Hungary attends World Forestry Congress in Seoul

Forests are in the focus of Hungary’s fight against climate change, Sándor Szentpéteri, Hungary’s deputy state secretary in charge of the country’s woods, told the 15th World Forestry Congress in Seoul on Wednesday.

A brief history of the World Forestry Congress

Since the first World Forestry Congress was held in Rome in 1926, about every six years, the Congress has been providing a forum for inclusive discussion on the key challenges and way forward for the forestry sector. In 1954, FAO was entrusted with supporting Congress preparations in close cooperation with the host country and proudly continues to do so today. More information on past Congresses can be found here.

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Hungary attends WFC 2022

The agriculture ministry quoted Szentpeteri as voicing agreement with the aim of the congress, to promote a green and sustainable future by way of cultivating forests.

Concerning Hungary’s achievements, the official said the country had doubled its wooded areas in the past decade, noting that a programme launched in recent years had given new impetus to those efforts.

By 2030, Hungary aims to increase the ratio of its woodlands to 27 percent of its total area, Szentpéteri said.

He also stressed the importance of cultivating existing woodlands lest they should “fall victim to the impacts of climate change”.

The Hungarian delegation to the conference is mostly interested in sustainable forestry and circular forest management, as well as in opportunities for cooperation concerning the application of Hungary’s experience in desert afforestation, the statement said.

The conference, held every six years, is attended by 12,000 participants.