Opening Ceremony of the 4^th International Congress on Planted Forests

Opening Ceremony of the 4^th International Congress on Planted Forests

Seminar

Exhibition of posters

Field trip to the forests of pinus sylvestris

Field trip to the forests of eucalyptus

The Fourth International Congress on Planted Forests themed by “Planted Forests—A Solution for Green Development”, organized by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA) and International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), came to a successful end on 27^th October.

The opening ceremony of the congress was held in China National Convention Center. Zhang Jianlong, Administrator of NFGA, Monica Barbut, the executive secretary of United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Secretariat, Vincent Martin, representative of FAO in China, and Alexander Buck, Executive Director of IUFRO attended and addressed the opening ceremony.

Prior to the congress, NFGA convened its news briefing meeting for the fourth quarter. Xiao Wenfa, the Vice President of CAF attended the news briefing meeting and introduced that the Congress on Planted Forests was originally launched by IUFRO and technically supported by planted forests programs of FAO. This is the first time for China to organize the congress, and the agenda will be composed of four items: genetic resources and breeding, management of planted forests on multiple use, timber, wood fiber and non-wood forest product, and forest policies and socio-economics relevant to planted forests.

During 3-days Seminar, 701 representatives of scientific research institutes, colleges, government institutions, NGOs and enterprises from over 70 countries undertook discussions on genetic resources and breeding, management of planted forests on multiple use, prevention and control of pesticides, the adaptation of forest eco-system to climate change, environmental challenges and bio-diversity protection, “Belt and Road” and the management on carbon market, etc.

There were two keynote lectures, 8 special reports, 55 side events on techniques, 239 oral academic reports, 48 posters given on the Congress for people to share wisdom, exchange ideas and seek for collaboration.

Mr. Christophe Orazio, the head of task force of “Green and Sustainable Planted Forests in Future” from IUFRO, pointed out that the congress had provided the platform for scientific community, the public and government for mutual exchanges and integration. It also facilitated the in-depth discussions on planted forests growing and green development under the context of globalization. 

As the organizer of the congress, CAF also participated in side events and seminar discussions, showing the image of the academy and the significant contributions it had made to the success of the congress.

After the seminar (from 25^th to 27^th October), more than 60 participants went to Saihanba Mechanical Forest Farm and Mulan Forest Management Bureau in Hebei Province and Sinar Mas Group in Hainan province for field trip, investigating non-commercial and ecological forests in Northern China and sustainable growing planted forests for commercial use in Southern China.

Upon the closing ceremony, Mr. Christophe Orazio announced that the next congress would be held in the U.S. on 2023, and called for participants to pay continuous attention to the development of planted forests.