BUILDING AND WOOD WORKERS INTERNATIONAL (BWI)
GENEVA / Switzerland, 22 March 2006: The sixth session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF-6) reached an agreement on the future direction of international forest policy. Delegates agreed on four global objectives on forests focusing on the urgent priorities for the practical implementation of sustainable forest management (SFM).
These objectives aim to reverse the loss of forest cover at global level through SFM, enhance forest-based social and environmental benefits, increase forest products derived from sustainably managed forests and increase development assistance for sustainable forest management.
BWI's participation in this event has contributed to awareness raising of social aspects and the propagation of good practices where issues of decent working and living conditions of forest workers are concerned. These good examples are lacking in global experiences.
In a joint statement with other major groups, BWI called for the development of SFM indicators that incorporate major groups and varied interests. BWI also supported a recommendation to be tabled to the UN Economic and Social Council(ECOSOC)calling on the UN General Assembly to proclaim 2010 as the International Year of Forests. One of the tangible outcomes of UNFF was that the final resolution now incorporates "forest workers" as a specific sector to be involved in the promotion of SFM.
Around 600 delegates participated in this event. BWI was represented by Balan Nair, BWI Asia/Pacific regional representative, Inviolata Chinyangarara, Education Coordinator for the Africa region and William Street outgoing Director of BWI Wood and Forestry programme.
The Forum's mandate was renewed for another nine years until 2015. UNFF 7 will be held from 16-27 April 2007 in New York. It was agreed that it would conclude a non-legally binding instrument on all types of forests at its next session.
For more information on previous involvement in UNFF 5, click here.
For a successful example of sustainable development, click here.
