The two-day event, which was held in both in-person and online formats, was attended by ASEAN countries, the ASEAN Secretariat, leaders of the Da Nang City Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and representatives of international organisations.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Tran Quang Bao, Director of the Forestry Department under the Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, highly appreciated the efforts of the AWG-FM in connecting and supporting ASEAN countries in developing sustainable forestry in the region.
He said that ASEAN is a dynamic economic development region, with cultural diversity and rich forest resources.
He noted that the development of the forestry industry in ASEAN countries has made a significant contribution to boosting economic growth, creating jobs, and reducing poverty in rural and mountainous areas, while also facilitating environment protection and the prevention of greenhouse gas emissions.
However, the industry still faces many difficulties and challenges, requiring increased sharing and exchange of experiences as well as closer cooperation among ASEAN nations to meet the goal of sustainable forestry development.
The AWG-FM Working Group was established in 2005 in response to emerging issues on forest management. It aims to enhance sustainable management of forest resources and combat illegal forest harvesting and its associated trade in timber and timber products.
It also seeks to provide effective networking and partnering with other institutions, agencies, instruments, and processes working on forest management issues at the regional and global levels.
