The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Ministry of Agriculture of Jordan held the 21st session of the Near East Forestry and Range Commission (NEFRC) and the third Near East Forestry Week (NEFW), in Amman, Jordan from 26 – 30 January 2014 under the Theme “Sustainable management of forests and rangelands: towards a green economy in the Near East and North Africa Region”.

Forests and rangelands are a fundamental part of the earth infrastructure and the goods and services they provide are important components of a green economy. Forest and rangelands goods and services support the economic livelihoods of millions of people in the Near East Region most of whom are poor.

While forest products yield only a small fraction of the Regional GDP and range products are often not accounted for, public goods derived from forest and rangelands ecosystems in the region have substantial economic value estimated in the billions of dollars. Forests and rangelands regulate climate through carbon storage, conserve biodiversity, maintain soil fertility, arrest land degradation and desertification and protect watersheds.

It is in the perspective of raising awareness on the socioeconomic and environmental importance of the forest and range resources that the 3rd NEFW was organized and was open to the stakeholders from the member countries and observer organizations like NGOs, Community Based Associations, private sector, scientists, representatives of public institutions, to present papers on any topic related to the theme.

The NEFRC opened the floor to discussions from member countries (Afghanistan, Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Palestine, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uzbekistan and Yemen) and observer international, regional and sub-regional organizations.