A roundtable discussion entitled “Towards a new international regime on forests” has been held on 5 July 2006, in Geneva, Switzerland.

Organized by the Geneva Environment Network (GEN), the meeting was attended by representatives from, inter alia, the International Tropical Timber Agreement (ITTA), FAO, the UN Forum on Forests, the UN Economic Commission for Europe and Intercooperation. Participants heard presentations on the different activities and mandates of the organizations: ITTO described its legally binding agreement; UNFF gave an update of the results of their 6th Session and reaching a “soft forest convention;” and FAO showed its support for the international forest regime. Participants discussed illegal logging, the feasibility of a non-legally binding “soft” convention to ensure compliance, taxing illegal forest activities and capacity building. IISD sources.