#unff19

Item 6. High Level Segment, including a forest partnership dialogue with heads of CPF member organizations, non-governmental organizations and private sector CEOs

10:00-10:45am: Opening remarks by ECOSOC President, PGA, USG DESA, DG of FAO and keynote speaker: H.E. Prime Minister of the Republic of Congo

10:45am-1:00pm: High Level Segment Roundtable on: "Forest-based solutions to the triple planetary crises: A focus on people, science, technology, and finance"

During the roundtable, ministers, and other senior officials from Member States, and UNFF partners will engage in policy discussions on the importance of forest-based solutions to the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, with a focus on people, science, technology, and finance, and identify the best ways and means to further mobilize financial, technical scientific and technological resources for forests to the benefit of people 

The thematic priorities for the nineteenth session of the Forum are:

(a) enhancing forest-based economic, social and environmental benefits;

(b) 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 (c) mobilizing financial resources and strengthening scientific and technical cooperation; promoting governance frameworks to advance implementation; and enhancing cooperation, coordination and coherence for sustainable forest management.

Related Sites and Documents

UN Forum on Forests (UNFF)

UNFF19 Provisional Organization of Work

The nineteenth session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF) (6 -10 May 2024) will hold policy discussions on the thematic priorities in support of the implementation of the United Nations strategic plan for forests 2017–2030.

Watch the (4th meeting) UN Forum on Forests, 19th session (UNFF19)!

The United Nations Forum on Forests is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) with universal membership. Since its establishment in 2000, the Forum has set many milestones including the first UN Forest Instrument in 2007, the Global Forest Financing Facilitation Network (GFFFN) in 2015, and adoption of the first UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2030 and its six Global Forest Goals in 2017. 2024 marks the 19th session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF19).

UNFF19 is a historic session, as the Forum undertakes its midterm review of the International Arrangement on Forests. By assessing progress made and identifying gaps, the review will chart the course towards 2030 – to ensure achievement of the Global Forest Goals and accelerate progress towards the SDGs. The key outcomes of the session will be a High-Level Segment declaration and an omnibus resolution, which will include the outcome of the midterm review as well as the new Quadrennial Programme of Work of the Forum for 2025-2028.

Joint general discussion on items 3, 4, 5, & 7 continues.

Introduction of the draft High-Level Segment (HLS) Declaration (item 6)

Introduction of the draft omnibus resolution (items 3,5 & 7)

The thematic priorities for the nineteenth session of the Forum are:

(a) enhancing forest-based economic, social and environmental benefits;

(b) 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 (c) mobilizing financial resources and strengthening scientific and technical cooperation; promoting governance frameworks to advance implementation; and enhancing cooperation, coordination and coherence for sustainable forest management.

The nineteenth session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF) (6 -10 May 2024) will hold policy discussions on the thematic priorities in support of the implementation of the United Nations strategic plan for forests 2017–2030.

Watch the (3rd meeting) UN Forum on Forests, 19th session (UNFF19)!

#unff19, #forests, #trees, #forestry, #vegetation, #UNForests, #globalforestsgoals, #GlobalGoals, #SDGs, #plenarysessionsu

Join the UN DESA for a Global Policy Dialogue looking at Sustainable Development Goal 15, Life on Land, which is in the spotlight as International Day of Forests is commemorated on March 21st.

Watch the Accelerating Innovation and Data Management for Forests: A UN DESA Global Policy Dialogue!

This week, UNFFS Director Ms. Juliette Biao attended the first Conference of the Forests and Communities Initiative (FCI) in Monaco. The FCI is the result of a partnership between the Prince Albert of Monaco Foundation, IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law, International Ranger Federation, Global Forest Coalition and International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity to promote the conservation, protection and restoration of forests by Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and Local Communities (LCs).

The conference brought together roughly 100 participants from all over the world, including strong representation of IPs and LCs, with the aim of connecting actors, fostering discussions, sharing lessons learned and supporting communities of practice around forest conservation. The event consisted of a series of panels and fireside chats on relevant themes, including the use of Rights-based and Gender-Just approaches, the role of environmental law, as well as national and international funding and governance frameworks.

Ms. Biao was invited by Dr. Christina Voigt, Chair of the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law, to comment on the UN’s policy and legal frameworks pertaining to IPs, and the engagement of IPs and LCs in the UNFF’s work and deliberations, including though participation in the Indigenous Peoples Major Group. The discussion further addressed the need for inclusive legislation as it relates to forest conservation, and highlighted good practices and lessons learned from around the world.

Ms. Biao took the opportunity of meeting His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco to extend an invitation to UNFF19 in May 2024, which was accepted.

The panel discussions and interactive discussions under the thematic areas of forest fires, forest certification and sustainable forest management put forward a set of technical and policy recommendations for consideration by the upcoming UNFF19 session. These included:

Need for planning and implementation of integrated fire management strategy that requires a concerted approach to the prevention, management, and restoration of forest fires and policy interventions, both globally or regionally.

Importance of livelihood improvement programmes and incorporating incentive schemes while formulating policies related for forest fire management.

The critical role of regional and international cooperation and coordination among governments to address subnational and transboundary forest fire issues.

Promoting the use of Global Fire Management Hub with the aim of driving regional, national and global dialogue and sharing of best practices to facilitate integrated fire management.

Need for capacity building and training in forest certification, planning and implementation, transparency.

Recommended setting up global benchmark standards for forest certification.

Need for providing guidance in capacity building for Sustainable Forest Management and long-term management of forests for countries and national certification programmes of various exporting countries.

Need for guiding producing and importing countries to enhance the implementation of more cost-effective forest certification practices.

Enhancing collaboration and partnerships to amplify forest certification and compliance.