APEC's Cusco statement maintains support to forest management

The Second APEC Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Forestry Cusco Statement The ministers and senior officials responsible for forestry in members states of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) have expressed desire to maintain and further strengthen support to sustainable forest management, forest conservation and forest rehabilitation, as well as to advance the important contributions of forests to the emerging green economy including through research, innovation and demonstration in new wood-based and non-timber forest products, services and applications. This came in a statement following the Second Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Forestry, held in Cusco, Peru on 14-16 August 2013. "Recognizing the crucial role that forests play in APEC economies, not only as a source of services, but also as a means to provide livelihoods, meet different development needs and objectives, and address the daunting challenges related to green growth and sustainable development, we aspire to (also) Promote policies, technologies and investments, for the well-being of all forest users, including indigenous people and local communities; Strengthen private sector investment in sustainable forest management across the APEC region, along with access to better technology and markets, by promoting enabling policy environments that attract investors, including sound forest-related legislation, effective law enforcement and forest governance frameworks, market-based instruments such as certification, and social and environmental safeguards," the statement said. The statement expressed the member states' desire to integrate sustainable forest management and conservation into member economies? development policies and strategies to maximize benefits from forests and minimize or avoid the negative impact of other sectors on forests; and to enhance environmental education and improve access to forest-related information to support policymakers, communities, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector in their efforts to understand, manage, conserve, and monitor forests. The APEC Cusco statement also emphasised the desire of member states for recognising, where applicable, the key role of indigenous people and local communities and traditional knowledge in sustainable forest management, and promoting linkage of that knowledge with the management and planning of other economic sectors.