World Forestry Committee Roots for Increased Investment, Technology to Strengthen Forest Conservation
By Our Correspondent – Rome, Italy
The Committee on Forestry (COFO) is rooting for increased technical and financial investment in the forest conservation and development sector, including the use of cloud-connected technologies to address challenges posed by wildfires, forest degradation and the impacts of climate change.
This was observed during the 28th session of COFO, held from September 28 to October 3, 2026, at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, Italy.
The session attracted representatives from at least 186 member countries, including ministers, permanent secretaries and senior officials from the forestry sector.
The Committee on Forestry (COFO) is FAO’s highest global intergovernmental body on forestry, guiding the Organization’s work while fostering international collaboration, policy dialogue and technical guidance on forest-related issues.
Among the key issues discussed at the vital forum was the state of the world’s forest resources, efforts to reduce forest degradation and restore lost forests, as well as strengthening the protection of forests that remain intact to ensure their long-term sustainability.
The meeting also discussed the contribution of forests to food and nutrition security, greening cities through tree planting and management, adding value to timber and non-timber forest products, as well as effective approaches to reducing human-wildlife conflicts.
The delegates further stressed the importance of cooperation among governments, communities and other stakeholders in forest conservation, with Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) highlighted as one of the mechanisms that could help increase community participation and investment in conservation.
Following the discussions, delegates agreed on the importance of increasing technical and financial support through various environmental funds, while FAO and other stakeholders were urged to support the implementation of the agreed strategies.
At the forum, the Tanzanian delegation was led by Seleboni Mushi, Assistant Director for Forest Development, accompanied by Dr Zainabu Bungwa, Acting Director of Resources at the Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS), and Dr Emmanuel Masenga, Director of the Serengeti Wildlife Research Centre (TAWIRI).
During the 10th World Forest Week celebrations held alongside the COFO session, the Tanzanian delegation showcased bee products and provided information on forest conservation, the value chain of bee products and other non-timber products derived from forest resources.
Speaking during the celebrations, Dr Bungwa said the government, conservation institutions and other stakeholders were placing greater emphasis on developing the beekeeping sector because of its contribution to increasing community incomes, improving nutrition and supporting forest conservation, including reducing crop damage caused by elephants.
For his part, Mushi assured COFO delegates that Tanzania would continue working closely with FAO and other stakeholders to pursue opportunities presented during the meeting and implement the agreed strategies, including sharing expertise, research and modern technologies, as well as strengthening financial support for forest conservation projects.