Asia and the Pacific Forest Health Workshop – Forest Health in a Changing World

Purpose of the workshop

The main objective of the workshop is to provide a forum for linking various international, regional and national agencies and institutions dealing with forest health issues, and to share strategies, experiences and knowledge, related to forest health. The workshop will provide an opportunity for individuals and their associated agencies, organizations and networks to build collaborative linkages and better align programmes to capture synergies. Special emphasis will be given to plant pests and diseases, as well as environmental services of the forests. The workshop will also provide an opportunity for various organizations – including IUFRO and APFISN – to assess capacity-building needs in terms of research and extension related to forest health in the Asia-Pacific region.

Who should attend?
The workshop is open to all interested participants. It will be of particular relevance to representatives of international and regional organizations, programmes, networks and projects dealing with invasive species and forest health. Individuals working in policy, research and operations related to forest pests and diseases, environmental services, and forest management will find the workshop especially useful. A wide range of government officials, scientists, industry representatives and private sector officials, from across the Asia-Pacific region are expected to attend.

Programme
The workshop will encompass two phases. The first (one day) will bring together international agencies/programmes/projects to share their strategies, knowledge and experiences, and to present a holistic picture/strategy for addressing forest health issues in Asia and the Pacific. The second phase (two days) will include overarching plenary sessions, followed by several technical sessions for country representatives to share their experiences and knowledge. The themes to be addressed by the technical sessions are:

1. Current forest health practices in Asia and the Pacific
a. Capacities needs to underpin forest health
b. Regional initiatives – networks and forums
c. Forest health management strategies and activities
d. Legal, institutional and economic frameworks for protection of forest health

2. Linkages between forest health and:
a. Sustainable forest management -criteria and indicators
b. Biological diversity
c. Pest management activities in non-forest sectors
d. Soil and water
e. Disturbances (biotic and abiotic, including fire)
f. Climate change mitigation and adaptation
g. Biofuels

The working language of the workshop will be English.

Venue
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Sources of Funding
Participants should seek their own resources to attend the workshop. Efforts are being made to mobilize resources to support a limited number of invited participants, especially from developing countries in Asia and the Pacific. Those who are interested in participating in the workshop, but do not have their own funding, are still encouraged to register. The workshop organizers will attempt to provide partial support.

Organization
The workshop is an initiative of the International Union of Forest Research Organization (IUFRO) and the Asia-Pacific Forest Invasive Species Network (APFISN). It is being organized by the Asia-Pacific Association of Forest Research Institutions (APAFRI) in technical collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), and the Korea Forest Research Institute (KFRI).

Contact for Enquiries
Sim Heok-Choh
Asia Pacific Association of Forestry Research Institutions
c/o Forest Research Institute Malaysia
Kepong 52109 Kepong
Selangor, Malaysia
Fax: 60 3 6277 3249 E-mail: [email protected]

KV Sankaran
Coordinator
Asia Pacific Forest Invasive Species Network
c/o Kerala Forest Research Institute
Peechi 680653 Kerala, India
Fax: 91 487 2699249 E-mail: [email protected]