Third Session for a Legally Binding Agreement on Forests in Europe (INC-Forests3)
One step closer a negotiating text of a LBA
The Third Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a Legally Binding Agreement (LBA) on Forests in Europe (INC-Forests3) convened from 28 January – 1 February 2013 in Antalya, Turkey.
A wide support
The five-day session was attended by 150 participants, including delegates from 35 governments and the European Union (EU), and observers from the government of Japan and 18 regional and international organizations, producer associations and non-governmental organizations. Serving as Secretariat for the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) were staff from three organizations: the Liaison Unit Madrid of the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (FOREST EUROPE); the UN Food and Agriculture Organization; and the European Forest Institute.
A draft negotiating text of a legally binding agreement (LBA)
INC-Forests3 worked on the draft negotiating text of a legally binding agreement (LBA) revised by INC-Forests2 in September 2012, and considered intersessional work undertaken by an expert meeting on key terms and definitions and a paper on the implications of various options for bringing the LBA “under the United Nations umbrella,” which was produced by independent consultants and at the Chair’s request.
Completed the second and most of the third reading
INC-Forests3 completed the second reading and most of the third reading primarily during plenary, although two working groups established during the session addressed compliance and bringing the LBA under the UN umbrella. Informal contact groups were also convened in evenings and during meal breaks, as needed.
Finalising of the INC-Forests3 session in Saint Petersburg
When discussing the revision of the roadmap for the negotiation process and intersessional work, delegates agreed to extend and suspend the INC-Forests3 session, reconvening from 3-5 April 2013 in Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation, in order to have more time to complete key tasks before the last INC session allowed under its mandate, to be held 10-14 June in Warsaw, Poland.
Source and picture: https://www.iisd.ca/forestry/inc/inc3/
Picture: Delegates conferred with the Chair, Secretary and members of the Secretariat before Thursday’s afternoon plenary.
Edited by Fredrik Ingemarson, SIFI
WELCOME TO THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE (INC-Forests)