Forests mitigate climate change and clean the air. Forests protect watersheds, combat soil erosion, and protect biodiversity and key ecosystems, all of which in turn are critical for food security. The forest products sector is often a significant source of jobs, fuel and income.

The eighteenth meeting of the United Nation’s focal point on this important resource, the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF), convened to discuss the implementation of the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2017–2030 (UNSPF) and to review preparations for the midterm review in 2024 of the effectiveness of the International Arrangement on Forests (IAF).

The IAF has five main components: the UNFF and its Secretariat, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (interagency body), the UNFF Global Forest Financing Facilitation Network (GFFFN), and the UNFF Trust Fund. The IAF’s objectives center around implementation of sustainable forest management (SFM), in particular the implementation of the UN Forest Instrument, and enhancing the contribution of forests to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, among others.

As the first session of the Forum’s 2023-2024 biennial cycle, UNFF18 discussions focused on implementation and technical advice. In the second year of the cycle, UNFF19 will have a policy discussion. The three thematic priorities chosen by the UNFF Bureau for the biennium include:

• enhancing forest-based economic, social and environmental benefits;
• increasing significantly the area of protected forests worldwide and other areas of sustainably managed forests, as well as the proportion of forest products from sustainably managed forests; and
• mobilizing financial resources and strengthening scientific and technical cooperation; promoting governance frameworks to advance implementation; and enhancing cooperation, coordination and coherence for SFM.

During the weeklong meeting, there were several panel discussions, including one on the interlinkages between the Global Forest Goals and targets and the Sustainable Development Goals under review by the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) at its July 2023 session, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and other international forest-related developments. There was also a panel discussion on forests, energy, and livelihoods, and another on the role of the private sector.

Delegates also received progress reports and updates on:

• the global core set of forest-related indicators;
• the pilot phase for the use of the refined format for voluntary national reporting to the Forum;
• preparations for the Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) 2025;
• opportunities and challenges related to carbon markets; and
• operations and resources of the GFFFN.

The UNFF was established in 2000 to promote the management, conservation, and sustainable development of all types of forests. The UNFF’s principal functions are to:

• facilitate the implementation of forest-related agreements and foster a common understanding on SFM;
• provide for continued policy development and dialogue among governments, international organizations and Major Groups, as well as address forest issues and emerging areas of concern in a holistic, comprehensive, and integrated manner;
• enhance policy and programme coordination on forest-related issues;
• foster international cooperation and monitor, assess, and report on progress; and
• strengthen political commitment to the management, conservation, and sustainable development of all types of forests.

UNFF18 convened at UN Headquarters in New York from 8-12 May 2023.

Text written and edited by Keith Ripley, Deborah Davenport, Ph.D., Suzi Malan, Ph.D., and Pam Chasek, Ph.D.