Wednesday, 18 May
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Asia-Pacific Day
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The morning's panel on SFM in the Asia-Pacific Region was moderated by
Naria Andin of the Phillipines.
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Keynote speaker David Kaimowitz, Director General of the Centre
for International Forest Research, discussed challenges facing SFM in
Asia, and identified emerging and ongoing issues that need to be addressed.
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Freeezailah Che' Yeom of the Malaysian Timber Certification Council spoke
on SFM and certification efforts in Asia, and called for implementation of
all criteria and indicators for SFM as well as credible certification schemes.
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Kanchan Lama of Nepal presented on initiatives to empower women through
community-based forest management in Nepal, and outlined efforts to promote
gender equality and empower women.
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Hiro Miyazono of Japan spoke on Japan's contributions in support of
SFM, and its experiences in establishing coastal forests, and emphasized
emerging cooperation with non-governmental organizations and the private
sector.
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Gopa Pandey of India shared recent developments concerning SFM in India,
and described the various social, economic and environmental concerns that
must be balanced in the implementation of SFM strategies.
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Jomo Kwame Sundaram, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development
in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs noted a migration of
logging activities from Southeast Asia to Pacific, African and Latin
American regions.
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Lu De of China emphsized that China's per capita consumption of timber
is below the world average and one-sixteenth of consumption in developed
countries, and said equal access to development is a human right.
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Charlotte Cudby of New Zealand noted the development of a regional code
of practice in Asia, and underscored the potential for valuation of and
payment for environmental services.
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G.K. Prasad of India commented on advances in his country's national
forest programme implementation, emphasizing a commitment to meaningful
partnerships and an institutional framework to ensure participation of
all stakeholders.
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Sye Mahmood Nasir of Pakistan commented on the overlap between UNFF and
the CBD forest program, noting the need for UNFF to rethink its strategy
to focus on non-biodiversity-related aspects of forests.
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Jan McAlpine of the United States stated that the panel presentations
demonstrate the positive potential of regional approaches, and highlighted
the importance of cooperation on forest fire management.
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Ananta Raj Pandey of Nepal called for a UNFF outcome that would strengthen
social and gender equality initiatives already underway in his country.
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Around UNFF 5
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Although several members of the Youth and Children major group came from
countries whose flags are on the south side of the corridor, they agreed
(after a short debate) to pose with their fellows on the north side, thus
demonstrating north-south cooperation and making this photo possible.
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