APFNet

On 17 September 2026, the Asia-Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation (APFNet) and the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) renewed their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the APFNet Secretariat in Beijing, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening cooperation in forest science, sustainable forest management and knowledge exchange.

From 8 to 12 September 2026, a delegation led by Dr. Wang Chunfeng, Executive Director of APFNet, visited Uzbekistan. The visit aimed to advance preparations for the Fifth Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Forestry in Greater Central Asia (5th MMRF GCA), deepen bilateral cooperation in sustainable forest management, dryland forest restoration and desertification control, and support the implementation of practical cooperation projects in Greater Central Asia.

During the visit, the APFNet delegation held productive talks with Mr. Aziz Abdukhakimov, Advisor to the President of Uzbekistan and Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, and Mr. Erkin Mukhitdinov, Director of the Agency for Forest and Greening Area Expansion and Desertification Control. The two sides focused on preparations for the 5th MMRF GCA, aligning Uzbekistan's national forestry strategy with APFNet's regional priorities, implementing dryland forest restoration demonstration projects in Uzbekistan, and promoting technical exchange and capacity-building cooperation.

For more details, visit 👉 www.apfnet.cn

A group of Chinese children participated in an international summer camp program at the Nairamdal International Children’s Center in Mongolia from 2 to 10 August 2026, joining Mongolian children for seven days of cultural exchange, environmental learning, and outdoor activities.

The program was organized in cooperation with the Embassy of Mongolia in China and the General Authority for Child and Family Development and Protection of Mongolia, and co-hosted by the Asia-Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation (APFNet). APFNet supported the participation of children from China, including coordinating their nominations, registration, and travel arrangements.

The program provided an opportunity for the children to experience Mongolia’s natural environment and culture while building friendships with their Mongolian peers. Through recreational, educational, and cultural activities, participants learned about one another’s traditions and experienced everyday life in an international summer camp setting.

For more details, visit 👉 www.apfnet.cn

From Sustainable Forest Management Practices to a Global Network
On 26 August, APFNet continued its COP17 engagement with the side event “Actions and Future of the Global Network for Sustainable Forest Management (GFN)” at the China Pavilion in the Blue Zone.

The event attracted about 50 participants throughout the session, reflecting strong interest in sustainable forest management and opportunities for international cooperation. It brought together perspectives from APFNet, China, and Mongolia, and connected practical experiences in sustainable forest management with discussions on the future development of GFN.

For more details, visit 👉www.apfnet.cn

Turning Regional Cooperation into Restoration Action in Greater Central Asia
On 24 August, APFNet and the National Forest Agency (NFA) of Mongolia jointly organized the side event “Regional Cooperation for Forest Rehabilitation and Restoration: Accelerating Action against Desertification in Greater Central Asia” at the NFA Pavilion in the COP17 Green Zone.

Greater Central Asia faces interconnected challenges from climate change, water scarcity, land degradation and desertification, biodiversity loss, and increasing risks of forest and grassland fires. These challenges extend beyond individual economies and require stronger regional cooperation and locally adapted approaches. The event therefore focused on how policy dialogue, scientific knowledge and practical projects can work together to accelerate forest and landscape restoration.

For more details, visit 👉 www.apfnet.cn

APFNet Advances Regional and Global Cooperation on Sustainable Forest Management at UNCCD COP17

24–26 August 2026, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia – APFNet, together with its partners, organized two side events during the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17), highlighting regional experiences in forest restoration and desertification control and promoting broader cooperation on sustainable forest management.
The two events brought together representatives from governments, international organizations, research institutions, and other stakeholders to exchange practical experiences and explore how regional and global cooperation can help restore degraded landscapes and build more resilient forest ecosystems.

For more details, visit 👉 www.apfnet.cn

📣GFN Side Event at UNCCD COP17 to Highlight Actions and Future of Global Cooperation on Sustainable Forest Management.
• Date: 26 August 2026
• Time: 13:15–14:45
• Venue: China Pavilion, Blue Zone, COP17 Venue, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
• Format: Presentations and on-site discussion
• Hosts: APFNet, Coordination Center for APFNet under the National Forestry and Grassland Administration of China, and National Forest Agency of Mongolia

The Global Network for Sustainable Forest Management (GFN) will convene a side event during the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), bringing together partners and stakeholders to discuss progress, cooperation and future actions for sustainable forest management and land restoration.

The side event will showcase the GFN's progress and cooperation mechanisms and provide a platform to strengthen consensus and collaboration on sustainable forest management and ecological restoration in arid areas. Participants will also explore opportunities to expand partnerships and identify practical pathways for joint action, contributing to broader global efforts to combat desertification, restore degraded land and promote sustainable forest management.

The event comes at a particularly relevant moment as COP17 brings global attention to land degradation, desertification and restoration. Forests and forest-based landscapes play an important role in strengthening ecosystem resilience, supporting livelihoods and advancing sustainable land management, particularly in dryland regions.

JOIN US AT THE GREEN ZONE, PAVILION A7 COP17 Mongolia

📣Event at a glance
• Theme: Regional Cooperation for Forest Rehabilitation and Restoration: Accelerating Action against Desertification in Greater Central Asia
• Date: 24 August 2026
• Time: 09:30–11:00
• Venue: Pavilion No. A7, Green Zone, UNCCD COP17 Venue, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
• Organizers: APFNet and the National Forest Agency of Mongolia
Regional Cooperation for Forest Rehabilitation and Restoration to Accelerate Action against Desertification in Greater Central Asia

The 90-minute program will bring together perspectives from APFNet and the National Forest Agency of Mongolia, with presentations focusing on the progress and future direction of the Greater Central Asia Forestry Cooperation Mechanism, regional experiences in forest rehabilitation and landscape restoration, and approaches to strengthening forest resilience in Mongolia.

The program will also highlight the role of research and projects in accelerating regional practices for restoration and desertification control. An audience dialogue and Q&A session will provide an opportunity for participants to exchange views on emerging challenges, practical experiences and future cooperation priorities.

International Training Workshop on Vegetation Rehabilitation in Arid Regions of Greater Central Asia Successfully Held in Chifeng, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China from August 4 to 10, 2026. The workshop was jointly organized by the APFNet, the Inner Mongolia Forestry and Grassland Bureau, the Inner Mongolia Academy of Forestry Sciences, and the Wangyedian Forest Farm. As an annual capacity-building activity under the Greater Central Asia Forestry Cooperation Mechanism (GCA-FCM), the workshop brought together experts and practitioners from forestry authorities, research institutions, and relevant organizations in China and Mongolia.

For more details, visit 👉 www.apfnet.cn

A training workshop on Sustainable Forest Management and Restoration in the Context of Climate Change was held in Kunming, Yunnan, China. 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.

For more details, visit 👉 www.apfnet.cn