July 2014: In a background note, the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF) reports that, “The agreement by the Open Working Group (OWG) on the proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a positive step forward towards an effective and stronger post 2015 development agenda and the post 2015 International Arrangement on Forests.” Forests and their multiple functions are directly addressed under Proposed Goals 15 and 6.

Goal 15 aims to “Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.” Goal 15 includes targets related to the implementation and the means of implementation for sustainable forest management (SFM) as well as a target on ensuring the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements. Goal 6,which calls to “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all,” includes a target to protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes.

In the note, the UNFF states that the concepts reflected in the forest-related SDGs and targets are consistent with the approaches promoted by UNFF member States, emphasizing the inclusion of language on the definition of SFM as enshrined in the Forest Instrument as the most inclusive framework for all actions on forests and references to sustainable management of all types of forests and the multi-functionality of forests. [OWG Outcome Document] [UNFF Press Release] [IISD RS Coverage of OWG 13] [IISD RS Story on CPF Support for Forest Targets]