FAO of the UN seeks reference centres for forestry – Timberbiz

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is inviting qualified institutions to apply for designation as Reference Centres for Forestry, a move designed to expand technical cooperation and strengthen forestry expertise worldwide.

These centres are intended to support countries and the UN agency’s forestry agenda by providing scientific guidance, specialist services and practical knowledge in areas linked to forest conservation, restoration and sustainable use.

Forests remain central to some of the world’s most urgent environmental and social challenges. They help regulate the climate, shelter the majority of land-based biodiversity, protect soils and water, and supply communities with food, fuel and raw materials. They also play a major role in carbon storage, making them indispensable in efforts to limit global warming.

Even though the pace of deforestation has eased in some regions, forest loss and ecosystem degradation continue to threaten landscapes and livelihoods. This ongoing pressure has reinforced the need for faster action to protect remaining forests, rebuild damaged ecosystems and support forest-based economies that are both productive and resilient.

The new call is part of a broader effort to deepen cooperation with leading institutions that can help turn research and innovation into practical results. By building a network of recognised centres, the agency aims to improve countries’ access to expertise and accelerate the spread of science-based solutions in forestry.

The forestry programme within the organization promotes a balanced view of forests as both productive resources and vital ecosystems. Its work spans sustainable timber and non-timber production, ecosystem protection, biodiversity conservation and the role of forests in more resilient agrifood systems.

It also works closely with governments, research bodies, civil society and private-sector stakeholders to encourage better forest management and innovation across the sector. Another major function is gathering and analysing information on forest resources, as well as tracking the production, trade and use of wood and other forest products.

Among the priority areas highlighted in the call are forest foods, agroforestry, productive forests, forest pests and diseases, urban forestry, mangroves, the relationship between forests and water, climate resilience, forest genetic resources, forest economics and statistics, and forest mechanisation.

The invitation is open to institutions able to contribute high-level expertise in these and related fields. The overall goal is to create stronger partnerships that can help scale up forest-based responses to climate change, biodiversity decline, land degradation and rural poverty.

Organisations selected as Reference Centres would gain formal international recognition for their technical standing and quality of work. They would also be able to collaborate more closely with the UN agency through joint research, training and other agreed activities.

Additional benefits include access to technical knowledge resources, participation in wider scientific and policy networks, and opportunities to work alongside governments, universities, businesses and civil-society groups where relevant. In some cases, there may also be scope for joint resource mobilisation to support shared objectives.

By seeking out specialised institutions in forestry, the UN agency is signalling that collaboration will be essential if forests are to fulfil their potential in addressing interconnected global crises. The initiative is meant to help translate expertise into action on the ground, while strengthening the capacity of countries to manage forests sustainably for people, biodiversity and the climate.