The 19th session of the African Forestry Wildlife Commission (AFWC) met in Windhoek, Namibia from 30 September to 4 October, 2013.
In his opening statement, Namibia's Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, John Mutorwa, noted with regret that Africa is leading in losing natural resources, especially forests.
1 October 2013: The 19th session of the African Forestry Wildlife Commission (AFWC) met in Windhoek, Namibia, from 30 September to 4 October, 2013. In his opening statement, Namibia’s Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, John Mutorwa, noted with regret that Africa is leading in losing natural resources, especially forests.
The Commission discussed a range of issues including: maintaining the integrity of forest ecosystems and wildlife habitats for food security; illegal trade and poaching of wildlife products and their implications for economic development in Africa; valuation of the contribution of forest and wildlife to economic development; and the implementation of the ‘Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security’ in Africa.
Created in 1959, AFWC is one of six Regional Forestry Commissions established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) to provide a policy and technical forum for countries to discuss and address forest issues on a regional basis. It meets every two years. [AFWC website] [FAO Press Release] [CITES News]