With an aim to share knowledge and improve regional coordination and partnerships for scaling up forest and landscape restoration (FLR), delegates from several countries in the region and experts joined the hybrid FLR Days event starting from 10 October, in Bangkok, Thailand. 

Government representatives from Bangladesh, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Nepal and Timor-Leste have joined the meeting in-person along with the global experts in FLR with a number of participants joining online to address together the key barriers in advancing FLR. Representatives joined are from the target countries of the Hand-in-Hand Initiativewhich is a flagship of FAO that supports the implementation of nationally led, ambitious programmes to accelerate agrifood systems transformations by eradicating poverty, ending hunger and malnutrition and reducing inequalities.

The ten days of deliberation on FLR will help sharing the experiences and learning from each other about technical, social and institutional approaches, discussions on how to leverage more participation and investments, ensure more collaboration and coordinated actions on FLR through a Regional Portfolio and Programme for FLR in these countries under the Hand-in-Hand Initiative. 

The Regional Programme Leader of FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Takayuki Hagiwaraemphasised moving together with a programmatic approach to FLR, involving FLR efforts by countries and partners across the region in the coming days. 

His Excellency Md Shahab Uddin, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bangladesh delivered remarks on excellent efforts made in Bangladesh to reverse forest and landscape degradation despite the challenges. He stated“I am optimistic that Bangladesh’s Forest Department with the active involvement of stakeholders at all levels would be able to conserve and restore the degraded forest within the UN Restoration Decade.’’

Dechen Tsering, Regional Director, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Asia and the Pacific Office stated that “more than ever we need to push for transformative action to reset the balance between people and the natural world for a better future for all.” Furthermore, Dindo Campilan, Regional Director, Asia Regional Office, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) highlighted the importance of partnership, scale and integration, and the relevance of gaining synergies for advancing FLR.

Additionally, three Heads of Forestry highlighted the relevance, challenges and opportunities in FLR. Md. Amir Hosain Chowdhury, Chief Conservator of Forests, Forest Department, Bangladesh suggested the importance of restoration of the degraded forest in Bangladesh. 

Sousath Sayakoummane,  Director General of Forestry Department, Lao People's Democratic Republic said “FAO is greatly contributing to achieving the sustainable management of environment and natural resources through multiple initiatives and interventions at provincial, national and regional level.” 

Raimun Domau, Head of Forestry, Republic of Timor-Leste stated that “we would like to promote reforestation in the country to improve the quality of watershed management through the restoration of forest landscape in different climate zones.” 

Further to the sessions, Illias Animon, Regional Forestry Officer at FAO’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific mentioned that better coordination and collaboration with the right spirit is indispensable to bring back our forests and restore our degraded farms and other landscapes with a social movement, building on the Regional Strategy and Action plan. 

About 110 speakers and panellists are joining the FLR Days event in Bangkok to step-up action for FLR transformation on the ground through stronger partnerships and targeted investments across sectors. The discussions will enable better decision-making, and project formulation, monitoring and implementation and thus contributing towards achieving a better environment, better nutrition, better production and better livelihoods and thus the aspirations of the Sustainable Development Goals and UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.