The 2016 Asia-Pacific Rainforest Summit in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, brought together governments, private sector executives, leading practitioners from non-government organizations and world-class researchers to exchange knowledge and highlight leading practices to slow, halt and reverse deforestation in the Asia-Pacific region.

The 2016 Summit built on the inaugural Summit that was held in Sydney, Australia, in November 2014.

The first Summit ended with a strong show of support from regional leaders to help realize the global goal of ending natural rainforest loss by 2030, and resulted in the formation of the Asia-Pacific Rainforest Partnership.

Landmark global agreements reached in 2015 through the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals carried the momentum forward, increasing the need for strong regional partnerships and collective action on forests.

The Asia-Pacific is one of the world’s most dynamic regions. Its rapid development is accompanied by many challenges, including global climate change and a growing population. Agricultural expansion to achieve food security and economic development can threaten the sustainability and biodiversity of the region’s tropical forests, and the many ecosystem services they provide.

Against this backdrop, some regional economies are adopting a green-growth approach to sustainably manage their forests and landscapes. As part of the Paris Agreement, countries have also established targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including emission reductions from the forest sector.

Similarly, leading businesses are committing to sustainable land-use and investment practices, including pledges to halt deforestation.

The 2016 Asia-Pacific Rainforest Summit focused on practical actions to reduce forest loss, while balancing the development aspirations of the region’s rainforest nations.