Peter de Mars, Canada, was elected as new vice chair. Bob Simpson, USA, who wanted to step down as chair, had accepted and was elected as member of the new board. Antti Sahi Finland was re-elected as Board member and Sabine Bresemann, Germany, was elected as new member into the Board.
The Nomination Committee of Ulf Österblom, Sweden, Tony Rotherham, Canada, and Stefan Schenker, Austria, was re-elected
In the chair’s report to the Annual meeting Bob Simpson highlighted the positive cooperation with the Global Alliance of Community Forestry, leading to the draft Memorandum of understanding that was discussed at the annual meeting (see separate report). He also pointed at the positive reactions to IFFA when the organisation participated in the United Nations Forum on Forest and several representatives from international organisations actively welcomed the stronger voice from family forestry.
In the past year IFFA has been formally incorporated and the process of trade marking the logo is on-going. The web site is operational and the members are kindly asked to contribute.
The annual meeting gave input to the Work program 2007-2009 highlighting many important international conferences in the period and the need to continue the dialogue with the Wold Bank, completing accreditation to important organisations, carrying out joint projects with the Global Alliance of Community Forestry, making the contributions from sustainable forestry more visible and recruiting new members.
The member’s economic contribution for 2008 was determined to $ 350 US for ordinary members and $ 175 US for extraordinary members. Part of the increase was due to the changing currency rates.
The Annual meeting decided to participate actively in the preparations and the arrangement of the World Forestry Congress in Argentina in 2009.
The Board will survey among the members the preferred venue for the IFFA Annual meeting in 2008. Two alternatives are the to arrange the meeting connected to the PEFC General assembly in Australia or the CEPF autumn General Assembly.
IFFA approved MOU
The Annual meeting of the International Family Forestry Alliance, IFFA, approved a new draft of a Memorandum of understanding, MOU, with the Global Alliance of Community Forestry, GACF.
The draft of the MOU was very well received at the IFFA Annual meeting 3 October 2007 in Munich. The Annual meeting discussed the MOU and added to the previous draft the intention to actively influence the work plans of United Nations Forum on Forest, the Convention of Bio diversity etc. The Bio Diversity Convention was added to the explicit list of important areas for cooperation between IFFA and GACF.
The revised draft will now be discussed with GACF in order to reach a document to be signed by the two organisations.
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN GACF and IFFA
During the UNFF-5 in 2005, the International Family Forestry Alliance (IFFA) and the Global Alliance of Community Forestry (GACF) met for the first time. At this meeting, we identified common values, goals and strategies. Subsequent contact and dialogue led to the organization of a joint side-event at UNFF-7. We now wish to make a formal declaration of our intention to expand our cooperation in the future.
GACF and IFFA mutually recognize the importance of our alliance and agree on the following:
Common values, goals and strategies
GACF and IFFA share the following principles and practical priorities:
A commitment to long term sustainable forest management, with special emphasis on small-scale management for a wide range of goods and services.
Forest policies at all levels that support and encourage the economic viability of forest-dependent family and community enterprises, the social health of our communities, and our traditions of respect for and careful stewardship of all aspects of forest ecosystems. Policies of strategic importance include clear legal tenure structures, adequate resources for technical support and capacity building, fair marketing mechanisms, and reasonable taxation policies.
Support for the effective organization of family and community forestry to increase political and economic cooperation through associations and economic cooperative companies controlled by family forest owners and community forest members.
Collaboration in our engagement in international forest policy processes.
GACF and IFFA agree to coordinate and where possible, combine our efforts to encourage the development of supportive and appropriate policies that reflect our shared values, goals and strategies. This joint engagement in policy development processes will include:
Preparation and presentation of joint position papers for United Nations Forums or other international events related to forests, biodiversity, natural resource management and climate change.
Provide active input of know-how, expertise and traditional forest related knowledge to the specific work programs if UNFF; CBD, etc.
Organization of joint side events during international meetings on questions related to sustainable forest management and poverty reduction.
Policy engagement at the local, national and international levels to increase awareness of the present and potential contribution of community and family forestry to the sustainable development and improved livelihoods of rural populations.
The United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) is one of the strategic spaces for our collaboration as are the World Bank, the FAO and the CBD..
Technical cooperation
GACF and IFFA will collaborate in fundraising efforts to support concrete field actions and lobbying. This will include consideration of proposals to international organizations such as the World Bank, the European Union and national agencies.
These projects may include:
Strengthening of local enterprises, cooperatives, and associations.
Technological innovation to improve the use of forest resources.
Concrete actions through field projects to build capacity, improve market access for forest products, transfer technology, and strengthen community forest entrepreneurship.
One of our most important tools for training and experience sharing will be exchanges and internships between groups.