January 2014: The UN Forum on Forests (UNFF) has released the organization of work and compilation of Member States’ views and proposals on the International Arrangement on Forests (IAF) in advance of the first meeting of the open-ended intergovernmental ad hoc expert group (AHEG), scheduled for 24-28 February 2014. The meeting serves as part of the intersessional preparatory process towards the review of the IAF, the outputs of which will be considered at the eleventh session of the UNFF (UNFF 11).

The compilation of views and proposals from Member States includes a request for views on three options for the future of the IAF: the continuation of the IAF in its current form; strengthening of the IAF; and the development of a legally binding instrument on all types of forests. The submissions also contain inputs on the UNFF, the Global Objectives on Forests (GOFs), the functioning of the Secretariat, and financing options and strategies.

Overall, the 45 submissions are split between calling for strengthening the IAF and for developing a legally binding instrument. Some Member States provide alternative options such as strengthening existing instruments like Forest Europe and the International Tropical Timber Agreement (ITTA). In their submissions, most Member States agree that progress on the achievements of the GOFs is inadequate.

The expert group meeting will consider the submissions from Member States in addition to an independent evaluation in order to review the performance and effectiveness of the IAF. [Compilation of Views and Proposals by Member States on the IAF] [Meeting Website]