1. The Forty-first Session of the Executive Committee of the International Poplar Commission (IPC) was held on 2 September 2002 at FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy. The Session, which opened at 0900, was chaired by Mr Stefano Bisoffi (Italy). It was attended by nine members of the Executive Committee and by five Chairpersons, Vice-chairpersons or Secretaries of its subsidiary bodies (Annex 2).
2. The Session had been preceded by an informal meeting of the members of the Executive Committee and Chair and Vice-chairpersons or Secretaries of subsidiary bodies on 1 September, to discuss options for the future development of the IPC and its working parties.
3. The Session was opened by Ms. Christel Palmberg-Lerche (Chief, Forest Resources Development Service, Forest Resources Division, Forestry Department, FAO). Speaking on behalf of the Assistant Director-General, FAO Forestry Department, Ms. Palmberg-Lerche highlighted the need of the IPC to integrate its objectives, outputs, activities and mechanisms of work to support the programmes and priorities of FAO, Committee on Forestry, Forestry Department, Regional Forestry Commissions, Statutory Technical Bodies in Forestry and National Poplar Commissions in responding to the priority needs of member States. Forestry- related discussions at the international and national levels in past years have centred on the concept, principles and implementation of sustainable forestry practices and sustainable development, balancing on the three main dimensions: the environment, the economic and the social aspects. The procedures of the IPC were governed by rules of FAO, which had been established by member States. Complementary mechanisms for working at more informal levels, for example purely scientific ones, existed in the form of the work of non-governmental partner organizations such as IUFRO and IPGRI. The Working Parties, the “engine room” of the IPC, were entrusted to meet and discuss issues of importance in an informal manner, forwarding their results to the IPC in formal Sessions. The National Poplar Commissions, in turn, constituted an essential link to national level action and implementation in the field. Recommendations and actions of the IPC needed to be soundly based, well targeted, specific and achievable.
4. Mr Stefano Bisoffi, Chairperson, IPC welcomed the participants and reiterated the conclusions from the informal meeting as a basis for the formal Forty-first Session of the Executive Committee. The IPC needed to mobilize the Working Parties to establish programmes of work in phase with the priority needs of member States as reflected by FAO, Committee on Forestry, Forestry Department and National Poplar Commissions. A greater commitment and understanding of the ways to support the links and outreach of these organizations and programmes was necessary. It was highlighted that the Working Parties needed to review their two-year programmes of work (who, what, when, where, why, how) in an attempt to be more transparent, accountable and timely in delivery of outputs and activities. Particular reference was made for the need of the IPC to integrate their work more effectively through the Forestry Department, and to establish more effective links to the National Poplar Commissions. It was recognized that the Salicaceae were “model trees” of increasing importance in forest plantation development programmes, particularly in temperate regions of the world.
5. The agenda as shown in Annex 1 was adopted. Mr Jim Carle, Secretary of the IPC, was responsible for the work of the Secretariat.
6. Mr Jim Carle, Secretary of the IPC made a presentation of the IPC as a FAO Statutory Body as a foundation for the IPC to seek a more effective way forward. The presentation highlighted key elements and priority programmes and actions of FAO Conference and the functions of the Committee on Forestry; the Regional Forestry Commissions and other Subsidiary Technical Bodies in Forestry; the Convention placing the IPC in the FAO Framework; the strategies and components of the FAO Strategic Framework; objectives, programmes and priority activities of the FAO Strategic Plan for Forestry; IPC Functions; and the Major Programme on Forestry in the Medium Term Plan (2004-2009); and to the current IPC Working Party activities. The presentation highlighted questions for discussion during the Executive Committee meeting, particularly on how to work more effectively through the Working Parties to respond to the priority needs of member States and FAO Forestry Department strategies. Through the FAO mechanisms and protocols it was stressed that the IPC could achieve maximum outreach to the full range of stakeholders to influence greater sustainability and productivity in forest management and contribution to environmental rehabilitation, food security and livelihoods.
