On this day in ...... 1997, the 1994 International Tropical Timber Agreement entered into force as to "[e]ighteen producer countries and eighteen consumer countries." The agreement, which superseded a 1983 treaty, aimed at "conservation, management and sustainable development of the world's tropical forests, as well as technical cooperation activities and the promotion of market transparency and tropical timber trade." The 1994 pact in turn is being replaced by a 2006 agreement of the same name; the monitored body is the Japan-based International Tropical Timber Organization (logo above right).
... 1949 (60 years ago today), the British Nationality Act 1948 came into effect. It created the designation "Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies," which enabled certain citizens of Commonwealth countries to hold citizenship in their own countries and in the Commonwealth of Nations, the entity whose flag is at left. 
