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Summary
of 1999 – 2000 Activities
The
following activities were conducted during 1999-2000:
- Expanded
scientific and technical networks;
- Held
6 conference calls and participated in 1 technical
exchange;
- Finalized
proceedings from workshop;
- Initiated
work to translate workshop proceedings into Spanish;
- Developed
plan of work for FPWG.
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Scientific
and Technical Network
Network
During the previous two years, the participants in the
various working groups:
- Have
been communicating with the other representatives
from the various countries regarding working group
issues,
- Have
discussed and prioritized the critical issues in the
working group,
- Are
working on a plan of work to carry out the mission
of the FPWG and;
- Have
looked for opportunities to work together. For example,
the non-wood forest products working group have shared
information regarding technical meetings dealing with
special forest products
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Conference
Calls and Technical Exchanges
Conference
calls are the primary mode by which the members of the
FPWG communicate. Conference calls occur every two months
or more frequently depending on the level of activity.
Some technical exchanges that have occurred over the
past two years include:
- U.S.
representative gave a presentation at the International
Forestry Exposition (EXIFOR) in Chihuahua, Mexico
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Proceedings
In
June of 1998, the FPWG held an International meeting
in Merida, Mexico. A proceedings, titled “North America
Forest Products Working Group” has been published and
contains the papers presented at this meeting. Copies
have been distributed to all participants who attended
the meeting. A copy of the proceedings is attached.
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Translation
The
FPWG is working to translate the Proceedings into Spanish.
This will facilitate the continued dialogue between
the three countries on various technical issues impacting
all three countries. The FPWG is asking the NAFC Board
of Alternatives for funding to translate this proceedings
into Spanish.
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Requests
to NAFC
The
FPWG is requesting funding support of $9,000 to cover
translation, typesetting and printing of the North American
Forest Products Working Group Proceedings. Attached
is a copy of the English version of this proceedings.
The FPWG believes that translation of this document
into Spanish will increase the dissemination and use
of this information in Mexico.
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Work Plan for FY 2000-2001
The
working groups of the FPWG are actively involved in
developing work plans for the next two years. Numerous
topics have been listed and the working groups are prioritizing
the list. Topics being considered include:
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Wood
Products Standards
The
working group is proposing to develop a trinational
state-of-the-art paper that would discuss the following
items:
1.
Various wood products produced in each of the 3 countries
2.
Species from each country
3.
Current trends in use of wood products
4.
Wood product standards for each country
5.
“General” third-party inspection requirement
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Fiber
Supply
The
Working Group is proposing to develop a future paper
that would focus on changing wood product demand and
what this means in the demand for North American fiber
supply. In addition, this Working Group is planning
on meeting at the Western Forest Economics Meeting in
Wemme, Oregon, May 8-10, 2000.
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Non-wood
Forest Products
The
Working Group is proposing to continue to explore organizing
a trinational workshop on non-wood forest products.
All three countries have had or are planning workshops
on this topic. The FPWG has asked the representatives
from each country to draft a summary executive abstract
of their respective conferences and share this with
the others in the Working Group, as well as the FPWG.
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Certification
The
Working Group is primarily monitoring the activities
on certification within their respective countries.
The FPWG has asked the Working Group to prepare a yearly
summary of the certification activities within their
own country.
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