project.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 102
Methodological Development for Life Cycle Analysis of Tropical Wood Products to Improve theirCompetitiveness in International Markets
Project number:

TMT-PA 007/11 Rev.1 (I)Project country:

GlobalBudget:Total:

US$ 60,116

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 60,116

Submitted by:

ITTO Secretariat

Implementing agency: ITTO Secretariat
Duration:

6 months

Financed at:

TMT 1st Cycle 2011

Status:Completed

Summary:
The amount of wood going into the long-term product pool (and therefore carbon sequestered in this pool) is
relevant to almost all forest-related activities eligible for the voluntary carbon market including
Afforestation/Reforestation (AR), Improved Forest Management (IFM) and Reduced Emissions from
Deforestation and Degradation (REDD). Thus, as the voluntary market develops, it is important that themethodologies and emission factors used are based on the most up-to-date understanding and scientificknowledge. Currently, under the voluntary market a single method dominates for wood products accounting
and it is therefore in ITTO’s and its member countries’ best interest to revise and up-date the methodology inorder to have accurate estimates of the carbon stocks stored in tropical wood products by species, producttype, and end-use. This activity focuses on the development of methodologies for life cycle analysis of tropicalwood product and will address apparent problems in the figures used for tropical timber products in theapproved voluntary market methodology for improved forest management, reducing emissions fromdeforestation and degradation and afforestation/reforestation. The outcome will be a methodology to produce
more accurate information on the estimation of carbon stocks in the long-term tropical wood products pool,which will improve the products’ competitiveness in international markets, especially in the context of avoluntary carbon marketing scheme.
Progress:
The project was reported as completed to the 48th. It has produced two technical reports, namely:

Wood product accounting and climate change mitigation projects involving tropical timberWork plan for accounting methodology development for wood products in climate change mitigation
projects involving tropical timber.

Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
With analyses completed, the final part of the work that remains will be writing up methodologicalrequirements for wood product accountings. Such text will ideally fit with minimal or no changes into existing
methodologies to facilitate the process of adoption by the relevant standards.

ITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 103
Preparation of the publication “atlas of tropical timber species – 1st Edition: Technologicalcharacteristics and uses of 273 tropical timber species (and 17 temperate species)
Project number:

TMT-SPD 010/12 Rev.1 (M)Project country:

FranceBudget:Total:

US$ 273,789

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 138,033

CIRAD

US$ 135,756

Submitted by:FranceImplementing agency: CIRAD
Duration:

24 months

Financed at:

TMT Spring Cycle 2012

Status:Inception phase

Summary:
The project aims to produce, publish and disseminate an Atlas of tropical timber species covering theinformation contained in the latest TROPIX software (version 7 - 2011) distributed by CIRAD; the very firstversion of this software was developed in the late 1980s by CTFT (CIRAD Forestry Department) with financial
support from ITTO. This new Atlas is meant to be a continuation of the three former timber Atlas covering
Africa, South America, and Asia respectively, the last of these three books (on timber from South America)
have been produced and published in 1988 by CTFT and ATIBT with financial support from ITTO. The threebooks are still in high demand among operators of the timber sector but they are partly out of print; in addition,
most of the information contained is partly obsolete and should be updated and supplemented. The Atlas will
be published in French and English (TROPIX is available in these two languages). The new edition will be
associated with the release of a new version of TROPIX (version 8) describing species in greater number
than the current version 7 (290 total instead of the current 245) and having new technological features
requested by operators in the timber sector.
The project is funded under a grant from the EU to the ITTO-CITES program which provides for part of thefunds pledged to be used for TMT activities with objectives relevant to both programs.
Progress:
The project has been approved under the TP Spring Cycle 2012 and is in the inception phase.
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
Nothing yet to reportITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 104
Adaptation and application at the national scale of the Trace Bois-Gabon (Gabon timber tracking) forthe collection and processing of forest and timber statistics in Gabon
Project number:

TMT-SPD 011/12 Rev.2 (M)Project country:

Gabon

Budget:Total:

US$ 411,996

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 138,996

Government of Gabon:

US$ 273,000

Submitted by:

Gabon

Implementing agency: Ministry of Water and Forests, Directorate of Information Systems
Duration:

24 months

Financed at:

TMT Spring Cycle 2012

Status:Inception phase

Summary:
Despite five phases completed to date, the ITTO support to improve statistics on forest and timber in Gabon
has not been fully brought to function. This small project aims to build upon the achievements of previous
projects, applying nationwide the computer module Trace Bois Gabon (Gabon Timber Tracking) designed forthe collection and processing of Gabon’s statistics on forests and timber, for the benefit of the Ministry of
Water and Forest Resources and that of economic operators in the timber sector. The project includes workon finalizing the software development, and a training program for users. It aims to provide a dashboard of
the forest and timber economy in Gabon and the related monitoring structure. Following this project, allstatistical data on forests, forest production, timber processing and trade in Gabon will be compiled andcomputer processed to track the products from the forest to processing plants and final marketing and saleoutlets.
Progress:
The project has been approved under the TP Spring Cycle 2012 and is in the inception phase.
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
Nothing yet to reportITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 105
Improving intra-African trade and market transparency in timber and timber products
Project number:

TMT-SPD 012/12 Rev.1 (M)Project country:

Ghana

Budget:Total:

US$ 149,996

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 111,931

Ghana Timber Millers Organization:

US$

Submitted by:

38,065Ghana

Implementing agency: Ghana Timber Millers Organization (GTMO)
Duration:

24 months

Financed at:

TMT Spring Cycle 2012

Status:Inception phase

Summary:
African timber suppliers accounted for less 10% per year of the total African imports of timber and timber
products (ITTO 2010). One major constraint identified was the lack of knowledge among traders in the region.
This proposal seeks to increase knowledge of the regional market and promote trade (and thus leading to anincreased intra-African market share) within the region through active engagement of traders and information
provision. The outputs of the study will be an online timber marketplace, capacity building of enterprises toleverage ICT to enhance their competitiveness, and a geospatial database of market access and logistic
information. The online timber marketplace will catalogue timber companies, trade leads and provide a social
media tool to facilitate liaison among African traders. At the marketplace, regular surveys will be conductedwith trader and market intelligence will be gleaned, prepared and reported on the website for the various
users.
The project is funded under a grant from the EU to the ITTO-CITES program which provides for part of thefunds pledged to be used for TMT activities with objectives relevant to both programs.
Progress:
The project has been approved under the TP Spring Cycle 2012 and is in the inception phase.
Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
Nothing yet to reportITTC(XLIX)/7
Page 106
Analysis of the Economic Impact of Governmental Procurement Policies on Tropical Timber Markets
Project number:

TMT-SPD 013/12 Rev.1 (M)Project country:

GlobalBudget:Total:

US$ 150,000

ITTO Contribution:

US$ 150,000

Submitted by:

ITTO Secretariat

Implementing agency: ITTO Secretariat
Duration:

12 months

Financed at:

TMT Spring Cycle 2012

Status:Ongoing

Summary:
Legality requirements and timber procurement policies are being introduced in many countries.
These requirements and policies are principally aimed at addressing public concerns about the legal andenvironmental credentials of products. Many purchasers are demanding that products should come fromsustainable, or at least legal, sources and that this be verifiable in order to maintain credibility with buyers in
the market place. Such requirements and policies have significant implications for tropical timber suppliers.
As developments are occurring at a rapid rate, there is an urgent need for tropical wood product exporters tomonitor these developments, assess their ability to meet these requirements which are being widely adopted,
and explore the market implications and opportunities presented by these developments.
This small project aims to analyze the economic impact of governmental procurement policies on tropicaltimber markets, update the developments on legality requirements and timber procurement policies andassess market implications and opportunities for ITTO producers and consumers.
Progress:
The small project has been approved under the TP Spring Cycle 2012 and the implementation wascommenced from December of 2012. The following activities have been carried out：

Co-Consultants, R. Michael Martin (USA) and Baharuddin Ghazali (Malaysia) hired.
The detailed work plan was prepared and approved for the efficient and effective implementation of
the project in accordance with the approved project document and the terms of reference of the coconsultants.
Structured interviews were conducted with key stakeholders in the public and private sectors. The coconsultants attended the FAO Global Timber Forum in Rome and visited EU officials in Brussels andmet with public agencies and timber sectors in Ghana and Peru.
Draft report prepared for presentation (by the co-consultants) at the 49th ITTC

Achievements, impacts and lessons learned:
The analysis will be focused on the economic impact of governmental procurement policies on tropical timbermarkets through the update of the developments of legality requirements and timber procurement policies
and the assessment on market implications and opportunities for ITTO producer and consumers. The report
to be presented to Council will include:






Update of the ITTO study “The Pros and Cons of Procurement”;
Comprehensive analysis of impacts of procurement policies on markets;
Examination on the challenges faced by producer and consumer members;
Recommendations for further action by ITTO