02.10.2026
From 28 September to 2 October 2026, FAO is hosting the 10th World Forest Week in Rome, alongside the 28th session of its Committee on Forestry (COFO). ATIBT is represented by its President, Françoise Van de Ven, who took part in the high-level dialogue on the forthcoming United Nations Decade for Afforestation and Reforestation.
Under the theme “Forests for food, resilience and prosperity”, these meetings bring together government representatives, international organizations, scientists, private-sector stakeholders and civil society. They explore forests’ contributions to food security, biodiversity, livelihoods and economic development, as well as the conditions needed for sustainable forest management.
A new global report focusing on restoration
On 28 September, FAO launched The State of the World’s Forests 2026 (SOFO 2026), focusing on forest and landscape restoration. The report presents restoration as a long-term investment to address climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation and food insecurity.
It identifies four complementary pathways: putting people and their rights at the centre of interventions, acting at the landscape scale, mobilizing suitable financing and business models, and strengthening coherent policies and legal frameworks. The aim is to develop restoration initiatives that deliver lasting environmental, social and economic benefits.
Dialogue on afforestation and reforestation
On 29 September, the Republic of the Congo organized the high-level dialogue “United Nations Decade for Afforestation and Reforestation: from vision to impact”.
Speaking on behalf of the ACSFI, Françoise Van de Ven stressed the importance of linking afforestation and reforestation to sustainable forest product value chains. She highlighted four priorities: harnessing the forest-based bioeconomy for climate action, creating income and employment opportunities for local communities, Indigenous Peoples and smallholders, strengthening public-private partnerships and responsible investment, and measuring lasting environmental, social and economic benefits alongside the number of trees planted.
Françoise Van de Ven spoke in her capacity as ATIBT President and a member of FAO’s Advisory Committee on Sustainable Forest-based Industries (ACSFI).
With participants including H.E. Rosalie Matondo, Minister of Forest Economy of the Republic of the Congo, and representatives of FAO, governments and research organizations, the event focused on preparations for the 2027–2036 Decade. It aimed to mobilize the partnerships, expertise and financing needed for implementation, building on the International Conference on Afforestation and Reforestation held in Brazzaville in July 2024.
Discussions with forest-based industries ahead of World Forest Week
On 24 and 25 September, a joint meeting of the ACSFI and the International Council of Forest and Paper Associations (ICFPA) was also held at FAO headquarters.
The programme covered trends in forest resources, demand for wood products, employment in the sector and the contribution of wood products to climate change mitigation. Discussions also addressed forest-based bioeconomy initiatives, innovation, the use of wood residues for bioenergy and stronger industry engagement in FAO’s regional work. The 67th session of the ACSFI complemented these discussions.
A programme connecting sustainable management, finance and innovation
World Forest Week builds on these discussions through events dedicated to tropical forest financing, integrated fire management, sustainable wood-based construction, agroforestry and forest monitoring. It brings together conservation, production, restoration and local development priorities.
ATIBT’s participation provides an opportunity to represent the tropical timber sector and contribute to dialogue between public authorities, researchers and the private sector on the future of forests and their value chains.
