They also urged stronger and more meaningful engagement with major groups, including the private business sector, local authorities, international conservation groups and indigenous representatives, adding that the active, open and transparent participation of all relevant stakeholders needed to be enhanced in the post-2015 international arrangement on forests, they said that this could result in better policy decisions, a wider understanding of the policies and improved implementation by working through major groups’ networks and constituencies. The participants welcomed the creation of the Major Groups Partnership on Forests and considered that its role in helping major groups to coordinate their activities and develop joint statements would benefit the future international arrangement on forests. Questions were asked, however, about whether the Partnership required a formal institutional relationship with the Forum in order to be effective, and further clarification was sought on the cost implications and potential sources of funding.