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STORY: UN / GLOBAL FORESTS GOALS REPORT
TRT: 02:21
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 11 MAY 2026, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE - NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior, United Nations
11 MAY 2026, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, speakers, journalists, press room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Bjørg Sandkjær, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter- Agency Affairs, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), United Nations:
“The report as, you can see here – it’s also available online - shows that countries are taking meaningful action. We see strengthened governance, expanded restoration efforts and growing engagement across sectors. But, at the same time, as this report shows, building on reports on a number of Member States, progress remains uneven because global forest loss has not been reversed, extreme poverty among forest-dependent people persists.”
4. Med shot, speakers
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Bjørg Sandkjær, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter- Agency Affairs, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), United Nations:
“And the findings of the report remind us that forests are not just an environmental priority — they are a development imperative. The United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests provides a shared framework for action through 2030. Delivering on it will require stronger political commitment, increased investment and more effective coordination across sectors — including the agriculture, energy and infrastructure sectors.”
6. Wide shot, speakers
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Bjørg Sandkjær, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter- Agency Affairs, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), United Nations:
“As we move forward, forests need to remain at the centre of sustainable development strategies. Investing in forests is investing in climate stability, in resilient economies and the well-being of present and future generations.”
8. Wide shot, speakers
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Juliette Biao, Director, United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat (UNFF):
“Since 2015, the world has lost more than 4 million hectares of forest. At the same time, financing for sustainable forest management remained far below what is needed to meet global goals. This continued forest insufficient investments are at the heart of the challenges we face.”
10. Wide shot, speakers
With less than five years remaining to 2030—and forests, a key driver of climate resilience, livelihoods and food security, under threat— the United Nations today (11 May) launched The Global Forest Goals Report 2026, calling for forests to remain at the centre of policy and investment decisions.
The report provides the most up-to-date global assessment of progress towards implementing the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2017–2030 and its six Global Forest Goals.
Its release comes at a pivotal moment, as forests are increasingly recognized as central to delivering the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the global climate agenda and biodiversity commitments.
Based on voluntary national reports submitted by 48 countries representing 51 percent of the global forest area and informed by the latest global data, the report shows that progress is being made, but not at the pace or scale required to achieve the Goals by 2030.
Global forest area declined by more than 40 million hectares between 2015 and 2025, while financing for sustainable forest management remains far below estimated needs.
At the same time, countries are advancing reforms, expanding restoration efforts, strengthening forest governance and scaling up cooperation.
The report outlines pathways for accelerating action, including halting deforestation, restoring degraded lands, expanding protected and sustainably managed forests, strengthening forest-related governance, closing the financing gap for sustainable forest management and advancing innovative financing mechanisms.
Among its findings, the report notes that:
Progress is uneven, with gains in protected areas, long-term forest management plans and forest-related monitoring systems;
Seven of the 26 targets are broadly met, 17 are partially achieved, and two are off track, reversing forest loss and eradicating extreme poverty for forest-dependent people;
Pressures from land-use change, climate impacts, wildfires, pests and illegal activities continue to threaten forests in many regions;
Innovative financing, stronger institutions and cross-sectoral cooperation are essential to scale implementation; and National leadership and community-driven solutions demonstrate that progress can be accelerated when ambition is matched by action.
The launch of the report marked the opening day of twenty-first session of the United Nations Forum on Forests at United Nations Headquarters, where Member States and partners are meeting to advance implementation of the Global Forest Goals.
