Our work-Asia-Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation

Towards our mission and objectives, APFNet’s work is planned to reflect the needs and priorities of our members, the regional and global forest-related agenda and commitments, and the organization’s path of development. These considerations are further broken down into APFNet Strategic Plan. This crucial guiding document outlines the measurable targets, prioritized areas, key programs and projects, approaches, resources, and collaborations required for each five years.

APFNet has developed three strategic plans so far. The most recent one, based on findings of the ten-year review and assessment of the implementation of the previous plan, continually works as a living guide for 2021 – 2025 and is also adaptive to regional circumstances.

Thematic Priorities

Contributing to forest restoration

APFNet supports the restoration of degraded forests and lands, thereby contributing to forest cover targets. This involves promoting cost-effective restoration approaches, facilitating policy and knowledge exchange, and supporting ground restoration work.

Reducing forest degradation

APFNet focuses on building the capacity of member economies to tackle the multifaced drivers of forest loss and degradation. This includes addressing poverty and limited livelihood options for forest- dependent communities and policy, institutional, and resource limitations.

Enhancing forest ecosystem functions

APFNet supports multifunctional forest restoration projects that integrate various objectives such as watershed management, biodiversity conservation, climate change response, and livelihood improvements, to improve forest ecosystem functions and benefits.

Geographical Focus

Great Central Asia

Pacific Islands

South Asia

North America

Southeast Asia
(except GMS)

Latin America

Greater Mekong
Subregion

APFNet's geographical focus is primarily on the Asia-Pacific region, with particular attention given to member economies with significant forestry challenges and needs. The strategic plan highlights the importance of tailoring interventions to the specific ecological, social, and economic contexts of the target economies. By concentrating efforts in priority areas, APFNet aims to maximize its impacts and support for the region's diverse forest ecosystems.

Implementation tools

Since its inception, APFNet has figured out the following four major tools to implement our work. They are interrelated at the planning and operational levels to maximize learning and leverage the potential of programs and activities across the four components. For example, policy dialogue exchange events usually support mutual learning and inspire ideas for policy innovation, projects, and research collaboration. Practices, knowledge, and lessons learned from projects could furnish capacity- building programs as up-to-date and first-hand training cases and knowledge products for broader replication.

Capacity building

APFNet contributes to regional capacity development and education for more powerful forest policymakers, researchers, practitioners, and future leaders.

Demonstration Projects

APFNet supports on-the-ground projects that testing research and scientific findings and showcase best knowledge and practices for broader replication.

Policy Dialogues

APFNet facilitates exchanges among policymakers and stakeholders for mutual understanding and learning, enabling more effective collaboration and synergies.

Information Sharing

APFNet promotes regional updates, recording and sharing of data, knowledge, practices, solutions and policy recommendations, valuable experiences and lessons learned, etc.

Our action targets to SDGs

Function, goods, and services from sustainably managed and healthy forests and terrestrial ecosystems can contribute directly or indirectly to all the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while APFNet's work mainly adds value to thefollowing three grouped goals:

For the planet(Health and sustainability of forests and terrestrial ecosystems)

Pilot and demonstrate approaches and practices of afforestation, forest restoration/rehabilitation, and sustainable forest management, contributing to desertification control, land restoration, and improving the health and services of forest ecosystems

Support germplasm conservation for valuable and Indigenous tree and plant species

Support research and ground actions for more resilient forests and forest-based climate change adaptation

Promote watershed monitoring and restoration via forest management

Support mangrove restoration and management for seas and oceans

Support transboundary wildlife tracking and protection

For the people (Poverty reduction, livelihoods, and rural development)

Assist with forest management for more living subsistence

Demonstrate agroforestry practices for more sustainable and quality yields and goods

Empower marginalized groups (women, youth and Indigenous peoples) with awareness, knowledge, skills, and economic opportunities

Support rural development via community forestry

Assist with local business development, including wood and NTFP processing, eco-farming, and tourism, for jobs or income generation/increase

Support with infrastructure improvement and livelihood alternatives

For the partnership (Knowledge, policy advocacy, and collaborations)

Organized regular education and capacity-building programs, including scholarships, fellowships, and training courses for policymakers, forest officials, and researchers

Support educational and awareness-raising events for future generations and broad public

Establish networks and initiate platforms/programs to enhance regional exchanges and dialogues for concrete synergies

Actively partner with regional stakeholders to promote sustainable forest management