PEFC Stakeholder Dialogue fully booked

25 October 2013 PEFC Stakeholder Dialogue

Following exceptionally high level interest, the 2013 PEFC Stakeholder Dialogue is fully booked and registration is now closed. The 4th PEFC Stakeholder Dialogue, part of the PEFC Forest Certification Week taking place next month in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, will follow on from previous dialogues on topics including biomass, forestry and climate change, and expanding forest certification in the tropics.

“PEFC Stakeholder Dialogues have been drawing an increasing number of participants every year since their inception four years ago, and already the 2013 Dialogue is fully booked," said Ben Gunneberg, PEFC Secretary General. “That this year's event is sold out, despite the fact that we moved to an even larger venue, shows there is clear interest in advancing sustainable trade in Asia, and it vindicates our decision to take PEFC Forest Certification Week to Asia. We appreciate the important contribution of stakeholders and we look forward to discussing opportunities to catalyze uptake of sustainable practices within this region, and we regret that not everybody interested will be able to attend.”

Asia holds the key to unlocking the production and trade of sustainable forest products. The region’s forest wood processing industry has grown massively over the past 15 years gaining international recognition for production of forest-based products. With continued growth in demand projected in domestic and international markets the future looks bright. But improvements need to be made in sustainability and transparency if the industry’s development is to make optimal long-term contributions to people, economy, and the environment, and give confidence to markets.

During the Dialogue leaders and experts from across the forest sector landscape will engage in solutions-oriented discussions. They will be joined by forest certification organizations from across the region, including the Chinese Forest Certification Council (CFCC), the Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC), and the Indonesia Forest Certification Cooperative (IFCC).

The Stakeholder Dialogue is preceded by the PEFC General Assembly, which welcomes PEFC members and invited guests, including governmental delegation from across Asia and beyond interested in supporting the development of national forest certification systems in their own countries.

PEFC is proud to recognize our current sponsors, which include, APP Timber, the Brazilian Pulp and Paper Association (BRACELPA), Bureau Veritas, MeadWestvaco, the Malaysian Timber Council (MTC), Responsible Asia Forestry and Trade (RAFT), and Pablo Publishing Pte Ltd as the Media Partner.