Jakarta, July 30 -- Ministers and senior representatives from APEC economies called for stronger action to protect forests across the Asia-Pacific.

The call was made during the 2026 APEC Ministerial Meeting on Forestry in Shenzhen, People's Republic of China, on Thursday, according to an APEC statement.

"We gather here today in China to renew our shared aspirations and chart the future of forests together, an occasion of great significance amid global transformation," Administrator of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration of China Liu Guohong said in his opening remarks.

During the meeting, participants warned that illegal logging, mangrove loss, and rapid urbanization are placing one of the region's greatest economic asse...