Context:

The conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of forests are critical to the successful implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). Forest ecosystems are home to approximately 80% of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity and are essential to the livelihoods of millions of people worldwide. Yet, with deforestation continuing at a rate of around 10 million hectares per year—and an additional 15 million hectares facing degradation annually—the urgency of promoting sustainable forest management and expanding protected forest areas is greater than ever. These priorities are firmly reflected in the Global Forest Goals of the UN Strategic Plan for Forests.

Forests are integral to the achievement of many targets within the KMGBF. The Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) serves as a vital advocate and partner, supporting countries in their efforts to meet forest-related goals. Through its convening power, the CPF is working to strengthen political will and accelerate concrete action on the ground. It does so by fostering cross-sectoral collaboration, promoting coherent policy responses, and encouraging the integration of forest-related actions into broader development strategies and national plans. Many CPF activities directly promote forest biodiversity conservation and sustainable forest management.

Objective:

In the context of Parties consideration of SBSTTA-27 Agenda Item 6b) Strategic review of and updates to the expanded programme of work on forest biodiversity, the side event will showcase contributions of CPF members to support Parties in their forest-biodiversity related implementation of the KM-GBF and for making progress on the conservation, sustainable use and sharing of forest biodiversity. This includes in particular efforts towards Target 2 Restore 30% of all Degraded Ecosystems; Target 3: Conserve 30% of Land, Waters and Seas and Target 10: Enhance Biodiversity and Sustainability in Agriculture, Aquaculture, Fisheries and Forestry. The event will also provide an opportunity for Parties and representatives of Major Groups and other stakeholders to offer reflections and share their experiences.

Building on a CPF Joint Statement and information paper developed for SBSTTA-27, the side event will feature findings from the analysis on the synergies between the Global Forest Goals and the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans guided by the KM-GBF, carried out jointly by CBD and UNFF. It will also present findings from the FAO analysis of updated National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) submitted under the KM-GBF.

By showcasing how forest-related issues are being addressed within NBSAPs and highlighting the contributions of CPF members and Parties, the event aims to support the effective integration of forest-related considerations into national biodiversity strategies. The event also aims to help strengthen the contribution of forests to the achievement of the KM-GBF targets and broader global biodiversity commitments.

Outline:

 

Segment	Duration	Speaker(s)
Welcome and framing	10 min	Moderator: Mr. Khalil Walji, Scientist, Coordinator Landscapes for our Future & Manager Target2 - Ecosystem Restoration Pilots CIFOR-ICRAF Ms. Jamal Annagylyjova, Forest biodiversity and ecosystem restoration officer of the CBD Secretariat
FAO presentation	10 min	Ms. Malgorzata Buszko-Briggs, Senior Forestry Officer and Secretary of the Committee of Forestry at FAO
CBD-UNFF Joint Initiative	10 min	Mr. Shyam Paudel, Inter-Regional Adviser at the Secretariat for the United Nations Forum on Forests.
Panellists	30 min (7-8 minute each)	Mr. Wonjae Choi, Korea Forest Service Ms. Christine Farcy, International Forest Policies, Belgium Ms Fernanda Rodrigues, Rede Mulher Florestal / UNFF Women Major Group alternate focal point Mr Ramson Karmushu, My Indigenous Knowledge in Action (MIKIA), Kenya Ms. Katja Matveinen, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Finland
Interventions from CPF members	15 min	Mr Christoph Wildburger, Senior Advisor IUFRO Ms Paula Prist, Senior Programme Coordinator for Forest and Grasslands Unit, IUCN Ms Tania Eulalia Martinez Cruz, Indigenous Peoples Operations Analyst, GEF
Discussion	10 min	Participants
Closing	5 min	Moderator: Mr. Khalil Walji, Scientist, Coordinator Landscapes for our Future & Manager Target2 - Ecosystem Restoration Pilots CIFOR-ICRAF

 

Key organizer contacts:

• Ms Jamal Annagylyjova, Forest Biodiversity and Ecosystem Restoration Officer, CBD jamal.annagylyjova@un. org
• Mr Shyam Paudel, Inter-Regional Adviser, UNFFS, shyam.paudel@un.org
• Ms Malgorzata Buszko-Briggs, Senior Forestry Officer, FAO malgorzata.buszkobriggs@fao.org
• Mr Benjamin Ross, Forestry Officer, FAO benjamin.ross@fao.org