2 May 2008: The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) held an international expert meeting on the role of sustainable management of tropical forests in climate change adaptation and mitigation from 30 April- 2 May 2008, in Yokohama, Japan. Participants reviewed the potential of sustainable forest management to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, explored existing and possible future schemes to reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) and other mitigation options in the forest sector, and made recommendations for future action.

Participants developed draft recommendations on the roles of ITTO, national governments and member organizations of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests in addressing climate change through sustainable management of tropical forests. The experts recommended that ITTO’s role include: supporting regional meetings, national activities and the development of policy and institutional frameworks on the role of forests in climate change mitigation and adaptation; assisting member countries to develop proposals for REDD pilot projects; developing guidelines for mitigation and adaptation options in tropical forests and accounting for carbon in forest management plans; and working with other relevant parties to ensure that REDD and payment for ecosystem services benefit forest-dependent people.
Meeting website