The XV World Forestry Congress was hosted by the Government of the Republic of Korea and FAO, in Seoul, from 2 to 6 May 2022. The theme of this congress is “Building a Green, Healthy and Resilient Future with Forests”. Since the first World Forestry Congress was held in Rome in 1926, held about every six years, the Congress has been providing a forum for inclusive discussion and share worldwide forest-related and environmental problems, like climate change, biodiversity loss and desertification, and devise solutions through forests.
The congress was held online and offline with around 10,000 participants from 141 countries participated. The programs included plenary sessions, special events, sub-theme sessions, side events, networking events, exhibitions, and poster sessions. President of South Korea, Mr Moon Jae-in give a welcome speed and UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed give a video message to the congress. In this congress, sustainable forest management to provide sustainable wood is of particular interest.
Plenary session 3, Wood the most ancient raw material taking us to the future on 4-May-22, Mr. Eduardo Rojas Briales, PEFC Council’s Chairman participated as a speaker. At this session, the chairman shared the issue of strengthening sustainable forest management to increase the supply of sustainable wood from planted forests in a bioeconomy and a carbon neutral economy.
The role of sustainable forest management certification and chain of custody certification were also emphasized by the Vietnamese team in a side events on May 4 about The lower Mekong in transition, lastest trend and impacts of China forest trade.
The congress also introduced Ministerial Call on Sustainable Wood with sustainable forest management solution and forest carbon service and other ecosystem services.
The 15th World Forestry Congress concluded with the closing ceremony on Friday in Seoul, adopting the Seoul Forest Declaration.
