Forests at the centre of global action: Insights from practice as UNFF21 convenes As the 21st Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF21) convenes, global attention turns to the critical role forests play in delivering on interconnected goals for climate, biodiversity and sustainable development. Forests cover more than 30% of the Earth’s land surface, support the livelihoods of over a billion people, and are home to around 80% of terrestrial biodiversity, yet they continue to face significant and ongoing degradation.