United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF)
For. Ildefonso Quilloy (leftmost), FMB Dir. Nonito Tamayo (2nd from left) and DENR OIC-Asst. Sec. Ricardo Calderon (4th from left) pay a courtesy call on the Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations, mbassador Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. (3rd from left) during the UNFF 13 at the UN Headquarters, New York City, on 11 May 2018. [FMB]The United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) is an open, transparent and participatory global platform for policy development, dialogue, cooperation and coordination on issues related to all types of forests. It is composed of all Member States of the United Nations and specialized agencies. The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Resolution 2000/35 called for the creation of the UNFF in order to build on the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests (IPF) and the International Forum on Forests (IFF).
The UNFF aims to promote the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests and to strengthen long-term political commitment of UN member states and related agencies to this end.
Areas of work include (1) promoting, monitoring and assessing the implementation of sustainable forest management (SFM), in particular the UN Forest Instrument and the UN Strategic Plan for Forests; (2) governance frameworks and enabling conditions at all levels to achieve SFM; (3) policy coherence and collaborative international policy development on forest-related issues;(4) high-level political engagement in support of SFM with support of major groups and stakeholders; and (5) raising awareness on the role of forests in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The Forum meets annually. The format of the meeting alternates implementation and technical advice in odd years with policy dialogue, development and decision making in even years.
THE UN FOREST INSTRUMENT (formerly Non-Legally Binding Instrument [NLBI])
The Instrument was adopted by the UN General Assembly (Resolution 62/98) on 17 December 2007, reflecting strong international commitment to advance sustainable forest management, curb deforestation and enhance forest contribution to the achievement of internationally agreed development goals. The Instrument articulates a series of agreed policies and measures at the international and national levels to strengthen forest governance, technical and institutional capacity, policy and legal framework, forest sector investment and stakeholder participation.
The Instrument is voluntary and non-legally binding. Each State is responsible for the sustainable management of its forests and for the enforcement of its forest related laws.
THE UN STRATEGIC PLAN FOR FORESTS 2017-2030 (UNSPF)
The UNSPF was forged at a special session of the UNFF in January 2017. The plan was adopted by the ECOSOC on 20 April 2017, and was subsequently adopted by the UN General Assembly on 27 April 2017. The UNSPF provi
The UNFF aims to promote the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests and to strengthen long-term political commitment of UN member states and related agencies to this end.
Areas of work include (1) promoting, monitoring and assessing the implementation of sustainable forest management (SFM), in particular the UN Forest Instrument and the UN Strategic Plan for Forests; (2) governance frameworks and enabling conditions at all levels to achieve SFM; (3) policy coherence and collaborative international policy development on forest-related issues;(4) high-level political engagement in support of SFM with support of major groups and stakeholders; and (5) raising awareness on the role of forests in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The Forum meets annually. The format of the meeting alternates implementation and technical advice in odd years with policy dialogue, development and decision making in even years.
THE UN FOREST INSTRUMENT (formerly Non-Legally Binding Instrument [NLBI])
The Instrument was adopted by the UN General Assembly (Resolution 62/98) on 17 December 2007, reflecting strong international commitment to advance sustainable forest management, curb deforestation and enhance forest contribution to the achievement of internationally agreed development goals. The Instrument articulates a series of agreed policies and measures at the international and national levels to strengthen forest governance, technical and institutional capacity, policy and legal framework, forest sector investment and stakeholder participation.
The Instrument is voluntary and non-legally binding. Each State is responsible for the sustainable management of its forests and for the enforcement of its forest related laws.
THE UN STRATEGIC PLAN FOR FORESTS 2017-2030 (UNSPF)
The UNSPF was forged at a special session of the UNFF in January 2017. The plan was adopted by the ECOSOC on 20 April 2017, and was subsequently adopted by the UN General Assembly on 27 April 2017. The UNSPF provi
- Focal Office:
- Forest Management Bureau (FMB)
- Focal Persons:
- High Level
HON. ROY A. CIMATU
Secretary, DENR
Tel. No. (632) 926 3011, 920 4301, 929 6626 loc 2258
UNFF Focal Point for the Philippines
FOR. NONITO M. TAMAYO
Director, DENR-FMB Tel. No. (632) 927 4788 - Commitments:
- A. Promote/implement Sustainable Forest Management by contributing to the achievement of the Six Global Goals on Forests:
1. Reverse the loss of forest cover worldwide through sustainable forest management (SFM);
2. Enhance forest-based economic, social and environmental benefits;
3. Increase significantly the area of protected forests worldwide and other areas of sustainably managed forests;
4. Mobilize and significantly increase new and additional financial resources from all sources for the implementation of SFM and strengthen scientific and technical cooperation and partnerships;
5. Promote governance frameworks to implement SFM, including through the UN Forest Instrument, and enhance the contribution of forests to the 2030 Agenda; and
6. Enhance cooperation, coordination, coherence and synergies on forest-related issues.
B. Submit National Report (Voluntary)
- Report on the Implementation of the UN Forest Instrument
- Report on the country's activities in relation to the UN Strategic Plan for Forests - The first round of voluntary national reporting is at the 15th Session of the Forum in 2020. - Policy Issuances:
- - DENR Administrative Order 2019-03 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of Executive Order No. 193, Series of 2015: Expanding and Enhancing the National Greening Program
- DENR Administrative Order 2018-21 Adoption of the Lawin Forest and Biodiversity Protection System as a National Strategy for Forest and Biodiversity Protection in the Philippines
- DENR Administrative Order 2017-03 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of Executive Order No. 193, Series of 2015: Enhancing the National Greening Program
- Executive Order No. 193, s. 2015 Expanding the Coverage of the National Greening Program - Status / Updates:
- The 13th Meeting of the UNFF (UNFF13) addressed the implementation of the UN Strategic Plan on Forests and the Quadrennial Programme of Work, and means of implementation for Sustainable Forest Management (SFM).
UNFF13 also provided inputs to the session of the High-level Political Forum (HLPF 2018) in July 2018, particularly its consideration of SDG 15 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."
The Philippines is committed to continuously promote sustainable forest management and has made considerable efforts in meeting the six shared global forest goals, by rehabilitating its degraded forestlands through the National Greening Program (NGP). The NGP aims to expand the country's forest cover to serve as a climate change mitigation measure, protect the remaining natural forests by implementing intensified forest protection and law enforcement, promote biodiversity conservation and hence, contribute to poverty alleviation, inclusive growth and good governance. The Philippine government has extended the implementation of NGP until 2028 consistent with the Philippine Master Plan for Forestry Development and the Philippine Development Plan (2017-2022). In 2018, 121 million seedlings were planted in 133 thousand hectares. - Latest Activities:
- - 14th Session of UN Forum on Forests (UNFF14), 6-9 May 2019; New York City, USA - Dir. Ma. Lourdes Ferrer (DENR-PPS), For. Edna D. Nuestro (FMB)
- Capacity Building Workshop on Reporting on Global Forest Goals and Targets of the UN Strategic Plan for Forest 2030, 14-16 November 2018; Rome, Italy - For. Ildefonso L. Quilloy (FMB)
- 13th Session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF13) which featured a Ministe- rial Roundtable on accelerating achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, 7-11 May 2018; New York City, USA - DENR OIC-Asst. Sec. Ricardo L. Calderon, Dir. Nonito M. Tamayo, For. Ildefonso Quilloy (FMB)
- Meeting on Reporting to the United Nations Forum on Forest, 21-23 November 2017; Nairobi, Kenya - For. Ray Thomas F. Kabigting (FMB)
- Implementing the UN Forest Instrument (UNFI), 24-26 July 2017; Nairobi, Kenya - For. Ray Thomas F. Kabigting and For. Kenneth Tabliga (FMB)
- 12th Session of the United Nations Forum on Forest (UNFF12), 1-5 May 2017; New York, USA - Dir. Nonito M. Tamayo (FMB), Dir. Francisco E. Milla (DENR Reg. 3), For. Ray Thomas F. Kabigting (FMB), Mr. Norman A. Asugan (DENR Reg. 13) - Next Steps:
- - Provide inputs to resolutions and declarations of the UNFF
- Participation in the discussions during the UNFF Meetings Implementation of the UN Forest Instrument
- Consultative workshops on the preparation of voluntary national reports
- Submit and present national reports in the 15th Session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF15), 4-8 May 2020, New York City, USA
This Page was updated on 12 December 2019 and will be updated on 10 March 2021