FAO at the 20th Session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF20)
05/05/2025 - 09/05/2025
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), an interagency partnership of 16 member organizations permanently chaired by FAO, will contribute to the deliberations of the upcoming 20th Session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF20).
The session, to take place on 5–9 May at UN headquarters in New York, will discuss progress in implementation of the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2017–2030 and how to strengthen efforts to achieve the Strategic Plan’s six Global Forest Goals by 2030.
UNFF20 will focus on three thematic priorities: (1) reversing the loss of forest cover and preventing forest degradation; (2) increasing the area of protected and sustainably managed forest and the proportion of forest products from sustainably managed forests; and (3) promoting governance frameworks to implement sustainable forest management and enhance the contributions of forests to sustainable development.
FAO at UNFF20 Agenda
FAO side events
6 May 2025 | 1:15 – 2:30 p.m. (EDT) | Conference Room E, UN HQ
Unlocking the Potential: Public-private Sector Collaboration for Advancing Global Forest Goals, organized by the FAO Advisory Committee on Sustainable Forest-Based Industry (ACSFI).
FAO speaker: Sven Walter, Senior Forestry Officer and ACSFI Secretary, FAO Forestry Division
6 May 2025 | 1:15 – 2:30 p.m. (EDT) | Conference Room B, UN HQ
The Challenges Faced by Low Forest Cover Countries (LFCCs) in Achieving Sustainable Forest Management, co-organized by the Permanent Missions to the UN of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Mongolia, Senegal, and FAO and UNCCD.
FAO speaker: Zhimin Wu, FAO Forestry Director
7 May 2025 | 1:15 – 2:30 p.m. (EDT) | Conference Room 7, UN HQ
Joining Forces for Forests: CPF Joint Action to Advance Global Forest Goals, organized by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF).
FAO speaker: Zhimin Wu, Chair of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests
7 May 2025 | 1:15 – 2:30 p.m. (EDT) | Trusteeship Council Chamber, UN HQ
Call for Action on Dryland Forests, co-organized by the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification of Saudi Arabia.
FAO speakers: Fritjof Boerstler, Senior Natural Resources Officer, FAO Forestry Division, and Malgorzata Buszko-Briggs, FAO Senior Forestry Officer as moderator
8 May 2025 | 1:15 – 2:30 p.m. (EDT) | Conference Room B, UN HQ
Enhancing the role of natural forests through facilitating synergies between the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the UN Strategic Plan for Forest 2017-2030, organized by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, UNFF Secretariat, and FAO.
FAO speaker: Malgorzata Buszko-Briggs, Senior Forestry Officer, FAO
9 May 2025 | 1:15 – 2:30 p.m. (EDT) | Conference Room B, UN HQ
Aligning Global Climate and Global Forest Goals towards United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP30, organized by the UNFCCC Secretariat and FAO.
FAO speaker: Malgorzata Buszko-Briggs, FAO Senior Forestry Officer as moderator
Other FAO engagements:
5 May 2025 | 1:15 – 2:30 p.m. (EDT) | Conference Room 7, UN HQ
Achieving Global Forest Goals in the context of the UN Decade for Afforestation and Reforestation in line with sustainable forest management, 2027-2036, co-hosted by the Permanent Mission of Uzbekistan to the UN and the Permanent Mission of Congo to the UN.
FAO speaker: Zhimin Wu, FAO Forestry Director
5 May 2025 | 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. (EDT) | Trusteeship Council Chamber, UN HQ
Main Session Item 3 (b) (iii): Contributions of the CPF, its member organizations & the UN system to achieving the thematic priorities; progress on the workplan of the Partnership.
FAO speaker: Zhimin Wu, Chair of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests
5 May 2025 | 6:15 - 7:45 p.m. (EDT) | CPF Members only
Meeting of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests
6 May 2025 | 10:00 – 6:00 p.m. (EDT) | Conference Room E, UN HQ
Opening of the 66th session of the Advisory Committee on Sustainable Forest-based Industries (ACSFI)
FAO speakers: Zhimin Wu, FAO Forestry Director, and Angélica Jácome, Director, FAO Liaison Office in New York
6 May 2025 | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (EDT) | Trusteeship Council Chamber, UN HQ
Main Session Item 3 (c): Interlinkages between the GFGs … SDGs under review by the HLPF in 2025 and 2026, the UNFCCC & the Paris Agreement, CBD & KMGBF …, and the UNCCD, including the LDNTSP, & other international forest-related developments.
FAO speaker: Malgorzata Buszko-Briggs, FAO Senior Forestry Officer
6 May 2025 | 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. (EDT) | Trusteeship Council Chamber, UN HQ
Main Session Item 3 (d): Implementation of the communication and outreach strategy of the UNSPF, including activities regarding the IDF 2025
FAO speaker: Benjamin Ross, Forestry Officer, FAO Forestry Division
7 May 2025 | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (EDT) | Trusteeship Council Chamber, UN HQ
Main Session Item 3: Technical Discussions on the implementation of the UN Strategic Plan for Forests (UNSPF)
Panel discussion on: Significance of a global hub on data, information, and knowledge on forest financing opportunities and best practices; and the role of Global Forest Financing Facilitation Network (GFFFN) Clearing House
FAO speakers: Fritjof Boerstler, Senior Natural Resources Officer, FAO Forestry Division
7 May 2025 | 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. (EDT) | Trusteeship Council Chamber, UN HQ
Main Session Item 3 (f): Monitoring, assessment and reporting
FAO speaker: Sven Walter, Senior Forestry Officer and ACSFI Secretary, FAO Forestry Division
8 May 2025 | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (EDT) | Trusteeship Council Chamber, UN HQ
Main Session Item 4: Progress in the implementation of the outcomes of the IAF midterm review
FAO speaker: Malgorzata Buszko-Briggs, FAO Senior Forestry Officer
8 May 2025 | 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. (EDT)| Trusteeship Council Chamber, UN HQ
Main Session Item 6. Emerging Issues, Panel Discussion on: Dryland Forests
FAO speakers: Fritjof Boerstler, Senior Natural Resources Officer, FAO Forestry Division