Dear CBFP members,

as the German facilitation is getting ready to hand over the steering wheel of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership to our Canadian friends, the Facilitator would like to draw your attention to a number of key messages that he wants to sustain.

CBFP facilitation recognizes and welcomes the overall positive development and implementation of the Regional Plan (Plan de Convergence) by COMIFAC/CBFP. In contrast to these positive developments, CBFP Facilitation sees grounds for major concern and the need for clear positioning and concerted, remedial action on the part of CBFP in a number of fields: (i) Persistent institutional weakness within COMIFAC, (ii) the regional position in negotiations on climate change, biodiversity and SFM financing; and (iii) the coordination of REDD initiatives.

The dialogue with Chinese actors and the discussion on the role of the private sector in sustainable forest management, two of the outgoing facilitation's priority areas of action have gained momentum and should stay in the focus of CBFP members. There are strong reasons for CBFP to convince timber producers and consumers that certified tropical timber constitutes an instrument for contributing to more sustainable management and to the preservation of forest resources.

Germany has been pleased by Canada's announcement to take over the facilitation role for the coming period, both governments agreed to work closely together in establishing the new road map, taking account of consultations with COMIFAC and other partners and the results of the ongoing evaluation of CBFP.The Facilitator would like to encourage all of you to respond quickly to the questionnaire!

COMIFAC, Germany and Canada are currently considering the time and venue as well as the main focus of the deliberations, for the next CCR, which will serve to mark officially the start of the Canadian Facilitation. Main focus could be forest development in dry and savanna regions – an issue which would respond to the hitherto relatively neglected needs of countries without dense humid forests. Proposals are always welcome!

Download the complete Facilitator's Address (PDF Document)