Financial mechanisms for forests were the focus of a recent meeting of experts in San Jose, Costa Rica.

An International Expert Meeting on “Innovative Financial Mechanisms: Searching for Viable Alternatives to Secure Basis for the Financial Sustainability of Forests” gathered approximately 100 experts from 29 March to 1 April 2005 to contribute to the international forest dialogue. This country-led initiative in support of the fifth session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF-5) focused in particular on long-term processes or mechanisms to secure financial sustainability for sustainable forest management and their contribution to achieving the Millennium Development Goals and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.
The Expert Group highlighted, inter alia, that the future international arrangement on forests, “regardless of its nature should include a financial component for cooperation and transfer of environmentally sound technologies that could help developing countries to solve their needs on training and funds for the implementation of the national programs.” A report of the meeting will be presented to UNFF-5 at its 16-27 May 2005 meeting in New York. The report.