The Least Developed Countries Discuss Forestry

In the context of 4th session of UN Conference on Least Developed Countries, a side event was organized on Wednesday, 11 May 2011 with the participation of Ministry of Environment and Forestry Undersecretary Prof. Dr. Lütfi Akça In the meeting, which addressed the problems and challenges faced by 48 least developed countries and discussed the action plans to be implemented in the least developed countries by other countries within next 10 years, with the participation of Ministry of Environment and Forestry Undersecretary Prof. Dr. Lütfi Akça, a side event entitled “Turkey’s support to the forestry activities to be carried out in degraded and dry areas in the Least Developed Countries: opportunities and challenges”. On behalf of the Minister, Undersecretary Prof. Dr. Lütfi Akça represented our Ministry of Environment and Forestry. Deputy Undersecretary Dr. Mahir Küçük, Director-General of Afforestation Hanefi Avcı and several representatives from other units of the Ministry also attended the side event. Headed by the moderator, Mr. Ertuğrul Apakan, Ambassador, Turkish Permanent Missions to UN, the side event was followed by the presentations of Ms. Jan McAlpine, Director of the United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat, Mr. Luc Gnacadja, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Mr. Mehmet Yılmaz, Director of Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) and Undersecretary Prof. Dr. Lütfi Akça. The side event, which attracted the attention of the participants from the Least Developed Countries, contributed a lot to the support to be given to the Least Developed Countries by our Ministry and the opportunity for mutual cooperation. After the discussions, the event came to an end with a cocktail.