ITTO Regional Workshop on Strengthening the Asia Forest Partnership

Hyatt Regency Hotel, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

30 August-1 September 2004

27 August 2004 — Representatives from some 20 countries around the world are meeting in Yogyakarta to discuss some of the region’s most pressing forest issues, combating illegal logging, controlling forest fires, and rehabilitating degraded forestlands.

Supported by the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) and organised by the Ministry of Forestry of Indonesia, the workshop will also provide an opportunity for members to discuss AFP’s organizational arrangements and future directions.

Key guests at the event include Indonesia’s Minister for Forestry, Dr. Muhamad Prakosa, Japan’s Senior Vice Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Mr. Ichiro Ichikawa, and Malaysia’s Assistant Secretary to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Mr. Nik Andy Suwardy bin Amry.

Workshop participants will discuss the progress of several AFP initiatives for tackling important transnational forest issues . These include a proposed framework, the development of which has been facilitated by The Nature Conservancy, for helping customs and other agencies work more effectively together in recognizing and intercepting illegal shipments of wood. Also discussed will be new research from CIFOR aimed towards facilitating a common definition of illegal logging among AFP partners.

Other key guests include Mr. Toshikatsu Matsuoka member of the Japanese House of Representatives, Mr. François Ossama from the Congo Basin Partnership, Hugh Speechly from the UK’s Department for International Development, Patrick Durst from the Food and Agriculture Organization, Liu Jinlong from China’s Academy of Forestry and Kuldip Sing from Care International – Nepal.

The ITTO Regional Workshop on Strengthening the Asia Forest Partnership provides the media with a good opportunity to meet with some of region’s leading forestry experts and learn more about some of the major challenges facing Asia’s forests. Interviews can be arranged and a press conference will be held during the workshop.

Further information:

• Nina Haase (081315174559),
• Hiroaki Kuramitsu (081315455565)
• Budhy Kristanty (0816637353)

The Asia Forest Partnership (AFP) is a voluntary, multi-stakeholder collaboration of governments, intergovernmental organisations and civil society groups promoting sustainable forest management in Asia.

Outcomes from the Yogyakarta workshop will be presented at the fourth AFP meeting in Tokyo, 8-10 December 2004.