Hoping to raise awareness about the importance of forests, and provide information on ICIMOD’s REDD+ activities, the Forest Research Institute (FRI), under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (MONREC) celebrated the International Day of Forests (IDF) on 21 March 2017, in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. The FRI is a collaborative partner of ICIMOD’s REDD+ Himalaya Initiative.

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21 March the International Day of Forests to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests. The theme for IDF 2017 was Forests and Energy.

Under the guidance of the FRI Director, Dr Thaung Naing Oo, the ICIMOD REDD+ Project Team organized various activities to celebrate this occasion with the UN-REDD Programme and Korea Forest Service (KFS).

The Union Minister of MONREC, H. E. U. Ohn Winn attended the event with senior officials from relevant ministries, and members from the University of Forestry, the University of Agriculture, and the University of Veterinary Science. Many high school students and teachers were also in attendance.

The event featured a poster session on forests and resilient society, sustainable development, forests and energy, forests and ecosystem services, and ICIMOD REDD+ project activities in Myanmar, including water management technologies using ICIMOD knowledge products.

In related news, FRI has selected pilot sites and organized an inception workshop in Taungyyi district in Myanmar under REDD+ Himalaya, and more focused REDD+ activities are in the pipeline.

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