UNFF Working Group and Special Session

On 8 December 2016, the Co-Chairs of the Working Group of the UN Forum on Forests, Ambassador Gholamhossein Dehghani (Islamic Republic of Iran) and Ambassador Hans Hoogeveen (The Netherlands) transmitted their revised proposals on the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests (2017-2030) and the Quadrennial Programme of Work (4POW) for the period 2017-2020. These revised proposals were prepared, taking into account the discussions and outcome of the second meeting of the Open-ended intergovernmental ad hoc expert group (AHEG2) held from 24-28 October 2016, in Bangkok, Thailand.

In accordance with ECOSOC resolution 2015/33 on the international arrangement on forests beyond 2015, a Working Group of the United Nations Forum on Forests was established to develop proposals on:
(a) replacement of the reference to the Millennium Development Goals in paragraph 1 (b) of the UN forest instrument, with an appropriate reference to the Sustainable Development Goals and targets; and
(b) the strategic plan for the period 2017-2030 and the quadrennial programme of work for the period 2017-2020, consistent with section XI of the resolution 2015/33.

The meeting of the Forum’s Working Group will be held from 16 to 20 January 2017, at United Nations Headquarters in New York. The Special Session of the Forum will be convened immediately following the adjournment of the meeting of the Working Group, on 20 January 2017, to consider the outcome of the Working Group.