Jakarta — Over 120 forestry leaders and experts from 20 countries across the Asia-Pacific have convened in Chiang Mai this week to strengthen regional collaboration on sustainable forest management under the theme “Healthy Forests Feed the Future”, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said in a statement on Wednesday, November 5. The gathering marks the Thirty-First Session of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission (APFC 31) and Asia-Pacific Forestry Week 2025, jointly hosted by Thailand’s Royal Forest Department and FAO.
“This platform allows us to share Thailand’s experiences in sustainable forest management and learn from others,” said Nikorn Siratochananon, Director General of Thailand’s Royal Forest Department. “It reinforces our shared commitment to conserve forests as a source of life, livelihoods, and food security.”
Alue Dohong, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, underscored that “healthy forests are the backbone of healthy food systems,” noting their essential role in providing wild foods and sustaining agriculture through ecological services.
Forests play a vital role in supporting the livelihoods and food security of more than 22 million people in the region through ecosystem services such as pollination, water regulation, and soil fertility.
They also store carbon and safeguard biodiversity — key to achieving the Paris Agreement, the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and the Sustainable Development Goals. Forests are under growing threat from land-use change, urbanisation, wildfires, and unsustainable practices, FAO’s State of the World’s Forests 2024 report warns.
“The Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission remains a vital bridge for regional collaboration,” said Preecha Ongprasert, Chair of the APFC. “Through shared knowledge and collective action, we can ensure forests truly feed the future.”
Sheila Wertz-Kanounnikoff, FAO Senior Forestry Officer and APFC Secretary, said the meetings highlight the “vital role of forests and trees in resilient agrifood systems,” and called for deeper cooperation among governments, civil society, and research institutions.
The outcomes of APFC 31 will guide future regional forestry strategies and strengthen initiatives like Result Asia-Pacific, which supports land restoration and community resilience. The next APFC session will take place in 2027, with the host country to be announced. (nsh)
Banner photo: FAO
