New York, 4 March 2002

Mr. President,
Honorable Ministers,
Mr. Under-Secretary-General,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen,

First of all, I want to avail myself of this opportunity to congratulate, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, for the presence of Switzerland as a full member of the United Nations. The Group of 77 and China has been beneficiary during the decades of our host in Geneva, in its commitment to achieve a fairer world.

Allow me to express to you, Mister President, and to the other members of the bureau of the second session of the Forum of the United Nations on Forests, our congratulations for your election, and we reiterate to you all the cooperation on behalf of the Group of the 77 and China towards the success of this session. This second session of UNFF offers the occasion to deepen the analysis of the Multi-annual Program of Work 2001-2005, just as established in the Resolution 2000/35 of the Economic and Social Council.

The Group of the 77 and China, wants to reiterate their firm commitment to Agenda 21, to the Principles enclosed in the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, and to the Declaration of Principles on Forests, adopted at the level of Heads of State and Government in June of 1992. Since then, the developing countries have been working towards the consolidation of the sustainable development guided by these platforms for action.

One of the outstanding elements for the creation of a Forum of this nature is the importance that the forests have on the sustainable development, from the economic, social and environmental viewpoint, especially for the developing countries.

In this sense, the Group of the 77 and China, expresses their support so that the Forum of Forest can be able to fulfill both, the multi year program of work and the action plan for the application of the proposals of action of the Intergovernmental Group on Forests, including the financial dispositions, which emphasizes the need that the coordinated mechanisms and organization of the System of the United Nations, help the efforts that are carried out by the developing countries.

Mr. President:

In respect to the implementation of the proposals for action of the Intergovernmental Panel on Forest /Intergovernmental Forum on Forests and the Plan of Action of the United Nations Forum on Forest, the Group of the 77 and China consider, in relation to the implementation means, that one of the most important aspects that define the economic viability of the objectives of the Forum, is the access to financial resources, specially for the developing countries.

In relation to the cooperation, it must include the technology transference, scientific investigation and support to the sustainable management of forests, including the promotion of knowledge related to the traditional forests.

With respect to commerce, the Group of the 77 and China consider of vital importance the transparency of the international commerce of wood and non wood products for the sustainable management of forests, especially the relative to the market access without distortions nor commercial barriers of the export products of the developing countries. Also, the Group of the 77 and China supports the promotion of mechanisms against the illegal commerce of these products.

With respect to the progress achieved in the application, the Group of the 77 and China, consider, regarding the fight against the deforestation and the degradation of forests, that one of the ways to fight it are by the plantations. The afforestation programs could contribute to support the ecologic balance, at the same time that it could be a generator of employment in effect of the eradication of poverty. For this, it is necessary to count on the support of the international community and especially of the international financial organisms.

An important aspect to consider regarding this aspect is in relation to the concepts, terminology and definitions; and specially to what we must understand for “low cover of forest”, as well as other concepts related to forests, so they can be universally accepted and related to acreage of forests, fragile ecosystems and population.

Concerning the creation of the three Ad hoc Groups of Experts, to support the work of the Forum, the Group of the 77 and China consider that the conformation of said Groups must be, by nature, of intergovernmental character; under the form of a process of participation and open consults in which it guarantees the presence of experts of developing countries, so the outcomes of the work of this Ad hoc Group of Experts reflect the interests and preoccupations of all the member States; Besides being independent and not subsidiary of each other.

Mr. President

Important elements that will be applicable resources for the Summit on Sustainable Development will arise from the segment of the Ministerial Session of high level. In this sense, the Group of the 77 and China will actively participate through each of the assistant Ministers of the Group, in both, the Ministerial Session and the high level dialogue that they will maintain with the members of the Association of Collaboration in relation to forests. This last one has great relevance since it will help to establish the national program of forest in the developing countries.

Thank you, Mr. President.