Taiwan’s successful experience in forestry management was highlighted by Council of Agriculture Minister Chen Wu-hsiung on the closing day of the inaugural Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forestry Ministerial Meeting in Beijing.
Forest conservation, sustainable management and restoration require regional cooperation and concerted effort, Chen said Sept. 7, adding that Taiwan-initiated programs can shed more light on inclusive growth policies.
Taiwan has made great strides in forest and ecological preservation, with a raft of policy initiatives aimed at promoting community forestry, eco-tourism and environmental education, the COA minister said.
The 2007 Sydney Commitment, which called for the establishment of an additional 20 million hectares of new forests in the APEC region by 2020, has seen Taiwan step up forestation efforts, Chen said. “We are on track to reach our goal of 60,000 hectares by 2016, with 15,559 created so far.”
The COA minister also proposed an Asia-Pacific inspection and quarantine network for forest pests and diseases, improving monitoring, information exchanges and preventing forest degradation. The initiative was included in the meeting’s closing statement signed by representatives from the 21 members of APEC.
This mechanism is a must because forest diseases are spreading as bilateral trade expands within the region, Chen said. “As a responsible stakeholder in the region, Taiwan established a Forest Pest and Disease Control Center in 2006 and Invasive Species Notification Center in 2011.”
Chen also held talks with officials from Japan, South Korea, the U.S. and mainland China on the sidelines of the two-day meeting, covering issues such as forest restoration and carbon capture and storage.
