UNFF (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – International Organizatin)

Context: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is organising a Country-Led Initiative (CLI) event as part of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) from 26-28 October, 2023 at the Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF)

• Establishment: It was founded in 2000 under the authority of the UN Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC).
• Objective: To promote the management, conservation, and sustainable development of all types of forests.
• Annual High-Level Dialogue: The Forum convenes annually at the UN Headquarters in New York, gathering representatives from all member states and forest-related agencies. 

oIt conducts high-level dialogue on technical matters in odd years and policy matters in even years.

• Membership: With universal membership, the forum is composed of all Member States of the United Nations and specialized agencies.
• India's Founding Role: India holds the status of a founding member of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF).

Country-Led Initiative (CLI)

• Objective: To actively engage in UNFF discussions concerning the implementation of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) and the UN Strategic Plan for Forests (UNSPF).
• Fostering Knowledge Exchange: CLI is committed to promoting the exchange of best practices among member States of the UNFF, with a specific focus on the effective implementation of SFM and UNSPF.
• Thematic Focus for the Year: In the current year, CLI will concentrate on specific thematic areas, which include addressing forest fires and enhancing forest certification initiatives.