Print
image

International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO)

ITTOsm
For. Raul Briz explains a timber-tracking form which has improved the country's forest-data-collection system, thanks to an ITTO project. [FMB]

The International Tropical Timber Agreement (ITTA) provides an effective framework for cooperation and consultation between countries producing and consuming tropical timber, and promote and support research and devel- opment to improve forest management and wood utilization. With the support of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the ITTA was adopted on 18 November 1983. It entered into force on 1 April 1985 and was renegotiated in 1993 to 1994, and 2003 to 2006. The 2006 ITTA was adopted in Geneva on 27 January 2006 and entered into force on 7 December 2011. It builds on the foundations of the previous agreement and focuses on the world tropical timber economy and the sustainable man- agement of the resource base while encouraging timber trade and improved forest management.

The ITTA provided for the establishment of the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) in 1993. Based in Yokohama Japan, the ITTO's work covers policy discussion and development on issues relating to international trade in, and utilization of, tropical timber and the sustainable management of its resource base and assistance for projects related to these.

The ITTO has 72 members classified into two groups: producer countries (34 members) which includes the Philippines, and consumer countries (38 members) including the European Union. The ITTO's governing body is the International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC), which includes all members. The Council meets annually. It has four committees that provide advice and assistance to the Council on issues for consideration and decision on: (1) Economics, Statistics and Markets (CEM); (2) Reforestation and Forest Management (CRF); (3) Forest Industry (CFI); and (4) Finance and Administration (CFA).

The DENR Forest Management Bureau (FMB) is the focal agency in the Philippines authorized to submit proposals to ITTO for funding.
 
Focal Office:
Forest Management Bureau (FMB)
Date:
Established 1983
Focal Persons:
Technical Focal
FOR. NONITO M. TAMAYO
Director, DENR-FMB Tel. No. (632) 927 4788

Alternate
FOR. EDNA D. NUESTRO
OIC-Assistant Director, DENR-FMB
Tel. No. (632) 927 4784, Fax: (632) 928 2778
Commitments:
The general obligations of ITTO members are the following:

- Use their best endeavors and cooperate to promote the attainment of its objectives.
- Undertake to accept and carry out the decisions of the Council under the provisions of the Agreement and refrain from implementing measures that would have the effect of limiting or running counter to them.
- Of the nineteen objectives of the Agreement, a few that are particularly relevant to producer countries such as the Philippines are:

1) Promote and support research and development to improve forest management and efficiency of wood utilization and the competitiveness of wood products relative to other materials, as well as increase the capacity to conserve and enhance other forest values in timber producing tropical forests;
2) Promote increased and further processing of tropical timber from sustainable sources in producer member countries, with a view to promoting their industrialization and increase their employment opportunities and export earnings; and
3) Encourage members to support and develop tropical timber reforestation, as well as rehabilitation and restoration of degraded forest land, with due regard for the interests of local communities dependent on forest resources.
Sources / Relevant Links:
https://www.itto.int
Status:

Updates

The project "Development and Testing of a National Forest Stock Monitoring System with Improved Governance Capabilities at All Levels of the Forest Administration" (ITTO Project PD 599) which began in 2011, aims to develop and pilot a "Forest Stock Monitoring System" to support: (i) 100% "Back to Stump" traceability for wood production; (ii) Verifications of Legal Origin (VLO) features through automated royalty calculations based on the Certificate of Lum- ber Origin (CLO) or Certificate of Timber Origin (CTO) documentation; and (iii) Improved system environment including field data entry capabilities and on- line, configurable, multi-tiered access. It is implemented in the Caraga region or Region 13 (except Dinagat Islands).
This Page was updated on 23 December 2019 and will be updated on 10 December 2020
» Back