The International Tropical Timber Organization and the Convention on Biological Diversity have renewed their long-standing cooperation through a new four-year memorandum of understanding extending until 2029. The agreement was signed during the 21st session of the United Nations Forum on Forests 2026 held in New York on 12 May.
The renewed partnership strengthens international collaboration on tropical forest conservation, biodiversity protection, and sustainable forest management. It also supports implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted during the biodiversity summit in Montreal in 2022.
The memorandum was signed by Sheam Satkuru, Executive Director of ITTO, and Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the CBD Secretariat. The agreement represents the fourth formal cooperation framework established between the two organisations since their first partnership began in 2010.
The original agreement was introduced ahead of the CBD Conference of the Parties in Nagoya, Japan. Since then, collaboration between the institutions has expanded significantly. Several regional conservation projects have been implemented across South-East Asia and Latin America through the ITTO/CBD Collaborative Initiative for Tropical Forest Biodiversity.
These projects have supported transboundary protected areas and forest ecosystem preservation. Japan has remained the primary donor supporting many of these initiatives. The programme has also contributed to improved cooperation between forest agencies, conservation groups, and local stakeholders operating within tropical forest regions.
The latest agreement will remain active until 2029. This timeline aligns with the internationally agreed 2030 targets established under the Global Biodiversity Framework. The partnership is expected to provide continuity for long-term forest conservation programmes and biodiversity initiatives already under development.
According to Astrid Schomaker, ITTO’s extensive expertise in sustainable tropical forest management plays an important role in achieving global biodiversity targets. She noted that practical forest management knowledge is essential for implementing international biodiversity commitments effectively.
Tropical forests continue to hold major environmental and economic significance worldwide. They cover approximately 1.84 billion hectares globally, representing nearly 45 per cent of the world’s forest area. ITTO member countries account for a significant share of internationally traded tropical timber products.
The renewed cooperation will support several international environmental frameworks simultaneously. Activities under the agreement will contribute to the CBD Forest Biodiversity Programme of Work and the Global Forest Goals established under the UN Strategic Plan for Forests.
In addition, the collaboration will support preparations for the upcoming UN Decade on Afforestation and Reforestation scheduled to run from 2027 to 2036. Greater emphasis is expected to be placed on restoring degraded landscapes, improving forest resilience, and strengthening sustainable land management practices.
Forest degradation and biodiversity loss remain major concerns for governments and environmental organisations. Climate-related pressures have intensified the need for coordinated forest governance and long-term restoration strategies. International cooperation is therefore being viewed as increasingly important for achieving global sustainability objectives.
The agreement was signed at a time when discussions at UNFF21 have focused strongly on sustainable wood use and tropical forest protection. Several new forestry-related proposals were introduced during the forum in New York. Among them was a proposal from South Korea supporting the creation of an International Day of Sustainable Wood, co-hosted by ITTO.
Industry observers believe the renewed memorandum reflects growing international recognition of tropical forests as critical assets for biodiversity conservation, climate regulation, and sustainable economic development. Stronger partnerships between environmental institutions are also expected to accelerate knowledge sharing and technical cooperation across forest-dependent regions.
Sheam Satkuru’s leadership continuity is expected to support implementation of these long-term initiatives. Her tenure as Executive Director of ITTO was extended until January 2028 during the 60th session of the International Tropical Timber Council held in Yokohama in December 2024.
The renewed framework is expected to encourage broader cooperation between governments, environmental agencies, and forestry stakeholders over the coming years. Greater focus will likely be placed on balancing sustainable timber production with biodiversity conservation and ecosystem protection.
As global forest challenges continue to evolve, partnerships such as this are increasingly shaping international forestry policy and sustainable development planning. The renewed ITTO and CBD agreement demonstrates continued commitment towards protecting tropical forests while supporting long-term biodiversity and reforestation goals.
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