Distr.
GENERAL

INTERNATIONAL TROPICALTIMBER COUNCIL

ITTC(XLV)/12 Rev. 1
4 November 2009
Original: ENGLISHFORTY FIFTH SESSION
9-14 November 2009
Yokohama, JapanPROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE ITTO THEMATIC PROGRAMMES(Item 17(b) of the Provisional Agenda)

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Page 1

1.

Introduction
This document is prepared pursuant to Decisions 8 (XLIV) on the Thematic Programmes (TP)subaccount under the Special Account, 9 (XLIV) on the Operational Procedures and Guidelines ofthe 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 implementationof the ITTO Thematic Programmes for Council’s review.
In keeping with the above Decisions, this document reports on the progress related to theimplementation of the ITTO Thematic Programmes since the end of the Forty-fourth Session of theITTC.

2.

Thematic Programme Development
Pursuant to Decision 10(XLIV) 2a and based on the approved TPP, draft Thematic ProgrammeDocuments (TPDs) consistent with the procedures and guidelines set forth in Decision 9(XLIV)
Annex 2 have been developed for the Thematic Programme on Forest Law Enforcement,
Governance and Trade (TFLET) and on Reducing Deforestation and Forest Degradation andEnhancing Environmental Services in Tropical Forests (REDDES).
The Executive Director invited Member Countries to nominate Members for the Thematic Programme
Advisory Committee (TPAC), to assist him with the implementation of the thematic programme, viz.,to (i) select activities/pre-projects/projects for financing under the Thematic Programme; (ii) monitorand evaluate progress in implementing the Thematic Programme; and (iii) identify potential additionalsources of voluntary financial contributions to the Thematic Programme. Members for each TPAC
include three producer member representatives with recognized expertise on the thematic
programme; at least one non-donor consumer member representative with recognized expertise on
the thematic progamme; and expert representatives of interested donors and collaborating
institutions and the Executive Director or his designated representative. Members for each TPAC
were selected.
First meetings of the TFLET and REDDES TPAC were held in Yokohama, Japan on 30-31 March2009 and 2-3 April 2009, respectively. Draft Thematic Programme Documents (TPD) were reviewed
in detail, revised and adopted. Both Committees noted the need for mid-term evaluation, assessmentof TP impacts, regular monitoring and evaluation of each project and for ensuring the regular flow offunds for the TP implementation. The adopted TPDs, together with guidance for submission ofproposals were circulated to all ITTO Member Countries in April 2009. TP sections were created foreach TP on the ITTO homepage including a section for members only and a general section in thepublic domain and launched in April 2009.
Pursuant to Decision 8(XLIV) a Thematic Programmes Sub-account has been established in theSpecial Account of the ITTO for the development, management, implementation and evaluation ofthe Thematic Programmes.
A ‘Monitoring Protocol’ document to guide programme monitoring and evaluation is being developed
for TFLET and REDDES with the assistance of a Dutch consultant with the purpose to establish aclear planning, monitoring and evaluation framework for the TPs, which will serve as a mainreference for measuring performance and success.

3.

The TP Spring 2009 Cycle (REDDES, TFLET)The Spring 2009 Cycle (Deadline 30 June 2009) for REDDES and TFLET attracted sixteen
proposals from 9 member countries. Twelve proposals seeking a total of USD 4,709,938 werereceived under REDDES. Four proposals seeking a total of USD 588,348 were received underTFLET. Following the established TP review procedure, a pre-appraisal of the proposals wasconducted by the ITTO Secretariat followed by a review through the respective Thematic Programme
Advisory Committee (TPAC).

/...

ITTC(XLV)/12 Rev.1Page 2i)

REDDESUnder REDDES one proposal was ranked Category 1, eight proposals were ranked Category 2
and three proposals were ranked Category 3. Based on the appraisals the Executive Director
allocated funds to the following proposal ranked Category 1: RED-A 004/09 Rev.1 (F), Activity“Building a voluntary carbon marketing scheme to promote sustainable forest management”
submitted by ITTO, US$ 97,180.

ii)

TFLET
Under TFLET one proposal was ranked Category 1 and three proposals were ranked Category
2. Based on the appraisals the Executive Director allocated funds to the following proposal
ranked Category 1: TFL-PPD 005/09 Rev.1 (F), Pre-project “Strengthening the capacity of local
communities of Chaiyaphum Province to manage community forests”, submitted by Thailand,
US$ 56,970.

Reviewer comments and recommendations for unsuccessful proposals were compiled and forwarded
to the proponents, with copies to the respective ITTO Official Contact Point. All proposals ranked
Category 2 were encouraged to revise based on the reviewer comments and re-submit under theAutumn 2009 Cycle.
The review of proposals revealed several issues to be addressed by the TPAC including timing ofcalls for proposal/translation/review, synthesis of reviewer comments or number of proposals to bereviewed by each TPAC member

4.

The TP Autumn 2009 Cycle (REDDES, TFLET)The Autumn 2009 Cycle (Deadline 30 September 2009) for REDDES and TFLET attracted thirty-fiveproposals from 18 member countries. Twenty-two proposals seeking a total of USD 9,735,760 werereceived under REDDES. Thirteen proposals seeking a total of USD 6,045,988 were received underTFLET. The proposals are being reviewed.

5.

Status of activities implemented under the TFLET precursor
In 2007 the ITTO began implementing activities under a precursor of the TFLET ThematicProgramme. The objectives of the precursor programme, as well as activities under implementation,
are integrated into the TFLET Thematic Programme, which also takes into account the administrative
arrangements put in place for the existing activities. Nine activities, pre-projects and projects receive
funding under the TFLET precursori)Activity PP-A/43-202 (ITTC(XLV)/8 15c) - ‘Global assessment of the status of 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 criticallyaffected by such activities’
Budget: US$ 200,000
The international Conference on Forest Tenure, Governance and Enterprise: New Opportunities
for Central and West Africa was held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, 25 - 29 May 2009, underpatronage of the Government of Cameroon. The conference agreed on a time‐bound set ofactivities, termed “Objective 2015”. A proposal to “Enhance the capacity of civil society
organizations in West Africa to collaborate with Governments in forest law compliance with theuse of remote sensing” is under development.

ii)

Activity PP-A/43-193 (ITTC(XLV)/8 12) - ‘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’,Budget: US$ 300,000ITTC(XLV)/12 Rev.1Page 3
Three partnership proposals are under implementation:
Tropical Forest Foundation (TFF)/PT Suka Jaya Makmur (Indonesia)
The Forest Trust (TFT)/Manejo Florestal Prestacao de Servicos Ltda (MAFLOPS) [Brazil]

The Foundation for People and Community Development (FPCD)/Innovation (PNG) Ltd.
(IPNGL)iii)

Project PD 124/01 Rev.2 (M) Phase II Stage 2 - ‘Promotion of Sustainable Management ofAfrican Forests (ITTO/ATO)’, Budget: US$ 544,070
The project is designed to assist ten ITTO African member countries (all of which are also
members of the African Timber Organization - ATO) to implement the harmonized ITTO/ATO
Principles, Criteria and Indicators (PCI) for the Sustainable Management of African TropicalForests. It involves extensive capacity building in ten member countries and within ATO itself.
Due to the different national situations, ATO member countries have been divided into fourgroups for the purpose of planning and implementing project activities. Phase II activities haveoccurred in all four country groupings. National C&I working groups have been established in all 10countries. Workshops were held and reports on forest management were prepared for Nigeria and
DRC for the first time in 2009.

iv)

Activity PP-A/43-194 (ITTC(XLV)/8 13a) – ‘Support development of innovative timber tracking
systems and dissemination of information on timber produced under timber tracking systems.
The activity is divided into two sub-sections.
a)Support relevant NGOs to establish/operate a web-based information system designed
and operated to make available data and information that can assist consumers to identify
and purchase legally and sustainably produced timberBudget: US$ 300,000
The Tropical Forest Trust (TFT), an international non-governmental organization has been
engaged to design, develop and implement a web-based system to support thedevelopment of a sustainable timber trade. The implementation of the system is underwayb)

Support development of timber tracking systems and dissemination of information on
timber produced under timber tracking systems (will also involve establishment of awebsite in conjunction with above on marketing tool), Budget: US$ 300,000
Three proposals are under implementation in Peru (Green Gold Forestry Limited, GGF),
Indonesia (P.T. Seng Fong Moulding Perkasa, PTSFMP) and Central African Republic(Industries Forestiere de Batalime, IFB)v)

Pre-project PPD 138/07 Rev.1 (M) - ‘Verifying the Legality of Timber Forest Products in Peru’,Budget: US$ 79,844
Pre-project activities commenced in July 2009 and are expected to be completed in May 2010vi)

Project PD 449/07 Rev.2 (M,I) – ‘Enhancing Forest Law Enforcement in Papua New Guinea’,
Budget: US$ 473,040
A yearly plan of operation has been received by the ITTO Secretariat. The project has been
subject to delays due to changes in the personnel of the implementing agency.

vii) Project PD 493/07 Rev.1 (F) (US$ 561,195) - ‘Strengthening Capacity of Forest Law
Enforcement and Governance in Cambodia’, Budget: US$ 561,195
The project is under implementation. First outcomes include a report on “Evaluation of Existing
Human Resources of Local Forest Administrators for the Training Needs”. Also a four module
training program including practical fieldwork on fundamental laws and other regulations forforest law enforcement was prepared and adopted. The Cambodia Forest Crime Monitoring
Case Tracking System developed as a database software under project UNTS/CMB/001/DFI inyear 2000 was reviewed and improved. The System is also being converted to Khmer language.

/...ITTC(XLV)/12 Rev.1Page 4viii) Project PD 487/07 Rev.1 (M), - ‘Independent Validation of Legal Timber in Ghana’,
Budget: US$ 473,040
The project has been withdrawn by the Government of Ghanaix)

Activity PP-A/43-200 (ITTC(XLV)/8 15a) - ‘Provide technical assistance for selected poor
local/indigenous communities to formulate project proposals’, Budget: US$ 100,000
Proposals for communities in Guatemala, Cote d’Ivoire and Peru have been submitted under theTP Autumn 2009 Cycle.

6.

Programme Funding
TFLET:
Pledges
Allocations
Remaining to be allocated

US$
US$
US$
US$

4,897,004
331,189 (as of Dec. 2008)
56,970 (Spring 2009 Cycle)
1,508,845

A funding pledge has been received from the Government of the United Kingdom through DFID tocontribute GBP 600.000 (approx. USD 1 million)
REDDES:
Pledges
Allocations
Remaining to be allocated

US$
US$
US$

3,863,957
97,180 (Spring 2009 Cycle)
3,766,777

No funding has been received for the remaining three Thematic Programmes. Expressions of Interest
have been received, but not substantiated for the Thematic Programmes on ‘Community Forest
Management and Enterprises’ and on ‘Trade and Market Transparency’.
Recalling Decision 9(XLIV) to urge members to contribute to the Thematic Programmes Sub-Accountto initiate implementation of the thematic programmes, the Council may wish to re-emphasize theurgent need for additional financial pledges to initiate and implement ALL thematic programmes.

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