4 Oct 2019

Pacific countries to protect, regrow forests

9:50 am on 4 October 2019

Pacific forestry leaders have agreed to set reforestation and native forest protection targets in a bid to help slow climate change.

Papua New Guinea.

Papua New Guinea. Photo: DOZIER Marc / hemis.fr

The agreement came as part of the Pacific Week of Agriculture in Samoa.

Representatives from eight Pacific countries joined delegates from the Pacific Community, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization and the German development agency to set the regional targets.

Delegates heard how increased populations and economic development, exacerbated by more frequent and extreme climatic events were placing enormous pressure on the region's forests.