Proposed and established to advance SFM in the Asia Pacific region, APFNet's work naturally contributes to the APEC forestry agenda and developments. In addition to capacity-building programs and demonstration projects that have benefited many APFNet members (who are also APEC members), noteworthy is the APEC Meetings of Ministers Responsible for Forestry (APEC MMRFs), the very first ministerial level channel, proposed by APFNet through China, to cover matters all about forests , rather than just environment or timber trade issues, among APEC members.
APEC forestry ministers have met five times to reaffirm their commitments to forestry, share respective policies and actions, exchange their views, and explore more effective cooperation to thrive in APEC forestry developments. APFNet, in close collaboration with the APEC Secretariat, has been deeply engaged in facilitating the process, including program and outcome development, resource and technical support for preparation and organization of meetings, and, more importantly, on-the-ground actions to transmit the commitments to positive changes and impacts.
Review forest-related policies and legislation to identify and remove impediments to forest restoration efforts and to identify additional measures to increase forest area and reduce deforestation and forest degradation.
Examine the direct and indirect key drivers of deforestation and forest degradation and implement further mitigation measures.
Consider developing new and expanding existing forest restoration and rehabilitation programs around emerging initiatives, techniques, and methodologies such as forest landscape restoration.
Examine current rates of afforestation, reforestation, and forest restoration and consider whether new direct incentives would encourage additional efforts.
Explore opportunities for new and additional direct governmental, environmentally sensitive, and socially responsible planting programs and new voluntary planting programs.
Consider the merits of creating an enabling environment that supports investment in forests by removing structural impediments and operational constraints.
Consider increasing finance for REDD+ initiatives through various channels, accelerating REDD+ readiness programs in light of the potential advantages accruing to economies that qualify for results-based financing, and reviewing how self-determined contributions can be a key part of expanding forest cover.
Review their programs for reforming forest tenure or transferring eight forest property rights to identify and address impediments to successful implementation.
Implement new and additional measures to improve forest governance and curb illegal logging.
Consider enacting regulations or other instruments and tools to discourage imports of illegally sourcedtimber.
Continue to improve data collection, monitoring, and forest inventories, including through the use of advanced and emerging technologies
