About the Forum
The breathtaking forests of the Asia-Pacific region are undergoing a rapid transition due to increasing rates of deforestation, urbanization, and natural resource extraction.
At present rates, forest cover in the region is estimated to be reduced at an average of about 1.4 million hectares per year, with most countries reporting a reduction of forest cover in recent years.
Healthy forests are the source of our lives and form the roots of a healthier future for all. From the water we drink, to the wood on our floor, and the tires on our cars, the forest is a life-giving ecosystem that also cools the air, filters urban pollutants and enhances our quality of life. This delicate balance, however, relies on the tireless effort of local communities who have dedicated their entire essence to the forests.
Our aim is to interact and guide audiences, particularly urban residences, to a better understanding of this question. Entitled,"Forests are Us: Why Forests Matter," this forum will explore why and how we are intricately connected to the forest and to those who preserve it. We will also hear from experts on how we can help contribute to the sustainable management of such a necessary aspect of our life.
About the Forum
The breathtaking forests of the Asia-Pacific region are undergoing a rapid transition due to increasing rates of deforestation, urbanization, and natural resource extraction.
At present rates, forest cover in the region is estimated to be reduced at an average of about 1.4 million hectares per year, with most countries reporting a reduction of forest cover in recent years.
Healthy forests are the source of our lives and form the roots of a healthier future for all. From the water we drink, to the wood on our floor, and the tires on our cars, the forest is a life-giving ecosystem that also cools the air, filters urban pollutants and enhances our quality of life. This delicate balance, however, relies on the tireless effort of local communities who have dedicated their entire essence to the forests.
So what can we all do?
Our aim is to interact and guide audiences, particularly urban residences, to a better understanding of this question. Entitled,"Forests are Us: Why Forests Matter," this forum will explore why and how we are intricately connected to the forest and to those who preserve it. We will also hear from experts on how we can help contribute to the sustainable management of such a necessary aspect of our life.
Join the Discussion
About RECOFTC
The Center for People and Forests (RECOFTC) envisions a future where the people of the Asia - Pacific region live equitably and sustainably, in and alongside thriving forests and healthy, resilient landscapes.
Since our founding in 1987, this vision has provided The Center with a clear direction, acting as a stabilizing goal in RECOFTC’s rapid world of change. In the late 1970s a growing consensus emerged that deemed government - controlled forestry as inadequate. Decades of state policies that focused on natural resource extraction resulted in the rapid loss of forest cover, which corresponded with a general decline in the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of forest - dependent people in the Asia - Pacific region.
This recognition was the first step in achieving our vision. Yet as community forestry progressed, it became clear that a lack of technical knowledge, skills, and effective approaches were hindering policy making and the implementation of community forests.