Winners of International Day of Forests 2026 photo contest announced

Rome – Seven photographs from across the world have been selected as the winning entries of the 2026 International Day of Forests ‘Forests and economies’ photo contest. 

Organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the contest asked participants to share images that capture how forests contribute to economic prosperity or capture the important role of forests in regulating water resources – the latter to mark World Water Day celebrated on 22 March. In response, a total of 530 entries were received from across 87 countries.   

The winning images will be featured on FAO’s social media accounts and displayed in a special exhibition at FAO headquarters in Rome, with winners receiving a selection of FAO merchandise including an FAO water bottle, backpack, and keep cup. Congratulations to the winners and big thanks to all who entered. Chosen by a panel of experts, the winners are: 


Africa winner

FAO/Ahiman Jean Yann-Loic Abrogoua 
“What the forest provides” 
Country: Côte d'Ivoire 

The photographer says: “I chose this photo because it embodies the vital link between the forest and the agricultural community. This woman carrying wood on her head provides the domestic energy that allows food to be cooked and harvests to be processed. Her dignified posture reveals that prosperity is not only material: it is also found in a respectful balance with nature.” 

Asia-Pacific winner 

FAO/So Pyay Lynn
“Bamboo weaving” 
Country: Myanmar 

The photographer says: “Forest-based handicrafts such as bamboo weaving generate income, preserve traditional knowledge, and support local economies while maintaining a close relationship with nature. This image highlights the intergenerational transmission of skills, where forests not only sustain present livelihoods but also shape the future of community resilience and economic continuity.” 

Europe winner

FAO/Florian Winter 
“Harvesting the forest, sustaining the future” 
Country: Austria

The photographer says: “This aerial photograph shows a harvester operating within a dense forest. The image highlights sustainable forest management as a key economic driver: forests provide jobs, renewable raw materials and income for local communities. Modern forestry technology supports efficient and responsible wood harvesting, helping to balance economic development with the long-term health of forest ecosystems.” 

Latin America and the Caribbean winner

FAO/Javier Guamán
“Into the forest” 
Country: Ecuador 

The photographer says: “Forest sampling in a high montane forest, a process that is part of the project “Water for Life.” It is an area with minimal human intervention, an island of biodiversity.”

Near East and North Africa winner 

FAO/Leila-Rossa Mouawad 
“Grazing in forests and rangelands” 
Country: Lebanon

The photographer says: “This photo shows sheep grazing in a pine forest in Lebanon. From one end, pine nuts (locally referred to as white gold) are sold for high prices. From the other, shepherds save on the cost of fodder by grazing their sheep in the forest. Moreover, grazing contributes to forest resilience by reducing the risk of wildfires.”

North America winner

FAO/Andrea Villarreal Rodríguez 
“The legacy of the forest” 
Country: United States of America 

The photographer says: “A father and his daughter walk among the giant sequoias of Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. Each step along the trail is possible thanks to a conservation model that supports local jobs, ecotourism, and the active protection of one of the oldest ecosystems on the planet. Entrance fees are transformed into monitoring, restoration, and care, but also into a shared experience: learning to look slowly, to respect what takes centuries to grow.”

Forests and water winner

FAO/Anthony Into 
“Mangrove forests as a source of livelihood” 
Country: Philippines 

The photographer says: “Covering more than 8 000 hectares, the mangrove forest in Del Carmen, Siargao, Surigao del Norte, is the largest contiguous mangrove system in the Philippines. Among other things, it teems with crabs, which local residents catch and sell to put food on the table – a sustainable livelihood, indeed.”