In their meeting on 27 January 2020, the Principals of the member organizations of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) endorsed a ‘Strategic Vision towards 2030.’ Also in January, religious leaders met in Indonesia to launch the country’s Interfaith Rainforest Initiative country programme. Both endeavors support achievement of globally agreed goals on forests within the context of the forthcoming UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration in 2021.

The CPF Strategic Vision calls for the sustainable management of all types of forests and forest landscapes by 2030. It seeks to recognize the multiple values of forests, unlock their goods and services, and it calls for the achievement of the SDGs and the Global Forest Goals. To support countries in the achievement of these aims, the CPF will enhance coherence and synergy on forest-related issues and values among its member organizations. It will focus on moving from deforestation to restoration.

The CPF will also work towards a set of strategic priorities that include: supporting the achievement of the globally-agreed goals and targets on forests; promoting the science-policy interface and science-based decision making; enhancing communication and outreach activities; enhancing cross-sectoral collaboration, policy coherence, coordination, and integrated approaches; unlocking the full potential and values of forests; and identifying emerging issues of significant concern to forests. The CPF will operationalize these priorities through its 4-year workplans, which  align with the quadrennial workplans of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF).

The Decade is expected to upscale the restoration of degraded ecosystems and support efforts to address the climate and biodiversity crises. 

Speaking on the Vision, Hiroto Mitsugi, FAO Assistant Director-General and Chair of the CPF said it was “crucial to move from deforestation to restoration.” He also noted that “in light of the upcoming UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, the CPF has an increasingly important role to play.” The Decade, which will conclude in 2030, is expected to upscale the restoration of degraded ecosystems and support efforts to address the climate and biodiversity crises while enhancing food and water security, among other ecosystem services. 

Also in January, religious leaders met in Jakarta, Indonesia to launch the Interfaith Rainforest Initiative country programme. The leaders recognized the “destruction and loss of tropical forests as a threat to the sustainability of human life,” and they demanded immediate and decisive action to protect the country’s forests. The Interfaith Rainforest Initiative in Indonesia will be carried forward by an Advisory Council, representing a coalition between religious communities, indigenous peoples, civil society, the scientific community and the UN. In December 2019, the Initiative launched its Democratic Republic of the Congo country programme, which aims to protect the Congo Basin’s tropical forests.