2016 Events

Date: 21-Mar

Organizer: UNFF Secretariat

Type: UNFF Events

Location: New York, United States

The International Day of Forests is held annually on 21 March to raise awareness of the importance of forests to people. Forests shelter, nurture and inspire. 1.6 billion people depend on forests for their livelihoods, medicine, fuel and food. Forests cover 31% of global land area.

Date: 25-27 April

Organizer: UNFF Secretariat

Type: UNFF Events

Location: New York, United States

In accordance with paragraph 46 of ECOSOC resolution 2015/33, an UNFF open-ended intergovernmental ad hoc expert group was established to develop proposals on: (a) replacement of the reference to the Millennium Development Goals in 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. The expert group is expected to develop and submit its proposals for consideration by the working group of the Forum.

Date: 26-28 September

Organizer: UNFF & ECO Secretariat

Type: UNFF Events

Location: Tehran, Iran

The Secretariats of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF) and of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) jointly organized and convened an expert meeting to explore concrete means and ways to enhance the involvement of regional and sub-regional entities in the International Arrangement on Forests (IAF). This expert meeting was held from 26 to 28 September 2016 at the ECO Headquarters in Tehran, Iran. The discussions were based on the outcome of the eleventh session of the Forum (UNFF11) held in May 2015, as well as on the relevant elements of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted in September 2015.

Date: 5-6 October

Organizer: UNFF Secretariat & Canadian Forest Service

Type: UNFF Events

Location: Ottawa, Canada

The UNFF Secretariat and the Canadian Forest Service are jointly convening a two-day expert meeting titled “expert meeting on strengthening major groups and other stakeholders’ engagement in the work of the international arrangement on forests (IAF) beyond 2015”. At UNFF11, Member States invited major groups and other stakeholders to enhance their contributions to the work of the IAF beyond 2015, and requested the Forum secretariat to promote the involvement of major groups and other stakeholders in its work, in particular leaders from the private sector and non-governmental sector, including forest industries, local communities and philanthropic organizations. The expert meeting will take place from 5 to 6 October 2016 in Ottawa, Canada. Approximately 30 invitees from forest-related civil society organizations and other stakeholders, UNFF Major Groups and UNFF Member States are expected to participate in this expert meeting in their personal capacity.

Date: 24-28 October

Organizer: UNFF Secretariat

Type: UNFF Events

Location: Bangkok, Thailand

The Second meeting of the Open-ended intergovernmental ad hoc expert group (AHEG2) established pursuant to paragraph 48 of ECOSOC Resolution 2015/33 is scheduled to be held at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC), in Bangkok, from 24-28 October 2016. In accordance with paragraph 46 of ECOSOC resolution 2015/33, an UNFF open-ended intergovernmental ad hoc expert group was established to develop proposals on: (a) replacement of the reference to the Millennium Development Goals in 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. The expert group is expected to develop and submit its proposals for consideration by the working group of the Forum.

Date: 29-31 October

Organizer: UNFF

Type: UNFF Events

Location: Beijing, China

Document: https://docs.un.org/en/E/CN.18/2015/9

The workshop provided an opportunity to examine options for strengthening the international arrangement on forests in many areas with respect to both a non-legally binding future arrangement and a legally binding instrument. The workshop also provided an opportunity for initial reflection by the participants on the report on the independent assessment of the international arrangement with a focus on future options for the arrangement.