On May 29, the P4G Seoul Summit Green Future Session on Forests was broadcast on the Summit’s official Youtube channel. AFoCO, represented by executive director Mr. Ricardo L. Calderon, explained the role of AFoCO at the ‘Forests for Global Net-zero and Peace’ panel discussion.
Mr. Calderon, in his panel intervention, highlighted AFoCO’s role in serving as a platform for the exchange of expertise and technical cooperation through regional and country projects; building capacities through the AFoCO Regional Education and Training Center; facilitating member parties access to funding to support forestry objectives; and increasing coordination through regional and international mechanisms.
Mr. Calderon went on to elaborate that AFoCO, as a formal multi-lateral development organization, will continue to provide the bridge to enhance cross-sectoral cooperation and coordination among member parties and partner institutions on the management of forests for the sustainable production of economic goods and ecosystem services, biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation and adaptation in order to achieve sustainable development.
Landscape Partnership Asia (LPA) was also cited as an example of how AFoCO is expanding partnership beyond the forest sector. AFoCO is working with the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) and the Global Evergreening Alliance to restore ten million hectares of drylands and drought-prone areas.