The Global Network for Sustainable Forest Management (GFN) will convene a side event during the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), bringing together partners and stakeholders to discuss progress, cooperation and future actions for sustainable forest management and land restoration.

Under the theme “Actions and Future of the Global Network for Sustainable Forest Management,” the side event will take place on 26 August 2026, from 13:15 to 14:45, at the China Pavilion in the Blue Zone of the COP17 venue in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The programme will feature presentations and on-site discussions, providing an opportunity for participants to exchange views and explore practical avenues for cooperation.

Officially launched in 2023, the GFN aims to advance the Global Development Initiative, accelerate implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, promote global green and low-carbon development, and foster a harmonious relationship between people and nature.

The side event will showcase the progress and cooperation mechanisms of the GFN and provide a platform to strengthen consensus and collaboration on sustainable forest management and ecological restoration in arid areas. Participants will also explore opportunities to expand partnerships and identify practical pathways for joint action, contributing to broader global efforts to combat desertification, restore degraded land and promote sustainable forest management.

The event comes at a particularly relevant moment as COP17 brings global attention to land degradation, desertification and restoration. Forests and forest-based landscapes play an important role in strengthening ecosystem resilience, supporting livelihoods and advancing sustainable land management, particularly in dryland regions.

The side event is jointly hosted by the Coordination Center for APFNet under the National Forestry and Grassland Administration of China, the National Forest Agency of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Mongolia, and the Asia-Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation (APFNet).

Through dialogue among governments, international organizations, research institutions and other partners, the event will seek to strengthen cooperation and promote knowledge sharing and practical action towards sustainable forest management and land restoration.

The GFN side event is open to registered COP17 participants and will include a light lunch. It will serve as an opportunity for partners to connect, exchange experiences and discuss the future direction of global cooperation for sustainable forest management and ecological restoration.

Event at a glance

· Theme: Actions and Future of the Global Network for Sustainable Forest Management

· Date: 26 August 2026

· Time: 13:15–14:45

· Venue: China Pavilion, Blue Zone, COP17 Venue, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

· Format: Presentations and on-site discussion

· Hosts: APFNet, Coordination Center for APFNet under the National Forestry and Grassland Administration of China, and National Forest Agency of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Mongolia