Free FAO Forestry Courses 2026: Online Training in Forest Management, Conservation and Sustainability
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is offering access to free multilingual e-learning courses covering forestry, forest conservation, sustainable natural resource management and environmental protection. Through the FAO elearning Academy, students, forestry professionals, researchers, policymakers and other interested learners can access online learning resources designed to strengthen knowledge and practical skills.
These courses cover a range of topics, including community-based wildlife management, deforestation prevention, forest emissions, wildfire management, agroforestry and forest resource assessment. They are designed to support capacity development and contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
For individuals seeking affordable opportunities to expand their environmental knowledge, these courses provide an accessible starting point for learning about sustainable forestry and natural resource management.
About the FAO Forestry E-Learning Programme
FAO works with countries and development partners to promote sustainable forest management, protect biodiversity and improve the management of natural resources.
Its forestry e-learning resources form part of the FAO elearning Academy, which provides free, multilingual learning opportunities across different technical fields. The overall objective is to strengthen the capacity of FAO member countries to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The forestry learning catalogue includes courses, learning journeys and video-based modules. Depending on the course, learners may explore practical methods, technical guidance, research approaches and policy tools relevant to forest management and environmental sustainability.
Available Free FAO Forestry Courses
The following courses are listed in the FAO forestry e-learning catalogue.
1. Legal Frameworks for Community-Based Wildlife Management
This course introduces community-based wildlife management and its implementation. It is relevant to learners interested in wildlife conservation, community participation, environmental governance and the role of local communities in managing natural resources.
2. Agrifood Systems Solutions for Halting Deforestation
This course provides guidance and tools for identifying systemic solutions to context-specific indirect drivers of deforestation and forest degradation.
It may be useful for forestry professionals, agricultural specialists, environmental researchers and policymakers working to improve the relationship between agricultural production and forest conservation.
3. Uncertainty in Estimating Forest Emissions: Introduction to Monte Carlo
Deforestation contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions, making accurate estimates of forest-related emissions important for climate action.
This course introduces Monte Carlo methods for understanding uncertainty in forest emissions estimates. It may interest learners working in climate research, environmental statistics, forest monitoring and emissions reporting.
4. Basic Integrated Fire Management Tools for Early Warning and Decision-Making
Integrated Fire Management takes a comprehensive approach to managing fire across landscapes, taking ecological and social considerations into account.
This course introduces tools that support early warning and decision-making. It is relevant to professionals and students interested in wildfire prevention, forest protection, landscape management and disaster risk reduction.
5. Open Foris Arena
Open Foris Arena is part of a series of short e-learning video modules designed to help learners develop practical skills in survey design and high-quality field data collection.
These resources may be particularly useful for forestry researchers, environmental monitoring specialists and professionals involved in collecting and analysing forest-related information.
6. Agroforestry for Sustainable Agrifood Transformation – Introduction
This introductory course explores the relationship between agriculture and forestry and their contribution to sustainable agrifood systems.
Agroforestry integrates trees with agricultural systems and can contribute to more sustainable land use, improved ecosystem services and diversified production. The course may be useful to agricultural professionals, students, extension workers and environmental practitioners.
7. Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025
The Global Forest Resources Assessment is an important international source of information on the world’s forest resources.
This course allows learners to develop their understanding of forest resource assessment and the information used to monitor forest conditions globally. It may be relevant to researchers, forestry officers, policymakers and environmental data specialists.
8. Additional Forestry Learning Resources
The FAO catalogue also includes learning opportunities on public expenditure analysis for forests, forest management planning for small and medium forest enterprises, national forest inventories, biodiversity restoration, and measurement, reporting and verification for environmental integrity.
These resources provide further learning options for people interested in forest governance, environmental monitoring, restoration and sustainable forest-based enterprises.
Who Can Enrol?
The forestry e-learning resources may be suitable for a broad audience, including:
- University students studying forestry, agriculture, environmental science or natural resource management.
- Forestry officers and forest management professionals.
- Environmental researchers and conservation practitioners.
- Government officials and policymakers.
- Agricultural extension workers and development professionals.
- Individuals interested in climate change, biodiversity and sustainable land use.
Specific prerequisites, language options and assessment requirements may differ between courses. Applicants should check each course page for details.
Benefits of the FAO Forestry Courses
Free learning opportunities: The FAO elearning Academy provides free access to its multilingual learning resources.
Flexible online access: Learners can explore courses through the online platform, subject to the access arrangements of each course.
Practical knowledge: Selected courses introduce tools and methods relevant to forest monitoring, environmental management, research and conservation.
Professional development: The courses can help learners strengthen their subject knowledge and complement their academic or professional development.
International perspective: The resources address environmental and forestry challenges relevant to countries and communities around the world.
Certificates may be available for some courses, depending on the individual course requirements. Learners should confirm certificate availability before enrolling.
How to Access the Free FAO Forestry Courses
Interested learners can follow these steps:
- Browse the available courses and select a topic relevant to your interests.
- Open the course link to review its description, learning objectives and requirements.
- Follow the instructions on the FAO elearning Academy platform to access the learning materials.
- Complete the course activities and assessments, where applicable.
APPLY ON THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Final Thoughts
The FAO forestry e-learning programme provides an accessible way to develop knowledge of forest conservation, sustainable land management, wildlife management and environmental monitoring.
Whether you are a student, researcher, forestry professional or development practitioner, these learning resources can help you explore important environmental issues and strengthen your understanding of sustainable natural resource management.
Important note: Course availability, content, language options and certification arrangements may change. Visit the official FAO course pages for the latest information.
