Current state of illegal rosewood and forest trade in the Lower Mekong and China

When: 23 May 2023, 2:30 – 4:00 pm BKK time

Where: Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok and virtual. Register for the event.

Following the celebration of UN’s Biodiversity Day, we invite you to this press conference that will unveil key insights from UN-REDD’s Sustainable Forest Trade in the Lower Mekong Initiative.  We will delve into the initiative's challenges and achievements in combatting forest crime, promoting sustainable forest trade, and preserving critically endangered tree species like Rosewood in the face of a growing demand for forest products. Through a compelling blend of data and stories, journalists will gain valuable insights into the interplay between forest governance, sustainable value chain, forest carbon markets and the protection of the Lower Mekong region's precious forests.

Speakers include:

• AKIKO INOGUCHI, Forestry Officer, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations
• KATRINA BORROMEO, Programme and Communications Officer, United Nations Environment Programme
• AOMJITR SENA, Forestry Officer, Royal Forest Department, Bangkok, Thailand
• DANY CHHEANG, Deputy Director, Forestry Administration, Phnom Pehn, Cambodia
• THOUMTHONE VONGVISOUK, Head of Planning and Cooperation, Department of Forestry, Vientiane, Lao PDR