About
The Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission (APFC) is one of six FAO Regional Forestry Commissions that cover the world's major geographic regions. The APFC is a forum for advising and taking action on key forestry issues. It focuses on issues pertinent to Asia and the Pacific, a region characterized by its diversity and rapid changes.
The 25th session of APFC will be held in Rotorua, New Zealand. As well as being one of New Zealand’s most important tourist centres, Rotorua is the hub of New Zealand’s largest planted forestry region. It is home to the world-famous Scion Forest Research institute and adjacent to Kaingaroa Forest, one of the world’s largest plantation forests.
Rotorua previously hosted the 7th session of APFC in 1964. For its Silver Anniversary Session, APFC is delighted to return to Rotorua in 2013.
The 25th session of APFC will be held in Rotorua, New Zealand. As well as being one of New Zealand’s most important tourist centres, Rotorua is the hub of New Zealand’s largest planted forestry region. It is home to the world-famous Scion Forest Research institute and adjacent to Kaingaroa Forest, one of the world’s largest plantation forests.
Rotorua previously hosted the 7th session of APFC in 1964. For its Silver Anniversary Session, APFC is delighted to return to Rotorua in 2013.
The "Silver Anniversary" session of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission
The 25th “Silver Anniversary” session of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission (APFC) will be held in Rotorua, New Zealand on 5-8 November 2013.
APFC’s history dates back almost as far as the establishment of the United Nations and FAO. The first session was held in 1950 in Bangkok, Thailand and sessions have been held at regular intervals over the subsequent 63 years.
Since 1950, the Commission’s original membership of 12 has grown to 33, making it the region’s largest and most inclusive inter-governmental body in the field of forestry. Numerous APFC sub-committees and working groups have dealt with a wide range of issues, continuously expanding the state of information about forests and options for development in Asia and the Pacific. In recent times, flagship APFC activities have included the Asia-Pacific Forestry Sector Outlook Study, “In Search of Excellence: Exemplary forest management in Asia and the Pacific”, and establishment of regional and national forestry codes of practice.
During its 63 years of existence, the APFC has been shaped by periodic landmark events, such as the 1972 Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm and the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro. In more recent times, APFC has, itself, endeavored to create landmark events, by organizing much larger Asia-Pacific Forestry Weeks to run in tandem with APFC sessions. Planned to be held every four years (linked to alternate APFC sessions) the first two Asia-Pacific Forestry Weeks were held in Hanoi, Viet Nam in 2008 and Beijing, China in 2011. Both proved hugely popular with each comprising more than 40 separate events and attracting more than 700 participants.
APFC’s history dates back almost as far as the establishment of the United Nations and FAO. The first session was held in 1950 in Bangkok, Thailand and sessions have been held at regular intervals over the subsequent 63 years.
Since 1950, the Commission’s original membership of 12 has grown to 33, making it the region’s largest and most inclusive inter-governmental body in the field of forestry. Numerous APFC sub-committees and working groups have dealt with a wide range of issues, continuously expanding the state of information about forests and options for development in Asia and the Pacific. In recent times, flagship APFC activities have included the Asia-Pacific Forestry Sector Outlook Study, “In Search of Excellence: Exemplary forest management in Asia and the Pacific”, and establishment of regional and national forestry codes of practice.
During its 63 years of existence, the APFC has been shaped by periodic landmark events, such as the 1972 Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm and the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro. In more recent times, APFC has, itself, endeavored to create landmark events, by organizing much larger Asia-Pacific Forestry Weeks to run in tandem with APFC sessions. Planned to be held every four years (linked to alternate APFC sessions) the first two Asia-Pacific Forestry Weeks were held in Hanoi, Viet Nam in 2008 and Beijing, China in 2011. Both proved hugely popular with each comprising more than 40 separate events and attracting more than 700 participants.
