The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission (APFC) said in a statement that the week-long gathering would be the “largest and most important forestry event in Asia-Pacific this year set to guide region’s strategies and actions for sustainable forestry to 2020.”
“More than 1,000 government forestry and natural resources officials, representatives of international and non-government organizations and forest industries from over 30 countries will gather at Asia-Pacific Forestry Week 2016 in Clark Freeport Zone,” the statement said.
Sponsored by FAO and APFC, in partnership with the Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the event will focus on “growing our future through effective integration of forestry with the other facets of sustainable development.”
The Forestry Week events will run in conjunction with the 26th session of the APFC, which convenes regional forestry leaders every two years to review progress, discuss common issues and set new agendas for forestry in the region, the statement also said.
It added that “more than 70 workshops, seminars and partner events will take place during Forestry Week, which will serve as a springboard for inclusive dialogue on future trade and markets for forest products, forests and climate change, forests and people, new institutions and governance, and green investment.”
Among the speakers at the event are FAO Assistant Director-General for Forestry René Castro Salazar; Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon Jesus Paje; John Innes, dean of the Forestry Department at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and head of the UBC Sustainable Forest Management Laboratory.
The speakers also include Tony La Viña, dean of the Ateneo School of Government and lead negotiator for the Philippines in the climate change negotiations since 1997; Neil Byron, noted environmental economist and policy analyst and adjunct professor at the Australian National University; and May Anne Then, president of the International Forestry Students Association.
CNN Hero Award Winner Budi Soehardi will make a special appearance to highlight how one person can truly “grow our future” in positive directions through committed actions, the organizers added.
