Ambassador M. Chatardová, President of the Economic and Social Council of the UN, said properly managed forests made a significant contribution to sustainable development, with multiple benefits to the environment, society and the economy. She encouraged the Forum to take a proactive role in bringing evidence-based input to the high-level political forum, while at the same time, galvanizing broad political support for forest management and sending a strong signal on forests’ contribution to food, water and climate security.