1st APEC Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Forestry release Beijing Statement on Forests and Forestry

Recognizing the role of resource and energy constraints, climate change, loss of biological diversity, poverty and food insecurity, APEC Ministers Responsible for Forestry released a statement to support green growth, sustainable forest management and rehabilitation.

Under the theme "Enhanced Regional Cooperation for Green Growth and Sustainable Forestry Development", APEC Ministers discussed:

• New opportunities and challenges facing forestry in Asia and the Pacific;
• Wise use of forest resources to improve livelihoods and promote sustainable development;
• Strengthening forest governance and management to; and
• Enhancing practical cooperation to achieve inclusive growth for the forest sector in the region.

The ministers reaffirmed the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development Forest Principles and the United Nations Non-Legally Binding Instrument on All Types of Forests.

Taking into account the natural and socio-economic diversity of the APEC economies, the ministers also recognized the different development needs and objectives of APEC economies in conservation, sustainable management and rehabilitation of forests.

Furthermore, the ministers recognized that forestry, with its unique roles and contribution to sustainable development, has the potential to be a leading sector to achieve green growth.

The statement noted the significance of the contribution of forests in socio-economic development, environmental sustainability, poverty eradication, climate change, and green growth.

In the statement, APEC ministers recalled the Sydney Declaration in 2007 to enhance work on meeting the aspirational goal of increasing forest cover in the region by at least 20 million hectares of all types of forests by 2020. They also recalled the 2010 Yokohama APEC Leaders’ Declaration to address to address concerns with illegal logging and associated trade and to promote sustainable forest management and rehabilitation.

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