Advancing Global Forest Goals: Two key events on stakeholder engagement

As a direct outcome of the 19th session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF19), two gatherings took place on 21 to 23 January 2025 at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in Bangkok, Thailand. These events, designed to strengthen global collaboration and stakeholder engagement in sustainable forest management, brought together experts and stakeholders to chart the way forward in implementing the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests (UNSPF) and advancing the Forum’s priorities.

Training Workshop for Major Groups and Stakeholders (MGoS)

The training workshop aimed to empower representatives from UNFF Major Groups and Other Stakeholders to develop a cohesive strategy and joint workplan for the 2025–2028 period. This workshop will focus on enhancing the capacity of stakeholders to contribute effectively to the UNSPF and the Forum’s quadrennial programme of work (4POW).

Participants focused on:

• Reviewing and updating the MGoS workplan for 2025–2028.
• Strengthening collaboration with governments and private sectors to achieve global forest goals.
• Developing strategies for localized implementation of the UNSPF.

The output—a draft MGoS strategy and joint workplan—will serve as a roadmap for stakeholders to align their actions on the ground with the UNFF’s objectives and priorities.

Expert Group Meeting on Regional Engagement

Simultaneously, the Expert Group Meeting convened to advance regional and subregional involvement in the UNFF’s work. The discussions will seek to emphasize the critical role of regional bodies in bridging international policies and national actions.

The meeting’s objectives included:

• Encouraging partnerships with regional financial institutions to fund forest-related initiatives.
• Enhancing cooperation across regions to address transboundary forestry challenges
• Engaging regional stakeholders in policy development and collaborative actions.

The event’s outcomes include a summary of actionable recommendations, which will be incorporated into UNFF20’s official documentation to guide future activities.

These events reflect the Forum’s commitment to fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders and regional entities, ensuring that the global forest agenda translates into tangible actions. By leveraging the outcomes of UNFF19, these meetings aim to set the stage for impactful and coordinated efforts toward achieving sustainable forest management worldwide.