The International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC) has agreed a US$7.6m package to finance 36 projects promoting the sustainable management, use, trade and conservation of tropical forest resources.
One project will be a transboundary programme to link two national parks – Malaysia’s Pulong Tau in Sarawak and 1.3 million ha Kayan Mentarang on the Indonesian side of the border.
It will involve extending Pulong Tau from 65,000ha to 165,000ha, covering ecologically important forests and Sarawak’s highest mountain, Mt Murad.
Meanwhile, the ITTC, meeting for its 35th session, said the tropical timber trade continues to suffer from low prices.
A spokesperson said SARS and the Middle East conflicts had impacted consumer confidence, while currency fluctuations have made trading difficult and led to currency hedging becoming an important skill in the timber business. Some producing regions have experienced log and sawnwood price rises but the tropical plywood sector is still suffering.
The Civil Society Advisory Group used the ITTC meeting to call for a greater role for forest communities in decisions affecting tropical forests.
