FAO (FLRM/ 15thWFC)

Forest and Landscape Restoration Mechanism (FLRM)

The objective of the Forest and Landscape Restoration Mechanism (FLRM) is to provide support to the implementation, measurement and reporting of the forest and landscape restoration at the national level. The national work plans were implemented in tropical areas, Africa and dry areas in Southwestern Asia from 2014 to 2020.

The FLR was on the rise as a measure to address the global environmental issues. It was a new paradigm in the forestry field as a means to mitigate climate change, preserve biological diversity and combat desertification.

The Republic of Korea was urged to contribute to restoring the forest and landscape as one of the countries that has successful forest restoration experience at conferences including the Rio +20 Conference in 2012, World Conservation Congress, and UN CBD COP11.

The FLR Mechanism was established during the 22nd Session of the Committee on Forestry in June 2014. The KFS and FAO signed an MOU on comprehensive forestry cooperation and agreed to build cooperation on FLR in July 2014. The implementation plan for the FLR Mechanism was established in November 2014.

In July 2015, The first Steering Committee selected countries to implement national work plans and approved the plans. The selected countries were Guatemala, Rwanda, Peru, Uganda, Lebanon, the Philippines, and Cambodia.

At the 14th World Forestry Congress held in September 2015, the FLR Mechanism side event was launched. At the 2nd FLRM Advisory Group Meeting held in Rome in July 2016, to check the progress of the implementation and to propose the future project plans. At the 3rd FLRM Advisory Group Meeting to be held in Rome in July 2017, the members will discuss on the progress of the projects.

Host Country of the 15th World Forestry Congress (WFC)

The Republic of Korea won the bid to host the 15th World Forestry Congress (WFC), which is the largest gatherings of the world in the forestry field. The Congress was held in Asia in 1978 in Indonesia, and no Asian countries have hosted the Congress since then.

The Ministry of Finance of Korea approved the plan to host the Congress in July 2015, and the Korea Forest Service expressed its willingness to host the 15th WFC at the 14th WFC held in Durban, South Africa.

The Republic of Korea selected Seoul as the WFC host city for the bid. Then in April 2015, the KFS submitted a proposal to the Secretariat of FAO containing the host country, city and venue, capacity of the host agency, strengths and weakness of the venue, and the financial status. At the 23rd FAO Committee on Forestry Meeting, the KFS made a presentation on the proposal, and attracted support from many member countries. About 25 countries expressed support for Korea and 9 for Italy, and Peru withdrew its bid. At the 155th FAO Council meeting held in December 2016, the Republic of Korea was selected as the next WFC host country.

The KFS will establish an annual plan for the 15th WFC and prepare a draft programme of work. It is preparing for the enforcement of the Presidential decree for the preparation and management of WFC.