The 61st session of the International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC) reaffirmed the key role of the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) in promoting sustainable forest management (SFM) and underscored “the need to demonstrate its continued relevance and long-term sustainability,” according to Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB). Since the International Tropical Timber Agreement (ITTA) is due to expire in 2029, Members considered a roadmap for negotiations and the key elements of a successor agreement.

“The Council agreed that the first meeting of the Preparatory Committee for negotiating the ITTA should be held in person in conjunction with ITTC-62, which is expected to take place in November 2026 in Yokohama, Japan,” the ENB summary report of the meeting reveals. The Council also extended the mandate of the Preparatory Working Group for nine months until ITTC-62. The Working Group will work in close collaboration with the Secretariat “to finalize identification of elements to consider for the ITTA negotiations.”

Overall, “ITCC-61 demonstrated a high level of internal trust, commitment and goodwill among participants to work together towards a new ITTA,” the ENB analysis highlights. However, amid “unprecedented interest in forest management and financing,” with the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference due to launch the USD 125 billion Tropical Forests Forever Facility, the ITTO “has struggled to capitalize on this momentum” – or on parallel discussions related to biodiversity and the SDGs.

At ITTC-61, substantive discussions on the possible elements of a new ITTA focused on its scope and membership structure. With regard to scope, Members considered expanding the agreement to cover non-timber forest products and ecosystem services, among other areas. Possible revisions to the current two-tier membership structure comprising Producers and Consumers were also discussed, with several speakers noting the structure is tied to assessed contributions and voting allocations, necessitating “careful consideration of potential changes and their impacts.”

ITTO Executive Director Sheam Satkuru updated members on progress in the implementation of ITTO’s new financing architecture. While the programmatic approach has raised USD 17 million since 2019, 30 projects remain unfunded, she reported. The Council heard concerns over ongoing financial constraints that could hinder project development and affect countries’ engagement in the Organization. “They urged Consumer countries to support forest nations’ project proposals and increase financial contributions for SFM efforts,” ENB reports.

Among other decisions, the Council endorsed nine approved projects and pre-projects under the 2025 project cycle and authorized financing for the immediate implementation of 20 projects, pre-projects, and activities.

Sessions of the associated committees on: Economics, Statistics and Markets; Reforestation and Forest Management; Forest Industry; and Finance and Administration took place in conjunction with ITTC-61. The meetings convened in Panama City, Panama, from 27-31 October 2025. [ENB Coverage of ITTC-61]