The Youth and United Nations Global Alliance (YUNGA) is a partnership between United Nations agencies, civil society organizations and other groups working with children and young people. YUNGA empowers children and young people to play an important role in society, encouraging them to become active agents of change. It does so by creating engaging educational resources, activities and opportunities for participation in areas of key environmental and social concern at the local to the international level.

The Youth Guide to Forests is part of YUNGA's Learning and Action Series which seeks to raise awareness, educate and inspire young people to take action. The series also includes other educational resources and initiatives such as the United Nations Challenge Badges. The Youth Guide to Forests was jointly developed by CBD and FAO, with contributions and support from many other institutions and individuals. It is designed as an educational resource for schools, youth groups and other curious young learners. This fact-filled Guide explores forests from the equator to the frozen poles, the depths of the rainforest to the mountain forests at high altitudes. It also demonstrates the many benefits that forests provide us with, discusses the negative impacts that humans unfortunately have on forests and explains how good management can help protect and conserve forests and forest biodiversity. At the end of the Guide, inspiring examples of youth-led initiatives are provided, and an easy-to-follow action plan aims to help young people develop their own forest conservation activities and projects.