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110. A regional project on watershed management became operational with Kathmandu as the Headquarters. An FAO/Finland workshop on people's participation in upland conservation was organized in Bangkok from 22 to 29 November 1988.
111. In collaboration with IUFRO, FAO organized the first-ever symposium on pests and diseases of forest plantations in 1988 which highlighted the need for intensified work on such pests as "Psyllid", which destroyed large areas of Leucaena leucocephala plantations in the Asia-Pacific Region.
Forest Industries and Trade
112.
Cooperation with the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) continued. FAO compiled information on the utilization of rubber wood in Thailand to promote awareness among countries with rubber wood resources about the growing potential of this resource. The Advisory Committee of Experts on Pulp and Paper held its 29th Session in Beijing in July 1988.
113. The Regional Wood Energy Development Programme carried out several activities for better understanding and improvement of wood energy systems, from wood production to energy conversion and utilization. A pilot activity was undertaken in Thailand on the use of wood as fuel for electricity generation through small decentralized power units for rural communities.
114.
The first FAO/Austria Seminar on Forest Harvesting Management on Steep Terrain, held in Austria from 29 May to 23 June 1989, was attended by representatives from Bhutan, India, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea and the Philippines.
115.
Three regional reports, including the one for Asia-Pacific on the survey of harvesting training needs in developing countries, as well as a global summary, were discussed at the FAO/Finland Expert Consultation held in Kotka, Finland, from 15 to 19 May 1989. The Consultation was attended by delegates from China, Fiji, India, Republic of Korea, and the Philippines. Based on the recommendations of the report, an action programme was developed which will be discussed at a forthcoming FAO/Finland Consultation. Work continued on the transfer of knowledge on appropriate forest harvesting systems through the publication of three reports based on case studies on Republic of Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines.
Forestry Investment and Institutions
116.
FAO organized an expert consultation of Forestry Education which led to the formation of the Asian Network on Forestry Education, which will work towards reorientation of curricula, and achieving comparability of forestry education standards.
117.
The Expert Consultation of the Asia-Pacific Network on Forestry Research was held at the FAO Regional Office, 22-25 August 1989. The meeting established the informal Network of Forestry Research Managers in Asia Pacific Region (INFORM) and formulated a Forestry Research Support Programme for donor funding.
118. An international Expert Consultation on forestry and food security was held in 1988 with considerable input from Asia on such subjects as the role of mangrove forests in local diets and economies.