Luang Prabang, Lao PDR, 26 May 2026 —APFNet led a plenary session titled “From Demonstration to Transformation: Scaling Community Forestry Solutions for Biodiversity and Livelihoods in the Asia-Pacific” during the regional conference “Community Forests for a Biodiverse Future.” 

The conference, organized by RECOFTC in partnership with Cornell University and Oregon State University, brought together community leaders, government representatives, researchers, practitioners, and development partners from across the Asia-Pacific region to advance biodiversity conservation through community forestry.

The APFNet-led plenary session explored how successful community forestry demonstration projects and long-term capacity-building efforts can move beyond pilot-level achievements to generate transformative, scalable outcomes aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. It highlighted APFNet’s long-standing support and contribution to sustainable forest management, forest restoration, and sustainable development across the region through its demonstration projects, regional cooperation initiatives, and scholarship program.

The session featured case studies on projects in China, Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar, delivered by experts and practitioners: Prof Wang Shusen from Inner Mongolia Agriculture University, Mr Syneath Sreng from Cambodia’s Institute of Forest and Wildlife Research and Development, Mr Bounpasakxay Khampoumi from the Department of Forestry of Lao PDR, and Ms Laura Chan, from APFNet.

Speakers shared practical experiences and lessons learned from field-based initiatives, including ecosystem restoration, mangrove conservation, forest management methods to enhance biodiversity, and community-based livelihood development. Discussions emphasized the importance of translating successful local practices into policy-supported, large-scale solutions capable of addressing biodiversity loss driven by land-use change, infrastructure development, and unsustainable resource use.

Participants also discussed the critical role of regional partnerships, knowledge exchange, and long-term investment in capacity development to support resilient and biodiverse community forests. Particular attention was given to the importance of empowering Indigenous Peoples and local communities, recognizing local knowledge systems, and creating enabling governance and financing mechanisms for community-led conservation.

The APFNet-led session contributed to broader regional dialogue on biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable rural development, reaffirming the importance of community forestry as an effective pathway toward nature-positive and inclusive forest management in the Asia-Pacific region.

The five-day conference “Community Forests for a Biodiverse Future” took place from 25–29 May 2026 in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR, focusing on advancing community-led biodiversity governance, science and monitoring, financing mechanisms, youth leadership, and policy pathways for nature-positive community forestry across the Asia-Pacific region.