This side event will showcase how regional forest cooperation networks are helping countries across Latin America and the Caribbean address shared challenges such as climate change, wildfires, forest degradation, biodiversity loss and invasive species.

Through the experiences of the National Forest Inventory Network of Latin America and the Caribbean (IFN-LAC Network), Latin American Network for Technical Cooperation on National Parks, Other Protected Areas, Wild Flora and Fauna (RedParques), Forest Health and Invasive Species Network for Latin American and the Caribbean (FHISLAC) and the Latin America and the Caribbean Forest Fire Expert Group (GEFF-LAC), participants will explore how these networks function as regional public goods, fostering technical cooperation, peer-to-peer learning, stronger forest governance and coordinated regional action.

Regional forest cooperation networks provide a cost-effective way to scale technical assistance, strengthen regional capacities and accelerate the implementation of international forest-related commitments. The event will provide a space to reflect their value for countries and partners, and the partnerships, investments and enabling conditions needed to sustain and expand their impact. It will also explore how countries, FAO and development partners can work together to strengthen these regional public goods as long-term mechanisms for South-South and triangular cooperation. 

Carlos Espinosa Peña
COFLAC Chair
Forestry Director, Ministry of Environment
Panamá 

Garo Batmanian
General Director
Brazilian Forest Service
IFN-LAC Presidency

Sergio Graf
GEFF-LAC Member
Director, National Forestry Commision CONAFOR
Mexico

Patricia Escudero
Coordinator
Forest Health and Invasive Species Network for Latin America and the Caribbean
Uruguay