The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations are geared to host the XIV World Forestry Congress in Durban. The World Forestry Congress will be held for the first time on African soil.
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The Congress will be held from 7 to 11 September 2015 at the Albert Luthuli Durban International Convention Centre, under the theme “Forest and People: Investing in a Sustainable Future.”
The World Forestry Congress (WFC) is the largest and most significant gathering of the world's forestry sector and is held every six years since 1926. The Congress will provide a platform to deliberate critical issues the forestry.
The need for governments, civil society and the private sector to boost investment in forests as a key to sustainable development will be the focus of the Congress.
Participants will discuss ways to unleash the full potential of forests to lift rural populations out of poverty, act as buffers against climate change and inspire new technologies and renewable products.
Ministers and heads of international and national agencies will be among several thousand people gathering for the Congress, which takes place every six years.
This year’s event is hosted by the Republic of South Africa with support from FAO, and marks the first time the Congress will be held on African soil since its inception in 1926.
Highlights include the launch of FAO’s Global Forest Resources Assessment 2015, which will show how the world’s forests have changed over the last 25 years and provide the latest information on the state of sustainable forest management.
The Congress outcome, Vision 2050, is set to reinforce the contribution of forests and forestry to a sustainable future and help pave the road to a new climate change agreement at the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris in December.
Main Congress proceedings will be in English, French and Spanish and will be webcast.
Journalists and photographers from print and online media, television, radio and news agencies are welcome to attend and cover the XIV World Forestry Congress in Durban. There will be no registration fee for accredited media.
Registration for the congress is now open, visit www.wfc2015.org.za.
Join in the engagement on Twitter #Forests2015. Like our Facebook page XIV World Forestry Congress community.
For registration enquiries:
Piwe Mbiko
Cell: 072 937 2337
Email PiweM@daff.gov.za
Jamela Nkanyane
Cell: 082 346 9781
Email JamelaN@daff.gov.za
