(i) Projects pledged at the Inter-sessional meeting of ITTO (9-12 June 2008, Accra)

(a) Côte d'Ivoire: “Forest Seeds Management and Conservation”(US$ 912,764)

The progress in project implementation can be summarized as follows: the building of two storehouses, two storage units and seed laboratory has started in Adzope District; 2 ha of seed tree orchard have been established in the Tene Gazetted forest with the collaboration of local communities for the production of seedlings; and selected project technicians have been trained for the utilization of the seed laboratory equipment.

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

The progress in project implementation can be summarized as follows: consultative meetings with fringe communities on the use of medicinal plant species in the Ashanti Region have been conducted; the inventory in each ecological zone of Ghana has started with the collaboration of selected collectors of medicinal and herbalists recommended by local communities and local authorities, and the University of Kumasi is involved in the technical aspects of that inventory; and field visits have been carried out with selected collectors of medicinal plants and herbalists in order to record the mode and frequency of harvesting of medicinal plants in each ecological region of Ghana.

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

Pre-project activities have started after the submission of an acceptable detailed work plan for the operationalization of the pre- project implementation.

(ii) Projects pledged at the 44th Council Session of ITTO (3-8 November 2008, Yokohama)

(a) Ghana: Timbers of Tropical Africa Part 2: Group 7(2) within the PROTA Programme ($596,419)

The project implementation is on track and the progress in its implementation can be summarized as follows: the compilation of international timber databases (WORLREFS-TIMBERS and AFRIREFS-TIMBERS) has enabled the editors to contract out 99 of the 153 major timber species to external authors;27 validated TEXTFILE review articles (English and French) have been inserted in the webdatabase and are accessible on-line in www.prota.org ; and preparatory arrangements have been made for the capacity building on author/editorial training of personnel from key African institutions.

(b) Liberia: Reviving Forestry Education in Liberia ($212,522)

Project activities have started after the submission of an acceptable yearly plan of operation covering the first year of the project implementation by the Forestry Training Institute located in Tubmanburg, Liberia.

(c) Liberia: Development of the National Reforestation Policy and Afforestation Strategy Consistent with the Liberian 3C-Approach ($68,310)

The progress in project implementation can be summarized through the following achievements: suitable sites for reforestation and afforestation, as well as forest restoration, have been identified; a draft policy paper for enrichment planting and reforestation activities to be applied in areas of Timber Sales Contracts and Forest Management Contracts have been prepared; a core team of technicians (from Forestry Development Authority, NGOs and private sector) has been trained in the assessment and implementation of restoration, reforestation and afforestation; and community dwellers and local NGOs involved in the development of community forestry have been trained in practical aspects in forest restoration, afforestation and agroforestry.