Belém, Brazil – The Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) has issued a joint call for renewed global commitment and collaboration to halt and reverse deforestation and forest degradation and increase forest area worldwide by 2030 and unlock the full value of forests at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30).
Chaired by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the CPF comprises 16 international organizations working on forestry, including UN agencies, four conventions and other global organizations with substantial programmes on forests.
In its statement, the CPF underlined that the full value of forests must be unlocked to solve pressing global challenges such as climate change, environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, food insecurity and poverty.
“Greater efforts must be made to halt and reverse deforestation and forest degradation by 2030, and to expand forest area globally, if we are to achieve the 2030 forest-related goals and targets,” said CPF Chair Zhimin Wu.
The CPF also stressed the urgent need for “bold, urgent and innovative actions” to prevent forests from shifting from carbon sinks to sources of emissions, while safeguarding the vital social and economic benefits they provide. CPF Vice-Chair Daniele Violleti said: “Protecting, restoring and sustainably managing forests is one of the most effective pathways to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Mobilizing forest finance, improving data availability and enhancing knowledge sharing to support countries forest-related actions is critical to accelerate progress.”
Recognizing the importance of forests for climate action
As underscored in the first global stocktake of the Paris Agreement, achieving the world’s forest-related goals will require scaled-up efforts and coordinated action at all levels.
The recently released Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025, produced by FAO, shows progress in slowing deforestation across all regions over the past decade. However, global deforestation remains critical at 10.9 million hectares per year, including 1.61 million hectares of irreplaceable primary forest. Wildfires, pests, diseases, and extreme weather events are compounding the pressure, affecting an estimated 170 million hectares of forests annually.
Against that backdrop, the CPF welcomed the strong focus on forests of the COP30 Presidency, including through the Tropical Forest Forever Facility and the Call to Action on Integrated Fire Management and Wildfire Resilience. It also recognized these as vital platforms for mobilizing resources and coordinated efforts to maintain forest carbon stocks and support climate adaptation.
Turning a vision into concrete actions
The CPF reaffirmed its readiness to support implementing forest and climate goals. It underlined the importance of enhancing policy coherence, advancing forest science and monitoring systems, fostering innovation and partnerships, and unlocking the multiple values of forests to accelerate progress toward sustainable development.
Under its Workplan for 2025-2028, the CPF is tapping into the expertise of its 16 members to enhance programme and policy coherence, provide technical and scientific advice, and support resource mobilization efforts to unlock the full potential of forests for climate-change mitigation and adaptation.
This includes through CPF joint initiatives to promote integrated fire management in tropical forests, streamline forest-related reporting, strengthen the conservation of primary forests, and assist countries to access finance for sustainable forest management through the Global Forest Financing Facilitation Network.
The CPF also emphasized the need to engage all actors whose knowledge and leadership are central to the success of forest conservation and restoration.
“CPF stands ready to support Parties and work with all stakeholders, including Indigenous Peoples, local communities, youth and women,” the statement said.
The CPF statement marked the first time that the CPF has addressed a plenary session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP).
