World's forestry sector to gather in Durban
The WFC is the largest and most significant gathering of the world's forestry sector held every six years since 1926. The congress will bring together the global forestry community to review and analyse the key issues and to share ways of addressing them.
Positioning forestry as an integral part of sustainable development
First to be held in the African soil, the congress will kick off from 7 to 11 September 2015 at Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre. It will be held under the theme 'Forests and People: Investing in a Sustainable Future'. The congress aims to help position forestry as an integral part of sustainable development at all levels, including national, regional and global.
It also aims to identify and review major issues facing forests and forestry and propose technical, scientific and policy interventions to promote forest sustainability, among others.
Seeking ways of reversing forest degradation
Speaking ahead of the congress, minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Senzeni Zokwana, said the Ministry sees the XIV WFC as a good platform for the global forestry community to meet and share ideas and experiences that seek to obtain a mutual goal of seeking ways of reversing forest degradation and deforestation.
"The theme for the congress, 'Forests and People: Investing in a Sustainable Future', puts the people of the world at the heart of forests and I sincerely trust that the meeting will yield the desired objectives including that of ensuring a sustainable future for the forests," said minister Zokwana.
XIV WFC secretary-general, Trevor Abrahams said that the congress is particularly timely for discussing the UN post-2015 agenda and the sustainable development goals. "It is clear that people must be at the centre of sustainable development and that poverty eradication and sustainable management are essential requirements.
"Forestry has immense potential in all these areas, in empowering people, in helping eradicate poverty and in sustainably managing the resource," the minister said.