Bogor, Indonesia (21 February, 2018) – The Indonesian Government with the support of the Australian Government, and in partnership with the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), is proud to host the 2018 Asia-Pacific Rainforest Summit (APRS).

The 3rd APRS will be a key regional event which brings together government, business, civil society and the research community to generate practical action on forest conservation and to help achieve sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region. The partnerships formed through the APRS will help countries establish a path to sustainable growth while protecting forests and the well-being of the communities that depend on them for their livelihoods.

“Through this Summit and the Asia-Pacific Rainforest Partnership we will strengthen our regional collaboration and enhance our efforts, domestically and globally, for the welfare of humanity and nature.”
– Siti Nurbaya Bakar, Indonesia’s Minister of Environment and Forestry

This year’s APRS will be held on 23-25 April in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, at The Alana Hotel and Convention Center. Registration for the 2018 APRS is already open.

“I commend Minister Nurbaya for her leadership and commitment to the third summit of the Asia-Pacific Rainforest Summit. I look forward to working with the peoples and the ministers of our region to find new ways and processes to protect our forests which are our greatest asset.”
– Josh Frydenberg, Australia’s Minister for the Environment and Energy

Themed “Protecting Forests and People, Supporting Economic Growth,” the 2018 APRS will provide opportunities for countries to showcase their work on balancing economics, the well-being of forest communities and conservation through plenary sessions, discussion forums and exhibitions.

In addition, the APRS will feature seven subthemes:

• Forests in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
• Restoration and sustainable management of peatlands
• Mangroves and blue carbon
• Community forestry
• Ecotourism and conservation of biodiversity
• Production forests
• Forest finance, investment and trade
   

“This year’s summit will enhance the efforts by countries in the region to achieve commitments under the Paris Climate Change Agreement. A number of themes will allow participants to learn about the emerging science and the most recent research in areas such as restoration and sustainable management, production forests as well as investment and finance.”
– Robert Nasi, Director General, Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)

Leading up to APRS, there is an online photo competition with cash prizes for the top three images which highlight the importance of the Asia-Pacific region. For more information or to submit images, visit the APRS Photo Competition website.

The 3rd APRS comes after the landmark global agreements reached in 2015 through the Paris Climate Change Agreement and the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. Building on this momentum, the APRS helps develop new partnerships and deliver locally based solutions in the sustainable management of forests and landscapes to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.

This year’s APRS leverages the success and international dialogues created during the 2016 APRS held in Brunei Darussalam, and the 2014 APRS held in Sydney, Australia.

More information is available on the 2018 APRS website, where you can also register.

For media enquiries:

Budhy Kristanty, Communications Officer, CIFOR. +62 8111904283, b.kristanty@cgiar.org
Jeremy Van Loon, Team Leader, Outreach and Engagement, CIFOR. +62 8111161228, Jeremy.vanloon@cgiar.org

About the 2018 Asia-Pacific Rainforest Summit

The APRS is part of the Asia-Pacific Rainforest Partnership (APRP), which supports the implementation of the Paris Climate Change Agreement and encourages the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in the region.

The APRS is an important event which gathers actors from a wide range of sectors, including governments, private sector executives, leading practitioners from non-government organizations and world-class researchers from institutions and academies to exchange knowledge and highlight leading practices to slow, halt and reverse deforestation in the Asia-Pacific region.

For more information: https://www.cifor.org/asia-pacific-rainforest-summit-2018/media-advisory/2018-asia-pacific-rainforest-summit-to-showcase-approaches-to-balancing-econo...