Astana, Kazakhstan, 22–23 April 2026 — The Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO) participated in the Regional Ecological Summit 2026 held in Astana, Kazakhstan, joining regional and international discussions on biodiversity conservation, forest rehabilitation, land restoration, climate resilience, and sustainable development in Central Asia.
The Summit brought together high-level representatives from Central Asia and neighboring countries under the theme of building a shared vision for a resilient future. It served as a regional platform to address common ecological challenges, including climate change, water stress, land degradation, biodiversity loss, desertification, and the need for greater technical and financial cooperation. The event was also recognized as an important opportunity for Central Asian countries to advance ecology as a practical channel for cross-border cooperation. Participants included heads of environmental authorities from Central Asian countries, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Germany, Belarus, Türkiye, Italy, China, Cambodia, Serbia, Mongolia, Croatia, Japan, Afghanistan, the Russian Federation and others, as well as representatives from the sectors of water management, healthcare, agriculture, energy, education, and finance from Central Asia and beyond.
During the Summit, AFoCO attended the Presidential Opening Ceremony, which brought together the Presidents of Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan. The participating countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening regional environmental cooperation and addressing shared ecological challenges.
A key outcome of the Summit was the adoption of the “Green Shield of Central Asia” Resolution, which aims to promote a regional system of protective forest belts to combat desertification, dust storms, land degradation, and biodiversity loss across five Central Asian countries ― Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
AFoCO joined the panel session “The Green Shield of Central Asia: A Regional System of Protective Forest Belts.” At the panel session, the Vice Executive Director, Mr. Jin Sunpil delivered a presentation titled “Leveraging Blended Finance in Regional Forest Cooperation: Opportunities for the Green Shield Initiative.” He emphasized that forest cooperation in Central Asia requires practical pathways for land restoration, forest carbon projects, blended finance, private-sector partnerships, and long-term capacity building. He also noted AFoCO’s recent accreditation as an entity of the Green Climate Fund, which strengthens AFoCO’s capacity to support larger-scale climate and forest projects with its Member Countries.
Mr. Jin Sunpil also highlighted AFoCO’s growing portfolio in Central Asia. AFoCO’s portfolio in Central Asia can be broadly categorized into three areas: (1) seed storage and nursery development projects, (2) agroforestry and afforestation-reforestation-based carbon projects, and (3) non-timber forest product (NTFP) projects. These include an agroforestry carbon project in the Kyrgyz Republic with Rabobank ACORN, restoration of wildfire-affected areas in Kazakhstan with KT&G, and the establishment of a nursery with seed-storage facilities in Tajikistan. These projects demonstrate AFoCO’s hands-on experience in forest restoration, carbon-linked models, and local livelihood support.
AFoCO also participated in the session “Mountains and Climate Change: From Vulnerability to Sustainable Development,” organized by the Office of the Special Representative of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic on the Mountain Agenda. During the session, Mr. Jin Sunpil presented AFoCO’s activities in support of mountain-related regional cooperation. He highlighted the Republic of Korea’s forest rehabilitation experience, AFoCO’s ongoing projects in Central Asia, and the importance of climate finance, disaster resilience, and action-oriented cooperation.
Looking ahead, AFoCO emphasized four key opportunities for regional cooperation: (1) supporting the “Green Shield of Central Asia” Initiative, (2) scaling restoration models that generate carbon value, (3) exploring climate finance opportunities under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, and (4) elevating forest and climate cooperation as a shared agenda for the upcoming Republic of Korea–Central Asia Summit.
In an interview with CNN, Mr. Jin Sunpil shared his views on the key challenges facing regional ecological cooperation and emphasized the importance of governance, coordination, and implementation-oriented partnerships.
Central Asia’s climate vulnerability is closely linked to land degradation and the loss of key forest ecosystems. At least 20 percent of the region’s land area is degraded, mainly in arid environments where salinization, erosion, and declining land productivity threaten rural livelihoods. The region is also home to more than 300 wild fruit and nut species, yet around 90 percent of their forest habitats have been lost over the past 50 years, while tugai forests—vital for biodiversity, water regulation, and ecosystem services—remain among the most degraded forest types in the region.
Through its participation in the Regional Ecological Summit 2026, AFoCO reaffirmed its role as an action-oriented regional platform for forest cooperation. AFoCO stands ready to work with Central Asian countries and international partners to translate regional commitments into concrete results on the ground, particularly through forest restoration, climate finance, carbon projects, capacity building, and inclusive regional cooperation.
Related media coverage on AFoCO’s engagement in the Regional Ecological Summit 2026 was also featured in The Korea Herald. The article is available here.
Contributed by Ms. Yujeong Chang, Assistant Program Officer, Operations and Resource Team.