At the Asia-Pacific Forestry Week 2025 (APFW2025), the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) emphasised the significant role of sustainable forest management (SFM) in advancing biodiversity conservation and improving livelihoods across the Asia-Pacific region. ITTO Director of Forest Management, Jennifer Conje, spoke at a side event co-organised by the organisation, discussing how promoting responsibly sourced wood and non-wood products from sustainably managed forests can contribute to a decarbonised society, biodiversity conservation, and enhance the livelihoods of smallholder communities.
The event brought together experts from across the region to exchange knowledge and best practices regarding the sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity in production forest landscapes. Sustainable forest management has been recognised as an essential tool to ensure that forests continue to provide vital ecosystem services while supporting the global bioeconomy. Ms Conje highlighted that ITTO has long supported biodiversity conservation in tropical forests, a commitment dating back to 1993 when it published guidelines for conserving biodiversity in tropical production forests. These guidelines were updated in 2009 in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to better integrate conservation with sustainability practices. A new publication with revised guidelines is expected in the second half of 2026.
The ITTO’s programmes across the Asia-Pacific region have incorporated these guidelines into their initiatives. During the APFW2025 event, ITTO Projects Manager, Tetra Yanuariadi, discussed numerous successful projects around Legal and Sustainable Supply Chains (LSSC). These initiatives, implemented in countries like India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Viet Nam, focus on increasing the adoption of LSSCs and strengthening the sustainable domestic use of wood and wood products. The goal is to boost sustainable forest management (SFM) by encouraging the consumption of locally produced wood and enhancing the capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to demonstrate legality in wood harvesting and processing. The initiatives also promote transparency and traceability across the wood supply chain.
ITTO’s Global Legal and Sustainable Forum (GLSTF) and the Global Timber Index (GTI) are key platforms for advancing LSSCs. The GLSTF focuses on promoting LSSCs through collaboration with industry stakeholders and strengthening traceability and certification systems. The GTI tracks the timber sector across nine countries, enhancing transparency and providing valuable data on the trade of wood and non-wood forest products. These initiatives help ensure that wood products are sourced responsibly and in compliance with legal frameworks.
In addition to promoting sustainable supply chains, ITTO also works to enhance forest governance in the region. Recent ITTO projects in Indonesia and Thailand have implemented best practices, built local capacities, and introduced innovative monitoring systems to improve forest governance. The promotion of domestic wood use for construction was also highlighted as a significant aspect of ITTO’s engagement with policymakers and industry leaders. Using sustainably sourced wood for housing construction in urban areas can help reduce the carbon footprint of the construction sector and support countries in meeting their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.
Kenichi Shono, Forestry Officer at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), provided an overview of the state of forests and biodiversity in the Asia-Pacific region. According to data from the recently released Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025, Shono pointed out that while Asia has increased its forest area and strengthened restoration and protection efforts in the past three decades, there are still significant challenges. These include deforestation, low primary forest cover, and insufficient policy recognition for forest ecosystems. Despite these challenges, Asia leads the world in conservation and protected areas. However, most forested landscapes in the region are managed for production and multiple-use, making it all the more crucial to promote SFM practices to ensure biodiversity conservation and the sustainable use of forest resources.
Ms Conje emphasised that sustainable forest management is a continuous balancing act, where timber production must be carefully managed alongside environmental considerations. SFM ensures that forests provide long-term ecosystem services, supporting biodiversity and contributing to the global bioeconomy.
Yongyut Trisurat, a professor at Kasetsart University, presented how sustainably managed forest production landscapes contribute to both biodiversity conservation and economic development. Dr Trisurat explained that forests are vital in achieving global biodiversity targets, such as those set out in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He framed SFM as a nature-based solution that not only provides essential ecosystem benefits but also combats climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation. He cited successful case studies from Cambodia and Panama, where the creation of planted forests has built wildlife corridors and generated local employment opportunities.
Dr Trisurat also highlighted Thailand’s response to the EU Deforestation Regulation, showing how SFM practices could provide a competitive advantage for timber exporters. National examples from Japan and Thailand were also discussed. Tabata Akiko from Japan’s Forestry Agency presented how Japan is mainstreaming forest biodiversity in production landscapes, particularly in planted forests. The Forestry Agency has developed guidelines that encourage private sector participation in sustainable forest management. These guidelines raise awareness among landholders about the profitability of practices that protect biodiversity and enhance ecosystem services.
Sapol Boonsermuk, a former expert from Thailand’s Royal Forest Department, spoke about the country’s transition to a Bio-, Circular-, Green (BCG) economic model, which supports economic growth while improving livelihoods and sustainability. Innovation and technology are key to Thailand’s BCG model, driving sustainable practices across agriculture, energy, and forestry.
The event concluded with a strong consensus on the importance of effective forest management in achieving the goals of the KMGBF and SDGs. ITTO reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for sustainable tropical forest management as a critical component in decarbonisation, landscape restoration, biodiversity conservation, and improving the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities.
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