The 9th World Forest Week will provide the wider forest community with a unique opportunity to exchange ideas, showcase best practices and on-the-ground actions, and contribute to international debates on forestry and environmental issues.
It will feature a series of events and exhibitions bringing FAO Members, partner organizations, including youth and members of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests, together to discuss a broad range of topics related to FAO mandate and aligned with priority topics to be discussed by the 27th Session of the Committee on Forestry.
Among the highlights of the week are the award ceremony announcing the winner of the Wangari Maathai Forest Champions Award of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests, special events on sustainable production and the scaling up of science- and evidence-based innovations.
High-level dialogue on innovation
Monday 22 July
12.30–14.00 CEST
An event to catalyze action on innovations that promote the conservation and restoration of forests, while underscoring the potential of sustainable forest use in shaping the world’s societies towards a more sustainable future.
High-level dialogue on scaling-up agroforestry
Tuesday 23 July
12.30–14.00 CEST
Agroforestry can enhance livelihoods in rural communities by increasing productivity, diversifying incomes and improving food security and nutrition. This event will address the investments and actions needed to scale-up agroforestry.
Overview of the week
Bringing youth to the forefront
Events, podcasts and interactive sessions throughout the week
WOOD for GLOBE: Leading pathways to carbon neutrality and resilience
Pre-WFW high-level dialogue
Friday 19 July 09.30–17.00 CEST
PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME
Monday 22 July
Opening ceremony of the Committee on Forestry and World Forest Week 2024
Monday 22 July 09.30–10.00 CEST Plenary Hall Webcast
The opening event will explore the theme "Accelerating Forest Solutions through Innovation", setting the stage for a week of insightful discussions and events. With remarks from QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General, and Günter Walkner, COFO Chairperson, a keynote speech by scientist Dr Carlos Nobre, Co-Chair of the Science Panel for the Amazon and a statement by Louise Mabulo, youth representative and agroforester.
High-level dialogue on innovation
Catalyzing innovation to accelerate the contributions of forests and forest products to the 2030 Agenda and beyond
Monday 22 July 12.30–14.00 CEST Plenary Hall Webcast
COFO and World Forest Week reception
Collaborative Partnership on Forests Wangari Maathai Forest Champion Award Ceremony
Monday 22 July 19.30–21.00 CEST Cafeteria, 8th floor, FAO headquarters
The winner of the 2024 Wangari Maathai Forest Champions Award will be awarded during the evening of the opening day of the 27th Session of the FAO Committee on Forestry (COFO 27) and 9th World Forest Week.
Tuesday 23 July
Side event: SIMONTANA – Indonesia's national forest monitoring system to support carbon emission reduction
Tuesday 23 July 08.00–09.15 CEST Sheikh Zayed Centre Webcast
This event will highlight Indonesia's forest policies through the launch of The State of Indonesia`s Forests 2024 report and present Indonesia's national forest monitoring system. Organized by the Republic of Indonesia.
High-level dialogue on scaling-up agroforestry
An investment in resilient agrifood systems
Tuesday 23 July 12.30–14.00 CEST Plenary Hall Webcast
Sustainable wood-based bioeconomy reception
Tuesday 23 July 19.30–21.00 CEST Cafeteria, 8th floor, FAO headquarters
Organized by the Republic of Austria.
Wednesday 24 July
Side event: Empowering communities, restoring landscapes & conserving ecosystems
Diverse partnerships, innovative results
Wednesday 24 July 08.00–09.15 CEST Sheikh Zayed Centre Webcast
This event will spotlight collaborative efforts and innovative solutions tailored to meet the urgent need for forest landscape restoration action. Organized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, FAO, Natural Resources Canada and the International Climate Initiative of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety.
High-level dialogue with Statutory Bodies in Forestry
Wednesday 24 July 12.30–14.00 CEST Sheikh Zayed Centre Webcast
This dialogue will showcase each FAO Forestry Statutory Body, highlighting achievements and recommendations stemming from the results of their work. It will be an opportunity for dialogue between the Statutory Bodies and the wider forest community, receiving input for future development.
Side event: Cool forests – forest-water-climate linkages
Wednesday 24 July 12.30–14.00 CEST Red Room
The event will showcase forests’ water-related services and their importance for resilient food systems and communities. Organized by the Republic of Paraguay, Swedish Environment Institute and FAO.
Side event: Bamboo-based innovation to harness bioeconomy solutions
Wednesday 24 July 12.30–14.00 CEST Ethiopia Room
This session will spotlight the latest innovations in global bamboo value chains, aiming to boost their role in the bio-based economy. Organized by the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization and FAO.
Thursday 25 July
Side event: Montreal Process Synthesis Report 2023 – temperate and boreal forest trends
Thursday 25 July 08.00–09.15 CEST Sheikh Zayed Centre Webcast
This session will explore key trends for temperate and boreal forests, the implications and challenges for policymakers and where improved data and reporting are most needed. Organized by the Government of Australia.
Side event: Greening synergies – innovative solutions to halt deforestation
Thursday 25 July 12.30–14.00 CEST Austria Room
The event will illustrate the broad array of innovative solutions to achieve a sustainable balance between agricultural and forestry objectives, halting deforestation. Organized by the Government of Japan and FAO.
Side event: Forest and land restoration – pathways to UNCCD COP16
Thursday 25 July 12.30–14.00 CEST Sheikh Zayed Centre
Organized by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Side event: Promoting forest-based food security and poverty alleviation
Thursday 25 July 12.30–14.00 CEST Ethiopia Room
Forests are crucial for the livelihoods of nearly one-third of the world's population, with roughly 40 percent of the rural poor living in or near forested areas. This event will showcase effective policies and practices in promoting forest-based food security and poverty reduction. Organized by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (China), National Social Protection Secretariat (Kenya) and FAO.
Friday 26 July
Side event: Accelerating innovation for forest data transparency
Friday 26 July 08.00–09.15 CEST Austria Room Webcast
Highlighting the role of technical innovation and novel capacity development approaches in enabling country participation in the implementation of Article 13 enhanced transparency framework (ETF) of the Paris Agreement. Organized by FAO, UNFCCC and the Global Environment Facility, with the Governments of Brazil, Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia and the United Kingdom.
Side event: Greening with mangroves in drylands and beyond
Friday 26 July 09.30–10.45 CEST Sheikh Zayed Centre Webcast
With a focus on dryland countries, this event will raise awareness on the role of mangroves in sustainable development, livelihoods and climate response on the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem. Organized by FAO and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Special event: Green Cities Initiative
Multifunctional green infrastructures, a solution to urban challenges
Friday 26 July 11.00–12.30 CEST Plenary Hall Webcast
Showcasing successful examples of urban development, this event will underscore the importance of multifunctional green infrastructure in cities for climate adaptation and resilience to natural disasters, as well as for fostering social cohesion, citizen health and economic development.
Side event: The Fire Hub – connecting the global fire community
Friday 26 July 12.30–14.00 CEST Sheikh Zayed Centre Webcast
This event will explore innovative solutions and collaborative efforts in managing fires more effectively and sustainably. It will provide background on the development of the Fire Hub and offer a platform for discussion among governments, organizations, Indigenous Peoples, and other local knowledge holders, to define a path towards better integrated fire management globally. Organized by the Governments of Brazil, Canada, Republic of Korea and Portugal, International Tropical Timber Organization and FAO.