This Month, we spoke to Dr Sim Heok Choh of the Asia Pacific Association of Forestry Research Institutions (APAFRI), a network of 63 organizations across 23 countries in the region, established in 1995. Dr Sim who has served APAFRI since 2002 will be retiring as APAFRI’s Executive Secretary in 2016.
Q : You have a long perspective on APAFRI, having served the association since May 2002 – first as Executive Director of the Secretariat and since 2009 as the Executive Secretary. Can you share with us some highlights at APAFRI during your time with the organization?
SHC : APAFRI membership has increased, and the organization is financially very healthy. We had two major projects in the past years: one on Forest Genetic Resources funded by ITTO (2006-2010), and another one on forest transition funded by The Asia-Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation(APFNet) (2011-2013). Contributions of the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) to APAFRI have increased manifold, and more recently, the Korean Government through the National Institute of Forest Science (NIFOS) has also contributed substantially every year to APAFRI’s activities. APAFRI has published its twice-a-year newsletters regularly since June 2002, after a lapse during 2000-2001.
Q: What do you think makes APAFRI successful as a regional network/association?
SHC : Improved communication and linkages with members, as well as donor agencies and potential members.
Q: Despite of your retirement as the Executive Secretary, you will continue working with APAFRI part-time in 2016. What are some of the key events for APAFRI in 2016 in which you will be involved?
SHC : I would assist Dr Gan Kee Seng, the newly appointed Executive Secretary of APAFRI, in a few activities and events in 2016. These include the Asia Pacific Forestry Week, held in the Philippines on 22-26 February in conjunction with the 26st session of the Asia Pacific Forestry Commission, and an IUFRO Asia Oceania Congress to be held in Beijing, 24-27 October. Additionally, I will be involved in organizing one or two workshops on traditional forest-related knowledge.
APFORGEN secretariat would like to thank Dr. Sim for his time in sharing with us his long perspective on APAFRI.
