The 2026 APEC Ministerial Meeting on Forestry (MMRF6) was held in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, from 27 to 28 July under the theme “Towards a Green Asia-Pacific that Advances Forest Resilience and Ecological Well-being for All”. The meeting brought together ministers, representatives and experts from 21 APEC economies and 7 international organizations. For the first time, mangrove conservation was included as a key agenda item, with representatives exchanging views on mangrove conservation and restoration, ecosystem functions, blue carbon value, and enhancing coastal ecosystem resilience.
Opening ceremony of the 2026 APEC Ministerial Meeting on Forestry (Photo by Fu Chao)
During the meeting, representatives from 15 economies, including Australia, China，Malaysia, Singapore and Mexico, shared experiences and perspectives on mangrove conservation, restoration and sustainable management. Home to nearly half of the world’s mangrove resources, the Asia-Pacific Region plays a vital role in global mangrove conservation. Ministers and senior representatives point to mangroves’ importance for disaster resilience, food security and economic growth, and stressed the need for stronger action to protect Asia-Pacific forests in response to growing challenges from mangrove loss and other environmental pressures.
As a key outcome of the meeting, the Joint Statement of the 2026 APEC Ministerial Meeting on Forestry (MMRF6) emphasized the multiple values and contributions of forests, including mangroves, in supporting economic growth, human well-being and biodiversity conservation, and called for joint action to enhance forest resilience and address forest loss and degradation.
From a global initiative for mangrove conservation cooperation to an international platform supporting knowledge exchange, scientific and technical cooperation, capacity building and pilot projects, the IMC continues to expand its partnership network and promote practical actions for mangrove conservation and restoration. Moving forward, the IMC will further strengthen exchanges and cooperation with partners across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, contributing to the conservation and sustainable use of mangrove ecosystems and enhanced coastal resilience.