Philippines hosts Asia-Pacific Forestry Week

More than 1,000 participants from the government sector, concerned industries and environmental groups are expected to gather at the Asia-Pacific Forestry Week to be held at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga starting today.

Spearheaded by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the Asia- Pacific Forestry Commission (APFC) in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources ( DENR), Forestry Week 2016 will be among the largest and most important forestry events in the region this year.

It will run in conjunction with the 26th session of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission – one of six such regional assemblies

By RHODINA VILLANUEVA supported by FAO – which convenes every two years to review progress in forestry development, discuss common issues and set new agendas for addressing natural resource management challenges in the region.

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said, “The selection of the Philippines as host country for this year’s Asia-Pacific Forestry Week is very timely. We have much to share with our colleagues from our experience in implementing the first phase of the National Greening Program (NGP), through which we were able to reforest more than 1.3 million hectares from 2011-2015.”

“At the same time, we also look forward to learning from other countries and international experts on how to improve the roll out of the expanded NGP and hit our 2028 target of reforesting an additional seven million hectares of unproductive, denuded and degraded forestlands, “Paje added.

More than 70 workshops, seminars and side events will take place during AsiaPacific Forestry Week 2016 and will serve as a springboard for inclusive dialogue on the implementation of commitments made under the Paris Agreement on climate change, future trade and market access arrangements, meeting the evolving needs and expectations of society with respect to forests, emerging institutional and governance issues and green investments.

The event runs until Feb. 26.