The Forestry Department of FAO, through its Advisory Committee on Pulp and Paper, has been receiving valuable, practical advice on issues related to pulp and paper and also on other economic and social aspects of forestry since 1960. FAO has benefited from this advice in the collection, analysis and validation of statistical information and also in the preparation of outlook studies.
The 111th Session of the FAO Council broadened the mandate of the Committee and renamed it the "Advisory Committee on Paper and Wood Products (ACPWP)" in order to reflect the emerging trends in world forestry and to cover other sectors of the primary industry, such as sawmilling and wood-based panel manufacturing.
The enlarged Committee met, for the first time, at the 38th Session of this important advisory body, which took place in Rome from 23 to 25 April 1997 and which brought together 15 members and 35 advisers from 27 developing and developed countries, as well as countries with economies in transition. The attendance of observers from various international institutions and organizations, such as ATIBT, CEPI, UN-ECE, European Commission, European Investment Bank, International Finance Corporation, UNIDO and the Unión de Selvicultores del Sur de Europa, demonstrated the interest in the event. Together with industry representatives, they provided a balanced and diversified group of participants.
The Committee continues to serve as a global policy and technical forum for the forest industry and as an advisory body for the work of FAO related to forest and forest products development.
These proceedings, prepared by the Secretariat for the first time, consist of a summary of the conclusions and recommendations that emerged from the discussions, as well as the most important documents presented at the meeting. This document is particularly important to members and observers who were unable to attend the meeting, and it should also encourage participants to continuously provide professional advice to FAO.
The ACPWP Chairman, Mr M'hammed Mezzour, and the Secretariat wish to thank all the participants for attending and actively participating in the meeting and for offering their valuable experience that contributed to the success of the presentations and discussions.
Karl-Hermann Schmincke
Director Forest Products Division
