The 2026 APEC forestry ministers meeting, held in Shenzhen on 27–28, adopted a
joint statement calling for enhanced biodiversity protection and stronger
enforcement against illegal trade in forest products. It urges economies to
embed forest governance and sustainable forest management into economic
development plans and policy frameworks. The statement asks members to expand
finance and investment opportunities for forestry development and legal timber
trade, tailored to national circumstances, and to support upgrading processing
and value chains for forest products. It promotes deeper Asia‑Pacific
cooperation on urban forestry and water‑resource management, and calls for using
technological innovation and sustainable management to restore ecosystems and
reduce habitat fragmentation. Under principles of sustainable forest management,
it encourages the development of emerging forest industries, products and services.
