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, often for some of the most impoverished people on the planet.

The United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) was established in 2000 to address this important resource with the main objective to promote the management, conservation, and sustainable development of all types of forests and to strengthen long-term political commitment to this end. Its principal functions are to:

• facilitate the implementation of forest-related agreements and foster a common understanding of sustainable forest management (SFM);
• provide for continued policy development and dialogue among governments, international organizations and Major Groups and other stakeholders, 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.

At its twenty-first meeting, the UNFF discussed the implementation of the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2017–2030 (UNSPF) and conducted an initial discussion on the final review of the effectiveness of the International Arrangement on Forests (IAF), which is due in 2030. The IAF has five main components: the UNFF and its Secretariat, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (an interagency body), the UNFF Global Forest Financing Facilitation Network, and the UNFF Trust Fund.

As part of this discussion, the Forum gave final consideration to the information paper on the workload, needs and gaps of the Forum Secretariat discussed during its twentieth session, and invited the General Assembly to consider appropriate resources for the Forum Secretariat to perform in an efficient, effective and sustainable manner.

As the second session of the Forum’s 2025-2026 biennial cycle, UNFF21 had a policy focus centered on three of the Global Forest Goals (GFGs):

• GFG 1: Reverse the loss of forest cover worldwide through SFM, including protection, restoration, afforestation and reforestation, and increase efforts to prevent forest degradation and contribute to the global effort of addressing climate change;
• GFG3: Increase 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
• GFG 5: Promote governance frameworks to implement SFM, including through the United Nations Forest Instrument, and enhance the contribution of forests to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

UNFF21 negotiated and adopted an omnibus resolution focused on these three GFGs, resources for the UNFF Secretariat, and initial steps toward the final review of the effectiveness of the IAF.

UNFF21 convened at UN Headquarters in New York from 11-15 May 2026.

The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) writers for this meeting were Keith Ripley; Deborah Davenport, Ph.D.; Mike Muzurakis; and Hillary Rosentreter. The Digital Editor was Ángeles Estrada. The Editor was Pam Chasek, Ph.D.