ITTO announces funding boost

The International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC), the governing body of the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO), has committed US$8.6m in funding to boost the conservation and sustainable management of tropical forests.

The Norwegian government has put forward US$3.5m for the Reducing Deforestation and Forest Degradation and Enhancing Environmental Services in Tropical Forests programme, with US$5.1m for a further series of thematic programmes.

These include Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade; Community Forest Management and Enterprises; Trade and Market Transparency; Industry Development and Efficiency; and Reducing Deforestation and Forest Degradation and Enhancing Environmental Services in Tropical Forests.

A total of 11 projects and two pre-projects were given funding at the 44th session of the ITTC. The total pledged to projects through the ITTO in 2008 has now reached US$11.7m.