The core activity of the GFEP initiative are global reports and accompanying policy briefs on key issues that reflect state-of-the-art understanding of the subject matter. They are written in a comprehensible way for policy makers, stakeholders and the interested broader public. The publications are prepared by thematic Expert Panels consisting of internationally recognized scientific experts in their fields. All global studies undergo rigorous peer review. The authors and reviewers of the studies are selected by the IUFRO coordination team.

The number and frequency of reports is determined by the information needs and requests coming from intergovernmental processes. The global assessments receive considerable international media attention and have significant impacts on international policies. The outcomes of GFEP assessments serve as background information for discussions, briefing documents for negotiators as well as guidance for strategic policy development. GFEP reports are a comprehensive, interdisciplinary and scientifically sound information source for scientists and communicators, and can be used as teaching materials for universities.

The Global Forest Expert Panels (GFEP) were launched in April 2007, as a joint initiative of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF). Since then, the initiative is led and coordinated by IUFRO. It builds on the political recognition provided by the United Nations Forum on Forests in the ECOSOC Resolution 2006/49. GFEP started as "Joint CPF initiative on Forest Science and Technology" and was later renamed. View/download the GFEP Concept Note.

The eighth report on "Forests and Trees for Human Health" was launched in March 2023.