The Thirteenth Session of the Asian Forestry Cooperation Organization (AFoCO) Assembly is taking place in Seoul, Kazinform reports.Â
The session is attended by Daniyar Turgambaev, Chairman of the Committee for Forestry and Wildlife of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan.Â
AFoCO brings together 16 Asian countries and aims to develop joint actions to protect, restore, and sustainably use the region’s forests. Kazakhstan has been a member since 2019.
During the meeting, issues related to the approval of plans and the budget for 2026, the implementation of the AFoCO Strategic Plan for 2024–2030, as well as future joint projects were discussed.
Particular attention is paid to the successful results of the Training of Trainers on Dryland Forest Fire Fighting (TOTFFS), held in August 2025 in Kazakhstan with the support of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
Kazakhstan has proposed creating a regional training center for Central Asian countries to enhance the skills of forestry workers. The initiative aims to develop professional competencies and facilitate the exchange of experience between countries in the region. The AFoCO Secretariat supported this proposal.
In addition, session participants discussed issues of strengthening regional cooperation, restoring degraded ecosystems, and combating climate change.
Kazakhstan’s participation in AFoCO promotes international cooperation, exchanges best practices, and attracts support for the implementation of national forestry projects.