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ITTO Executive Director Sheam Satkuru on Sustainable Forests, Global Timber Trade and ITTO's Mandate

At the 5th World Teak Conference, International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) Executive Director Ms Sheam Satkuru joined Dr Sajeev T. Velayudhan, Chief Scientist of the Kerala Forest Research Institute, for a wide-ranging discussion on ITTO's evolving mandate, sustainable forest management, changes facing the international timber trade, how ITTO contributes to biodiversity conservation, ITTO's capacity building activities, and the future of tropical forests.

Drawing on her extensive experience in international forestry and as a trailblazer for women in forestry, Ms Satkuru reflects on her professional journey, the evolution of ITTO, and the importance of collaboration between producer and consumer countries in advancing sustainable forestry worldwide.

The discussion also highlights the importance of empowering women and girls in forestry, strengthening education and capacity development, promoting sustainable forest management, and ensuring that forests continue to provide environmental, social and economic benefits for generations to come.

⏱️ Timestamps

00 Welcome and introduction
30 Ms Satkuru's journey to becoming ITTO Executive Director
50 The evolution of ITTO's mandate over four decades
45 ITTO's membership structure and collaboration between producer and consumer countries
10 How political instability, conflict and economic disruptions affect forestry and development efforts
27 ITTO's capacity-building programmes: Criteria &amp; Indicators, legal and sustainable trade, and CITES implementation
40 How ITTO projects are funded and approved
00 Building partnerships between producing and consuming countries
50 Sustainable harvesting, livelihoods and the role of agroforestry
40 Biodiversity conservation, reforestation and afforestation
10 Implementing forestry projects on the ground
00 Key challenges facing ITTO and the organization's future direction
45 The role of technology in sustainable forest management and ITTO projects
30 Carbon emissions and the future of forests