The World Forum on Urban Forests (WFUF) is an informal platform jointly developed by FAO, the Politecnico di Milano and Italian Society of Silviculture of Forest Ecology (SISEF).
It aims at consolidating, promoting and implementing the outcomes of the first edition of the Forum, including the Call for Action and the Tree Cities of the World Programme, and support cities worldwide move towards a greener and more sustainable and resilient model of urban development.
The main objectives of the WFUF are:
- to mobilize necessary financial resources, sponsorships, and technical contributions for the organization of future editions of the World Forum on Urban Forests;
- to raise awareness of the benefits of urban forests and trees to a global audience;
- to generate knowledge on good practices for the planning, design and management of urban forests and green spaces;
- to support the development of the capacity of local decision makers and technical staff in implementing a successful and inclusive approach to the planning, design and management of urban forests and green spaces ;
- to sustain the role of local communities in contributing to local debates on the management of their living environment through improved access to information and networking with other communities.
The main activities will include:
- identifying host countries and cities for the future editions of the World Forum on Urban Forests and for regional urban forestry meetings, as well as establishing contacts with the various hosts to finalize programmes and organizational arrangements;
- organizing workshops, seminars, training courses and other online and face-to-face activities to build the capacity of various stakeholders on the planning, design and management of urban forests and trees;
- supporting research and development programmes to generate innovative solutions and evidence-based findings;
- providing technical assistance to local governments and local communities;
- developing and implementing a communication strategy to promoting the products and the activities of the future editions of the World Forum on Urban Forests at different fora and through electronic media;
- building partnerships, improving coordination and mobilizing resources for the implementation of all the areas above;
- developing and coordinating support and knowledge tools to facilitate the development of urban forest-based solutions and consolidate urban nature-based thinking approach.