2. The meeting on forest law compliance and forest management elucidated the nature of the problem of illegal forest extraction that affected countries in the Region and its associated activities, its causes and known extent, its consequences, and the manner in which it was being controlled. The presentation by Costa Rica and the ensuing discussions examined lessons learned in the design of control actions and identified the need to address the problem in its socio-economic dimension, actively involving civil society and local authorities in the exercise of control, and the need to carefully consider the implications of excessive regulation of forest management on the occurrence of the problem.
3. The participants at the meeting on innovative financial mechanisms for the development of the forestry sector analysed two financial mechanisms for sustainable forest management that had been successfully promoted by small producers in Costa Rica. The key to success had been the existence of an appropriate legal framework, institutional transparency and political will.
4. The participants at the meeting on trade agreements (Free Trade Area of the Americas – FTAA) and the role of the forestry sector focused on the problem of tariff and non-tariff barriers and other measures affecting the export and trade of forest products. They singled out the strong connection that existed between certification and trade of forest products and recommended that FAO follow this topic up in order to assess its potential impact. Trade in environmental goods and services was also discussed, leading to the suggestion that related national strategies be developed for the benefit of the developing countries. The participants also stated that stronger regional cooperation, reciprocal relations between countries and regional trade blocs and improved data and information were instrumental in the formulation and implementation of such strategies.
5. The participants at the meeting on the development of a regional code of practice for reduced impact forest harvesting in tropical moist forests of Latin America and the Caribbean received the information on work relating to the code with interest. Various countries announced their intention to collaborate. Venezuela expressed its willingness to provide opportunities for testing application of the forest harvesting rules once these were available. Guyana made reference to training facilities. Brazil and Colombia emphasized the need to review and consider the efforts and experiences that already existed in the Region. The participants recommended that the rules be extended to all forests in the Region as some countries had large areas of non-tropical forest. They also underlined the need to consider the codes that had already been formulated or were in the process of being formulated by other authorities and initiatives.
6. The participants at the meeting on strengthening the LACFC as a venue for dialogue on international forest policy issues drew attention to the unclear future of the international arrangement on forests when the UNFF concluded its life span in 2005; the low status on the international forest agenda of aspects that were of priority interest to forest development in the Region; the need for greater involvement of national forest authorities in international negotiating processes; the need to reach regional agreements so that sustainable forest management proposals could be placed before the global bodies, and the possible role of the LACFC as a venue for reaching such agreements for the Region.
7. The participants at the meeting on criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management pointed out that criteria and indicators are an important mechanism to help define an ecosystem approach for sustainable forest management and constitute a useful tool to monitor, assess and report on progress towards sustainable forest management. Therefore, there must be continued efforts to improve the management and systematization of forestry information to support improved forest management.