25 January 2013, IISD news - The Second Session of the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Forest Genetic Resources brought together 53 member and observer countries at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO). The Working Group considered the preparation and key findings of the publication The State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources, as well as priority areas for action and follow up. In doing so, the Group expressed its appreciation to FAO for supporting countries in the preparation of their national reports.

The meeting took place from 23-25 January 2013. Among the recommendations from the Group to the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) were to consider the updated Draft Strategic Priorities for Action for the Conservation, Sustainable Use and Development of Forest Genetic Resources; and as a follow-up to The State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources, to develop a global plan of action similar to that used for the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources.

The Group also considered targets and indicators for forest genetic resources and requested FAO to continue working on monitoring indicators. Finally, in discussions on access and benefit sharing with regard to forest genetic resources, the Group noted that its mandate went beyond genetic resources for food and agriculture, and recommended that the CGRFA address the implications of this with respect to its work on access and benefit-sharing.