The thirteenth session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF13) resumed on Thursday, 10 May 2018, at UN Headquarters in New York. In the morning, delegates discussed the revised draft communications and outreach strategy for the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2017-2030 (UNSPF), the revised guidelines for operation of the Global Forest Financing Facilitation Network (GFFFN), and the UNFF Trust Fund.

During lunch two side events were held: one hosted by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on "Launch of the Voluntary Guidelines for the Sustainable Management of Public Production National Forests in the Tropics through Forest Concessions in the Context of Agenda 2030"; and the other hosted by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) on "Implementing the Collaborative Partnership on Forests' Joint Initiative on FLR in Support of the Global Forest Goals and the UNSPF."

During the afternoon, delegates discussed the contributions of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), regional and sub-regional organizations and processes and Major Groups and stakeholders to implementation of the UNSPF. They then examined the initial draft of the omnibus resolution and offered comments and suggested amendments.

For details on the day’s discussions and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin.

The thirteenth session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF13) resumed on Wednesday, 9 May 2018, at UN Headquarters in New York. In the morning, delegates discussed the possible impact of UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) reform on the UNFF Secretariat and how the Forum is serviced. Delegates then turned to monitoring, assessment and reporting, including the proposed format and cycle for voluntary national reporting to UNFF and work by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) on a global core set of forest indicators.

During lunch three side events were held: one hosted by Rwanda and the Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC), on “Forest Ecosystems of Central Africa: The Unknown Lung of the Planet, Emerging issues, Challenges, and Prospects for the World”; a second hosted by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Government of Switzerland on “Mobilizing Finance for Forests and REDD+: The Key Role of National Forests and REDD+ Finance Strategies”; and a third hosted by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Government of the Republic of Korea on “Forest Ecosystem Restoration and Biodiversity.”

In the afternoon, delegates discussed means of implementation, with a focus on guidelines for the operation of the Global Forest Financing Facilitation Network (GFFFN) and proposed measures to increase its effectiveness and efficiency.

For details on the day’s discussions and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin.

The thirteenth session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF13) resumed on Tuesday, 8 May 2018, at UN Headquarters in New York. In the morning, delegates continued their policy dialogue on the implementation of the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2017-2030 (UNSPF) and the UNFF's input to the 2018 UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). The session featured a panel discussion on contribution of forests to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies. Panelists addressed the linkages between forests, sustainable production of forest products, water, climate and energy.

During lunch three side events were held: one hosted by FOREST EUROPE addressing “Forests and Sustainable Cities in Europe: Contribution of Forests and Sustainable Forest Management to Sustainable Living and Well-being in European Cities,” a second hosted by the Government of Indonesia on “Achieving SDG 15: Timber Legal Assurance System and Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Implementation for Sustainable Forest Management,” and the third, hosted by the UNFF Secretariat, addressed “The Global Forest Financing Facilitation Network: 3 Years of Experience.”

In the afternoon, delegates began discussing the UNSPF Communications and Outreach Strategy, with a UNFF Secretariat presentation on the strategy and a panel discussion on “Power of communication for the successful implementation of the UN Strategic Plan for Forests."

For details on the day’s discussions and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin.

The thirteenth session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF13) opened on Monday, 7 May 2018, at UN Headquarters in New York. In the morning, delegates addressed a number of organizational matters, including an amendment to the agenda to add a sub-item to discuss how the reform of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) may affect the UNFF Secretariat.

The Forum heard opening statements from Marie Chatardová, President, UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Liu Zhenmin, UN Under-Secretary-General, Economic and Social Affairs, and UNFF Director Manoel Sobral Filho. This was followed by discussion on the implementation of the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2017-2030 (UNSPF), starting with announcements of voluntary national contributions (VNCs) to the UNSPF from among others, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Madagascar, Nepal, New Zealand, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Slovakia, Turkey and Ukraine. Delegates then engaged in more general policy discussion on UNSPF implementation.

During lunch, the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), and the governments of Germany and Switzerland co-hosted a side event on "Sustainable Forest Management and Forest Restoration in the Caucasus and Central Asia."

In the afternoon, a Ministerial Roundtable was held on forest-based solutions for accelerating achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a keynote provided by Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Two panels consisting of ministers or vice ministers and high-level representatives of member organizations of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), Major Groups and other stakeholders made short presentations, followed by interactive discussions.

For details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin.