Paro, Bhutan — The APFNet participated in the Regional Model Forest Network–Asia (RMFN–Asia) annual Advisory Committee Meeting, held from 2–7 February 2026 in Paro, Bhutan. The meeting convened representatives from government agencies, Model Forest practitioners, regional organizations, and international partners to review progress, share experiences, and strengthen collaboration on sustainable forest landscape management in the Asia-Pacific region.

During the meeting, Dr. Wang Chunfeng, APFNet’s Executive Director, delivered a presentation introducing APFNet, and highlighting its mandate, core programmes, and ongoing contributions to sustainable forest management, forest landscape restoration, and capacity building across the region. The presentation emphasized APFNet’s strong commitment to promoting multi-stakeholder cooperation, knowledge exchange, and practical demonstration projects that support both environmental sustainability and community livelihoods.

In his remarks, Dr Wang also extended an invitation to Bhutan to join APFNet as a member, noting Bhutan’s exemplary forest conservation policies, community-based forest management practices, and its alignment with APFNet’s vision and objectives. He underscored that Bhutan’s participation would further strengthen regional cooperation and mutual learning among the economies in the Asia-Pacific.

The Advisory Committee Meeting served as an important platform to review the implementation of the RMFN–Asia strategic priorities and to explore opportunities for enhanced collaboration among Model Forest stakeholders. Participants also discussed the potential of the Model Forest’s approach to support integrated landscape management, cross-sector coordination, and sustainable development.

APFNet’s participation in the meeting reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with regional partners and networks, including RMFN–Asia, to advance sustainable forest management and rehabilitation efforts across the Asia-Pacific region.