1 THE 2nd MEETI NG OF ASFN
Bangkok, 27 – 29 August 2008
Opening Remarks by ASFN Chairman
Director of Social Forestry Development
Ministry of Forestry, the Republic of I ndonesia
Mr. Chonlatid Suraswadi, Director of Bureau of Community Forest
Management of the Royal Forest Department of Thailand,
Distinguished ASFN Leaders and Delegates,
Distinguished Representative of the ASEAN Secretariat,
Distinguished Partner Organizations and Invited Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
First of all, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the Government and the
people of Thailand, who have excellently hosted and organized this Meeting, as well
as for the warm hospitality extended to all Delegates and invited Guests.
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on some milestones that the ASEAN
Social Forestry Network has gone through during the past year since its First
Meeting in Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia on April last year.
As you may recall, the adoption of the Terms of Reference, Rules of Procedures and
the Strategic Plan of Action of the ASEAN Cooperation in Social Forestry (2007 –
2012) by the First ASFN Meeting had been reported to the ASEAN Senior Officials
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Following that, a number of activities had been implemented and progressing till
now, based on the agreed activities under the strategies in achieving the objectives
of the ASFN, namely in (i) establishing, operationalizing, and strengthening the
ASEAN Cooperation in Social Forestry, (ii) promoting policy and practices of social
forestry where possible in ASEAN Member States, (ii) establishing and strengthening
the ASFN information and communications system, and (iv) promoting and
developing support for the ASEAN Cooperation in Social Forestry, which will be
updated by the ASEAN Member States, ASEAN Secretariat as well as the ASFN
Secretariat through their respective Country Reports and Information Paper, as well
as through our discussion with Partner Organizations in this Meeting.
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This has been a year round of progressive development for the ASFN, and I am
optimistic that the ASEAN Cooperation in Social Forestry develops into a lot more
activities implemented on the ground in the years ahead. It is the task of the ASFN to
promote and further develop social forestry that aims to empower and improve the
welfare of the community living within and around the forest towards sustainable
forest management in ASEAN region.
As I will hand over the Chairmanship of the ASFN to the elected Chairman in this
Meeting, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation for your support during my
Chairmanship. I trust that the next Chairman will do his or her best for a more solid,
effective, and efficient ASFN, while Indonesia continues supporting the ASFN in its
role as Lead Country that hosts the ASFN Secretariat. With that brief note, I
conclude my remarks. I wish for a productive meeting in the spirit of ASEAN. Thank
