The Soil and Water Forum 2024, held from December 9 to 11 in Bangkok, served as the platform for launching the “Restoring and Sustaining Landscapes Together (RESULT) Asia-Pacific” framework. This launch marked the beginning of a coordinated regional effort to restore and sustainably manage 100 million hectares of degraded landscapes across 20 economies in Asia and the Pacific by 2030.
The launch of RESULT Asia-Pacific framework. Source: FAO
As a RESULT partner, APFNet actively participated in the launch and the follow-up events, contributing its expertise and insights in advancing the framework’s goals. During the first RESULT Asia-Pacific Investment Forum held from 11 – 12 December, APFNet shared the findings from its APEC 2020 Forest Cover Goal Assessment. In partnership with FAO, the assessment highlights how APEC members, through strong political commitments, pragmatic actions, and collaborations, have successfully achieved the aspirational goal of increasing forest cover in the region by at least 20 million hectares of all types of forests by 2020. It also underscores that APEC, as a critical region for global forest restoration, still faces significant missions and challenges ahead. The lessons shared reinforce the importance of region-wide cooperation and multi-stakeholder engagements in addressing these challenges and driving sustained progress. These insights have provided valuable guidance for implementing the RESULT framework and enhancing regional collaboration.
Over the past decade, APFNet has carried out several key programs in Inner Mongolia, China, to showcase sustainable forestry and ecological restoration on arid and semiarid lands, adding value to restoration efforts in China. At the Investment Forum, APFNet also shared its practical experience from two flagship projects: the multifunctional forest practices in Chifeng’s Kalaqin Banner and the dryland restoration efforts in Aohan Banner. Over more than ten years of implementation, these projects have integrated scientific planning, technical innovation, and active community participation, resulting in significant improvements in ecosystem functions while addressing local socio-economic needs. These demonstration projects stand with replicable forest and landscape restoration models, particularly for the Greater Central Asia region.
APFNet forest restoration project in Aohan Banner, Inner Mongolia. Source: APFNet
The RESULT Asia-Pacific framework represents a collective regional response to the urgent need for forest and landscape restoration, aligned with global commitments such as the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework, and the Bonn Challenge. Led by FAO, UNEP, UNDP, ITTO, and IUCN, the framework has mobilized the collective efforts of 38 partners, including APFNet, to transform degraded landscapes into productive, ecologically functional, and resilient systems. The framework underscores the critical importance of partnerships, innovative financing, and coordinated regional action in achieving these ambitious goals and advancing sustainable development across the Asia-Pacific.
As an important partner of the RESULT framework, APFNet will further strengthen collaboration with regional partners to advance its implementation through technical support, capacity building, and knowledge sharing. By fostering partnerships and aligning efforts, APFNet aims to ensure that restoration initiatives deliver tangible benefits to local communities and ecosystems, contributing to the sustainable development of the region.
Achieving the APEC 2020 Forest Cover Goal
