FAO furthers cooperation with Federal Agency for Forestry

On the occasion of International Day of Forests Oleg Kobiakov, Director of the FAO Liaison Office with the Russian Federation (LOR), hosted at FAO’s Moscow office Mikhail Klinov, Deputy Head of the Russian Federal Agency for Forestry (Rosleskhoz). The two senior executives discussed the state of bilateral relations and promising avenues of further cooperation.

Oleg Kobiakov acknowledged Federal Agency’s valuable contribution to the FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) 2020 report due to be published later this year. Russia’s participation in the FRA 2020 Remote Sensing Survey was also highlighted. “Moscow Office appreciates Rosleskhoz leadership in commemorating International Day of Forests in Russia and stands ready to co-organize further joint activities related to the International Year of Plant Health celebrated in 2020, said the Office Director.

The parties discussed the prospective plans for organizing traineeships for students and postgraduates of Russian Forestry universities at FAO Headquarters and offices worldwide.

LOR stated that FAO expects the Federal Agency for Forestry to lead the work on boreal belt forests together with FAO, following suite of the Task Force established by Rosleskhoz and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe last year.

Oleg Kobiakov and Mikhail Klinov concluded the meeting by discussing FAO Office participation in the planting of a United Nations alley to mark UN’s and FAO’s 75th anniversaries in the framework of the Agency’s “Garden of Victory” project dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Second World War.