Highlights and images for 12 May 2026

The second day of the 21st session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF21) opened with upbeat reports and discussion on communications and outreach, linkages with other processes, and monitoring, assessment and reporting (MAR), but turned sober when plenary addressed means of implementation and the UNFF Trust Fund.

Want to dig deeper into today's talks? Read the full Earth Negotiations Bulletin daily report.

The discussion on the communication and outreach strategy addressed international and national activities linked to the 2026 International Day of Forests theme, “Forests and economies,” the redesign of the UNFF Clearing House website, the adoption of icons for the Global Forests Goals (GFGs), and the success of the forest pavilion at the 30th meeting of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP 30) in 2025.

On linkages, members hailed the UN General Assembly’s (UNGA) decision in 2025 to declare 2027-2036 the Decade for Afforestation and Reforestation and the spotlight on forests at COP 30 with work on a Roadmap for Halting and Reversing Deforestation and Forest Degradation by 2030, led by Brazil as COP 30 President. Brazil invited Forum members to provide input on the draft Roadmap before it is presented to the UNGA in autumn 2026.

MAR discussions focused on the voluntary national report (VNR) cycle for 2024-2026, the VNR online platform, and the work by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) on finalizing a global core set of forest indicators.

During discussion on means of implementation, UNFF Secretariat Director Juliette Biao updated members on the status of negotiations for the planned Global Forest Financing Facilitation Network (GFFFN) office in Beijing, China. When some members expressed concern about the impact of years-long negotiations and eventual office creation on UNFF resources, Biao assured them that no budgetary resources have been consumed by the negotiations, nor will the office affect the UNFF’s budget, although it has cost some time for the Secretariat’s limited personnel.

During discussion on the Trust Fund, members learned that: Trust Fund contributions in 2025 were roughly half those of 2024, yet the Trust Fund was shouldering most of the UNFF’s expenses; and the Secretariat’s staff has been reduced despite an increased workload emanating from the recent Mid-Term Review of the International Arrangement on Forests.