Forest Ecosystem Restoration Initiative 

CBD Secretariat at eighteenth meeting of the UN Forum on Forests

8 - 12 May 2023, UN Headquarters, New York

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The CBD Secretariat actively engaged in the 18th session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) held at the UN Headquarters in New York, USA. The sessions convened national governments, intergovernmental organizations, and other stakeholders to discuss and address key issues related to forests. The UNFF is guided by the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests, a comprehensive non-legally binding instrument framework for action on forests, as emphasized by the International Arrangement on Forests and the Global Forest Goals.

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The UNFF meets regularly to review the progress, exchange views, and make recommendations on forest-related matters. The thematic priorities for UNFF18 were the following:
i) Enhancing forest-based economic, social, and environmental benefits.
ii) Increase significantly the area of protected forests worldwide and other areas of sustainably managed forests, as well as the proportion of forest products from sustainably managed forests.
iii) Mobilizing financial resources and strengthening scientific and technical cooperation; promoting governance frameworks to advance implementation; and enhancing cooperation, coordination, and coherence for sustainable forest management.

 

The CBD Secretariat contributed to the substantive discussions on collaborative efforts aimed at advancing integrating biodiversity in the forest conservation, restoration, and sustainable use agendas, and the achievement of the Global Forest Goals synergistically with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and within the broader United Nations context.

 

8 May - Side Event “Kunming-Montreal Global biodiversity framework - understanding interlinkages with the Global Forest Goals and targets to leverage impact at the national level”: The CBD Secretariat organized a side event with UNFF colleagues on 8 May, featuring a discussion on the complementarities between the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. (Find more resources from side event here).

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9 May - Plenary intervention: Jihyun Lee (CBD Secretariat), delivered key messages on agenda Item 3(d) regarding the interlinkages between the Global Forest Goals and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (read the key messages here)

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9 May – Meeting of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF): CBD Secretariat joined many other partners for a meeting of the CPF to discuss upcoming collaborative plans, strategies and joint initiatives leading to the 19th meeting of the UNFF.

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10 May - Side event “Forests and Trees for Human Health”: CBD Secretariat shared reflections on implementation and decision-making regarding the importance of forests on human health at this event organized by the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO).

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10 May – Side event “Enriching Biodiversity in Production Landscapes through Sustainable Forest Management in the Tropics”: CBD Secretariat provided the keynote presentation for this event organized by the International Tropical Timber Organization.

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11 May – Side event “Towards a more efficient and impactful Collaborative Partnership on Forests”: CBD Secretariat joined the panel discussion on “during this event organized by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests.

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Bilateral Meetings: The CBD Secretariat also held bilateral meetings with officials from: Türkiye, Germany, United Nations Forum on Forests, Korea Forest Service, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the International Tropical Timber Organization.