Country and Organization-Led Initiative on Sustainable Forest-based Bioeconomy Approaches - COLI

COLI contributing to COFO28 - From Vienna to Rome: Implementing the Vienna Call for Action on sustainable forest-based bioeconomy approaches

Wednesday, 30 September 2026
12.15 – 13.45 CEST
FAO HQ - Sheikh Zayed Centre (Atrium) or online FAO Webcast

The event is hosted by Austria, Finland and South Africa in collaboration with the friends of COLI, the event aims at presenting the key outcomes of COLI and its Global Summit and facilitating a dialogue among policymakers, regional representatives, private sector and other stakeholders, on the implications for scaling SFBA. The event will highlight the results of the Global Summit, the Co-Chairs’ Summary and the Vienna Call for Action (VCA). The respective recommendations will be discussed among countries and organizations. Relevant actors are brought together so that forest-based value chains can be advanced, and a new momentum for cooperation can be created.

Draft Programme

Chair: Ms. Elfriede Moser, Director General for Forestry and Regions, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management, Austria.
Moderator: Ms. Tiina Rytilä-Broere, Senior Ministerial Advisor, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Finland.

12:00 – 12:15 | Light lunch

12:15 – 12:25 | Opening remarks
H.E. Mr. Niall Collins, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine with special responsibility for Forestry, Farm Safety and Horticulture, Ireland.

12:25 – 12:40 | Leadership and policy pathways
Ms. Joyce Henry, Director General, Trade Economics and Industry Branch, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, Canada.
Mr. Makoto Kondo, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Rome.
Mr. Derek Nighbor, President and CEO at Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC), UNFF Major Group Business and Industry, FAO Advisory Committee on Sustainable Forest-based Industries.

12:40 – 12:55 | Making bioeconomy inclusive and investable
Mr. Preecha Ongprasert, Director of Forestry Foreign Affairs Royal Forest Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Thailand.
Ms. Aulikki Hulmi, Director, Head of Unit of EU coordination and International Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Finland.
Mr. Josep Gari, Head of Climate, Forests and Land, UNDP.

12:55 – 13:15 | Build collaborative partnerships
H.E. Ms. Carla Barroso Carneiro, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Brazil to FAO.
Ms. Daniela Kleinschmit, President of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations, Professor at the University of Freiburg.
Mr. Zebulun Otaigbe Ojo, Head of FAO Sub-Commission, International Forestry Students’ Association.
Mr. Kai Lintunen, Leader of the Forest Communicators Network Europe, Head of International Communication, Finnish Forest Association.

13:15 – 13:40 | Interventions from the floor

13:40 – 13:45 | Closing remarks
Mr. Ewald Rametsteiner, Deputy-Director, Forestry Division, FAO.
Ms. Pumeza Nodada, Deputy Director-General for Forestry Management, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, South Africa.

COLI contributing to UNFF21 – The Power of the Forest-Based Bioeconomy

Tuesday, 12 May 2026
13.15 – 14.30 CEST
UNHQ - Conference Room 4

The 21st session of the United Nations Forum on Forests took place as a political session from 11 to 15 May at the UN Headquarters in New York. The focus was on strengthening policy guidelines and implementing the agreed forest-related goals. The outcome of UNFF21 was an omnibus resolution addressing the operational aspects of the agenda, which will inform the work of the UN General Assembly.

Within the framework of the UNFF, Austria implemented a so-called 'Country and Organization-Led Initiative on Sustainable Forest-Based Bioeconomy Approaches' (COLI). It was launched by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions, and Water Management (BMLUK) and aims to strengthen the global dialogue on sustainable forest-based bioeconomy approaches. The results of this initiative were presented at the plenary session and the side event 'Vienna Call for Action – The Power of the Forest-Based Bioeconomy', and are also highlighted in the Omnibus Resolution, which was subsequently noted by the General Assembly.

“Takes note of the outcome of the Global Summit on “Advancing Sustainable Forest-based Bioeconomy Approaches”, including the Vienna Call for Action (VCA), and invites Forum members, CPF member organizations, regional and subregional organizations and processes, major groups, research and academic institutions, and other relevant stakeholders to consider the implementation of the VCA, with a view to advancing sustainable forest-based bioeconomy approaches, in line with SFM.”

UNFF21 Omnibus Resolution

What is the UNFF?

The United Nations Forum on Forests was established in 2000 and is a specialized commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) with universal membership. It focuses on the sustainable management, conservation, and development of forests and pursues long-term, shared forest policy goals. These goals are aligned with the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda and are further specified by the Global Forest Goals (GFGs). In 2016, the UN Forum on Forests adopted the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests for the period 2017–2030 as a contribution to achieving these goals.

Organisation of COLI

The Government of Austria has initiated a Country and Organization-Led Initiative and hosted regular exchange meetings with the Friends of COLI. Other active partner countries and organisations were invited to join and contribute to the initiative within their capacity, for example by hosting activities or events. The Friends of COLI consist of leading partner countries and organisations. 

Friends of COLI (countries and organizations):

• Australia (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry),
• Austria (Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management),
• Finland (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry),
• Japan (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries),
• Sweden (Ministry of Rural Affairs and Infrastructure),
• Türkiye (General Directorate of Forestry),
• FAO (Forestry Division),
• IUFRO (Headquarters)