Over 120 forestry experts and officials from 20 Asia-Pacific countries have gathered in Chiang Mai, Thailand, to address deforestation, biodiversity loss, and the growing impact of climate change on forest ecosystems.
\nThe five-day meeting aims to strengthen regional cooperation and policy action under the theme \u201cHealthy Forests Feed the Future.\u201d
\nThe Thirty-First Session of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission (APFC) and Asia-Pacific Forestry Week 2025 began in Chiang Mai on November 3, hosted by Thailand\u2019s Royal Forest Department in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, said a FAO press release l received here.
\nThe event, running through November 7, focuses on the role of forests in food security, sustainable agriculture, and climate resilience.
\nAccording to FAO, forests support the livelihoods of more than 22 million people in the region, providing food, fuel, and income while maintaining soil fertility, water cycles, and pollination systems. They also serve as carbon sinks, contributing to the goals of the Paris Agreement, the Kunming\u2013Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and the Sustainable Development Goals.<\/p>\n
However, the FAO report \u201cThe State of the World\u2019s Forests 2024\u201d warns that forest ecosystems face increasing threats from land conversion, urban expansion, wildfires, and unsustainable exploitation. These pressures are reducing biodiversity and undermining vital ecosystem services, putting millions of rural livelihoods at risk.
\nOpening the conference, Royal Forest Department Director General Nikorn Siratochananon said Thailand\u2019s experience in sustainable forest management demonstrates the importance of conserving forests for livelihoods and food security. \u201cThis platform allows us to share experiences and reinforce our shared commitment to protect forests as a source of life,\u201d he said.
\nFAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, Alue Dohong, highlighted the direct connection between forests and food systems. \u201cHealthy forests are the backbone of healthy food systems,\u201d he noted, adding that forests supply wild foods and support agriculture through soil protection and water regulation.
\nThe Chiang Mai meeting also features the launch of a joint FAO\u2013CIFOR\u2013ICRAF report titled \u201cAgroforestry for Wood Production \u2013 Insights from Multifunctional Smallholder Tree Farming Systems in Asia and the Pacific.\u201d The study offers practical guidance for smallholder farmers to grow wood sustainably while maintaining ecosystem balance and improving income sources.
\nParticipants are discussing how to expand forest-based bioeconomy models that create green jobs and promote sustainable growth. They are also exploring ways to integrate forests into national plans for climate adaptation, land restoration, and biodiversity conservation.
\nAPFC Chair Preecha Ongprasert emphasized the importance of regional cooperation, calling the commission a \u201cvital bridge\u201d for shared learning and collective action. FAO Senior Forestry Officer and APFC Secretary Sheila Wertz-Kanounnikoff added that as countries prepare for COP30 in Brazil, the Chiang Mai sessions provide an important opportunity to advance collaboration on forest restoration and climate action.
\nThe conference also underlined the need to include the region\u2019s 380 million smallholder farmers many dependent on forests and agriculture in future strategies for restoration and sustainability. Programs such as Result Asia-Pacific are already working to restore degraded lands and improve community resilience.
\nThe next session of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission will be held in 2027, with the host country to be announced later.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Over 120 forestry experts and officials from 20 Asia-Pacific countries have gathered in Chiang Mai, Thailand, to address deforestation, biodiversity loss, and the growing impact of climate change on forest ecosystems. The five-day meeting aims to strengthen regional cooperation and policy action under the theme \u201cHealthy Forests Feed the Future.\u201d The Thirty-First Session of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":512769,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-512751","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n