The Royal Forest Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), officially opened the 31st Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission (APFC31) at Shangri-La Hotel Chiang Mai on 4th November 2025.
The event, held under the theme “Healthy Forests Feed the Future,” was presided over by Nikorn Sirirojananon, Director-General of the Royal Forest Department, and Dr. Alue Dohong, Assistant Director-General of FAO and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific.
Delegates from 34 member countries across the Asia-Pacific region and more than 200 representatives from Thai agencies—including the Royal Forest Department, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, and the Forest Industry Organisation—attended the opening ceremony.
The conference, taking place between the 4th and 7th November, features a number of key activities, including a special lecture titled “Forests Make Better Life for Thai People under the Challenge of the Global Crisis” by Prof. Dr. Sanit Aksornkaew, Fellow of the Royal Institute of Thailand. Exhibitions by international organisations such as GIZ, ITTO, and RECOFTC are also on display, along with study visits to the Chiang Mai University Forest Restoration Research Unit (FORRU) in Mae Rim and the Huai Hong Khrai Royal Development Study Centre in Doi Saket.
The APFC, convenes every two years, provides policy guidance, promotes the exchange of forestry knowledge and technical practices, and supports FAO member states in advancing sustainable forest management.
This year’s theme, “Healthy Forests Feed the Future,” underscores the essential role of sustainable forestry in supporting biodiversity, mitigating climate change, and ensuring resources for future generations. Healthy forests, said Nikorn, are key to strengthening agricultural systems, rural livelihoods, nutrition, and food security across the region.
He also noted that the discussions will be addressing major environmental and agricultural challenges—such as wildfires, haze pollution, deforestation, forest economics, and financing for forest conservation—that require strong regional cooperation.
“Hosting APFC31 alongside the FAO is both an honour and a reflection of the trust placed in Thailand,” said Nikorn to CityNews. “It also offers an opportunity to share Thailand’s successful community-based forest management models, royal-initiated projects, and agroforestry systems, as well as our national policies promoting the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy with the world. These initiatives align with our national forestry strategy and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.”
