The Inception Workshop on APFNet Project “Forest Cover and Carbon Mapping in the GMS & Malaysia” was successfully held in Beijing, 13-15 September 2011. Over 30 participants from APFNet Secretariat, Project Executing Agency and Technical Assistant Partners of the project, i.e. GOFC-GOLD, University of Maryland of USA, Asian Institute of Technology Forest (AIT), Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Forestry Administration of Cambodia, Royal Forest Department of Thailand, Forest Inventory & Planning Institute of Viet Nam, Faculty of forestry of National University of Laos, Chinese Academy of Forestry (CAF), Guangxi Forest Inventory & Planning Institute (GFIPI) of China and Southwest Forestry University of China attended the workshop.

Mr. Qu Guilin, Director General of the APFNet Secretariat, Prof. Liu Shirong, Vice President of Chinese Academy of Forestry, Prof. Li Zengyuan, Institute of Forest Resources Information Techniques of CAF addressed the workshop. On behalf of APFNet, Mr. Qu Guilin welcomed all participants and stressed that this pilot project involves multiple parties, who need to coordinate and cooperate closely in executing the project and really motivate the local communities. In the following remarks, Prof. Liu Shirong said, as an overall coordinating agency of the project, CAF will try its best to provide technical support for all of the Technical Assistant Partners in implementing the project. Prof. Li Zengyuan introduced the project work plan and activities arrangement. Experts from all participating economies presented their detailed work plan for the project, and discussed issues related to implementation and management of the project.

The project is sponsored by APFNet and will be implemented by the Institute of Forest Resources Information Techniques of Chinese Academy of Forestry (CAF) with the Project Technical Assistant Partners from GOFC-GOLD, University of Maryland of USA, Asian Institute of Technology Forest (AIT), Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Forestry Administration of Cambodia, Royal Forest Department of Thailand, Forest Inventory & Planning Institute of Viet Nam, Faculty of forestry of National University of Laos, Guangxi Forest Inventory & Planning Institute (GFIPI) and Southwest Forestry University of China with a 2-year duration. The total budget is US$ 1,236,900, among which 998,800 US$ is granted by APFNet. Through the project, a framework and methods for forest mapping and carbon estimation are expected to be developed by using optical and radar remote sensing technology, forest resources in the GMS economies and Malaysia will be better monitored and institutional capacity in the region will be enhanced to perform forest mapping and assessment.