Concept Note

High Level Round Table

Sixteenth Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests
9:00am- 11:00am, 26 April 2021

I. Background

1. Pursuant to ECOSOC resolution 2020/14, the Secretariat of the United Nations Forum on Forests
(UNFF) was requested to organize a High-Level Round Table (HLRT) during the sixteenth session of the
Forum (UNFF16) to discuss major forest-related developments. The UNFF Secretariat was also
requested to compile an initial assessment of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sustainable
forest management, the forest sector, forest-dependent people, indigenous peoples and local
communities, forest financing and international cooperation, and to present the assessment to the
Forum at its sixteenth session 1 . This issue will be discussed under agenda item 5 of UNFF16 on
emerging issues, under which the UNFF16 HLRT is also organized.

II. Major forest-related developments

2. During the SDG Moment2, High-Level Roundtable on Climate Action3, and UN Summit on Biodiversity4,
which were held as part of the UNGA High-Level period in September 2020, world leaders emphasized
the need to promote ecosystem-based solutions to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity, combat
climate change, and restore a more balanced relationship with nature in the recovery from the COVID-
19 pandemic. They also stressed the need for redoubled efforts to counter negative trends and protect
ecosystems, including through restoration of degraded forests, and substantially increasing
afforestation, reforestation and conservation globally. In response to these calls, the Secretary-
General took several initiatives, including the Decade of Action5. There is also ongoing work to develop
a common approach on biodiversity, as well as common messages to turn the tide on deforestation.
There have been also numerous initiatives and activities related to forests undertaken by countries
around the world.

3. The launch of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) is scheduled to be held on 5 June
2021 during the World Environment Day celebrations. The Decade’s primary objective is to support
and scale up efforts to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems worldwide and raise
awareness of the importance of successful ecosystem restoration. The strategy for the Decade 6
identifies forests as part of key ecosystems to be restored. The strategy also considers target 1.1 of
GFG17 of the UNSPF relevant to the Decade and its objectives.

4. The theme of the International Day of Forests in 2021 is “Forest restoration: a path to recovery and
well-being”. The annual celebration will provide an opportunity to communicate the importance of

1 Background documents and Secretariat Note on the impacts of COVID-19 on sustainable forest management are
available at: https://www.un.org/esa/forests/forum/index.html
2 https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sdg-moment/.

3 https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/high-level-climate-change-roundtable.

4 https://www.un.org/pga/75/united-nations-summit-on-biodiversity/.

5 https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/decade-of-action/

6 The strategy for the decade is available at: https://www.decadeonrestoration.org/strategy.

7 Target 1.1 of GFG1 is set to increase forest area by 3 per cent globally by 2030.

As of 24 March 2021
 forest restoration, taking into account the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030 and the
role of forests in supporting human well-being and post-COVID-19 pandemic recovery.

5. The thematic focus of the high-level political forum on sustainable development in 2021 is
“Sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that promotes the economic, social
and environmental dimensions of sustainable development: building an inclusive and effective path
for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda in the context of the decade of action and delivery for
sustainable development”. Sustainable Development Goals 1 (poverty), 2 (hunger), 3 (health), 8
(economic growth and employment), 10 (inequalities), 12 (sustainable consumption and production),
13 (climate change), 16 (inclusive societies) and 17 (means of implementation) will be discussed in
depth. Currently, the GA is reviewing the targets of the SDGs with a 2020 timeline as part of the review
pursuant to its resolution 74/298. These include forest-related targets such as 6.6, 15.1 and 15.2 8. The
intergovernmental negotiations related to this review are underway and expected to be finalized by
the end of March 2021.

6. The post-2020 global biodiversity framework is expected to be adopted at COP15 of the CBD in 2021
in Kunming, China. The latest draft framework9 contains no specific reference to forests. However, it
includes forest-related aspects, including “intact and wilderness areas”, “nature”, “areas particularly
important for biodiversity”, “terrestrial natural ecosystems”, “natural systems”, “managed
ecosystems”, “wild species of flora”, “nature- based solutions” and “green spaces”. The UNSPF and
its Global Forest Goals, can contribute to the post 2020 global biodiversity framework.

7. Twenty sixth Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC is scheduled to take place in November 2021 in
Glasgow, UK. Forests and other land use activities are relevant for fluxes of greenhouse gases. Forests
are also prominent in the Paris Agreement, especially in the context of reducing emissions from
deforestation and forest degradation and promoting the role of conservation, sustainable
management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries (REDD-plus).
It is important to further promote inclusion of forest-based climate actions in the future nationally
determined contributions (NDCs,) and also promote coherence between the Paris Agreement and the
UNSPF, in particular, its GFG1.

8. Fifteenth World Forestry Congress is scheduled to be held in 2022 in Seoul, Republic of Korea. It
provides an opportunity for the global forestry community to consider the state and future of world
forestry, particularly in the context of the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The congress will
identify key measures that must be put in place as the forest sector adjusts to the new reality and aims
to help ‘build back better’.

III. Current global crises

9. The world is in the midst of multiple and unprecedented socio-economic and ecological crises. Climate
change, biodiversity loss, degradation of ecosystems, water scarcity, deforestation, disasters, pollution
and environmental hazards, compounded by the current COVID-19 pandemic, have put the ecological
integrity of the planet and the future of mankind under serious threat. Global temperatures are

8 For list of SDGs and their targets, please see: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/

9 CBD/POST2020/PREP/2/1 https://www.cbd.int/doc/c/3064/749a/0f65ac7f9def86707f4eaefa/post2020-prep-02-01-
en.pdf

As of 24 March 2021
 projected to rise by up to 3.2°C by 2100. Over one million species are threatened with extinction 10.
Water scarcity could displace 700 million by 2030, and 2.2 billion lack safely managed drinking water.
Each year, 10 million hectares of forest are destroyed. Global forest fire activity burns approximately
450 million hectares of land every year; nearly two thirds of this area is in the savanna ecosystem of
the earth in various regions11.

10. The global macroeconomic outlook has also worsened during the pandemic, accelerating inequalities
and poverty around the world, and increasing pressure on natural resources and global commons. In
2020, over 131 million people were pushed into extreme poverty12, erasing almost all progress made
in the last several years. COVID-19 has reinforced the need for global cooperation and collaboration,
both for immediate response and for longer-term recovery. These crises have significantly weakened
the capacity of countries to achieve the internationally agreed development goals and targets,
including those contained in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

IV. Objective of the High-Level Round Table

11. Forest provides multiple socio-economic and environmental services and have huge potential to
address global crises. An estimated 23% of total anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions (2007-2016)
derive from agriculture, forestry and other land use. Around 2.4 billion people – one-third of the
world’s population – still rely on wood fuel to meet their basic energy needs. Forests are home to 80%
of global biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems. Forests and mountains provide 75% of freshwater
resources.

12. The main objective of the HLRT is to provide an opportunity for senior officials from governments,
United Nations entities and other international organizations, as well as representatives from the
private sector, industries, and civil society to discuss the most effective policies and actions for curbing
current global crises. More specifically, the speakers and participants are encouraged to share their
views on:

a. How can forests be part of the solution to current global crises, in particular, climate change,
biodiversity loss, deforestation and land degradation, inequalities and poverty in the post
COVID-19 era?
b. How can we attract the private sector to engage and contribute more effectively to address
global crises?

V. Modalities of the High-Level Round Table

13. The Chair of UNFF16 will preside over the High-Level Round Table, make opening remarks and
moderate the interactive discussion. As part of the opening segment of the HLRT, the following
senior officials will make opening remarks:

- Mr. Munir Akram, ECOSOC President (five minutes)

10 https://ipbes.net/news/how-did-ipbes-estimate-1-million-species-risk-extinction-globalassessment-report
11 Please see a background study on “the impacts of disasters on forests, in particular forest fires” at UNFF16
webpage at: https://www.un.org/esa/forests/forum/index.html
12 UN, DESA (2021), World Economic Situation and Prospects 2021. Available online at

https://www.un.org/development/desa/dpad/wp-content/uploads/sites/45/WESP2021_FullReport.pdf

As of 24 March 2021