April 2015: The Major Groups Partnership on Forests (MGPoF) prepared three papers ahead of the eleventh meeting of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF11). The papers cover: financing for sustainable forest management (SFM), perspectives on a new UN body on forests, and expectations for the participation of Major Groups.

Overall, the MGPoF propose a set of consolidated recommendations based on the outcomes of a workshop held by the Major Groups Initiative in Nepal (MGI Nepal 2015), from 2-6 March 2015, on the theme, ‘Designing the vehicles for securing the means of implementation.’ On financing, recommendations include a call for a strategic trust fund and the establishment of national funds drawing on private sector contributions. To support access to financial resources, the MGPoF suggests the simplification of application procedures and the establishment of a clearing-house for financial mechanisms.

On the new UN body on forests, the MGPoF recommends that the new UN body be a multi-stakeholder forum emphasizing coordination of forest issues across the UN and resulting in the adoption of legally binding commitments. It further suggests that the new body meet more often and not be based under the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

Finally, with regard to the continuing role of Major Groups, the partnership suggests that the MGPoF should be granted permanent observer status in the new UNFF process with representation on the governing body. The MGPoF also calls for representatives of Major Groups to be included in all meetings and working groups, including through the establishment of a special accreditation process. [Website: MGPoF UNFF11 Policy Recommendations]