26th Session of the FAO Committee on Forestry

Rome (Italy), Hybrid Event, 03/10/2022 - 07/10/2022

COFO26 to focus on the contributions of forests to the Sustainable Development Goals

The Twenty-sixth Session of the Committee on Forestry (COFO26) was held at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy from 3-7 October, 2022, in a hybrid format for the first time ever. COFO26 provided a platform for exchange and dialogue among participants and gave strategic direction for the future work of FAO in forestry.

The Committee took note of the findings of FAO’s flagship report, The State of the World’s Forests 2022: Forest pathways for green recovery and building inclusive resilient and sustainable economies, the outcomes of the XV World Forestry Congress held last May in the Republic of Korea, and the FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022-2031.

Ongoing work by the Forestry Division on forest solutions for combating climate change, resilient and sustainable economies, and the linkages between agriculture and forestry was on the agenda.

World Forest Week

Held on the margins of the Committee on Forestry, the 8th World Forest Week is a series of special events that bring FAO Member States, partner organizations, leaders, scientists and young people to discuss forestry's most pressing issues. The theme of this year's World Forest Week is Growing a better planet.

Newsroom

COFO final update

Summary highlights

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, COFO successfully tackled a packed agenda of 17 topics, providing guidance to FAO bodies and others on emerging policy and technical issues.

Katie Stokes and Keiran Andrusko, Australia_ COFO26

COFO daily update 7/10/22

Friday highlights

COFO concluded with full adoption of the report, reflecting the Committee's recommendations over the week. More images and details available at Earth Negotiations Bulletin.

Florentine Paulette Ebina Nee Taraganzo, Congo_COFO26

COFO daily update 6/10/22

Thursday highlights

Working late, the Committee addressed finance, forest data, XV World Forestry Congress outcomes, regional alignment and much more. Images and summary available at Earth Negotiations Bulletin.

Tomas Krejzar, Czechia_ COFO26 Photo by IISD/ENB | Natalia Mroz

COFO daily update 5/10/22

Wednesday highlights

In a marathon session, recommendations were agreed on climate change; forest fires; mainstreaming biodiversity across agricultural sectors; and the restoration of forested landscapes.

COFO daily update 4/10/22

Tuesday highlights

Sustainable wood, socioeconomic contributions of forests and collective action to halt forest loss and degradation were high on the agenda.

COFO daily update 3/10/22

Monday highlights

FAO's report, the State of the World's Forests 2022, and linkages between agriculture and forestry were discussed. More images and summary available at Earth Negotiations Bulletin.

How sustainable forest management can enhance the world’s biodiversity

6/10/2022

Deforestation is the greatest driver of the loss of valuable biodiversity.

A Karamojong pastoralist man takes his goat cattle to graze next to the village of Kochunoi, Uganda ©FAO/Luis Tato

Forests in agrifood systems are key to avoiding environmental ‘iceberg’

5/10/2022

Three papers on sustainability through forests and trees launched at FAO-GLF forum.

Investing in a sustainable future means investing in youth

4/10/2022

Youth must be given the skills to shape evolving forestry sector, FAO Director-General says.

©FAO/Brent Stirton/Getty Images for FAO, CIFOR, CIRAD, WCS

Consumption of primary processed wood products predicted to grow 37 percent by 2050

3/10/2022

FAO publishes global forest sector outlook 2050, assessing future demand and supply.

26th Session of Committee on Forestry opens

3/10/2022

The world must halt deforestation and use forests and trees sustainably, QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General, said today.

FAO releases reports on deforestation, grazing and farmer field schools

29/09/2022

Government role crucial to producing more food while protecting forests, Halting deforestation report says.

Farmer field schools on agroforestry and forestry have significant impact

29/09/2022

More investment is needed to build knowledge and skills of family farmers and small producers.

How to balance sustainability

29/09/2022

It is possible to transform the global food system so that agriculture and forests both grow, rather than one growing at the expense of the other.

How digital innovation has accelerated monitoring of the world’s forests

15/09/2022

Global collaboration on innovative open software and data supports sustainable forest management.

Daily updates from the Committee on Forestry

10/09/2022

The Earth Negotiations Bulletin will provide daily updates as well as a comprehensive summary and analysis following the conclusion of the meeting.

About COFO

The Committee on Forestry (COFO) is the highest FAO Forestry statutory body. The biennial sessions of COFO, held at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy, bring together heads of forest services and other senior government officials to identify emerging policy and technical issues, to seek solutions and to advise FAO and others on appropriate action. Other international organizations and, increasingly, non-governmental groups participate in COFO. Participation in COFO is open to all FAO member countries.

Joining COFO

Membership in the FAO Committee on Forestry (COFO) is open to all FAO Member Nations which inform the Director-General of their desire to become a member and of their intention to participate in the work of the Committee.

FAO member countries wishing to become Members of COFO are invited to contact the Secretariat at [email protected].

Search the programme to find speakers, wecast links, venues and other information on all Committee on Forestry sessions, World Forest Week events and other meetings. All WFW events and COFO sessions will be webcast in six languages.