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.
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.
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 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.
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Sergio H. Graf Montero is Director General of Mexico’s National Forestry Commission (CONAFOR).
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Tom Schultz is Chief of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
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The Climate, Atmospheric Change and Forests Working Group promotes the knowledge of forest ecosystems through the science and monitoring of the effects of atmospheric changes on these forests, through international cooperation and dissemination of new technologies and techniques among the cooperating countries.
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The Fire Management Working Group is a forum for exchanging experience and technology for the protection and control of forest fires; for cooperation among the three NAFC countries to develop strategies and actions to solve technical and management problems; and to actively participate with international agencies to conduct and promote activities that will foster world-wide cooperation and development.
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The Forest Genetic Resources working group's mission is to generate and share knowledge that is crucial for the conservation and sustainable use of North American forest genetic resources to the benefit of present and future generations.
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The Forest Insects and Diseases Working Group promotes the protection of forest resources throughout North America for the benefit of member countries and future generations. The Working Group aims to achieve this through: a) the prevention and eradication of forest insects and diseases and b) the maintenance and improvement of tree and forest health through international cooperation.
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The Forest Inventory and Monitoring Working Group promotes scientific and technical collaboration among the three countries, advancing compatible approaches to forest inventory, monitoring, and assessment. It explores new technologies such as remote sensing, supports capacity-building exchanges, and coordinates with other NAFC working groups to share knowledge and strengthen practices.
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The mission of the NAFC Illegal Logging Working Group is to facilitate exchange of information on matters pertaining to illegal logging and associated trade, wood identification science and relevant emerging technologies; and to advance trilateral collaboration for the purpose of combating illegal logging and maintaining legal trade of forest products within North America.
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The Silviculture Working Group seeks to identify common areas of interest in forest management in the North American Continent, transfer knowledge and shared experiences, and engage in joint research that advances successful forest management under increasingly complex bioclimatic and socioeconomic environments.
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The Urban Forest Programs Working Group shares information on urban forestry and community engagement, identifies opportunities for collaboration in cities across Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, and works to raise awareness of urban forestry issues.
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FAO’s regional forestry communicators’ networks promote understanding of key forestry issues to strengthen sustainable forest management in policy and practice. The networks bring together nearly 500 professionals from government and private-sector organizations to share best practices and tools, support effective regional communication campaigns, foster peer learning, build new partnerships, and exchange timely information on emerging forest issues.