Forests have a huge potential to contribute to COVID-19 recovery. In the short and medium terms, a robust and sustainable forestry sector can continue to provide essential products and sustain other sectors, using timber or non-timber products as raw materials. By its labor-intensive nature, the forestry sector can create job opportunities. Forests also play a vital role in supplementing global food and nutrition security at a time when food insecure people may double. Looking towards long-term recovery and sustainable development, forests support building a more resilient, sustainable and inclusive future. Sustainably managed forests can prevent future zoonotic disease, regulate the health of ecosystems, biodiversity and climate, as well as enhance people’s livelihoods.

This policy brief aims to provide an analysis of the adverse impacts of the pandemic on the income generation function of forests, and the current and future funding trends for forests. It also proposes measures to finance sustainable forest management, mobilize investment and resources for forests, as a key component for effective post pandemic recovery plans. Integrating forest-based action in national programmes related to land use, including energy, mining, and agriculture, will enable the recovery of the forestry sector to contribute to an inclusive, green and sustainable build-back-better strategy.