COP30 and COP31 leaders join governments to advance global action on forests



Representatives of the COP30 and COP31 Presidencies joined ministers and senior officials from forest and donor countries to accelerate action on forests through 2030, alongside new initiatives on forest finance and commitments on land tenure. 

Peru formally announced its endorsement of the Intergovernmental Land Tenure Commitment (ILTC) and Brazil unveiled new measures to strengthen land tenure rights.

The gathering underscored the growing importance of forests across the international climate agenda, bringing together representatives from multiple COP cycles to discuss how political leadership, finance, and implementation can help deliver the goal of halting and reversing forest loss by 2030. 

The event, From Glasgow to Addis Ababa: FCLP and COP Presidencies Building Momentum on Forests from COP30 to COP31, focused on maintaining forests as a priority through the next phase of international climate cooperation, from COP30 in Brazil through COP31 in Türkiye.

Ministers from Nigeria, Indonesia, and Ghana, shared a range of national initiatives and priorities, including recent commitments related to the Intergovernmental Land Tenure Commitment, sustainable bioeconomy initiatives, and high-integrity forest carbon credits. 

  • The Hon. Balarabe Abbas Lawal, Minister of Environment of Nigeria, highlighted the Nigerian government’s work across a range of forest initiatives including the Great Green Wall and the implementation of a National Clean Cooking Policy and re-affirmed Nigeria’s support for the Intergovernmental Land Tenure Commitment. 

  • His Excellency Raja Juli Antoni, Minister of Forestry of Indonesia, underlined the importance of protecting tropical peatlands and mangroves through the establishment of international centres for cooperation. He noted that mangroves are of the most effective nature-based solutions available, delivering climate mitigation and sustainable livelihoods. Indonesia is home to 3.4 million hectares of mangroves - roughly 23 per cent of the world’s mangrove ecosystems. 

  • The Hon. Yusif Sulemana, MP, Vice Minister for Lands and Natural Resources of Ghana, made a strong case for establishing a trusted international framework for jurisdictional forest carbon credits and announced that Ghana is close to issuing credits under its ambitious J-REDD+ programme, which will focus on scaling investment into high-quality forest and land-use mitigation activities that deliver real climate benefits and improve livelihoods. 

COP30 President, André Aranha Corrêa do Lago, said: "The ‘From Glasgow to Addis Ababa’ moment is key to sustaining the shift from ambition to implementation on forests. It allows us to advance the Roadmap to Halt and Reverse Deforestation and Forest Degradation by 2030, keeping political momentum alive and ensuring forests stay at the heart of climate action at the scale and speed required."

COP31 President H.E. Murat Kurum, Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change of Türkiye, said: “The COP31 Action Agenda is designed to strengthen partnerships, advance practical solutions, support implementation efforts, and create a lasting legacy. To this end, we have identified ten priority themes under the COP31 Action Agenda. These themes were not selected merely as areas of discussion; rather, they reflect the most pressing global challenges, the implementation needs of Parties, and the areas where COP31 can generate tangible and enduring impact.

“Australia and Türkiye are working in close and seamless partnership towards a common objective. The Action Agenda led by Türkiye and the negotiation process facilitated by Australia are mutually reinforcing and are being advanced in a coordinated manner to deliver meaningful progress and concrete outcomes. Australia and Türkiye jointly invite all Parties to come to Antalya in the same spirit of cooperation that enabled the signing of our landmark partnership agreement in Belém last year. The progress achieved in Bonn will play a critical role in shaping the outcomes of COP31.”


Countries announce new commitments and implementation plans on land tenure rights 

Peru has become the latest country to join the ILTC (now endorsed by 16 governments in total), reaffirming its commitment to forest conservation, Indigenous Peoples’ rights, and strengthened territorial governance.

Brazil also announced new measures and advances to strengthen land tenure rights for Indigenous Peoples, People of African Descent, and local communities for 2026, as part of the ILTC. Within this year alone, a total of 3 million hectares of undesignated federal public lands will be allocated for the creation of new 67 Indigenous reservations, and 22 titles for the officialization of new nine “Quilombola” territories. This represents a key step toward meeting Brazil’s pledge to strengthen land tenure rights across 63 million acres.

Norway announced NOK 500 million (approximately USD $55 million) annually over three years for civil society organisations supporting sustainable forest and land use, strengthened rights and livelihoods for Indigenous Peoples and local communities, reduced forest crime, and sustainable commodity production, trade and finance.


Brazil's Vice-Minister of Indigenous Peoples, Marcos Kaingang, said: "Following the historic announcements at COP30, with progress in the demarcation of 38 Indigenous Territories, totaling almost 7 million hectares, and benefitting more than 40 groups in all biomes of the Country, Brazil is now advancing the Intergovernmental Land Tenure Commitment, which reflects the growing recognition that securing Indigenous Peoples', Peoples’ of African Descent, and local communities' land rights is essential to protecting forests and addressing climate change. Strengthening tenure rights supports biodiversity, livelihoods, and sustainable development. We encourage more countries and partners to join this collective effort and help turn ambition into action."

H.E. Ignacio Higueras Hare, Ambassador of Peru to the UK, said: “Peru would like to reaffirm its unwavering commitment to protecting forests while strengthening the rights of Indigenous Peoples. Securing land tenure is not only a matter of rights and justice, it is also essential for climate, biodiversity, and sustainable development. Strengthening territorial rights is one of the most effective investments that countries can make in forests for present and future generations.”

Norway’s Minister of Climate and the Environment, Andreas Bjelland Eriksen, said: "I am impressed by the leadership shown by Brazil, Peru and other tropical forest countries in their commitment to recognize and strengthen land tenure rights for Indigenous Peoples and local communities. \

Protecting forests requires sustained investment in the people and organisations working on the front lines. Partnerships with Indigenous organization and supportive allies in civil society will play a vital role in strengthening forest stewardship, advancing climate action and delivering lasting benefits for communities."  


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