14. After a wide-ranging discussion, members reached conclusions on the following topics:
15. The new IPC website managed and maintained by FAO was demonstrated as a full repository of outputs and activities of the IPC. The French and Spanish versions are under preparation. The Secretary was requested to explore additional features which included: e-conferencing; sub-sites for Working Parties and National Poplar Commissions; a correspondence corner for users; a photo database and a CD version for users without regular web access. It was expected that the Register of Poplar and Willow Experts and the Register of Poplar Cultivars are to be included on the site by the end of the year.
16. The Working Parties of IPC should be reviewed, rationalized and refocused to more effectively integrate with, and complement, the objectives, outputs, activities, resources and mechanisms of FAO, Committee on Forestry, Forestry Department, Regional Forestry Commissions, Statutory Technical Bodies in Forestry; and National Poplar Commissions.
17. To be more transparent and accountable, and to assist in the review process, Working Parties were requested to prepare a two year programme of work to detail focused but achievable activities, assign persons responsible, detail indicative delivery dates and show linkages and collaboration with FAO, Forestry Department, Forestry Commissions and other agencies and institutions in particularly meeting the needs of developing countries.
18. At the Twenty-second Session of the IPC the Working Parties should hold a joint meeting to discuss the relevance and integration of their programmes of work and to evaluate and rationalize how best to serve member States and National Poplar Commissions. This could result in abolition or merging of existing Working Parties and/or formation of new Working Parties, to be recommended to the members of the IPC meeting in plenary.
19. A proposal was supported to establish a new Working Party to address the high demand for application of Poplars and Willows in rehabilitation, conservation and phyto-remediation of degraded soils. It was recognized that social, environmental and economic issues were cross cutting and their dimensions should be incorporated into the outputs and activities of all Working Parties.
20. Significant assignments in process include an e-book, e-catalogue (through ECOPORT) and CD on Insects of Poplars and Willows; review and update of the book Poplars and Willows (1957 and 1980) through working papers, CD and possible republication; and review and update of the FAO publication, Breeding Poplars for Disease Resistance (1985) to incorporate new techniques and include developing country grower needs. An editorial committee would review the table of contents, format and most appropriate methods of dissemination with respect to the target beneficiaries and messages to be delivered. Messrs. Jud Isebrands and Jim Richardson will share this responsibility. It was acknowledged that such a publication should be in response to a need and focus on the important topics required by the target beneficiaries and with close collaboration of NPCs and Working Parties.
21. As developing countries and countries with economies in transition made up half of the IPC member States, an opportunity existed for the developed countries to support sustainable forestry and sustainable development in these countries. Issues such as country capacity building, technology transfer, twinning and networking, applications in production, protection and conservation aspects in sustainable forestry and use of genetic resources for present-day and future benefit were discussed. It was felt that prominence could be given to the application of Poplar and Willow species to a wide range of growing mechanisms in different ecological zones, meeting different social, environmental and economic objectives. It is common in rehabilitation of degraded soils and combating desertification in developing countries for Poplars and Willows to be grown in agroforestry mechanisms or in multi-tiered approaches, meeting the needs of local communities in addressing food security, wood energy, poverty alleviation and sustainable livelihoods. The IPC needed to highlight how their outputs and activities could contribute to direct support of these objectives. Papers to highlight the bridge between science and application and research and development to support the needs of developing countries or countries in transition could make a significant contribution to relating the outputs and activities of the IPC and Working Parties to developing country needs, particularly the rural poor.
22. Once again the need to give more prominence to the growing and use of the Willows was stressed, including co-ordination of research and development work, the need to improve quality by breeding, and genetic pollution arising from introduced Willows.
23. The interest and enthusiasm of National Poplar Commissions was noted to vary widely between countries, depending on the perception of issues connected with populiculture. There was a broad discussion on the need to stimulate the activities of National Poplar Commissions and the Secretariat was requested to continue to explore ways of encouraging the activities of National Poplar Commissions. Access to a sub-site within the IPC website could be used to stimulate some National Poplar Commissions to be more proactive on Poplar and Willow activities and applications. A template will be prepared for reporting on the status and trends in Poplars and Willows
