Tropical forests, located primarily in the low-latitude regions around the equator across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, thrive in areas with consistently high rainfall throughout the year. These lush ecosystems are exceptional in their capacity to absorb substantial amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through vigorous photosynthesis under abundant sunlight, storing an estimated 40-50% of the carbon dioxide from terrestrial vegetation.

Tropical trees with large amounts of biomass also serve as vital habitats for a wide variety of organisms, ranging from large mammals to insects, and from small animals to bacteria, thus forming the foundation for extremely complex and fragile biodiversity.

The exceptional ability of tropical forests to sequester carbon and support biodiversity plays a pivotal role in regulating the Earth’s climate and environment. As a result, these forests are recognized as an indispensable subsystem in stabilizing the Earth system. At the same time, tropical forests have provided natural resources, such as timber, raw materials for medicines, and have introduced a variety of agricultural crops that are essential for human sustenance.

However, globalization since the mid-20th century has led to uncontrolled exploitation, resulting in accelerated logging and deforestation to make way for cash crop plantations. In 2022 alone, it is estimated that the world has lost 4.10 million hectares of primary tropical rainforest (source: WRI).

Anthropogenic disturbances in tropical forests not only contribute to global warming by releasing carbon stored in trees and soils but also lead to the devastating loss of biodiversity and destruction of the biosphere. Tropical forests are thus becoming net sources of carbon, with feedback mechanisms that could disrupt the entire Earth system. Consequently, from the perspective of stabilizing the Earth system, there is an urgent need to identify and implement sustainable tropical forest management systems that should allow people to enjoy the benefits of tropical forests while also strengthening the critical functions they perform in global climate and environmental regulation.

In recent years, there has been growing international consensus on the need for resource management to enhance the resilience of tropical forests and for industry compliance with rules and regulations to halt deforestation. Achieving both forest conservation and sustainable industrialization requires context-specific, readily applicable innovations, including materials, management protocols, and the establishment of enabling institutions.

The Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) plays a leading role in international collaboration and coordination in the areas of agriculture, forestry and fisheries research, contributing to the achievement of the SDGs through the development of technologies to address challenges in these sectors across Asia, Africa and Latin America. As part of these efforts, we have pursued international research collaborations aimed at strengthening the resilience of tropical forests in various Asian countries. Examples include efforts to utilize and manage forest genetic resources adapted to climate change in Indonesia, and promoting sustainable land management for oil palm plantations in Malaysia by adding value to oil palm products to alleviate deforestation pressures.

Given the critical role of tropical forests in the well-being of humanity and the stability of the Earth system, the JIRCAS International Symposium 2023 aims to provide a platform for scientists, the private sector, policy makers, and stakeholders in the value chain to deliberate on opportunities and challenges for enhancing the resilience of tropical forests and the sustainability of forest-based industries. It is noteworthy that 2023 also marks the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Japan relations, providing a unique opportunity for regional cooperation to highlight the importance of tropical forests in the region.

Poster and Program