2025 STEP and KEYS Programs Officially Commenced at 11th ICEBG
The Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO), in collaboration with the Korea Arboreta and Gardens Institute (KOAGI), officially commenced the 2025 Science and Technology Exchange Partnership (STEP) and Keep Eternally Your Seeds (KEYS) Programs as part of the official side events of the 11th International Congress on Education in Botanic Gardens (ICEBG), held in Seoul, Republic of Korea. These programs invite forestry officials from AFoCO Member Countries including Bhutan, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam- as well as representatives from Samoa and Fiji (Oceania) and the Dominican Republic (Caribbean). The overarching aim is to strengthen regional capacities in forest plant biodiversity conservation, seed preservation, and arboretum-based education.
(Master of Ceremony: Kiwon Kim, Program Officer of Capacity Building and Evaluation Team, AFoCO Secretariat)
Capacity Building through Field-Based Learning
The STEP Program, hosted at the Sejong National Arboretum, is themed around “The Role of Arboreta in Conserving Forest Plant Biodiversity.” Participants will be trained in a wide range of techniques such as nursery design and operation, miniature landscaping, tropical and Mediterranean greenhouse management, and the planning of arboretum-based educational programs.
The curriculum also includes visitor experience design and interpretation techniques to ensure practical and modern approaches to arboretum education.Simultaneously, the KEYS Program is being held at the Baekdudaegan Global Seed Vault (BGSV). The program emphasizes practical, hands-on training in seed identification, viability testing, germination techniques, plant propagation, herbarium specimen preparation, and documentation. Participants will also formulate national seed deposit strategies based on BGSV protocols to facilitate real-world application and collaboration.
Both programs are designed to help participants develop country-specific Action Plans while encouraging knowledge exchange and regional cooperation through group discussions and joint tasks. Ultimately, these efforts aim to establish a sustainable network for forest biodiversity conservation.
Opening Ceremony Highlights Shared Vision for Regional Cooperation
Mr. Sunpil Jin, Vice Executive Director of the AFoCO Secretariat, emphasized the AFoCO’s dedication to fostering regional cooperation and technical capacity in biodiversity conservation. In his welcoming remarks at the Opening Ceremony, he noted that the STEP and KEYS Programs represent AFoCO’s strategic goals of promoting inclusive, science-based conservation. By bringing together professionals from across Asiac, AFoCO hopes to inspire meaningful actions to safeguard forest ecosystems.
Dr. Seok-Woo Lee, Executive Director of the Business Division at KOAGI, highlighted the significance of international cooperation and expressed KOAGI’s commitment to supporting the programs through the expertise of the Sejong National Arboretum and BGSV. He encouraged participants to make full use of the training and explore sustainable partnerships beyond the program duration.
2025 STEP Participants
2025 KEYS Participants
Looking Ahead
On 10 June, participants will convene at the AFoCO Secretariat to attend a working-level meeting aimed at initiating the AFoCO Seed Management Working Group. This working group is envisioned as a platform for collaborative research, policy dialogue, and technical cooperation among Member Countries.
Over the following two weeks, participants will continue engaging in intensive theory and practice sessions, culminating in the development of country specific implementation plans for seed and biodiversity conservation. AFoCO will actively support the follow-up activities based on these plans and continue assisting Member Countries in addressing biodiversity loss and climate change challenges through regional cooperation and technical assistance.
Submitted by Kiwon Kim, Program Officer, Capacity-Building and Evaluation Team