The concluded 3rd Asia Pacific Economic Corporation (APEC) member countries forest minister’s meeting in Port Moresby highlighted the importance of sustainable forest management in achieving long- term sustainable socio-economic development in the region.
The final recommendation of the 21 APEC ministers responsible for forestry called “Eda Statement” focused on the following key agendas;
• Supporting Sustainable Forest Management
• Forest Conservation and Forest Rehabilitation to Mitigate and to Adapt the Impact of Climate Change
• Challenges in Maintaining and Strengthening Efforts to Combat Illegal Logging and Associated Trade
• Private Public Dialogue on Mechanisms, Policies and Best Practices to Attract and Maintain Suitable Investment in the Development of Forests and Forest Resources
Also In their statement, the ministers identified 12 aspirations for APEC member economies to pursue.
APEC member nations account for half of the world's trade and they are Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong-China, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United States, and Vietnam.
The meeting is a lead up to the 2018 APEC leaders meeting which Papua New Guinea will host.