Japan’s Financial Assistance in the Implementation of Projects through the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO)

June 16, 2008

At the occasion of the inter-sessional meeting of the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) held in Accra, Ghana, from 9 to 12 June 2008, the Government of Japan pledged approximately 1.94 million US dollars to support the implementation of the following ITTO projects:

(1) Cote d'Ivoire “Forest Seeds Management and Conservation”(US$ 912,764)

(2) Ghana “Conservation and Utilization of Medicinal Plants in Ghanaian Forests Fringe Communities”(US$ 399,138)

(3) Togo “Study for the Conservation, Land Management and Sustainable Mountain Biodiversity Management in the Center North Region of Togo” (US$ 52,358)

(4) Cambodia “Strengthening capacity of forest law enforcement and governance in Cambodia”(US$ 391,195)

(5) Thailand “Strengthening of the National Forest Information System”(US$ 34,505)

(6) Fellowship Fund (for capacity strengthening of timber-producing countries) (US$ 150,000)

As host country of the ITTO as well as major importer of tropical timber, Japan has been actively supporting the implementation of projects in tropical timber producing countries through ITTO. It is expected that the pledged financial assistance will contribute to promoting sustainable forest management including combat against illegal logging, making socio-economic development compatible with conservation of the environment in developing countries, and strengthening capacity of tropical timber producing countries.

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