President Moon Jae-in on May 2 poses for photos at the opening ceremony of the 15th World Forestry Congress at the Seoul COEX in the capital's Gangnam-gu District. From left are Korea Forest Service Minister Choi Byeong-Am, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Director-General Qu Dongyu, President Moon, Jordanian Princess Basma bint Ali and International Forestry Students' Association President Magdalena Jovanovic. (Cheong Wa Dae's Facebook page)

By Kim Hyelin and Yoon Sojung

The 15th World Forestry Congress, the largest in the event's history, was opened on May 2 at the Seoul COEX in the capital's Gangnam-gu District and ends on May 6.

Run by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) since 1926, the congress is the largest international gathering of forestry and held every six years. Korea is the second Asian country after Indonesia to host the event. 

About 10,000 people from 144 countries are expected to attend this event to discuss forestry and environmental issues around the globe such as climate change, decrease of biodiversity and desertification. They include representatives from governments, international organizations, civic groups, academia, and the private sector and officials of forestry and the environment.

The event will feature keynote speeches at major sessions like the opening ceremony and high-level dialogue among 33 ministers and vice ministers and 10 heads of international organizations.

President Moon Jae-in said in a keynote speech at the opening ceremony, "The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization once described Korea as 'the only developing country that succeeded in reforestation after World War II.'"

"Korea will build upon this experience in achieving reforestation through solidarity and cooperation to participate actively in the international community's efforts to preserve and cultivate forests around the world.".

The ceremony also featured a video message from U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and a keynote address from FAO Director-general Qu Dongyu. U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, Jordanian Princess Basma bint Ali and International Forestry Students' Association President Magdalena Jovanovic also gave speeches afterwards.

The congress began with the opening ceremony and features plenary and parallel sessions, side events and networking meetings. Participants will discuss U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, U.N. Decade ON Ecosystem Restoration, Paris Agreement and responses to global threats to forestry. They will also share benchmark forestry policies, research results and forestry technology.

Korea will lead other events at the congress such as a forestry forum and a roundtable on the Peace Forest Initiative, in addition to sharing exemplary forestry policies.

kimhyelin211@korea.kr