ADB Hosts Model Forest Act Initiative (MoFAI) Drafting Committee Meeting and Philippines Multi-Stakeholder Consultations

The Model Forest Act Initiative (MoFAI) is a novel effort to provide countries across the globe with a comprehensive and innovative blueprint for legislators, policymakers, and other stakeholders for the protection, conservation, restoration, and ecologically sustainable management of forests. 

During the week of 22 January 2024, ADB hosted the MoFAI drafting committee to develop key sections of the general part of the Model Forest Act, with discussions on the next steps, including consultations during the UN Forum on Forests in May 2024.

As a key part of its development process, ADB hosted multistakeholder consultations in the same week at the ADB Headquarters to:

• Identify key themes, challenges, and opportunities in forest law and governance in the Philippines; 
• Seek stakeholders’ insights to inform the drafting of the General Part of the Model Forest Act; 
• Harmonize regional efforts and capture diverse perspectives and insights.

Representatives from civil society organizations, government agencies, academe, and the private sector united in collective expertise and knowledge to safeguard the future for our forests.

The Model Forest Act Initiative is led by ADB's Law and Policy Reform Program in partnership with the Global Judicial Institute on the Environment (GJIE), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL), UN Environment Programme (UNEP), UN Forum on Forests (UNFF), UN Development Programme (UNDP), and the World Bank Group.

For more information on MoFAI and its intended objectives, click here.