The mandate of the LACFC is to advise FAO on the Forestry Programme to be developed in the Region. It meets every two years, and serves as a forum for countries to analyze important regional forestry issues and to exchange knowledge and experiences. This includes the formulation of policies for the sustainable management of forests and wildlife, monitoring of forest resources, exchange of information, fight against deforestation and assessment of national and regional experiences.

The principal LACFC recommendations are reported to the FAO Regional Conference that meets every two years to establish priorities for FAO action in the Region. It also provides inputs to the FAO Committee on Forestry (COFO) and the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF).

LACFC also establishes guidelines on forestry matters for FAO cooperation endeavours with the Region's Member Nations in Regional Offices and Headquarters. These guidelines are used to formulate the FAO Regional and Global Forestry Programme.

Heads of Forestry Services and Administrations of the Region's Member Nations participate in LACFC, and Observers include Delegates from various United Nations Agencies, national and international NGOs and civil-society organizations.

LACFC invites participation from includes Sub-regional coordination groups for the Caribbean, Mesoamerica, Amazon and Southern Cone, thus enabling Member Nations to coordinate and supplement actions based on the exigencies of each Sub-region.

LACFC Member Countries

Previous meetings