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Working Group Meeting Report

AIDE-MEMOIRE
20th Montréal Process Working Group Meeting
Jeju Island, Korea
June 8-12, 2009

The Montréal Process Working Group on Criteria and Indicators for the Conservation and Sustainable Management of Temperate and Boreal Forests held its 20thmeeting in Jeju Island, Korea, June 8-12, 2009. The Montréal Process includes Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Russian Federation, United States of America, and Uruguay, which together represent 50% of the world's forests.

1. Participation.

The meeting included 28 participants, including representatives from all 12 Montréal Process countries. The meeting was greatly enhanced by numerous Korean participants and a special session on climate change. A list of participants is attached as Annex A (PDF, 161 KB).

2. Meeting Opening.

The opening ceremony started with a video clip of Korean’s Green Growth initiative, followed by a congratulatory speech by Minister of Korea Forest Service, Dr. Kwang Soo Chung. The Working Group was also welcomed by Mr. Durk Sang Yoo , Vice Governor of Environment of Jeju Special Self -Governing Province.

Chang-jae Lee, Director of Forest Policy, Korea Forest Service presented an introduction on Korea Forests and Forestry, which included a description of Korea’s seven green strategies as well as a historical video of Korea’s reforestation efforts.

Chair of the 19th Montréal Process Working Group, Dr. Maria Palenova, Head of Biodiversity Section, All-Russian Research Institute of Silviculture and Forestry Mechanization, opened the Montréal Process Working Group meeting. She thanked the Republic of Korea and the officials of the Korea Forest Service for hosting the current session. The Working Group welcomed the new Chair of the Montréal Process Working Group, Mr. Young-kyoon Yoon, Director General of Forest Resources Bureau of Korea Forest Service.

3. Agenda.

The Chair introduced the tentative agenda, which was adopted by the Working Group. The agenda is attached as Annex B (PDF, 11 KB).

4. Sharing Experiences in the Application of Criteria & Indicators and in the Development of 2009 Country Reports.

Countries shared their progress and achievements since the 19th Working Group meeting related to application of criteria and indicators and in the development of the 2009 Country Reports. Shared highlights included progress on the development of the 2009 country reports, incorporation of Montréal Process criteria and indicator information into national policies, and utilization of Montréal Process criteria and indicators at regional and sub-regional levels.

Some countries reported that criteria and indicators have provided an effective framework for more effective forest planning and policy development at regional and sub-regional levels. Others reported on more interest and understanding of criteria and indicators from the forestry sector, resulting from an increased interest in ecosystem services that has driven a desire for more and better information on forest resources. Indicator processes are also being developed in many countries at regional and community levels, where stakeholders are developing their own indicators that are relevant to their specific region.

Other common issues presented and discussed included challenges in the collection and availability of data for certain criteria (e.g. genetic diversity, social-economic) and new strategies for the effective communication of Montréal Process criteria and indicators to varied stakeholder groups.

The opportunity to share and learn from other countries’ experiences was recognized as a major benefit of meeting together and the Working Group members agreed to continue sharing experiences as a standing agenda item for future Working Group meetings.

5. Finalizing the 2009 Overview Report.

Peter Gaulke (USA), convener of the 2009 Overview Drafting Committee, reported on the progress of drafting the “2009 Overview Report” that will be presented at the World Forestry Congress in Argentina in October 2009. A draft of the 2009 Overview Report was distributed to all member countries for their review and input.

There were excellent contributions from all member countries, included a concurrence to move forward with the “2009 Overview Report”. A sub group of member countries revised the report text and directions for the final graphics and layout of the report, which were approved by the Working Group. The revised report text will be sent to all working group members for review and comment. The main title of the “2009 Overview Report” was agreed to be A Vital Process for Addressing Global Forest Challenges - The Montréal Process. The United States will translate the report in Spanish, and Chile offered to proof the Spanish translation before final printing.

The Working Group expressed its appreciation to the Convener, Peter Gaulke, along with the Drafting Committee members, for their hard work and outstanding contribution, and to Japan for hosting the Drafting Committee for the Overview Report (Tokyo, Japan - March -2009). They also expressed thanks to New Zealand for its support to the Convener, and to the development of the report, including the excellent design.

6. Participation in the 2009 World Forestry Congress.

Richard Guldin (USA) introduced the discussion paper for the Montréal Process side event and exhibit booth that was drafted by the USA and the Liaison Office.

The Working Group finalized operational details as follows:

  • The title of the side event is: A Vital Process for Addressing Global Forest Challenges - The Montréal Process.
  • The overall objective of the Montréal Process Side Event is to highlight how the Montréal Process contributes to member countries exploring solutions to global issues and provides a common framework for sustainable forest management within which forest-related policies and policy measures can be developed and reviewed.
  • The current date of the side event: 20 October, Tuesday, 12:45 - 14:45.
  • A room able to accommodate up to 200 participants will be reserved.
  • Hard copies of presentations will be provided in both English and Spanish language. Member countries agreed to help translate questions after the presentations are given. Power point presentations will be provided and projected in English and Spanish.
  • The United States agreed to fund the cost of the side event (USD $1,500).
  • The Liaison office and the current chair of MPWG (Korea) will issue the invitation letter to the invitees in July, 2009, which will be listed by member countries. Member countries agreed to supply invitees’ names and addresses electronically to enable the Liaison office to meet the 10th July 2009 date.

The format for the Side Event will start with a welcoming address (5 Minutes) by Japan as the host country of Montréal Process liaison office. That will be followed by an overview presentation entitled A Vital Process for Addressing Global Forest Challenges - The Montréal Process (10 Minutes), which will be presented by Korea as the current Chair of the Montréal Process. There will be a panel of three or four member country presentations highlighting the use of indicator data related to the case study issues (Climate Change, Water, Biodiversity and Biofuels) within the Overview Report (12-15 minutes each). Proposed presentations at this time are from Canada (North America), Chile (South America), China (East Asia), and New Zealand (Oceania). A forty-five minute moderated question and answer session, led by Richard Guldin (USA), will follow.

Canada will pay for the cost of the Montréal Process exhibit space (USD $3,000.) Montréal Process materials will be available / handed out at side event exhibit booth, including “A Vital Process for Addressing Global Forest Challenges - The Montréal Process” and the 4th Edition of Booklet. Japan agreed to ship the Montréal Process exhibit. The USA agreed to fund the printing and shipping of “A Vital Process for Addressing Global Forest Challenges - The Montréal Process” and the Forth edition of the Booklet. All countries will be responsible for getting other materials such as Country National Reports and/or brochures materials to Argentina. Attending representatives of member countries agreed to volunteer their time to staff the exhibit booth.

Summary of Budget Commitments for World Forestry Congress Side Event and Exhibit
Expense Cost (USD) Funding Country
Side Event Registration $1500 USA
Exhibit Space $3000 Canada
Shipping of Exhibit Display from Japan ? Japan
Printing of Overview Report ? USA
Shipping of Overview Report ? USA
Printing of 4th Edition Booklet ? USA
Shipping of 4th Edition Booklet ? USA

7. Presentations from Countries Considering Different Mechanisms to Convey to Decision Makers the Key Factors from Indicators for the Sustainable Management of Forests.

Canada, United States, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Korea presented to the Working Group their experiences in considering different mechanisms to convey to decision makers the key factors from indicators for the sustainable management of forests.

Canada highlighted their compilation of best practices to communicate progress on indicators to senior decision makers. The United States described the full range of stakeholders who are the senior leaders and decision makers and how they interact with them. Australia presented their approach in communicating key messages to stakeholders at a local level including playing a short clip of the “Going Bush” series. New Zealand discussed decision maker engagement and data visualization. Japan described their approach in using criteria and indicators to help balance conflicting management objectives and promoting an effective interface between research and management. Korea highlighted their Forest Sustainability Index as a means to broaden the use of criteria and indicators.

These presentations generated valuable discussions among Member countries about improving approaches in communicating to their decision makers and stakeholders the value and use of criteria and indicators.

8. Preparation for the 2010 International Union of Research Organizations Congress.

The Working Group received a briefing for the upcoming Congress by Dr. Jung Hwan Park, Director of External Affairs of Korea Forest Research Institute. There will be two technical sessions, supported by the Montréal Process, entitled Reporting on Sustainability of Temperate and Boreal Forests Using Criteria and Indicators. Each session would consist of 4-5 technical papers. Richard Guldin (USA), Takeshi Goto (Japan), and Se Kyung Chong (Korea) will coordinate the moderation of both sessions.

Member countries are invited to identify technical specialists within their countries to consider submitting an abstract to present at the Congress. The final papers should focus on methodologies and approaches to further shared knowledge rather than just displaying outcomes from each country’s national reporting. This is an excellent opportunity for staff who worked preparing the National Reports to share experiences and methodologies.

Interested technical specialists should submit abstracts to Congress website as well as to Mr. Guldin by December 31, 2009. Mr. Guldin will circulate abstracts received by member countries for their input by e-mail. The Working Group delegates the responsibility to Mr. Guldin to finalize organizational details for the technical sessions.

The Liaison office will share all final abstracts accepted to be presented at the IUFRO technical sessions to all member countries.

9. Terms of Reference for the Technical Advisor Committee Convenor.

The Working Group adopted the specific terms of reference for the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) Convenor (Annex C (PDF, 20 KB)).

The Working Group reiterated the role of the TAC Convenor in the success of the Montréal Process work, leading the TAC in fulfilling the work assigned by the Working Group and ensuring timely reporting and coordination by the TAC with the Liaison Office and member countries.

10. Special Session on Climate Change and Sustainable Forest Management Criteria and Indicators.

On June 10, Korea hosted a special session on climate change and sustainable forest management criteria and indicators. The session was moderated by Dr. Dong Kyun Park of the Korea Forest Research Institute and attended by members of the Montréal Process Working Group, forest experts of the Korea Forest Research Institute, and local forest officers of the Jeju Self-Governing Province and other Provinces. Professor Yeong Chang Yoon of Seoul National University and Dr. Kyeong Hak Lee of Korea Forest Research Institute presented their perspectives on the inter-relationships between climate change, Montréal Process Criteria and Indicators, and other international reporting processes. Mr. Yuichi Sato (Japan), Dr. Maria Palenova (Russia), and Dr. Richard Guldin (USA), members of the Montréal Process, introduced their work on the subject. A productive question and answer session followed.

11. Completion of the Revised Criterion 7 Indicators Process.

Technical Advisory Committee Convener, Dr. Tim Payn, reported on the completed tasks of the glossary and approaches to measurements. This completes work on the revised Criterion 7 indicators, which will be used for the third round of Montréal Process country reports.

12. Review of the 2009-2010 Implementation Schedule of the Montréal Process Strategic Action Plan.

In discussion, Member countries emphasized the collective desire to take the next step in the Montréal Process, building upon what the Montréal Process has achieved together, as individual countries, and in relation to other processes and issues. Key themes arose:

  • What is the unique niche of the Montréal Process and how can we take advantage of it?
  • How can we continue to grow the Montréal Process and broaden our engagement with other sectors and stakeholders?
  • How can we better communicate our results?

Member countries agree that the conclusion of the second round of national reporting presents an opportune time to chart a future path for the Montréal Process over the next five years. The 2009-2015 Strategic Action Plan provides valuable direction but there is a need to focus that direction into achievable and tangible actions. Member countries agreed that the activities in the remainder of 2009 and 2010 should not only focus on consolidating and communicating Montréal Process current achievements, but should also strategically begin to build toward a desired future for the Montréal Process that will be discussed at the 21st Meeting.

Member countries amended the 2009-2012 implementation schedule to include new items involving the Montréal Process website, forest degradation, and activities during the 2011 Year of the International Forest as shown in Annex D (PDF, 18 KB), and in the work of the Technical Advisory Committee as described in Item #14.

13. Liaison Office.

The Working Group acknowledged the fine work of the Liaison Office and Liaison Officer, Mr. Yuichi Sato. The Working Group requested the Liaison Office to:

  • Issue the invitation letters for the side event of the World Forest Congress from the current Chair of MPWG (Korea) to the invitees by July 30.
  • Make all necessary preparations for Montréal Process participation in the World Forestry Congress as described in #6.
  • Support the development of “A Vital Process for Addressing Global Forest Challenges - The Montréal Process”.

14. Technical Advisory Committee Activity.

The Working Group tasked the Technical Advisory Committee to:

  1. Develop recommendations for Montréal Process website functions;
  2. Develop recommendations for Montréal Process activities for the 2011 International Year of the Forests;
  3. Recommend how Montréal Process indicators can assist in identifying and monitoring forest degradation trends;
  4. Develop a paper that summarizes experiences and lessons learned during the indicator review process to be presented at the IUFRO Congress in 2010; and
  5. Develop a synthesis of member country’s work undertaken to improve communicating indicator data.
  6. The Working Group recognized the excellent job of the TAC Convenor, Dr Tim Payn and expressed thanks to New Zealand for their support of the TAC Convener.

The Working Group welcomed the proposal by the TAC Convenor to hold the next TAC meeting in February 2010 (location to be determined).

15. 21st Working Group Meeting.

The Working Group welcomed the offer by United States to host the 21st Montréal Process Working Group meeting in April 2010. At this meeting, the Working Group will:

  1. Review and amend, as needed, the 2010-2013 Implementation schedule;
  2. Share country experiences in the application of criteria and indicators and their 2009 country reports;
  3. Consider amendments to the terms of reference for the TAC and the Liaison Office as needed and re-view the draft rules of procedure for the Montréal Process as prepared by the sub-group (Canada, USA, New Zealand - Chair);
  4. Finalise participation to the technical sessions in the 2010 IUFRO World Congress that will be held from 23-28 August 2010 in Seoul;
  5. Review recommendations and develop implementation plan for the update of the Montréal Process website;
  6. Finalize activities for the Montréal Process during the 2011 International Year of the Forest;
  7. Review TAC recommendations on forest degradation and determine next steps; and
  8. Continue discussion on the future direction of the Montréal Process.

Expression of Thanks

The meeting expressed its deep appreciation to the Chair of the Working Group, Mr. Young-kyoon Yoon and his associate Mr. Chang-jae Lee, and to the people of the Korea, and the Government of the Republic of Korea, represented especially by the Korea Forest Service and the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, for their hospitality in co-hosting the 20th meeting of the Montréal Process Working Group. The meeting also expressed appreciation for the financial support made by Korea and the United States for the full participation of member countries at the 20th Working Group meeting.