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ISLAMABAD, Nov 05 (APP):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 “Healthy Forests Feed the Future.”
The 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’s Royal Forest Department in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, said a FAO press release l received here.
The event, running through November 7, focuses on the role of forests in food security, sustainable agriculture, and climate resilience.
According 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–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and the Sustainable Development Goals.
However, the FAO report “The State of the World’s Forests 2024” 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.
Opening the conference, Royal Forest Department Director General Nikorn Siratochananon said Thailand’s experience in sustainable forest management demonstrates the importance of conserving forests for livelihoods and food security. “This platform allows us to share experiences and reinforce our shared commitment to protect forests as a source of life,” he said.
FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, Alue Dohong, highlighted the direct connection between forests and food systems. “Healthy forests are the backbone of healthy food systems,” he noted, adding that forests supply wild foods and support agriculture through soil protection and water regulation.
The Chiang Mai meeting also features the launch of a joint FAO–CIFOR–ICRAF report titled “Agroforestry for Wood Production – Insights from Multifunctional Smallholder Tree Farming Systems in Asia and the Pacific.” The study offers practical guidance for smallholder farmers to grow wood sustainably while maintaining ecosystem balance and improving income sources.
Participants 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.
APFC Chair Preecha Ongprasert emphasized the importance of regional cooperation, calling the commission a “vital bridge” 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.
The conference also underlined the need to include the region’s 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.
The next session of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission will be held in 2027, with the host country to be announced later.