CAF Delegation Attended the 2nd High-level Meeting of the Coordination Mechanism for Cooperation in Forestry between China and the CEE Countries

On May14, 2018, the CAF delegation led by its Vice President Prof. Xiao Wenfa, attended the Seminar on China-CEECs Forest Science Cooperation, a side event of the 2^nd High-level Meeting of the Coordination Mechanism for Cooperation in Forestry between China and the CEE Countries held in Belgrade, Serbia. The seminar was hosted by Ms. Ljiljana Sovilj, Chief of Forest Department in the Directorate of Forests, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Serbia. Nearly 40 representatives from forest-related research institutes from CEECs, including the Faculty of Forestry of University of Belgrade, Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment Protection of University of Novi Sad, Slovenian Forestry Institute, University of Forestry of Bulgaria, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Lithuanian Institute of Forestry, etc., participated in the seminar.

Prof. Xiao Wenfa, in his opening remarks, recalled that the International Conference on China-CEECs Forestry Research and Education Cooperation organized by CAF in Beijing, China in 2017 had laid a cornerstone for reciprocal and pragmatic cooperation on forest science and research between China and CEECs. During the Beijing conference, research cooperation in fields including sivilculture and forest management, forest resources monitoring, forest ecology, environment and protection, etc. was explored based on knowledge and experience sharing, and consensus was reached. Prof. Xiao called on participants to provide inputs and suggestions for furthering the forest science cooperation during the seminar.

A total of 21 presentations were given at the seminar and constructive discussion was held. The delegation members gave 5 presentations, including (1) Research on Ecological Restoration in China and Prospects of China-CEECs Forestry Research Cooperation by Prof. Xiao Wenfa; (2) Alien Invasive Species of Forestry and the Biological Control in China by Prof. Zhang Zhen; (3) Forest Monitoring and Assessment Using High-resolution Remote Sensing Technologies by Prof. Pang Yong; (4) Sustainable Forest Management in China by Prof. Lei Jingpin; and (5) Highlights and Prospects of Wood Science Research in Chinese Academy of Forestry by Dr. Wang Yurong. Participants from China and CEE Countries shared currently available resources and feasible approaches for the cooperation, and exchanged views on and expectations towards forestry research, education and industrial cooperation.