The first-ever Asia-Pacific Forestry Week will be held from 21-26 April 2008 at the National Convention Center (NCC), in Ha Noi, Viet Nam. The event, open to regional and international organizations, networks and NGOs as well as to the public, is expected to be the largest and the most important forestry event in the region in 2008. The Asia-Pacific Forestry Week is designed to focus on the fate of forests and the forestry sector in the midst of a changing world.

Three morning plenary sessions will focus on the three pillars of sustainable development: social, environmental, and economic.

The Social Session will concentrate on forests and poverty. Under present and foreseeable economic and social trends in the Region, can we achieve sustainable forest management and better realize the potential forests and forestry to contribute to improved human well-being? AFN is assisting the Regional Community Forestry Training Center for Asia-Pacific (RECOFTC) in organizing this session.

The Environment Session will deal with forests and climate change. What can forestry do to mitigate climate change? How can forestry adapt in response to climate change? This session is being organized by CIFOR and FAO.

The Economic Session will explore issues in Trade, Forest Law Compliance and Governance. Asia Forest Partnership (AFP) is the lead organizers for this session, in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the East Asia Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (EA FLEG). AFN will join discussions of the East Asia Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (EA FLEG) being the social NGO representative in the EA FLEG Advisory Group

These morning plenary sessions are hoped to inform discussions during the 22nd Session of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission (APFC) that will be held during the afternoon sessions of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Week. APFC is a member-based body comprised of 33 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Invitations to its general sessions are extended to official delegates of the member countries, although others can also participate as observers.

For more information on APFC and its 22nd Session, please refer to the APFC website:
http://www.fao.org/forestry/site/33592/en/

For more details and updated information, please visit:
http://www.fao.org/forestry/site/44755/en/

Inquiries can be sent by e-mail to AP-Forestry-Week@fao.org.