The Chair’s Summary Report of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF) Ad Hoc Expert Group on Finance, which convened in Vienna, Austria, from 10-14 November 2008, is available online.

The meeting aimed to develop proposals for the development of a voluntary global financial mechanism/portfolio approach/forest financing framework to support the implementation of sustainable forest management, the achievement of the global objectives on forests and the implementation of the non-legally binding instrument on all types of forests. The Report states that there was considerable discussion about potential funding through mechanisms to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD). A number of experts expressed support for a facilitative mechanism that would help mobilize existing and emerging funds and facilitate access to other sources of finance to help achieve national and sub-national priorities, while many experts reiterated their support for a distinct fund dedicated or earmarked for SFM and the global objectives. Member States will provide written contributions for further elaboration of the proposals, which the UNFF Secretariat will synthesize in preparation for UNFF 8, to be held in late April 2009.
Links to further information
Chair’s Summary Report
Meeting website