ECOWAS PARTICIPATES IN THE 21ST SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS FORUM ON FORESTS (UNFF21)
29 May, 2026NEW YORK, 15th MAY 2026
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) participated in the 21st Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF21), held from 11 to 15 May 2026 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
In the course of its participation, ECOWAS delivered a statement during the General Debate, highlighting the critical role of forests in advancing climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, food and water security, livelihoods, and regional stability in West Africa as well as actions undertaken to tackle concerns related to forest degradation. The statement underscored the alignment of ECOWAS’ normative and policy frameworks, including the Forest Convergence Plan, with the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests (2017–2030), and reaffirmed the Community’s commitment to sustainable forest management as a key pillar of its Vision 2050.
The outcomes of UNFF21 reaffirmed the urgent need to accelerate implementation of the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests and advance achievement of the Global Forest Goals. Delegates adopted an omnibus resolution containing key recommendations on Country-Led Initiatives including enhanced cooperation with partners, communication and outreach, monitoring, assessment and reporting, the interlinkages between the Global Forest Goals and major global forest-related developments, initial discussions on the final review of the International Arrangement on Forests as well as resourcing for the UNFF and its Secretariat.
On the margins of the Forum, the ECOWAS delegation held high-level bilateral engagements with key partners, including the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization, Dr. Qu Dongyu; Director of the United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat, Ms. Juliette Biao Koudenoukpo; and Global Head, Forests and Grasslands at the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Mr. Chetan Kumar, among others.
These engagements provided an opportunity to present ECOWAS’ initiatives aimed at supporting Member States in strengthening forest governance and advancing the sustainable management of forest ecosystems across the region. Discussions also focused on exploring opportunities for partnership and collaboration, particularly in the implementation of the revised ECOWAS Forest Convergence Plan for the Sustainable Management and Use of Forest Ecosystems in West Africa, which is scheduled for validation from 8 to 10 June 2026 in Conakry, Republic of Guinea.
The ECOWAS delegation to UNFF21 was led by H.E. Ambassador Kinza Jawara-Njai, ECOWAS Permanent Observer to the United Nations, and comprised Mr. Yao Bernard Koffi, Acting Director of Environment & Natural Resources, and Mrs. Esther Oyewumi, Senior Political Advisor at the ECOWAS Mission to the United Nations.
ECOWAS remains committed to strengthening multilateral cooperation and advancing regional and global efforts toward the sustainable management, conservation, and restoration of forest ecosystems in West Africa.
