On the morning of July 30th, 2026, the training workshop on "Sustainable Forest Management and Restoration in the Context of Climate Change" officially opened in Kunming, Yunnan. Co-organized by APFNet and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the event brought together forestry officials and researchers from developing economies across South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and Africa. Representatives from APFNet, TNC, the Yunnan Provincial Forestry and Grassland Administration, and Southwest Forestry University attended the opening ceremony.
In his opening remarks, APFNet Executive Director Wang Chunfeng highlighted that this workshop marks the first APFNet training under the Global Forest Network (GFN) framework focused specifically on climate change and sustainable forest management. The program aims to build capacity among GFN member economies to meet their climate, biodiversity, and development goals under the 2030 Agenda. He noted that forests are the planet's largest terrestrial carbon reservoir and a cornerstone of the Paris Agreement. Yet, they face pressures from climate vulnerability, unsustainable practices, and funding and technology gaps. The training covers risk assessment, Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) pathways, innovative financing, and “Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV)” systems. He stressed that this workshop is just the start—APFNet will continue offering similar programs—and encourage participants to engage and share their experiences actively.
Zhang Xiaoquan, China Chief Representative of TNC, observed that the workshop brings together policymakers and practitioners from diverse economies with different ecological baselines, governance systems, and development stages. He stressed that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for forest management—real insights emerge from the sharing of experience, innovation, and diverse perspectives. He expressed hope that the training would serve as a bridge for knowledge exchange and provide valuable references for all participants.
Yang Silin, Vice President of Southwest Forestry University (SWFU), noted that SWFU has long been a driving force in regional forestry education cooperation. Since the APFNet Kunming Training Center was established, it has hosted 24 international training programs, reaching 368 forestry officials and researchers from 21 Asia-Pacific economies. He mentioned that he is looking forward to deepening regional collaboration through this workshop and advancing the Global Forest Network.
As part of the program, participants will visit a field site in Jianshui County—the "Yunnan Disney Degraded Land Restoration and Forestry Carbon Project"- to observe the outcomes of forest restoration, sustainable management techniques, community co-management, and forestry carbon monitoring.
Group Photo of the Opening Ceremony
Opening Remarks by Dr. Wang Chunfeng, Executive Director of the APFNet
