Highlights and images for 13 May 2026

Delegates spent the day negotiating the text of the draft omnibus resolution of the 21st session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF21), which will set the marching orders for UNFF over the next two years. The resolution covers all the issues addressed by the Forum during this session.

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

A major focus of the negotiations concerned interlinkages between the Global Forest Goals (GFGs) and major global forest-related developments. Participants debated follow-up to the success of the forest pavilion at the 30th meeting of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (UNFCCC COP 30) in raising awareness of the role of forests in combatting climate change. Some advocated having forest pavilions at all future UNFCCC COPs, others wanted forest pavilions at Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COPs too, while some preferred referring to COP “forest events” more generally rather than full-fledged pavilions, cautioning against “institutionalizing” forest pavilions because of the budgetary and time constraints of the UNFF Secretariat.

Another debate under this section of the resolution concerned input to the UNFCCC COP 30 Presidency Roadmap for Halting and Reversing Deforestation and Forest Degradation by 2030. Delegates also discussed what to say about the COP 30 Action Agenda, such as the Global Initiative on Productive Forests (GIPF), and whether to invite countries to provide a national roadmap to implement the UN Decade on Afforestation and Reforestation 2027-2036.

Discussion on means of implementation dealt with whether to call for mobilizing new and additional resources for UNFF, reference to the Tropical Forest Forever Facility, and a proposal to recognize the importance of the role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities and call for options for financing their governance capacity.

Regarding initial discussion on the International Arrangement on Forests (IAF) Final Review, delegates considered a proposal to begin discussions at UNFF22 in 2027 rather than wait until UNFF23 in 2028. The Secretariat explained that since UNFF22 will be a technical session, it would be more appropriate to discuss a policy matter such as the final review at UNFF23. One developed country suggested language on exploring thematic priorities and cooperation modalities for the final review between UNFF21 and UNFF23.

On country-led initiatives (CLIs), delegates debated:

• follow-up to three CLIs held since UNFF20, which covered sustainable forest management (SFM), bioeconomy, and forest fire preparedness and innovative technologies; and
• whether to qualify how many CLIs should be held between UNFF sessions, due to resource constraints on UNFF Secretariat substantive support.

Regarding enhanced cooperation with partners, delegates considered how to improve language encouraging meaningful participation from Major Groups.

On communication and outreach, suggestions were made on improving the visibility of the GFGs.

Regarding monitoring, assessment and reporting, delegates considered how to reverse the drop in number of voluntary national reports submitted, and whether to refer to “reducing” or “streamlining” forest-related reporting burdens that countries confront for the various international forest-related processes.