UNFF20: Global forest action to be discussed in New York

28 April 2025, New York: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), an interagency partnership of 16 member organizations permanently chaired by FAO, will contribute to the deliberations of the upcoming 20th Session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF20).

The session, to take place on 5-9 May at UN headquarters in New York, will discuss progress in implementation of the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2017-2030 and how to strengthen efforts to achieve the Strategic Plan's six Global Forest Goals by 2030.

UNFF20 will focus on three thematic priorities: (1) reversing the loss of forest cover and preventing forest degradation; (2) increasing the area of protected and sustainably managed forest and the proportion of forest products from sustainably managed forests; and (3) promoting governance frameworks to implement sustainable forest management and enhance the contributions of forests to sustainable development.

The Forum will also consider the emerging issue of dryland forests, including their essential role in combating desertification, preserving biodiversity, supporting livelihoods, and regulating local climates. Drylands are home to about 2 billion people, the majority of whom depend on ecosystem services from forests and woodlands, grasslands and trees outside forests.

"With just five years to go to achieve the Global Forest Goals, UNFF20 presents a crucial opportunity to review progress and set out the means for strengthening policy, collaboration and action," said Zhimin Wu, FAO's Director of Forestry and Chair of the CPF.

High-level side-events

FAO's Advisory Committee on Sustainable Forest-based Industries (ACSFI) will host the side-event, Unlocking the potential: Public-private sector collaboration for advancing Global Forest Goals, on Tuesday 5 May. This event will explore ways to strengthen public-private partnerships to increase the sustainable production and consumption of forest products and accelerate the transition to a sustainable forest-based bioeconomy.

The CPF will host the side-event, Joining forces for forests: CPF joint action to advance Global Forest Goals, on Wednesday 6 May, highlighting the CPF's contributions to progress on the Global Forest Goals, sharing lessons learned, and identifying opportunities for stronger collaboration. The CPF will also present its workplan for 2025-2028 during the side event.

In addition, FAO will co-host side-events during the week on sustainable forest management in low-forest-cover countries; dryland forests; synergies between the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2017-2030; and aligning global climate and forest goals.

The 66th session of ACSFI will also take place alongside UNFF20, opened jointly by Angélica Jácome, Director of the FAO Liaison Office with the United Nations in New York, and FAO Forestry Director Zhimin Wu. Comprising senior executives from the private industry sector worldwide, ACSFI meets yearly to provide guidance to FAO on issues relevant to the paper and forest products industry, in support of member countries' efforts towards sustainable development.

UNFF

The UNFF is an intergovernmental policy forum established in 2000 to promote the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests and to strengthen long-term political commitment. A wide range of forest-related stakeholders participates in UNFF sessions, including governments, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and civil society.

The CPF was created in 2001 to support the work of the UNFF and strengthen cooperation on forests.

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