Delegates to the 21st session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF21) adopted an omnibus resolution spelling out actions going forward for UNFF members, the UNFF Secretariat, and the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF). Discussions on funding the UNFF and its Secretariat proved particularly difficult as concerns about a 53% drop in voluntary contributions to the UNFF Trust Fund in 2025 and the UN’s overall financial health loomed large.

According to the Earth Negotiation Bulletin (ENB) summary report of the meeting, the UNFF21 resolution suggests actions on:

• The UN Strategic Plan for Forests (UNSPF) 2015-2030;
• The UNSPF communication and outreach strategy;
• Monitoring, assessment, and reporting (MAR);
• Involvement of regional and subregional partners, and Major Groups and other relevant stakeholders;
• Preparations for the final review of the International Arrangement on Forests (IAF) in 2030; and
• Resourcing of the UNFF and its Secretariat.

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Discussions drew on the findings from the Global Forest Goals Report 2026. Presenting the assessment to delegates, the Secretariat explained that while things are “moving in the right direction,” progress is not occurring “at the scale and velocity needed to achieve the Goals by the 2030 deadline.” Considering what existing forest-related actions and developments to build on and what new ones to endorse for the 2027-2028 biennium presented challenges for delegates, as did “the added complexities of current geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainties, and resource constraints,” ENB reports.

The ENB analysis of the meeting notes that while the precipitous drop in voluntary contributions to the UNFF Trust Fund and the danger of the UN’s “financial collapse” contributed to the UNFF’s precarious position, behind the scenes, delegates also cited forests being “a low priority” for contributing countries. “Deforestation is not given the level of attention received by other environmental challenges, such as climate change and biodiversity loss, despite the fact that sustainability of forests is crucial to addressing both of these crises,” they reiterated throughout the week-long meeting.

Another reason for lack of funding, as suggested by one participant, could be the perception of the UNFF as “a talk shop.” “There is funding available for forests, including from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF),” ENB points out, “but since the UNFF is not an implementing agency it is not eligible for such funding.” In addition, some countries see the Tropical Forest Forever Facility launched at the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 30) as a more attractive option for funding, as evidenced by USD 6.7 billion in pledges to the initiative.

ENB underscores that since forests enable the vast majority of the SDGs, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), the Paris Agreement on climate change, and the land degradation neutrality (LDN) targets under the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), “the UNFF, whether as leader or as a promoter in these efforts, still has an important role to play.”

UNFF21 convened in New York, US, from 11-15 May 2026. [ENB Coverage of UNFF21]