Within the COLI process, which encompasses different activities to support the work of UNFF and FAO, Austria will host a Country-Led Initiative on Advancing Sustainable Forest-based Bioeconomy Approaches (CLI-ASFBA) in Vienna in February 2026. The Summit is co-chaired by Austria and South Africa and co-convened by Australia, Finland, Japan, Türkiye, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) and the United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat (UNFFS).

The CLI-ASFBA will focus on issues related to sustainable forest-based bioeconomy approaches, such as scaling up, financing, supply chains, agroforestry and wood buildings. It aims to facilitate the exchange of knowledge, good practices, and identification of opportunities and challenges that countries and stakeholders are facing regarding implementing forest-based bioeconomy. It therefore supports the discussion on the thematic priorities of UNFF21 and FAO’s 28th Committee on Forestry session.