Buenos Aires, Argentina - “We should not exclude any potential means of mitigating climate change¨ said Jan Heino, Assistant Director General of the Forestry Department at FAO, just as the World Forestry Congress drew to a close on Friday 23 October. In as little as five days, a major exercise of discussion, partnership and knowledge sharing occurred, seeing the involvement of the private sector as well as of civil society, the academia, NGOs and international organizations. With an initial expected number of 4 000 participants rising up to over 7 000, the meeting in Buenos Aires was evidence of the momentum generated by this crucial juncture.

Buenos Aires (Argentina) - “In my life, I have planted some 3,000 plants, trees and roses” said President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner while planting a tree in front of the Casa Rosada, seat of the executive branch of the government of Argentina.

The ceremonial act, performed together with Jan Heino, Assistant Director General at the Forestry Department of FAO, officially marked the presidential opening of the XIII World Forestry Congress.

“By considering forests as an integral part of wider economic and social development goals, we will make giant strides in our efforts to reduce poverty, hunger and malnutrition.”

Read the interview with Dr Jacques Diouf, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) who will be speaking at the opening Ceremony of the XIII World Forestry Congress in Argentina.

“The continuing loss of forests and forest degradation pose a critical challenge. Research has demonstrated repeatedly that damage to forest ecosystems is significant and is affecting everyone.”

This is the opinion of Jan Heino, Assistant Director General of the Forestry Department at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, under the auspices of which the World Forestry Congress has been held every six years since 1926.

“The world needs more effective and focused international action on tropical forests. That will help reduce poverty, protect biodiversity and also mitigate the effects of climate change.”

Emmanuel Ze Meka, ITTO’s Executive President, will be urging more effective and focused international action on tropical forests at the XIII World Forestry Congress.

“At regional and global levels, especially in inland Amazonia and other regions in southern central Brazil, if the rate of deforestation is not reduced, removal of plant cover can affect rainfall, as has been scientifically demonstrated.”

Read the interview with Dr Jose Carlos Carvalho, the State Secretary for Environment and Sustainable Development of Minas Gerais, who will be taking part in the World Forestry Congress as keynote speaker on “Organizing forest development”.

“This single-biggest thing in trying to address climate change if you’re in forestry is keeping the forest.”

Listen to Avrim Lazar, President & CEO of FPAC (Forest Products Association of Canada) and keynote speaker on Forests and Climate Change at the XIII World Forestry Congress in Argentina.

“We have all the elements in our industry, the willingness and the potential to contribute, to be part of the solution to climate change.”

Teresa Presas, Managing Director of CEPI (Confederation of European Paper Industries), will be a key-note speaker on Opportunities for Development at the XIII World Forestry Congress in Argentina.