{{Short description|Intergovernmental organization}} {{Infobox organization | name = Asian Forest Cooperation Organization | abbreviation = AFoCO | logo = AFoCO Flag.png | logo_size = 230px | logo_caption = Flag | map = AFoCO Emblem.png | map_size = 150px | map_caption = Emblem | map2 = | map2_caption = | image_flag = | symbol_type = | image_symbol = | type = Intergovernmental organization | membership = 15 Parties {{ublist |titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:left;font-weight:normal; |title = 15 Parties |{{Flag|Bhutan}} |{{Flag|Brunei Darussalam}} |{{Flag|Cambodia}} |{{Flag|Indonesia}} |{{Flag|Kazakhstan}} |{{Flag|Kyrgyzstan}} |{{Flag|Laos}} |{{Flag|Mongolia}} |{{Flag|Myanmar}} |{{Flag|Philippines}} |{{Flag|Republic of Korea}} |{{Flag|Tajikistan}} |{{Flag|Thailand}} |{{Flag|Timor Leste}} |{{Flag|Vietnam}} }} 2 Observer {{ublist |titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:left;font-weight:normal; |title = 1 observer |{{Flag|Malaysia}} |{{Flag|Singapore}} }} | num_members_year = 2024 | headquarters = Seoul, Republic of Korea | language = English | leader_title = Executive Director | leader_name = Park Chongho | formation = {{Start date and age|2018|04|27|df=yes|p=y}} | website = {{url|http://www.afocosec.org}} }}
'''Asian Forest Cooperation Organization''' (or '''AFoCO''') is an intergovernmental organization in Asia aiming to strengthen forest cooperation by transforming proven technology and policies into concrete actions in the context of sustainable forest management to address the impact of climate change.
==History== ===Background=== The establishment of AFoCO was proposed by the Republic of Korea at the ASEAN–Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit in 2009 in Jeju, Republic of Korea. The establishment of AFoCO was welcomed by all ASEAN leaders. ===ASEAN-ROK Forest Cooperation=== thumb|Signing of the Agreement on ASEAN-ROK on Forest Cooperation As the initial phase of AFoCO, a cooperation mechanism of ASEAN-ROK Forest Cooperation was formalized by the "Agreement between the Governments of the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Republic of Korea on Forest Cooperation" which was signed at the occasion of the 14th ASEAN-ROK Summit on 18 November 2011 in Bali, Indonesia<ref name="MOFA-ROK">{{cite web|url=http://un.mofa.go.kr/english/am/un/mission/notice/20111121/1_30440.jsp?menu=m_10_10 |title=ROK and ASEAN urge reinforced ties in economy, development, and green growth |work=Korea.net |date=November 21, 2011 |accessdate=2013-11-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203000532/http://un.mofa.go.kr/english/am/un/mission/notice/20111121/1_30440.jsp?menu=m_10_10 |archivedate=December 3, 2013 }}</ref><ref name="ASEAN_forestry">{{cite web|url=http://www.asean.org/news/asean-secretariat-news/item/advancing-forestry-cooperation-in-international-year-of-forest-2011-2 |title=Advancing Forestry Cooperation in International Year of Forest 2011 |publisher=Asean |date=November 18, 2011 |accessdate=2013-11-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202230934/http://www.asean.org/news/asean-secretariat-news/item/advancing-forestry-cooperation-in-international-year-of-forest-2011-2 |archivedate=December 2, 2013 }}</ref><ref name="UNCSD IISD">{{cite web|url=http://uncsd.iisd.org/news/asean-republic-of-korea-sign-asian-forest-cooperation-agreement/ |title=ASEAN, Republic of Korea Sign Asian Forest Cooperation Agreement - Sustainable Development Policy & Practice |publisher=Uncsd.iisd.org |date=November 18, 2011 |accessdate=2013-11-14}}</ref><ref name="Sekretariat Negara">{{cite web |url= http://www.setneg.go.id/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5911&Itemid=55 |title=ASEAN dan Korea Selatan |work=setneg.go.id |author=Setneg |date=November 18, 2011 |accessdate=2013-11-14}}</ref><ref name ="Yahoo News Philippines">{{cite web|url=http://ph.news.yahoo.com/korea-asean-creating-regional-forest-agency-090006147.html |title=Korea, Asean creating regional forest agency - Yahoo News Philippines |publisher=Ph.news.yahoo.com |date=December 2, 2011 |accessdate=2013-11-14}}</ref><ref name="Republika Online">{{cite web|url=http://www.republika.co.id/berita/nasional/umum/11/11/18/luuuee-menhut-afoco-dukung-upaya-asean-ciptakan-pengelolaan-hutan-berkelanjutan |title=Menhut: AFoCo Dukung Upaya ASEAN Ciptakan Pengelolaan Hutan Berkelanjutan | Republika Online |publisher=Republika.co.id |date=November 18, 2011 |accessdate=2013-11-14}}</ref><ref name="Naver News 88">{{cite web|url=http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=100&oid=001&aid=0005378388 |title=韓-아세안 산림협력조약 서명‥'AFoCO' 출범준비 : 네이버 뉴스 |language=ko |publisher=News.naver.com |date=November 18, 2011 |accessdate=2013-11-14}}</ref><ref name ="MFA Thailand">{{cite web|url=http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/media-center/14/8451-Prime-Minister-Yingluck-attends-the-14th-ASEAN-Rep.html |title=Press Releases : Prime Minister Yingluck attends the 14th ASEAN-Republic of Korea Summit in Bali - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand |publisher=Mfa.go.th |date=November 18, 2011 |accessdate=2013-11-14}}</ref> and entered into force on 5 August 2012.
===Dialogue for the Establishment of AFoCO=== A new dialogue for the establishment of AFoCO under a multilateral platform was formed with invitations to Bhutan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Timor Leste. This platform covered a wide range of geographical diversity, stretching from coastal islands to glaciated mountains to central Asia deserts. The Agreement on the Establishment of AFoCO (Agreement) was negotiated through six successive dialogues among ASEAN member states, ROK, and prospective members from 2013 to 2015. The Agreement was adopted on 22 September 2015 and entered into force on 27 April 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20180423000430|title = Asian Forest Cooperation Organization to be launched with 14 nations|date = 23 April 2018}}</ref>
==Objectives== AFoCO aims to strengthen forest cooperation by transforming proven technology and policies into concrete actions in the context of sustainable forest management to address the impact of climate change.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://treaties.un.org/Pages/showDetails.aspx?objid=0800000280554538&clang=_en|title = UNTC}}</ref>
==Parties== As of October 2024, 15 countries have deposited respective instruments and are officially registered as parties to AFoCO, in alphabetical order, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor Leste, and Vietnam. Malaysia and Singapore are participating as Observers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MEMBERS |url=https://afocosec.org/about-us/members/ |access-date=28 December 2024 |website=AFoCO}}</ref>
==Institutional Arrangements== The institutional arrangement is stipulated in the Agreement on the Establishment of the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization. *Assembly, represented by a senior official on forestry from each party, is the decision making body of the AFoCO. *Secretariat based in Seoul assists the Assembly in the implementation, coordination, monitoring and reporting of activities under AFoCO.
==Vision and Mission== AFoCO envisions “A Greener Asia with climate-resilient and sustainable forests, landscapes and communities,” the achievement of which is supported by our mission to “Promote action-oriented international cooperation for creating enabling policies, building capacities, and fostering inclusive multi-level partnerships to drive Asian forests onto a climate-resilient and sustainable path.”<ref>{{cite web |title=AFoCO in Brief |url=https://afocosec.org/about-us/afoco-in-brief/ |website=AFoCO |access-date=20 February 2026 |language=ko-KR}}</ref>
== AFoCO Secretariat ==
The Secretariat of AFoCO administers and coordinates the activities and day-to-day operations of the organization as mandated by the Assembly. The Secretariat is located in Seoul, Republic of Korea. The Secretariat is headed by the Executive Director, in which the position is defined in the Agreement as the chief administrative officer of the organization who is appointed by the Assembly.
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:left;" |+ style="padding-top:1em;" |Executive Directors of the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization ! No. || Name !! Country of origin !! Took office - Left office |- | 0 || Hadi Pasaribu || {{flag|Indonesia}} || January 2013 - August 2016 (ASEAN-Korea Forest Cooperation) |- | 1 || Chencho Norbu<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20190618000479|title = AFoCO envisions greener Asia through regional cooperation|date = 18 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20190618000462|title = AFoCO shares sustainable forest restoration commitment at APFW|date = 18 June 2019}}</ref> || {{flag|Bhutan}} || 1 January 2019 - 31 December 2020 |- | 2 || Ricardo L. Calderon<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20210128000801|title = AFoCO chief strives for stronger regional forest cooperation in Asia|date = 21 January 2021}}</ref> || {{flag|Philippines}} || 1 January 2021 - 31 December 2022 |- | 3 || Park Chongho<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.naeil.com/news_view/?id_art=457598|title = AFoCO new leadership drives 100M USD action plan|date = 13 April 2023}}</ref>|| {{flag|Republic of Korea}} || 1 January 2023 (Incumbent) |}
== See also == * List of forestry ministries
==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==External links== *[http://afocosec.org AFoCO Official website] *[http://english.forest.go.kr Korea Forest Service] *[http://iafoco.wordpress.com/ AFoCo], news and information prior to establishment of official website. *[https://www.facebook.com/afocosec Facebook page of AFoCO]
Category:Sustainable forest management Category:International forestry organizations Category:Intergovernmental environmental organizations Category:Forestry agencies