Forests

Forests are the most biologically-diverse terrestrial ecosystems, home to more than 80% of the species of animals, plants and insects that live on land. Yet, despite decreased deforestation rates in some regions in recent years, forest ecosystems are still under great threat. Forests play a significant role in reducing the risk of natural disasters, including floods, droughts, and landslides. Forests also mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration, contribute to the balance of oxygen, carbon dioxide and humidity in the air, and protect watersheds, which supply 75% of the world’s fresh water. Forests provide people with food, water, wood products, vital medicines, shelter, jobs, and security. In fact, more than 1.6 billion people—including more than 2,000 Indigenous cultures—depend on forests for their livelihoods. Investing in forests and forestry is an investment in forest dwellers and their livelihoods, especially the rural poor, youth, and women.

Events and Articles

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Showing 11 - 20 of 182 results

26th Session of the FAO Committee on Forestry

Participants at the 26th Session of the FAO Committee on Forestry highlighted evidence of recent progress in conserving or restoring forests, and the need for integrating agriculture and forestry, given that “forest restoration” is only one aspect of a more comprehensive “land restoration,” and that agroforestry and agroecology are a necessary part of the future, and growing in importance.
Event 3 October 2022 - 7 October 2022

6th Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership

With the overall objective of promoting sustainable mountain development, the meeting discussed the agenda for the Mountain Partnership going forward, advocating for bringing mountain-related issues to the fore and the core of relevant international processes, as well as for action on the ground. Delegates also elected a new Steering Committee for the Mountain Partnership, updated several of the Mountain Partnership’s strategy documents, and endorsed the Aspen Declaration.
Event 27 September 2022 - 29 September 2022

62nd Meeting of the GEF Council

GEF Council Members endorsed the more than USD 5 billion replenishment for the next four-year period of the GEF and adopted Work Programs worth more than USD 238 million, launching projects that will contribute to a green and blue recovery and direct significant resources to small island developing States and least developed countries.
Event 21 June 2022 - 23 June 2022

17th Session of the UNFF

Meeting in person for the first time since 2019, governments adopted a two-year roadmap of actions on forest policy issues, while recognizing the importance of forests in combatting climate change, biodiversity loss, and disaster risk reduction—and providing people with food, water, wood products, vital medicines, shelter, jobs, and security.
Event 9 May 2022 - 13 May 2022

Over a Decade of REDD+: Outcomes and Socioecological Impacts

The IUFRO’s 10-year global assessment shows REDD+ has had positive impacts—but the nature and magnitude of changes are hard to measure. Complicating this picture is the complex governance of forests, and the need to address poverty and inequality.
Event 4 May 2022

XV World Forestry Congress

The XV World Forestry Congress sought to define the role of forests in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other major agreements, including the Global Forest Goals, the Paris Agreement on climate change, and the post-2020 global biodiversity framework
Event 2 May 2022 - 6 May 2022

57th Session of the International Tropical Timber Council

After a week of deliberations, delegates agreed to renew the International Tropical Timber Agreement, 2006 for five years, elected a new Executive Director to lead the International Tropical Timber Organization for the next four years, and addressed the growing number of late payments and arrears of contributions.
Event 29 November 2021 - 3 December 2021

60th Meeting of the GEF Council

The 60th meeting of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council adopted a Work Program worth USD 281.1 million that includes eight stand-alone full-sized projects on international waters, four on biodiversity, three on climate change mitigation, and two on chemicals and waste.
Event 14 June 2021 - 18 June 2021

16th Session of the UNFF

With the world focused on COVID-19, global economic shocks, and climate change, UNFF16 met to remind the world that forests provide multiple socio-economic and environmental services and can help address these crises.
Event 26 April 2021 - 29 April 2021