24 September 2014
IAF Independent Assessment Calls for a UN Forest Assembly
story highlights

The UN Forum on Forests (UNFF) has released an advance version of the ‘Independent Assessment on the International Arrangement on Forests (IAF),' which highlights the need for greater flexibility in the UNFF in order to better respond to emerging issues.

UnffSeptember 2014: The UN Forum on Forests (UNFF) has released an advance version of the ‘Independent Assessment on the International Arrangement on Forests (IAF),’ which highlights the need for greater flexibility in the UNFF in order to better respond to emerging issues.

The assessment also notes that inadequate implementation of the Forest Instrument is limiting the effectiveness of the IAF, and as such, the Instrument should be updated to consider climate change, the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, trade and forest governance.

The assessment also recommends that the UNFF be more selective in prioritizing implementation of the Forest Instrument, that the Major Groups be better engaged, especially business and industry, and that targets be set to take into account the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

With regard to forest financing, the assessment proposes upfront investment in analytical work on information, mainstreamed investment for capacity development, and sustainable financing based on the capture of the full value of forest ecosystem goods and services.

In terms of planning, the assessment recommends a shift away from the rigid multi-year programme of work (MYPOW) approach towards a long-term strategic plan that identifies key targets, but operates on a rolling basis. To assure effective functioning of the IAF, the assessment proposes: a UN Forest Assembly, regional forest assemblies, and a UN Forest Support mechanism with an adapted Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), a Special Envoy on Forests, and a Secretariat linked to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).

In its Resolution 10/2, the UNFF decided that a review of the IAF should include, inter alia, an Independent Assessment of the IAF. The Assessment is meant to assist and inform the second meeting of the ad hoc expert group (AHEG2) on the IAF in preparation for the 11th session of the UNFF, which will include deliberations on a post-2015 IAF. [Publication: Independent Assessment on the International Arrangement on Forests]

related posts