​A side event on the HIMEK initiative [Black Carbon and Forest] was organized jointly by RRC.AP and IUCN during the Asia-Pacific Forestry Week (APFW2019) held in Incheon city of Republic of Korea during 17-21 June 2019. The purpose of the event was to communicate to global audience and policy makers who are dealing forest related issues about the impacts of black carbon particles on health and environment and how afforestation can help in removing black carbon particles from atmosphere. The event was also aimed to introduce the HIMEK initiative to global policy makers. AIT and IUCN jointly establishing an alliance "the HIMEK" which will be a regional cooperation framework between the Himalayan countries and the countries of the Mekong Region to promote efforts on emission reduction of Black Carbon particles and forest landscape restoration. The participants were researchers, scientists, representatives from intergovernmental organizations, non-government organizations and government policy makers. The event was highly successful.