The 58^th session of the International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC58) was held on 7-11 November 2022 in Yokohama. This was the first in-person meeting of the ITTO since 2019, although virtual participation of delegates was also possible. It was chaired by Jessy Mahoney from Australia.

The following main decisions were taken, all by consensus:

• The extension/renegotiation of the ITTA 2006 agreement: decision to extend the mandate of an intersessional working group for one more year to explore the need of renegotiation or further extension of ITTA 2006 and establish the ‘roadmap’ for renegotiation process;
• Allocation of pledges for projects for a total amount of 4 million USD;
• The adoption of a five-year resource mobilisation goal and a strategy taking into account the outputs of the work related to the new financing architecture; and
• The election of Nurudeen Iddrisu (Ghana) as Chair for the next year. Anna Tyler (New Zealand) is expected to take the Vice-Chair of the Council pending internal decision making.

The other decisions comprised a one-year extension to the Biennial Work Programme 2021–2022 to bring it into line with the biennial approval cycle of the ITTO Administrative Budget.

In closing the session, Mr Mahoney expressed his pleasure at the achievements of the session. Nevertheless, he cautioned: “We must also continue to pave a way forward to support the day-to-day activities of the organization and the important work that it delivers in support of our important tropical forests, both in their conservation and sustainable use.”

The 59th session of the Council is tentatively scheduled for 4–8 December 2023. The Government of Thailand, through its Royal Forest Department, is considering an opportunity to host the session.

More information:

• Council sessions
• Council documents
• First report of Global Timber