The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Republic of Korea (RoK) have committed to enhance their cooperation in forestry sector through the extending the signed agreement between the ASEAN member states and the RoK on forestry cooperation (AFoCo).

Under the new agreement extension, both sides will continue enhance their collaborative partnership to increase region’s forest cover, promote forestry research and forest rehabilitation, and improve response capacity to climate change.

Signed on November 18, 2011 in Bali, Indonesia, AFoCo agreement aims to foster cooperation in forestry and promote dialogues towards the establishment of an Asian Forest Cooperation Organisation.

To the effect, the parties agreed to undertake activities to promote sustainable forest management, strengthen capacity building, create greater public awareness, pursue research and development through technology transfer and sharing of technical information for sustainable forest product development, and address impacts of climate change.

The two sides also reached an agreement to implement the AFoCo Landmark Program over a period of 10 years with an allocated budget of 15 million USD, comprising of four projects, including the establishment of a regional education and training centre and the restoration of degraded forests in the region.-VNA