Dates: 28 September - 2 October 2026 
Venue: FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy (Hybrid) 
Organizer: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) 
More information www.fao.org/forestry/cofo 

It will be held in Rome and will comprise high-level delegates from 125 member states, heads of forest services, and partner organizations to deliberate on the strategic direction of FAO's forestry programme through 2028. COFO is FAO's highest forestry governing body and convenes only once every two years, making this session a genuine checkpoint on global forest policy rather than routine business. The session will run alongside World Forest Week, a series of technical dialogues and side events convened by partner organizations, including AFF. 

Objectives 

• Policy Review: Provide a platform for member states to review emerging policy and technical challenges facing global forestry.
• Programme Direction: Set FAO's forestry programme priorities for the next two years, to be reported up to the FAO Council and Conference.
• Regional Input: Carry forward priorities raised through Africa's own Regional Forestry Commission into the global forestry agenda.
• Youth Consultation: Feed youth voices and recommendations into the roadmap toward the XVI World Forestry Congress in 2027. 

Expected Outcomes 

• A formal Committee report setting FAO's forestry programme direction through 2028.
• Consolidated youth consultation outcomes, carrying forward into the 2027 World Forestry Congress.
• Strengthened alignment between regional forestry priorities (including Africa's) and FAO's global programme.
  More information www.fao.org/forestry/cofo