Under the theme of Building a green, healthy and resilient future with forests, the Congress showcased the essential role of forests in the global sustainable development agenda — comprising, among other things, the 2030 Agenda, the Global Forest Goals, the Paris Agreement on climate change, the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, and the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework — and it identified key measures and recommendations for enhancing this role.

Key events included: the launch of FAO’s State of the World’s Forests 2022 report; the High-Level Roundtable on the Peace Forest Initiative (PFI); the Ministerial Forum on Financing; the Ministerial Forum on Sustainable Wood; the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) Dialogue; two full-day forums, one on forest fires and another on private sector investment; the launch of the Assuring the Future of Forests with Integrated Risk Management (AFFIRM) Mechanism for fire management; and the Sustaining an Abundance of Forest Ecosystems (SAFE) initiative. Additionally, participants were invited to special events on investing in young forestry professionals and career development; forests in a post-COVID World; and sustainable forests and green energy.

Thirty thematic dialogue sessions were held, organised under six sub-themes on the most important current issues concerning forests and the products and services they provide, including: reversing deforestation and forest degradation; nature-based solutions (NbS) for climate change adaptation and biodiversity conservation; green pathways to growth and sustainability; forests and human health; managing and communicating forest information, data and knowledge; and enhancing management and cooperation.

In addition to the detailed action proposals following the six sub-themes of the Congress, participants endorsed the Seoul Forest Declaration to convey the urgent need for action to achieve a green, healthy and resilient future with forests. They highlighted progress in the implementation of the recommendations made at the XIV World Forestry Congress in 2015.

The Congress also heard the Youth Call for Action and the Ministerial Call on Sustainable Wood. The Wangari Maathai Forest Champions Award 2022 was presented to Cécile Ndjebet, African Women’s Network for Community Management of Forests.

Find out more:

• Congress outcomes
• Thematic issues addressed in the Congress
• IISD Summary Report