Forests and Forest Ecosystems:
Promoting Synergy in the Implementation
of the Three Rio Conventions

Viterbo, Italy, 5-7 April 2004

The challenge posed by the intricate relationships of climate, biological diversity, drought and desertification on the social, economic and environmental fronts in many countries has been exemplified in recent times. It has also been amply demonstrated that there is a clear convergence of objectives among the three Rio Conventions, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Parties to these Conventions have repeatedly pointed out that there is need for a firmer convergence of the strategic approaches the various interested parties, particularly at the individual country level, have hitherto pursued. Moreover, the need is also recognized for Parties to focus more on a broader framework that includes a complex set of issues encompassing desertification and land management, biological diversity, climate change, socio-economic development, among others. In particular, in order to address more concretely the intertwined issues of poverty eradication, sustainable development and environmental security, the three Rio Conventions have expressed the need to join efforts in order not to address these issues separately.

With the generous invitation and support of the Government of Italy, the secretariats of the UNCCD and CBD with the cooperation of the UNFCCC secretariat are planning to hold a workshop in Viterbo, Italy from 5 to 7 April 2004 on “Forests and Forest Ecosystems: Promoting Synergy in the Implementation of the three Rio Conventions.” The focus on forest and forest ecosystems provides a theme around which the best ways and means for planning and implementing plans and programmes that address, in a coherent and complementary manner, the provisions of all three Conventions can be discussed or developed. The output of the workshop is expected to be applicable to other biomes and issues relating to desertification, biodiversity and climate change. The workshop will bring together representatives of the three Rio Conventions from a number of countries representing all the UN regions, as well as representatives and experts from institutions that have been actively supporting implementation of the Conventions.