About the Committee on Forestry

The Committee on Forestry (COFO) is the highest global intergovernmental body on forestry, serving as a central platform for technical guidance and policy dialogue within the United Nations system. It plays a key role in shaping international forestry policies and strategies.

As a FAO technical committee, COFO reports to the FAO Council on matters related to programmes and budgets, and to the FAO Conference on policy and regulatory issues. Its work is informed by six Regional Forestry Commissions, which review regional forestry priorities and inform global policy discussions.

COFO brings together 128 Members and typically meets every two years. It convenes high-level representatives, including heads of forest services, government officials, and partner organizations, to address emerging challenges, provide technical guidance, and advise on strategic actions for sustainable forest management worldwide. Operating in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish, the membership of COFO is open to all FAO Members.

COFO was established by the Conference at its Sixteenth Session in 1971 (Resolution 10/71)as a Committee of the Council. Its Rules of Procedure were adopted at the Second Session (1974) and amended at the Third (1976) and Twentieth (2010) Sessions (See Basic Texts, Vol. I - Section J, Rules of Procedure of the Committee on Forestry).

At the first session of each biennium, COFO elects a Chairperson from among its Members. The Chairperson, together with the six Chairpersons of the Regional Forestry Commissions, form the Steering Committee. The six Regional Forestry Commission Chairpersons also serve as Vice-Chairpersons of COFO. See the composition of the current Steering Committee here.

Join the Committee on Forestry

Membership in the Committee on Forestry is open to all FAO Member Nations that notify the Director-General in writing of their desire to become Members of the Committee and of their intention to participate in its work. Membership acquired on this basis shall be considered valid unless the Member has not been represented at two consecutive sessions of the Committee, or has notified its withdrawal from it. COFO also welcomes applications for participation as observers from civil society and other organizations. FAO Member Nations wishing to become members are invited to contact the COFO Secretariat.

Regional Forestry Commissions

Six Regional Forestry Commissions were established by the FAO Conference between 1947 and 1959. Biannually, the commissions bring together the heads of forestry in each major region of the world to address the most important forestry policy and technical issues in the region.

COFO Working Group on Dryland Forests and Agrosilvopastoral Systems

The Working Group works to develop a comprehensive understanding of dryland forests and agrosilvopastoral systems to promote good practices for their protection, sustainable management and restoration.

COFO-COAG Collaboration: Strengthening agriculture and forestry linkages

The collaboration between the COFO and the Committee on Agriculture (COAG) helps deliver integrated solutions across forests and agrifood systems. Aligning COFO and COAG mandates advances holistic policy actions, addressing land-use synergies, biodiversity-climate-nutrition linkages, and rural livelihoods.

COFO Steering Committee

The COFO Steering Committee is composed of the COFO Chair as well six SC Members that are elected at the Regional Forestry Commissions and act as both Chairs of their respective Commissions as well as Vice-Chairs of the Committee on Forestry.