26 August 2015 – APFNet and RECOFTC – The Center for People and Forests have agreed to carry out further cooperation to promote community-based forestry development in the Asia-Pacific region.

At the signing ceremony on Wednesday 26 August in the APFNet Secretariat office in Beijing, Dr. Lu De (on behalf of Executive Director Mr. Qu Guilin) and Dr. Tint Lwin Thaung, Executive Director of RECOFTC, signed the Memorandum of Understanding to renew and improve the partnership for another five years (2015 – 2020).

“RECOFTC and APFNet should carry out collaborative activities in community forestry on the ground, since both of our organizations share common goals,” Dr. Lu De stressed. Dr. Tint Lwin Thaung agreed and suggested that the two organizations “try to summarize the best practices of community forestry models in the region by leveraging on mutual strengths.”

The renewed APFNet–RECOFTC agreement maps out an elaborated scope of cooperation focused on community forestry, with the overall goal of strengthening the capacity of governments, communities and other relevant sectors in sustainable community-based forest management and rehabilitation in the Asia-Pacific region. The partnership will be facilitated through technical cooperation, exchange of information and materials, capacity development and growth of knowledge networks.