16th Annual Meeting
Florencia, Caquetá, Colombia
May 18 – 22, 2026
The 16th Annual Meeting of the Governors’ Climate and Forests Task Force (GCF Task Force), hosted by Governor Luis Francisco Ruiz Aguilar will be held in Florencia, Caquetá, Colombia from May 18 – 22, 2026. Known as the “Green Treasure of Colombia,” the Department of Caquetá bridges the Andes foothills and the Amazon rainforest and is renowned for its rich biodiversity and abundant natural resources.
This global event brings together climate leaders from subnational governments, national governments, civil society, IPLCs, and the private sector. The theme of our 16th Annual Meeting is “New Forest Economy for Climate Action: Territorial Development and Innovation” and will advance our goal of building a New Forest Economy that protects intact forests, restores degraded lands, and creates just and sustainable jobs and economic opportunities across the tropics.
Please see below for our agenda, and stay tuned for updates!
AGENDA
Subject to change. Check back regularly for updates.
Monday, May 18th
8:00 – 15:20 Technical Meeting – Global Committee of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities
(Closed Session; By Invite Only)
15:30 – 18:30 Executive Committee Meeting (Closed Session; By Invite Only)
20:00 Dinner of the Committees (By Invite Only)
Tuesday, May 19th
09:00 – 17:15 Business Meeting/General Assembly (Closed Session; By Invite Only)
17:15 – 18:00 Amazonia+ Meeting (Closed Session; By Invite Only)
18:15 – 19:30 UNAMAZ Meeting (Closed Session; By Invite Only)
20:00 Assembly Dinner (By Invite Only)
Wednesday, May 20th
08:00 – 17:00 Field Visits (8 routes; Registration Required)
The Government of Caqueta has curated a series of technical field visits for the participants of the annual meeting, offering a unique opportunity to explore firsthand innovative projects driving the New Forest Economy in the Colombian Amazon region. The visits highlight successful territorial management efforts and sustainable practices in forest conservation, community development, and bioeconomy production. The visits will also provide a hands-on learning experience, highlighting both challenges and successes in the region, and will feed into the workshops scheduled for Thursday and Friday.
19:00 Opening Reception (By Invite Only)
Thursday, May 21st
ALL DAY Expo at Cámara de Comercio (Open to the Public)
Opportunities to meet GCFTF member jurisdictions, partners, and local artisans.
09:00 – 12:30 Inaugural Session (Subject to Capacity)
Moderators:
- Jason Gray, GCF Task Force, Project Director
- Colleen Scanlan Lyons, GCF Task Force, Project Director
- Syahrina D. Anggraini, GCF Task Force, Indonesia Country Director
- Martha Gutierrez Fontes, GCF Task Force, Operations Manager
- Akane Nishimura, GCF Task Force, Program Associate – Impact Assessment
Speakers:
- Gov. Luis Francisco Ruíz Aguilar – Caquetá, Colombia (HOST)
- Gov. Antonio Pulgar Lucas – Huánuco, Perú*
- Gov. Jorge René Chávez Silvano – Loreto Perú*
- Gov. Luis Neyra León – Piura, Perú*
- Gov. Manuel Gambini Rupay – Ucayali, Perú*
- Prefecta Karla Reátegui Encarnación – Zamora Chinchipe, Ecuador
- Gov. Joana Cabrera Pimentel – La Libertad, Perú
- Gov. Avelina Palacios Palacios de Lama – Tumbes, Perú
- Gov Gabriela de Paiva. Pando, Bolivia
- Gov Oscar Sánchez Guerrero. Amazonas, Colombia
- Gov Arnulfo Rivera Naranjo. Guainía, Colombia
- Gov Yeison Rojas Martínez. Guaviare, Colombia
- Gov Jhon Gabriel Molina Acosta. Putumayo, Colombia
- Gov Dilian Francisca Toro Torres. Valle del Cauca, Colombia*
- Gov Luis Alfredo Gutiérrez García. Vaupés, Colombia
- Gov Jorge Octaviano Guzmán Gutiérrez. Cauca, Colombia
- Gov Nubia Carolina Córdoba Curi. Chocó, Colombia
- Gov Luis Alfonso Escobar Jaramillo, Nariño, Colombia
- Vicegov. Rosa Olguita Celiz Cruz. San Martín, Perú*
- Vicegov Paola Aguirre Melgar. Santa Cruz, Bolivia
- Vice-président Joseph GOULOTEHE – Cavally, Côte d’Ivoire*
- Vice-président ATTOUMBGRE Rovia Roger – Bélier, Côte d’Ivoire*
- Vice-governor Gonzalo Avila Sanchez – Tarija, Bolivia
- Secretary for Sustainable Development Neyra Silva Rosado. Yucatán, México
- Secretary of the Environment Eduardo Taveira, Amazonas, Brazil
- Mayor of Florencia, Caquetá Marlon Monsalve Ascanio
- William Boyd – GCF Task Force, Project Lead
- IPLC representative*
- Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development, Colombia
- Norway Ambassador to Colombia
- German Ambassador to Colombia – tbc
- EU Ambassador to Colombia – tbc
15:00 – 16:30 New Forest Economy Working Session A, Part I
16:30 – 17:30 World Cafe & Bilateral Meetings
17:30 – 18:30 New Forest Economy Working Session A, Part II
The GCFTF is organizing a series of work sessions in order to bring experts from government, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, industry, private sector and investment leaders, civil society, academic, and research institutions together to co-construct targeted, New Forest Economy investment and capacity mechanisms in GCFTF member jurisdictions. Sessions are subject to capacity.
|
WORKING SESSIONS – A |
||||
|
Establishing a Thriving Bioeconomy |
Sustaining Natural Infrastructure |
Restoration and Resilience |
Sustainable Commodities |
Enabling Conditions for the New Forest Economy |
|
From Planning to Implementation: Strategies for Investment and Durability to Promote Socio-Bioeconomy Development, Part 1 |
Advances in Jurisdictional REDD+ |
Integrated Fire Management: From the Amazon to California |
Overcoming Traceability Challenges: Preparing for EUDR Implementation |
Tackling Forest Illegality: Addressing Access to Land, Improved Governance, Collaboration, and Technology |
20:00 Networking Dinner (By Invite Only)
Friday, May 22nd
ALL DAY Expo at Cámara de Comercio (Open to the Public)
Opportunities to meet GCFTF member jurisdictions, partners, and local artisans.
09:00 – 10:30 New Forest Economy Work Session B, Part I
10:30 – 11:30 World Cafe & Bilateral Meetings
11:30 – 12:30 New Forest Economy Work Session B, Part II
The GCFTF is organizing a series of work sessions in order to bring experts from government, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, industry, private sector and investment leaders, civil society, academic, and research institutions together to co-construct targeted, New Forest Economy investment and capacity mechanisms in GCFTF member jurisdictions. Sessions are subject to capacity.
|
WORKING SESSIONS – B |
||||
|
Establishing a Thriving Bioeconomy |
Sustaining Natural Infrastructure |
Restoration and Resilience |
Sustainable Commodities |
Enabling Conditions for the New Forest Economy |
|
From Planning to Implementation: Strategies for Investment and Durability to Promote Socio-Bioeconomy Development, Part 2 |
Building Trust Funds for Landscape Level Protection: Co-management and design |
Ecosystem Restoration: Case Studies, Challenges, and Pathways to Scale |
Regenerative Approaches: Cattle, Agriculture, and Access to Markets |
Part 1: Multimodal, green transportation planning: Experiences from Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru Part 2: Connecting Non-timber forest products from the Amazon to the Pacific |
14:30 – 15:30 Reporting on Results of New Forest Economy Working Sessions (Subject to Capacity)
15:30 – 16:30 High Level Announcements (Subject to Capacity)
17:00 – 18:00 Closing Ceremony (Subject to Capacity)
20:00 Closing Dinner (By Invite Only)
* To be confirmed.