Beijing, 17 October 2025 – Dr. Wang Chunfeng, Executive Director of the Asia-Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation (APFNet), met with a delegation led by Mr. Andre Purret, Deputy Executive Director of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), at the APFNet headquarters . Building upon positive outcomes since 2016, from joint training to shared participation in forums like the IUFRO World Congress, both parties held in-depth discussions on strengthening practical cooperation in policy dialogue, capacity building, and knowledge sharing, with an eye on renewing their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in line with their strategic priorities.

Dr. Wang welcomed the delegation, underscoring the value of their long-standing partnership. He reaffirmed APFNet's commitment to promoting sustainable forest management and rehabilitation in the Asia-Pacific region through demonstration projects, capacity building, policy dialogue, and knowledge sharing. He also highlighted that APFNet's forthcoming strategic plan (2026-2030) will intensify efforts on climate change, biodiversity conservation, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Mr. Huang Kebiao, Head of the Planning Division, detailed APFNet's flagship initiatives in forest landscape restoration, community-based management, and multifunctional forestry. He presented the organization's capacity-building achievements through its Kunming Training Center, scholarship programs, and regional training bases, and outlined the strategic framework for its next five-year development(2026-2030).

Mr. Andre Purret outlined IUFRO's organizational structure, decision-making processes, and key research areas, including silviculture, forest policy and economics, forest health, biodiversity, and climate change. He highlighted the union's post-2020 strategy, which focuses on three core goals: enhancing research excellence, strengthening internal communication and diversity, and increasing the impact of science on policy and society. Additionally, IUFRO's Environmental Affairs Manager, Dr. Nelson Grima, introduced the Regional Science-Policy Interface Networks (SPIN) initiative and shared updates on the 27th IUFRO World Congress scheduled for 2029 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The two sides also exchanged views on critical global forestry-related issues of shared concern, such as addressing climate change, biodiversity conservation, and the sustainable management and utilization of forest resources. They shared the view that, amid new global socioeconomic, environmental, and demographic shifts, achieving sustainable forest management must transcend conventional paradigms, embrace innovative forestry technologies, foster cross-disciplinary and cross-sectoral collaboration, and bridge grassroots practices with policy processes through robust scientific research.

Looking ahead, both sides expressed their willingness to deepen cooperation in policy dialogue, capacity building, and knowledge sharing. They agreed to continue the consultation on renew their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with the aim of formalizing the MoU at an appropriate time in 2026.

(Group photo, left to right: Mr. Huang Kebiao, APFNet; Dr. Nelson Grima, Environmental Affairs Manager, IUFRO; Dr. Wang Chunfeng, Executive Director, APFNet; Mr. Andre Purret, Deputy Executive Director, IUFRO. Photo by Ms. LONG Chao)

About IUFRO
The International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) is a non-profit, non-governmental international network of forest scientists, headquartered in Vienna, Austria.It is dedicated to promoting global cooperation in forest research through scientific excellence and knowledge sharing. IUFRO works to provide science-based solutions to the world's forest-related challenges.