FAO Global Forestry Champions 2025 – Call for Nominations Now Open

FAO Global Forestry Champions: Honouring Excellence in Sustainable Forest Management

As the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) marks its remarkable 80th anniversary, it is not only a time to reflect on eight decades of impactful global work but also to celebrate those who have made outstanding contributions to forest sustainability. To commemorate this milestone, FAO has officially opened nominations for the 2024–2025 Global Forestry Champions, a prestigious recognition for exceptional initiatives and individuals driving progress in sustainable forest management and transforming agrifood systems.

About the Global Forestry Champions Recognition

This call for nominations aims to spotlight champions—whether individuals, institutions, or programmes—who have made a significant difference in forestry-related domains in alignment with FAO’s mission. These include enhancing sustainability in forest governance, supporting indigenous stewardship, leveraging innovation, and integrating forestry with broader environmental and social goals.

Who Can Be Nominated?

Eligible nominees include:

Governmental bodies (national, regional, local)
Intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations
Academic institutions
Community-based service groups
Private sector entities
Initiatives and collaborative programs

These candidates should have made noteworthy contributions to forestry development at national, regional, or international levels.

Key Themes for the 2025 Global Forestry Champions

FAO has outlined ten major thematic areas, each reflecting a pillar of forestry advancement. Nominees are expected to have demonstrated achievements in at least one of the following:

1. Advancing Sustainable Forest Management

Recognizing innovation in forestry practices, forest governance, policy development, national forest programs, and integrated landscape approaches.

2. Community Forestry and Livelihoods

Highlighting community-led forest initiatives, indigenous stewardship, social equity in forestry, and forest-based economic empowerment.

3. Forest Economics, Products & Trade

From bioeconomy to forest product industries, this theme includes sustainable financing, PES systems, traceability, and economic valuation of forests.

4. Forest Biodiversity and Genetic Resource Conservation

Emphasizing protected areas, ecological connectivity, invasive species management, biodiversity mainstreaming, and soil-water sustainability.

5. Reforestation and Forest Restoration

Success stories from global restoration campaigns like the Bonn Challenge, UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, and local afforestation efforts.

6. Forests, Nutrition, and One Health

Exploring forests as sources of food, medicine, and health benefits, including urban greening, integrated water systems, and One Health initiatives.

7. Forests in Disaster Risk and Resilience

Innovative approaches to wildfire prevention, pest control, flood mitigation, and disaster preparedness through IFM and IPM strategies.

8. Climate Action Through Forests

Recognizing leadership in REDD+ implementation, emissions reduction, adaptation strategies, and forest resilience to climate change.

9. Forest Monitoring and Data Innovation

Celebrating advances in remote sensing, satellite data, crowd-sourced forest information, and community-based monitoring tools.

10. Forestry Technologies and Innovation

From AI to blockchain, this theme honours digital and mechanical innovations that have transformed forest conservation and management.

Cross-Cutting Themes

The FAO also encourages nominations that align with broader developmental goals, including:

Gender equality and youth inclusion
Rights-based approaches to land and tenure
Integration of traditional knowledge
Strengthening the science-policy interface
Promoting forestry education

Who is Eligible for Nomination?

Nominations are welcome from a wide range of stakeholders involved in forest-related work. These include:

Government institutions at the national, regional, or local levels
Intergovernmental bodies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
Academic and research institutions
Community-based organizations
Private sector entities
Other relevant actors contributing to sustainable forestry and land management

Submissions are invited from organizations, initiatives, and programmes that have significantly advanced forest development at the national, regional, or global level.

Final Date to Submit Nominations: 31 May 2025

Key Selection Criteria

Nominees will be evaluated based on the following:

Tangible Long-Term Impact
Proven success in enhancing forest productivity, conservation, sustainable resource use, increasing forest cover, or undertaking restoration, afforestation, or reforestation efforts.
Policy Implementation & Institutional Development
Effective execution of forest-related policies or strategies (short-, medium-, or long-term) that have led to sustainable improvements in forest governance and resource management.
Innovation
Demonstrated use of innovative approaches—whether technical, financial, or social—that are relevant to the timeframe of the nomination.
Scalability and Replicability
Potential for the initiative to be scaled or adapted in other regions or countries, including relevance to local, regional, or global forest management contexts.
Conservation of Valuable Landscapes and Heritage
Contributions towards protecting forests or landscapes of global significance, as well as preserving traditional knowledge and cultural heritage related to forest stewardship.
Inclusivity and Participation
Initiatives that actively promote inclusion, engage local communities, and empower vulnerable populations—including women and youth—through participatory and equitable approaches.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to Scholarship at Uniplus Global to apply