Second Session

Summary Record

The Second Session of the Assembly of the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO) was held on 24-25 April 2019 in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea. Dr. Pham Van Dien, the President of the Assembly welcomed and extended congratulations to the Philippines as the eighth Party to AFoCO.

The Meeting was attended by Representatives and delegates from all Parties, namely, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Republic of Korea (ROK), Myanmar, the Philippines, Timor-Leste, and Viet Nam. The delegates from the Observers, namely, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Kazakhstan, and Thailand also attended the meeting.

Decisions

The Assembly of the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO),

Recognizing the general practices and standards of other international organizations as well as requirements of potential partner and resources; and

Considering the definition and general usage of the terms regulation, policy, guideline, and manual;

Decides to
1. Authorize the Secretariat to develop and finalize, to make amendments to new or existing guidelines and manuals, in consultation with the Parties, and officially inform and announce on respective effective date of such guidelines and manuals; and
2. Endorse the schedule for the development of regulations, policies, guidelines and/or manual:
  - Identification of necessary or required regulations, policies, guidelines, and/or manuals by 1st week of May 2019
  - Completion of draft texts and the internal review by the Secretariat by May 2019
  - Circulation of draft texts to the Parties for inputs by Mid-June 2019
  - Organizing a technical meeting for finalization of the draft text in July 2019
  - Finalization of texts by August 2019
  - Propose regulations and policies for consideration of the 3rd Session of the Assembly
  - Officially announce the effectiveness of guidelines and/or manuals as appropriate.
D-17-II-19S Development of Regulations, Policies, Guidelines, and Manuals
The Assembly of the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO),

Having considered the appraisal and recommendations of the respective Project Appraisal Panel;

Taking note of the summary of project proposals as in the Appendix to this document; and

Recognizing the value of sharing information regarding the projects in the pipeline including project concept notes, project proposals, and appraisal results with the Assembly;

Decides to:
1. Approve the project proposals as below:
  - Philippines (PP-2019-PH-005)
    Promotion of Vertical Integration in Wood Processing through People’s Organizations in Community Based Forest Management Areas in the Philippines
  - Myanmar (PP-2019-MM-006)
    Integrated Pest and Disease Management in Teak Plantations in Bago Region, Myanmar
  - Myanmar (PP-2019-MM-007)
    Model Forest for Livelihood Improvement of Forest Dependent Communities through Development of Community-based Enterprise and Forest Conservation
  - AFoCO Sec. (PP-2019-MC-008)
    Capacity Building on Enhancing Resilience to Forest Fire and Local Livelihood in CLMV Countries
2. Task the Secretariat to facilitate the necessary follow-up actions, including fund mobilization and legal arrangements for project implementation.
D-18-II-19S Approval of New ProjectsD-18-II-19S-2 Report on the Project Development and Appraisal Results
The Assembly of the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO),

Recalling the Staff Regulation adopted at the First Session of the Assembly; and

Noting on the need to establish rules on the locally recruited staffs at the Regional Education Training Center (RETC) and staffs to be on assignment outside the Headquarters;

Decides to amend the Staff Regulations as attached to be effective on 1 May 2019.

D-19-II-19S Amendment of Staff Regulations
The Assembly of the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO),

Recognizing that the establishment of AFoCO was owed to the generous support and leadership of the governments of 14 member countries which shared a vision and aspiration
of creating a greener Asia; and

Noting that the ASEAN-Korea Commemorative Summit where the initial ideas of the establishment of AFoCO was proposed and noted, will hold its third meeting to mark the 30th
anniversary of the ASEAN-Korea dialogue relations;

Decides to:
1. Hold a High-Level Meeting in conjunction with the 3rd Session of the Assembly in the last week of October 2019 and endorse a Plan for AFoCO High-Level (Ministerial) Meeting as in the Appendix;
2. Direct the Executive Director to coordinate the preparation of the meeting as per the endorsed plan; and
3. Task the Secretariat to furnish necessary support concerning procedural and protocol-related issues to invite Ministers from respective countries.
D-21-II-19S 2019 AFoCO High-Level (Ministerial) Meeting