Korea Forest Service Seeks to Host World Forestry Congress

The Korea Forest Service (KFS) has attended the 26th Session of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission (APFC), which is taking place at the Clark Freeport Zone in the Philippines from Feb. 22 to 26. During the forum, the KFS is meeting delegates from each country to express the nation’s will to host the 15th World Forestry Congress (WFC) and ask for support, actively carrying out a marketing campaign to become the host country.

 The APFC is one of six Regional Forestry Commissions established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to provide a policy and technical forum for countries to discuss and address forest issues on a regional basis.

 The WFC, which is considered the forestry sector's Olympics, is the largest and most significant gathering of the world's forestry sector and it has been held every six years under the auspices of the FAO, organized by the government of the host country. It is a forum for the sharing of knowledge and experience regarding the conservation, management and use of the world's forests, and covers such issues as international dialogue, socio-economic and institutional aspects, and forest policies.

 As part of its marketing campaign, the KFS told delegates from 30 Asian countries on Feb. 24, including New Zealand and Australia, that it is Asian countries’ turn to host the next WFC and Korea has successfully restored forests, making an appeal for support to become the next WFC host country that represents Asia.

 “Starting with the APFC, we will actively let the world know Korea’s strong will and appropriateness of hosting the 15th WFC and win the bid to host the gathering,” said Mr. Kim Yong-kwan, Director-General of the International Affairs Bureau at the KFS.

 During the conference, the KFS will have high-level meetings about forest restoration and participate in meetings with various discussion topics, including forest investment in the Asia-Pacific region, to talk about Korea’s experience in forest management and ways to vitalize the forest restoration in the Asia-Pacific region.

 In addition, it will actively respond to related agenda, such as the effect of Paris Agreement on the forestry sector and Pyeongchang declaration, which is an outgrowth of the 6th International Wildland Fire Conference.