 The governments of Japan and Indonesia, the Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and IGES co-hosted the 7th Annual Meeting of the Asia Forest Partnership (AFP) held in Yokohama, Japan on 12-15 November 2007.
The Asia Forest Partnership (AFP) was launched in August 2002 at the World Summit on Sustainable Development as a voluntary collaboration of governments, inter-governmental organisations, civil society organisations, the private sector and donors to promote sustainable forest management in Asia. Its broad mandate, openness, flexibility and growing membership are assets that set AFP apart from other regional initiatives to promote sustainable forest management.
The Meeting centred on an evaluation of the first phase of the Partnership (2002-2007), the architecture of the Partnership for a second phase and on topics critical to sustainable forest management in the Asia-Pacific region. Over 130 representatives from 32 countries participated in the discussions. Twenty-seven presentations on AFP themes, particularly illegal logging and forest fires, and on emerging issues for sustainable forest management, such as forests and climate change, were delivered and provoked a lively discussion.
IGES delivered its research findings on public procurement policies that favour legal and sustainable timber.
The Partnerfs agreed to continue the AFP for a second phase of eight years (2008-2015) with a clearly articulated goal and a revised set of key themes, important considerations and core functions. IGES is represented on the Steering Committee and will hold the position of Chair until the next Annual Partnership Meeting.
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