Read Concept Note in French

The African Forest Forum (AFF) will host a Regional Information Sharing Webinar from 8–12 June 2026 on the AFF Howspace platform, bringing together stakeholders from across Africa to share knowledge, exchange experiences, and identify practical pathways for sustainable forest and biodiversity management.

BACKGROUND

In 2024, AFF launched a series of studies across Africa’s forest biodiversity hotspots to generate evidence for improved management of forested landscapes and to enhance social and climate resilience. These studies focused on:

• Strengthening understanding of policy coherence across biodiversity, climate change, and land degradation frameworks;
• Identifying opportunities to develop climate-resilient value chains for biodiversity products and services;
• Promoting the application of traditional and indigenous knowledge in forest and tree-based food systems;
• Advancing sustainable and inclusive biomass energy solutions. 

Africa’s forests—covering approximately 624 million hectares (23% of the continent’s land area)—are globally significant ecosystems that support livelihoods, biodiversity, and climate regulation. However, increasing pressures from deforestation, land degradation, and climate change continue to threaten their sustainability. Between 2015 and 2025, Africa experienced an estimated annual net forest loss of 4.12 million hectares, underscoring the urgency for coordinated and evidence-based interventions.

WHY THIS WEBINAR MATTERS

The webinar responds to the growing need to translate knowledge into action by aligning forest management with global, regional, and national frameworks, including biodiversity, climate, and land restoration agendas. It will provide a platform to:

• Share findings from 19 country studies across 6 biodiversity hotspots;
• Strengthen policy coherence and governance approaches;
• Promote sustainable forest-based livelihoods and value chains;
• Enhance collaboration among stakeholders across sectors. 

OBJECTIVES

Overall Objective
To share evidence and strengthen knowledge-driven decision-making for sustainable land management, forest biodiversity governance, and resilient forest-based livelihoods.

Specific Objectives

• Facilitate stakeholder dialogue on policy and practice;
• Identify actionable pathways for scaling sustainable forest-based solutions;
• Strengthen integration of indigenous knowledge and innovative approaches;
• Consolidate capacity-building needs and solutions. 

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

• Improved awareness of evidence-based solutions for sustainable forest and land management;
• Strengthened policy alignment across sectors and governance levels;
• Enhanced capacity to apply innovative approaches, including climate-resilient value chains and bioenergy systems;
• Increased multi-stakeholder collaboration and partnerships;
• Key messages to inform decision-making at national, regional, and global levels. 

FORMAT AND APPROACH

The five-day webinar will adopt a highly interactive format, including:

• Country presentations on key findings and lessons learned;
• Thematic discussions and plenary sessions;
• Interactive Q&A and knowledge exchange;
• Documentation of proceedings to support wider dissemination. 

TARGET AUDIENCE

Participants will include:

• Policymakers and government institutions;
• Local communities and indigenous peoples;
• Private sector actors and investors;
• Researchers and academic institutions;
• Civil society organizations, NGOs, and CBOs;
• Youth, media, and development partners. 

WEBINAR DETAILS

📅 Dates: 8–12 June 2026
⏰ Time: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (Nairobi time) | 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (GMT)
💻 Platform: Howspace

HOW TO REGISTER AND JOIN

1. Visit the webinar platform:
   https://african-forestry-community.in.howspace.com/evidence-to-practice-forestry-biodiversity-and-livelihoods
2. Enter your email address and check your inbox for a secure login link.
3. Complete the registration form.
4. Select “Yes” to join the webinar.
5. Access the webinar page and explore the programme.
6. Join live sessions by clicking the “Join” button. 

If already registered, simply log in using the same link and select “Yes” when prompted with the question: “Would you like to join the Webinar on Evidence to Practice: Forestry, Biodiversity and Livelihoods?”

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

AFF invites all stakeholders engaged in forestry, biodiversity, climate change, and land management to participate in this important regional dialogue and contribute to shaping sustainable solutions for Africa’s forest landscapes.

Read Concept Note in French