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The Asia-Pacific is one of the world’s most dynamic regions. Its rapid development is accompanied by many challenges, including global climate change and a growing population. Agricultural expansion to achieve food security and economic development can threaten the sustainability and biodiversity of the region’s tropical forests, and the many ecosystem services they provide.

Against this backdrop, some regional economies are adopting a green-growth approach to sustainably manage their forests and landscapes. As part of the Paris Climate Change Agreement, countries have also established targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including emission reductions from the forest sector. Similarly, leading businesses are committing to sustainable land-use and investment practices, including pledges to halt deforestation.

The 3rd Asia-Pacific Rainforest Summit (APRS) comes after the landmark global agreements reached in 2015 through the Paris Climate Change Agreement and the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. There was a need to use this momentum, develop new partnerships and deliver locally based solutions in the sustainable management of forests and landscapes to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.

APRS is part of the Asia-Pacific Rainforest Partnership (APRP), which supports the implementation of the Paris Climate Change Agreement and encourages the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in the region. APRP brings together countries from across Asia-Pacific.

APRS is an important event which gathers actors from a wide range of sectors, including governments, private sector executives, leading practitioners from non-government organizations and world-class researchers from institutions and academies to exchange knowledge and highlight leading practices to slow, halt and reverse deforestation in the Asia-Pacific region.