Highlights and images for 10 May 2022

The second day of the 17th session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF17) concluded policy discussions on the implementation of the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2017-2030 (UNSPF). The Forum also addressed preparations for the 2024 Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the UNSPF and discussed the status of the Trust Fund for the UNFF.

To dive deeper, read the daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin report.

The UNSPF implementation discussion covered, inter alia:

• the role of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) and possible improvements to cooperation between UNFF and CPF;
• UNFF collaboration with Major Groups;
• interlinkages between the Global Forest Goals (GFGs) and targets and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under review by the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) at its July 2022 session;
• the implementation of the UNSPF communication and outreach strategy;
• the work of the Global Forest Financing Facilitation Network (GFFFN); and
• monitoring, assessment and reporting issues, including proposed refinements to the format for voluntary national reporting on progress in implementing the UNSPF, the UN Forest Instrument and voluntary national contributions, and progress in the development of a global core set of forest-related indicators.

While most member states intervening on the MTR expressed general support for conducting the review, opinions differed on:

• the specific scope of the review;
• how the review should be conducted; and
• the terms of reference for an envisioned open-ended intergovernmental ad hoc expert group to offer proposals to UNFF19 on the review of the effectiveness of the International Arrangement on Forests (IAF), including the future steps to be taken by the IAF beyond 2024.