The APFNet Secretariat welcomes the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Declaration, published on 11 November 2014 following the close of the 22ndEconomic Leaders’ Meeting in Beijing, China.

The declaration addresses discussions and agreements made with the objective of deepening economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. It covers the areas of enhancing economic integration, reform and growth; promoting innovative development;and strengthening comprehensive connectivity and infrastructure development. It also endorses regional environmental commitments including the areas of wildlife conservation, environmental goods and services and sustainable growth.

In particular, the declaration reaffirms the goal of APEC to continue efforts to “protect forest resources, combat illegal logging and associated trade, promote sustainable forest management, and work with relevant organizations, including the Asia-Pacific Network on Sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation (APFNet), to ensure the achievement of the aspirational goal on forests in the Sydney Declaration”. (Para. 38)

The Sydney APEC Leaders' Declaration on Climate Change, Energy Security and Clean Development was adopted during the APEC Ministerial Meeting in Sydney on 8 September 2007, which established the APEC-wide regional goal of increasing forest cover in the region by 200,000 square kilometers by 2020.