Welcome to the United Nations
UNFF Milestones
Since its establishment in 2000, the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) has served as the central global platform for policy dialogue and cooperation on all types of forests. As the core body of the International Arrangement on Forests (IAF), the Forum works alongside Member States, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests, Major Groups and other stakeholders, and regional organizations to strengthen political commitment and advance the achievement of the Global Forest Goals.
The timeline below presents key milestones in the Forum’s evolution. It reflects over two decades of collective progress, innovation, and sustained commitment to ensuring that forests continue to contribute to sustainable development and to the well-being of present and future generations.
Timeline of UNFF Milestones
2000 – Establishment of UNFF and the International Arrangement on Forests (IAF)
- Event: Adoption of ECOSOC resolution 2000/35 formally established the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) as a functional commission of ECOSOC.
- Outcome:
- Creation of the International Arrangement on Forests, with UNFF at its core.
- IAF mandated to promote sustainable forest management, strengthen political commitment and implement IPF/IFF proposals for action (PDF-EN only).
- Establishment of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) to support the Forum’s work and enhance inter-agency cooperation – to succeed the Inter-Agency Task Force on Forests.
- Source documents:
- Report of the 4th session of the Intergovernmental Forum: Establishment of the UNFF (E/CN.17/2000/14)
- ECOSOC resolution E/RES/2000/35
- Report on the 8th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development decision 8/2 (E/2000/29 | E/CN.17/2000/20)
- Significance: Established a permanent and inclusive global platform for forest policy dialogue and coordination, grounded in shared principles and sustained political commitment.
2001 – Operational Launch of UNFF
- Event: UNFF held its organizational and first substantive sessions and agreed to meet annually for two-week sessions.
- Outcome:
- Participation of Major Groups: The Forum agreed on modalities for multi-stakeholder dialogues to be held at each session, with participation from major groups as identified in Agenda 21 (including Indigenous Peoples, women, youth, business and industry, and the scientific community)
- Focus on Legal and Financial Frameworks: The Forum was tasked to consider, within five years, parameters for a mandate to develop a legal framework on forests and devise approaches to finance and technology transfer for sustainable forest management
- Significance: Marked the beginning of UNFF’s operational role in facilitating forest policy development, implementation, and monitoring, with coordinated technical support from CPF and other partners across the international forest landscape.
- Source documents:
2003 – Establishment of the UNFF Trust Fund
- Event: UNFF3 recommended the establishment of a voluntary Trust Fund to support the Forum’s work.
- Outcome:
- The Trust Fund was endorsed by ECOSOC as a mechanism to support the Forum’s operations and participation of developing countries, least developed countries, and countries with economies in transition.
- Funding was earmarked for activities including participation in Forum sessions, ad hoc expert groups, and country-led initiatives.
- The resolution also called on donor governments, financial institutions and other organisations to make voluntary contributions to sustain the Forum’s functions.
- Significance: Created a dedicated financing mechanism to ensure inclusive participation in the UNFF process and enable implementation of intersessional and capacity-building activities.
- Source documents:
- Report on the 3rd session of the UNFF (E/2003/42 | E/CN.18/2003/13)
- Trust Fund for the United Nations Forum on Forests (A/C.2/58/6)
2007 – Adoption of the Non-Legally Binding Instrument on All Types of Forests (NLBI)
- Event: UNFF7
- Outcome:
- Agreed on the first internationally non-legally binding instrument on all types of forests (NLBI) —with four Global Objectives on Forests and a set of national policies and measures.
- NLBI later adopted by the UNGA in 2007 and renamed as the UN Forest Instrument in 2015
- Significance: Provided a shared global policy framework to strengthen political commitment and guide national and international action on sustainable forest management
- Source documents:
- Non-legally binding instrument on all types of forests (A/RES/62/98)
- United Nations forest instrument (A/RES/70/199)
- Report on the 5th session of the UNFF (E/2005/42, E/CN.18/2005/18)
- Report on the 6th session of the UNFF (E/2006/42, E/CN.18/2006/18)
- Report on the 7th session of the UNFF (E/2007/42, E/CN.18/2007/8)
2009 – Shift to biennial two-week sessions as of UNFF8 (2009)
- Event: UNFF8 (2009)
- Source: Report of the 8th session of UNFF (E/2009/42)
2015 – International Arrangement on Forests Beyond 2015
- Event: ECOSOC extends the International Arrangement on Forests until 2030 following a UNFF11 recommendation.
- Outcome: Strengthened and extended the IAF to 2030; renamed the forest instrument the United Nations Forest Instrument; and called for the development of a strategic plan and midterm review.
- Significance: Aligned forest policy processes with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and laid the foundation for a renewed strategic framework
- Source documents:
- International arrangement on forests beyond 2015 (E/RES/2015/33)
2015 – Launch of the Global Forest Financing Facilitation Network (GFFFN)
- Event: UNFF11 (2015)
- Outcome: GFFFN began facilitating access to financing for sustainable forest management (SFM), including through support for national forest financing strategies.
- Significance: Marked a concrete step to address forest financing gaps, reinforcing the UNFF’s role in supporting means of implementation.
- Source documents:
2017 – Shift to annual one-week sessions alternating between policy and technical focus
- Event: UNFF12 (2017)
- Source: Report of the 12th session of the UNFF (E/2017/42)
2017 – Launch of the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2017–2030
- Event: Special session of the UN Forum on Forests held in January 2017
- Outcome: Endorsed the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2017–2030 and its six Global Forest Goals and 26 targets.
- Significance: Created a unifying global framework for forests aligned with the SDGs, providing a common roadmap for countries and partners to achieve sustainable forest management by 2030
- Source documents:
2017 – Operationalisation of the Global Forest Financing Facilitation Network (GFFFN)
- Event: GFFFN strengthened as part of the strategic plan implementation.
- Outcome: Began providing technical support to countries on forest financing strategies and access to existing and emerging funding sources.
- Significance: Addressed the persistent gap in forest financing by serving as a clearing house, advisory mechanism, and resource mobilisation platform.
- Source documents:
2021 – Launch of the GFFFN Clearing House (Phase I)
- Event: UNFF16
- Outcome: Made available a centralized platform to share information on forest financing opportunities, success stories, and tools.
- Significance: Improved access to forest financing knowledge and facilitated cross-sectoral partnerships.
- Source documents:
- Report on the 16th session of the UNFF (E/CN.18/2021/8)
2024 – Midterm Review of the International Arrangement on Forests
- Event: UNFF19
- Outcome: Assessed the effectiveness of the IAF and reviewed options for its future, including potential for a legally binding agreement or other strengthening measures.
- Significance: Provided an evidence-based opportunity to realign the IAF with global priorities and reinforce international cooperation on forests
- Source documents: