The Forests Dialogue (TFD) is a group of individuals from diverse interests and regions that are committed to the conservation and sustainable use of forests. Through a shared understanding of forest issues from their own dialogues, members of The Forests Dialogue work together in a spirit of teamwork, trust, and commitment. They believe that their actions and relationships can help catalyze a broader consensus on forest issues and encourage constructive, collaborative action by individual leaders that will improve the condition and value of forests.

The Forests Dialogue, which is ad hoc, seeks to support and reinforce existing efforts related to forest management. Members of TFD participate as individuals, not organizational delegates, and they aim to speak for a diversity of perspectives. TFD processes and activities are transparent, complement the actions of others, and seek to advance progress by creating leadership cadres on key issues based on individuals with broader personal consensus.

The Forests Dialogue Summary Document (PDF)

Formal dialogues developed by TFD will include a wide range of invited participants who are leaders in thought and action on the central issues of each dialogue. Funding for each dialogue will be sought from a variety of interested parties. The following subjects will be the focus of TFD's work:

Forests and Climate
Scoping Dialogue held 9 December 2007 in Bali, Indonesia
Dialogue on Forests and Climate held 1-2 April 2008 in Washington, DC, USA

TFD Forests and Climate Dialogue Concept Paper

Forest Certification
First international dialogue held October 16-18, 2002. Second international dialogue occured October 19-21, 2004.

Illegal Logging
First dialogue held March 8-10, 2005.
TFD's ENA FLEG Joint Civil Society and Forest Industry Preparatory Event held November 2-3, 2005; Co-chair's summary is currently available.

Intensively Managed Planted Forests
Most recent dialogue held March 5-8, 2007 - Pekanbaru, Sumatra, Indonesia.

IMPF Indonesia Dialogue Co-Chair's Summary

Forests and Biodiversity Conservation
The opening dialogue on Forests and Biodiversity was held 9-11 October 2003, Santa Cruz de Cabralia, Brazil.
The fourth and last dialogue was held May 15-17, 2007.

Forests and Poverty Reduction
Most recent dialogue was held in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia on September 18-21.

TFD Poverty Dialogue Background Paper
TFD Bolivia Poverty Dialogue Co-Chairs Summary

Small Forest Owners and Sustainable Forest Practices
The first international dialogue was held June 26-27, 2007 in Brussels, Belgium

TFDs work is implemented by a Secretariat hosted by Yale University's School of Forestry and Environmental Studies in the United States. The Forests Dialogue is an autonomous organization and its Secretariat operates within the structure of the School's Global Institute of Sustainable Forestry.