The third session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF-3) took place from 26 May – 6 June 2003, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

Delegates addressed progress in implementation of the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests/Intergovernmental Forum on Forests proposals for action related to three substantive items: economic aspects of forests; forest health and productivity; and maintaining forest cover to meet present and future needs. They discussed means of implementation, including finance, transfer of environmentally sound technologies and capacity building for sustainable forest management, relating to the three thematic areas. Delegates also considered agenda items common to each UNFF session, including: enhanced cooperation and policy and programme coordination; country experiences and lessons learned; emerging issues relevant to country implementation; intersessional work, including further discussion on the ad hoc expert groups; monitoring, assessment and reporting; promoting public participation; national forest programmes; trade; and enabling environment.
A multi-stakeholder dialogue was held on Tuesday, 27 May. During this session, delegates heard presentations from representatives of UNFF’s nine major groups on the three thematic areas. Delegates were also invited to address a set of questions prepared by the major groups on: major group involvement in the elaboration of national forest programmes and in the work of the member organizations of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests; sustainable livelihoods; positive examples of cross-sectoral policy development; land tenure; non-timber values; and capacity building.
UNFF-3 adopted six resolutions on: enhanced cooperation and policy and programme coordination; forest health and productivity; economic aspects of forests; maintaining forest cover to meet present and future needs; the UNFF Trust Fund; and strengthening the Secretariat. UNFF-3 also approved two decisions: on the voluntary reporting format; and on the terms of reference for the three ad hoc expert groups, a task that had been carried forward from UNFF-2. Of particular concern were the terms of reference for the ad hoc expert group charged with recommending the parameters of a mandate for developing a legal framework on all types of forests. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin report outlining these discussions in detail can be found online at: http://enb.iisd.org/forestry/unff/unff3/