The Advisory Committee on Sustainable Forest-based Industries (ACSFI) is a FAO statutory body composed of senior executives from the private industry sector worldwide. It meets yearly with the main objective of providing guidance on activities and programme of work of the FAO Forestry Division on issues relevant to the paper and forest products industry, in support of member countries efforts to progress towards sustainable development. 

The membership of FAO-ACSFI includes heads of forest industry and forest growers’ associations, as well as company executives from approximately 20 countries. A list of members and their countries is available here.  

Enhancing forest sector engagement in ecosystem restoration

©FAO2 October 2022 – FAO HQ Rome, Italy - The Advisory Committee on Sustainable Forest-based Industries (ACSFI) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with The Forests Dialogue (TFD) convened a roundtable on enhancing the forest sector’s engagement in ecosystem restoration, as a satellite event of FAO’s 26th session of its Committee on Forestry (COFO26). Read more.

ACSFI Members at 8^th World Forest Week

Last October, some of the Advisory Committee on Sustainable Forest-based Industries (ACSFI) members gathered at FAO Headquarters (Rome, Italy), from 3-7 October 2022 in Rome, Italy, to participate in the 8^th World Forest Week and the 26th session of FAO’s Committee on Forestry (COFO 26). COFO26 was successful in engaging a high number of participants, above 750, representing 109 Member countries, and over 40 Observer countries and Organizations, while the ACSFI members contributed as speakers to different special events, discussing the issues concerning the sustainable consumption and production of forest products.

On 4 October 2022, the ACSFI member, Mr Indroyono Soesilo, joined the panel “Indonesia's plans for carbon-positive forests by 2030 and launch of the state of Indonesia's forests 2022”, with the participation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry, Republic of Indonesia.

The event saw the launch of the State of Indonesia's Forests 2022, highlighting the important role of Indonesia's tropical forests in tackling global climate, but also Indonesia’s ambition and strategies to achieve a carbon net sink in Forestry and Other Land Use (FOLU) sector by 2030. “The holders of forest utilization business permits (PBPH) across Indonesia are ready to support the government in achieving the FOLU Net Sink 2030 target”, said Indroyono. The links between sustainable forest management, forest restoration and peatland management to reduce emissions from FOLU sector were also highlighted.

On the same day, the ACSFI Chair, Mr Ross Hampton (AFPA), joined experts from across the globe in the Special Event “Sustainable wood and non-wood forest products - pathways to carbon-neutral and resilient bioeconomies”. He offered examples of how the private sector can foster sustainable wood value chains as a contribution to a circular bioeconomy and climate neutrality. Read more

Mr Hampton also participated in the event “A bright future for forestry: Investing in youth career development”, dedicated to youth, providing insights to and recommendations for improving career development and to promote a culture for young professionals to share their expertise and perspectives within the sector.

Watch the youth event webcast here.    

On October 5, the ACSFI Chair spoke at the event "Planting forests for carbon-neutral economies, sustainable landscapes, and livelihoods", delivering a compelling message about what he considers to be today's most pressing issue - the climate crisis - and the urgent need to not only accept but "embrace planted forests." He emphasized the importance of moving quickly to begin planting more trees, alluding to the Global forest sector outlook 2050 projections that at least 37 million hectares will be required to meet the demand for wood, by 2050. “The private sector stands ready to collaborate with stakeholders and provide investment solutions and business models to accelerate planting forests, in various contexts and regions” he concluded.

Watch the Planted Forests event webcast here.

On 6 October 2022, the ACSFI member Mr Derek Nighbor (FPAC), took part in the session “Beyond numbers: income, employment and decent work in forestry”, organized by FAO in collaboration with ILO and UNECE. He underlined how the private sector can ensure safe and decent work conditions in the forest sector, as well as the need to create a “workplace of choice”: shaped by values, inclusive, attractive to a skilled workforce and youth, responsive to emerging technologies and innovation. Read more

The events build directly on the achievements of the recently held XV World Forestry Congress (Korea, May 2022), where complementary sessions have been organized.

ACSFI supports the Ministerial Call on Sustainable Wood

ACSFI Chair Ross Hampton ©FAO/Francesca BertolaMay 2022, Seoul, Republic of Korea - The ACSFI strongly supports the Ministerial Call on Sustainable Wood that was launched at the XV World Forestry Congress.

The ACSFI stands ready to join forces to promote enhanced policy and technical dialogue at all levels to ensure that sustainable wood-based pathways are scaled up.
Read more.

IDF Publication Launch: The role of forest products in the global bioeconomy - wood-based products contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals

©Metsä Group21 March 2022, Rome, Italy - Switching from fossil-based products to renewable wood-based products can help combat climate change and achieve Sustainable Development Goals, according to the report Forest Products in the global bioeconomy: Enabling substitution by wood-based products and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals, launched today on the occasion of the International Day of Forests (IDF 2022). Read more.

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