Nearly 30 participants across the region gather together to share and discuss their work in Forest Genetic Resources conservation and application, the main outcome in strengthening tree seed supply systems in their country, developing plans for collaboration in implementing APFORGEN's strategy, and identifying key activities to be carried out for each of APFORGEN's prioritized target objectives. The implementation of APFORGEN's strategy is designed to support regional collaboration for implementing the Global Plan of Action on Forest Genetic Resources.

The three-day programme consisted of lessons learned from the regional project, updates from representative member countries on their work in Forest Genetic Resources conservation, sharing of positioning and fundraising opportunities related to the APFORGEN targets, and also an informative presentation on key findings in the second report of the FAO publication on the State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources. Besides that, participants were also immersed in presentations and discussions in the hybrid sessions of the APFORGEN international symposium, with this year's theme on 'Asia’s unique forests and trees: Conserving diversity, building resilience, enhancing productivity'. Scientists, researchers, and experts from different regions presented their research findings, covering four sub-themes on: 1. Documenting diversity: Genetic diversity; 2. Documenting diversity: Species and Ecosystems; 3. Conserving diversity; and 4. Building resilience, enhancing productivity. The day was concluded with a training workshop on using MyFarmTrees application, the dissolution of the past APFORGEN board members, and the election of new APFORGEN's Board for the next three-year period.

The programme was attended by National and Assistant Coordinators, and their colleagues from 13 countries, and the representative of FAO, and the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). The annual meeting and international symposium was organized as a collaboration between APFORGEN, the College of Forestry and Natural Resources of the University of the Philippines Los Baños, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, and the Asia Pacific Association of Forestry Research Institutions (APAFRI). The activities were made possible with funding support from the Republic of Korea through the National Institute of Forest Sciences (NIFoS).