The Congress, organized every six years by the government of the host country under the auspices of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, is the largest meeting on forestry on a global scale.

It serves as a forum for governments, universities, civil society and the private sector to exchange views and experiences and to formulate recommendations for implementation at national, regional and global levels.

The Congress also provides an opportunity for the sector to produce an overview of the state of forests and forestry in order to discern trends, adapt policies and raise awareness of issues among decision-makers, the public and other parties concerned.

Its functions are advisory, not executive, and participants attend the Congress in their personal capacity.