GLF Forests 2025: Defining the Next Decade of Action

On 24–25 April, GLF Forests 2025 brought together over 2,000 experts, scientists, policymakers, and grassroots leaders in Bonn and online to chart the future of the world’s forests.

As Brazil prepares to host COP30 in the Amazon, the event highlighted urgent action needed to protect forests from deforestation and climate impacts.

Building on insights from COP29 and 30 years of CIFOR-ICRAF research, the conference laid the groundwork for a resilient, just, and productive future for forests.

About this session

Wetlands, including peatlands and mangroves occupy 3 percent of the earth’s surface but contain more than 30 percent of global soil carbon. However, they are currently under extensive pressure of economic development. Globally, only about 17% of peatlands are located within protected areas – significantly lower than mangroves, resulting about 12% of peatlands are currently drained and degraded, contributing to 4% of annual global human-induced GHG emissions. Multi-stakeholders actions in the next decade are needed to sustain the future of these unique and yet vulnerable ecosystems. Failure to address mounting threats to wetlands will jeopardize critical climate targets and exacerbate biodiversity loss.