FAO Committee on Forestry
Why in News?
The 28th Session of the FAO Committee on Forestry (COFO 28) is being held from 28 September to 2 October 2026 at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy under the theme "Forests for food, resilience and prosperity".
About the Committee on Forestry (COFO)
- Overview: Established in 1971 by the FAO Conference, it comprises 128 Member Nations and meets biennially.
- Governance: Reports to the FAO Council on budgets and the FAO Conference on policy, guided by six Regional Forestry Commissions.
- Policy & Assessment: Provides strategic direction, oversees flagship reports like SOFO and the Global Forest Resources Assessment, and supports dryland ecosystems.
- Global Alignment: Coordinates with international efforts including the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
- Degradation & Restoration: Notes 1.56 billion hectares of degraded global land, with 91 countries committed to restoring 190 million hectares.
- Action Pillars: Emphasizes food security integration, innovation, sustainable management, and secure land tenure.
- Rankings & Cover: Ranks 9th globally in total forest area and 3rd in net annual gain, with cover spanning 25.17% of geographical area.
- Key Initiatives: Highlighted targets under the Bonn Challenge, Plant4Mother campaign, Aravalli Green Wall Project, and MISHTI mangrove initiative.
