The ministerial meeting concluded with a joint statement reaffirming cooperation on sustainable forest management, biodiversity conservation and action against illegal logging and associated trade, while renewing support for regional dialogue and capacity building.
Bringing community forestry into the illegal logging discussion
Presenting at the 30th meeting of the APEC Experts Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade (EGILAT) on 29 July, Ganz highlighted how secure land tenure for smallholders can play an important part in reducing deforestation across APEC economies. The meeting featured discussions from APEC members and invited organizations as they looked at ways to combat illegal logging and promote trade in legally sourced forest products.
Ganz described the multiple vulnerabilities facing forest-dependent communities, including income insecurity, conflict, gender inequality, youth marginalization, hunger, fire, forest crime and the digital divide.
His presentation emphasized that communities must be supported by secure rights, strong institutions and inclusive governance.
From policy to practice
Drawing on practical examples, Ganz highlighted Thailand's Boon Rueang Wetland Forest Conservation Group, winner of the 2020 Equator Prize, alongside the Regional Model Forest Network–Asia, for which RECOFTC serves as regional secretariat. The network connects eight model forests across six countries and leads REVIVE–Asia, a partnership funded by IDRC and Global Affairs Canada that is developing community-led, nature-based restoration models in post-fire landscapes across Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand.
Ganz also highlighted Explore, RECOFTC's forest landscape governance research network that currently supports 11 projects involving 168 researchers across Southeast Asia. These research partnerships are generating evidence to inform forest governance, community forestry, biodiversity conservation and sustainable landscape management.
Why this matters
According to APEC, illegal logging accounts for 15–30 per cent of the global timber trade. Secure tenure and strong local governance are widely recognized as critical to addressing these challenges.
The joint statement adopted at the APEC Ministerial Meeting gives EGILAT a mandate to advance action against illegal logging through policy dialogue, information sharing, capacity building and engagement with relevant stakeholders.
Weak recognition of community rights over forest resources is a well-documented driver of illegal logging and forest degradation. This makes our community forestry experience and the research evidence being generated by our projects highly relevant to discussions on strengthening legal and sustainable forest management across APEC economies.
As an invited organization, we brought RECOFTC’s expertise in community forestry and locally led forest governance to the regional policy discussions.
Research that informs action
One of our Explore-supported projects is a cross-country collaboration examining inclusive mangrove governance and community-based mangrove enterprises in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara and Timor-Leste.
This research complements RECOFTC's wider mangrove restoration work by generating evidence on governance arrangements, community participation and sustainable livelihood opportunities that can inform more effective management of coastal forest ecosystems.
Looking ahead
