The 19th Session of the Committee on Forestry/World Forest Week under FAO was held during March 16-20, 2009 in Rome, Italy. The Asia Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation (APFNet), the new regional forestry organization, was invited to attend the COFO meeting.

Themed with “Sustainable Forest Management and Climate Change” and “Adapting Forestry Policy and Institutions to Change” the COFO meeting brought together participants to discuss topics covering global forest and forestry strategies, forests and climate change, investment on SFM, forests’ role to help the global economic recovery, and so forth.

During the meeting, the side event “Glimpses of Developments in Asia-Pacific Forestry” was organized by APFC, inviting forestry organizations and initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region to participate. A presentation on APFNet development was made by Ms. LIU Xin, Deputy Director of APFNet Secretariat, introducing the objectives, mission, priorities, recent activities and follow-up work plan of the APFNet. A number of government agencies, international and regional organizations showed interest and willingness to build up cooperation with the APFNet.

APFNet also had a consultation with FAO on further cooperation, and a discussion on project activities and future development of APFNet was held among China, the US and Australia.