Asia Forest Partnership (AFP)

The Asia Forest Partnership (AFP) was launched at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, in 2002. It is one of over 200 partnership organisations registered with the United Nations Division for Sustainable Development. The common aim of these partnerships is the implementation of sustainable development based on the Rio Declaration principles and the values expressed in the Millennium Declaration. Partnerships do not substitute, but are used to complement, intergovernmental commitments.

Partners include governments, international organisations and non-government organisations with an interest in advancing forestry and forest management in the region.  Australia is a partner.

The AFP seeks to promote sustainable forest management in Asia through addressing five urgent issues:

• control of illegal logging
• control of forest fires
• rehabilitation and reforestation of degraded lands
• good governance and forest law enforcement
• developing capacity for effective forest management. 

The partnership acts as a catalyst for existing initiatives by increasing synergies and reducing duplication between programs. At this stage the AFP provides an informal framework for the exchange of information and experiences. Beyond strengthening existing programs, the AFP will facilitate joint identification of new programs and research needed to achieve sustainable forest management through actions in support of the five identified urgent issues. AFP activities combine national, bilateral or multilateral and regional initiatives.

The AFP has recognised that efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation may falter because of illegal logging. AFP held its 8th meeting in Bali in May 2009 to examine the linkages between incentives to reduce deforestation and forest degradation and efforts to combat illegal logging and associated timber trade.