110 STATE OF THE WORLD'S FORESTS 2001 International Tropical Timber Agreement Declaration and its related efforts which are The International Tropical Timber Agreement essentially governmental. These two processes 1994 came into force on 1 January 1997. It are mutually reinforcing and have the potential remains in force for four years(up to to coalesce in the future 31 December 2000), with the possibility of two CefDHAC. also known as the brazzaville three-year extensions, effectively giving it a ten- Process, was launched in May 1996 as a forum year life span. A mid-term review of the for consultation, information exchange and the International tro mber organiz strengthening of subregional cooperation in (ITTO) and its operations was carried out in matters concerning central African forests. The early 2000, and members decided to extend the member countries are Burundi, Cameroon, Agreement for the first of these three-year Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, the Central African extensions (ie to 31 December 2003) Republic, the Congo, the Democratic Republic of The year 2000 is of special significance to Congo, Rwanda and Sao Tome TTO, since it is the focus year for its Year 2000 CEFDHAC, which was initially sponsored by Objective, under which all ITTo member the world Conservation Union (IUCN is countries committed themselves to producing to governments, NGOs, the private sect open their exports of tropical timber from sustainably research institutions and development agencies managed forests(see The Year 2000 Objective, he third CEFDHAC meeting, held in p. 117). ITTo has played a catalytic role in Bujumbura, Burundi from 5 to 7 June 2000, supporting efforts in sustainable forest focused on governance and joint management of management through its criteria and indicators, central African moist forest ecosystems. Also which broke new ground when they were discussed were the Strategic Action Plan for the published in 1992. They have stimulated Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological atives by producer countries at the national Diversity in the Congo Basin, which is being level as well as at the level of forest formulated: the need for further work to set in management units and have provided a focus place a timber certification system for the Cong for Itto-funded fieldwork. In its upcoming basin -based on the standards, criteria and work, ITTO will put emphasis on updating its indicators of ITTo and the African Timber Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Organization(ATO); and various options for Management of Natural Tropical Forests; institutionalizing CEFDHAC preparing manuals on forest management The Yaounde Declaration was adopted by the promoting increased efficiency in utilization and Summit of Central African Heads of State on the processing: encouraging further processing and Conservation and Sustainable Management of improving market access Tropical Forests, held in March 1999 in Yaounde, Cameroon. The following countries participated RECENT INITIATIVES in the summit: Cameroon, Chad, the Congo, OF REGIONAL GROUPS Equatorial Guinea and gabon. among other Central Africa: Conference on the central activities and aims the yaounde declaration calls African Moist Forest Ecosystems and for action towards harmonized national policies the yaounde declaration participation of the rural population and the Two initiatives are under way to enhance private sector in decisions on forests peration in forestry among central African transboundary protected areas; the fight against nations: the Conference on the Central African poaching and other unsustainable exploitation; Moist Forest Ecosystems(CEFDHAC),a financial systems that support sustainable forest multistakeholder, governmental and non management;and international cooperation. An governmental process; and the Yaounde pert meeting was held in September 2000 to110 STATE OF THE WORLD’S FORESTS 2001 International Tropical Timber Agreement The International Tropical Timber Agreement 1994 came into force on 1 January 1997. It remains in force for four years (up to 31 December 2000), with the possibility of two three-year extensions, effectively giving it a ten￾year life span. A mid-term review of the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) and its operations was carried out in early 2000, and members decided to extend the Agreement for the first of these three-year extensions (i.e. to 31 December 2003). The year 2000 is of special significance to ITTO, since it is the focus year for its Year 2000 Objective, under which all ITTO member countries committed themselves to producing their exports of tropical timber from sustainably managed forests (see The Year 2000 Objective, p. 117). ITTO has played a catalytic role in supporting efforts in sustainable forest management through its criteria and indicators, which broke new ground when they were published in 1992. They have stimulated initiatives by producer countries at the national level as well as at the level of forest management units and have provided a focus for ITTO-funded fieldwork. In its upcoming work, ITTO will put emphasis on updating its Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Management of Natural Tropical Forests; preparing manuals on forest management; promoting increased efficiency in utilization and processing; encouraging further processing; and improving market access. RECENT INITIATIVES OF REGIONAL GROUPS Central Africa: Conference on the Central African Moist Forest Ecosystems and the Yaoundé Declaration Two initiatives are under way to enhance cooperation in forestry among central African nations: the Conference on the Central African Moist Forest Ecosystems (CEFDHAC), a multistakeholder, governmental and non￾governmental process; and the Yaoundé Declaration and its related efforts, which are essentially governmental. These two processes are mutually reinforcing and have the potential to coalesce in the future. CEFDHAC, also known as the Brazzaville Process, was launched in May 1996 as a forum for consultation, information exchange and the strengthening of subregional cooperation in matters concerning central African forests. The member countries are Burundi, Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, the Central African Republic, the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Sao Tomé and Principe. CEFDHAC, which was initially sponsored by the World Conservation Union (IUCN), is open to governments, NGOs, the private sector, research institutions and development agencies. The third CEFDHAC meeting, held in Bujumbura, Burundi from 5 to 7 June 2000, focused on governance and joint management of central African moist forest ecosystems. Also discussed were the Strategic Action Plan for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity in the Congo Basin, which is being formulated; the need for further work to set in place a timber certification system for the Congo basin – based on the standards, criteria and indicators of ITTO and the African Timber Organization (ATO); and various options for institutionalizing CEFDHAC. The Yaoundé Declaration was adopted by the Summit of Central African Heads of State on the Conservation and Sustainable Management of Tropical Forests, held in March 1999 in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The following countries participated in the summit: Cameroon, Chad, the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. Among other activities and aims, the Yaoundé Declaration calls for action towards harmonized national policies; participation of the rural population and the private sector in decisions on forests; transboundary protected areas; the fight against poaching and other unsustainable exploitation; financial systems that support sustainable forest management; and international cooperation. An expert meeting was held in September 2000 to