The North American Forest Commission (NAFC) is one of six regional forestry commissions of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). NAFC provides a policy and technical forum for Canada, Mexico and the United States to discuss and address forest issues throughout North America. Since Canada, Mexico and the United States contain a mix of boreal, temperate and tropical ecosystems, the results of the commission’s work can be applied more broadly to assist other countries and regions facing similar conditions.
NAFC was established in 1958.
LEARN ABOUT A FEW OF OUR INITIATIVES AND RESOURCES
THE COMMISSIONERS
The head of the forestry organization of each country serves as Commissioner, along with the Assistant Director General of the Forestry Department of FAO. The Chair rotates every two years among the three NAFC countries. Current NAFC commissioners are to the right.
The NAFC Commissioners meet every two years to update each other on important forest and natural resource issues and priorities in their respective countries and in FAO; to receive updates from the BOA and working groups; and to develop recommended topics to be considered by the FAO Committee on Forestry during its biennial meetings.
These Commission meetings provide an opportunity to highlight specific initiatives and issues of interest to the host Commissioner through field trips and/or invited presentations. They also provide space and time for the Commissioners to have informal conversations and collaborate on topics of interest, beyond NAFC. Generally each Commission meeting includes two evening receptions, one hosted by the host country, the other hosted by FAO. Commission meetings are attended by the Commissioners, BOA members, Working Group Chairs, invited guests and speakers.
Glenn Hargrove
Assistant Deputy Minister
Canadian Forest Service
Natural Resources Canada
Luis Meneses Murillo
Director General
National Forestry Commission
Randy Moore
Chief
US Forest Service
Zhimin Wu
Director, Forestry Division
Chair of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests
UN Food and Agriculture Organization
Glenn Hargrove is the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Canadian Forest Service at Natural Resources Canada, leading federal policy, science and program work across the forest sector. Prior to his current role, Glenn served as Assistant Deputy Minister of the Fuels Sector; the Strategic Petroleum Policy and Investment Office; and the Major Projects Management Office within NRCan. He also served as Director of Operations, Economic and Regional Development Policy at the Privy Council Office and held senior positions at NRCan in the Canadian Forest Service and Strategic Policy & Results Sector, as well as FPInnovations, a not-for-profit forest sector R&D organization.
Glenn Hargrove est le sous-ministre adjoint du Service canadien des forêts de Ressources naturelles Canada (RNCan). Il est chargé de diriger les travaux fédéraux relatifs à l’élaboration des politiques, de la science et des programmes dans l’ensemble du secteur forestier. Avant d’exercer ses fonctions actuelles, Glenn était sous-ministre adjoint du secteur des carburants, du Bureau de la politique stratégique et de l’investissement en matière d’hydrocarbures, de même que du Bureau de gestion des grands projets au sein de RNCan. Il a également été directeur des opérations, Politique du développement économique et régional au Bureau du Conseil privé. De plus, il a occupé des postes supérieurs à RNCan au sein du Service canadien des forêts, dans le Secteur de la politique stratégique et des résultats, ainsi qu’à FPInnovations, un organisme de recherche-développement à but non lucratif du secteur forestier.
Since August 2021, Luis Meneses Murillo has been in charge of Mexico’s National Forestry Commission (CONAFOR), as General Director. Meneses Murillo studied Physics and Mathematics at the Instituto Politécnico Nacional. He also has studies in Parliamentary Law from Universidad Iberoamericana. In the federal government of Mexico, he has served as Director of Planning and Control of Social Support in the Ministry of Welfare (2018-2021), as well as Federal Representative for the Seventh Electoral District in Sonora and Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Representatives (1997-2000). In the state government, he has served as General Director of the Institute for Older Adults in the Government of Mexico City (2014-2015); General Director of the Guaranteed Education Trust, with one of its PREPASI programs in the Government of Mexico City (2012-2014); Head of the Gustavo A. Madero Delegation, Political Demarcation in the Government of Mexico City (2008-2009); Coordinator of Advisors for the Head of Gustavo A. Madero Delegation, in Mexico City (2006-2008); General Director of Citizen Participation of the Government of Mexico City (2006); Liaison of the Government of Mexico City to the Legislative Assembly of Mexico City (2004-2005); and Director of Rural Development and General Director of the Natural Resources Commission in the Ministry of the Environment of the Government of Mexico City (2000- 2004). In addition, he has been a member of the Technical Council of the Social Movement Plan de Ayala XXI Century (2017-2018), and member of the Political Councils of the Independent Central of Agricultural Workers “José Dolores López Domínguez” and the National Union of Regional Workers and Autonomous Organizations (2015-2018).
Desde agosto de 2021, Luis Meneses Murillo está a cargo de la Comisión Nacional Forestal (CONAFOR) de México, como Director General. Meneses Murillo estudió la Licenciatura en Física y Matemáticas en el Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Cuenta con estudios en Derecho Parlamentario por la Universidad Iberoamericana. En el Gobierno Federal de México, se ha desempeñado como Director de Planeación y Control de Apoyos Sociales en la Secretaría de Bienestar (2018-2021), así como Diputado Federal por el Séptimo Distrito Electoral en Sonora y Vicepresidente de la Mesa Directiva de la Cámara de Diputados (1997- 2000). En el Gobierno estatal, ha fungido como Director General del Instituto de Adultos Mayores en el Gobierno de la Ciudad de México (2014-2015); Director General del Fideicomiso de Educación Garantizada, con uno de sus programas PREPASI en el Gobierno de la Ciudad de México (2012- 2014); Jefe Delegacional de la Demarcación Política Gustavo A. Madero en el Gobierno del Distrito Federal (2008-2009); Coordinador de Asesores del Delegado en Gustavo A. Madero, Distrito Federal (2006-2008); Director General de Participación Ciudadana del Gobierno del Distrito Federal (2006); Enlace del Gobierno del Distrito Federal ante la Asamblea Legislativa del Distrito Federal (2004-2005); y Director de Desarrollo Rural y Director General de la Comisión de Recursos Naturales en la Secretaría de Medio Ambiente del Gobierno del Distrito Federal (2000-2004). Además, ha sido Integrante del Consejo Técnico del Movimiento Social Plan de Ayala siglo XXI (2017-2018), e Integrante de los Consejos Políticos de la Central Independiente de Obreros Agrícolas y Campesinos “José Dolores López Domínguez” y de la Unión Nacional de Organizaciones Regionales Campesinas y Autónomas (2015-2018).
Randy Moore is Chief of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, leading a workforce of more than 25,000 permanent employees who sustainably manage 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands; support the world’s largest forestry research organization; and work with states, tribes, and others to sustain all of America’s forests for the benefit of all citizens, today and in the future. Under his leadership, the Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality for all communities nationwide.
Randy has been a catalyst for change throughout his 43-year career. As Chief, he contributes to our nation’s most pressing challenges: tackling climate change, advancing racial equity and helping the people we serve recover and heal from the global pandemic, in part through connection with our treasured public lands. Randy is committed to seeking new and better ways to address the many issues facing our ecosystems, our communities, and our employees.
Randy believes strongly that a leader must adapt and grow, but that there are some principles that always hold true: a leader must be fair, inclusive, willing to listen and trust his employees. He is committed to the Forest Service mission, distilling it to its core of improving forest conditions by bringing together partners running the gamut from industry to the environmental community to private, tribal, and government stewards of the land.
Prior to serving as Chief, he served as Pacific Southwest Regional Forester, where he was responsible for 18 national forests in California, covering one-fifth of the state on 20 million acres of land. He also oversaw State & Private Forestry programs in Hawaii and the U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands. Randy has also served as Regional Forester for the Eastern Region in Wisconsin, forest supervisor for Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri, and in myriad other roles throughout the agency. He began his 43-year career in 1978 with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in North Dakota.