A recent analysis published by eight former leaders of public forest agencies calls for new, participatory approaches to forest regulations to address urgent global challenges. The report reflects on transitions in forest governance and lessons learned for forest agency leaders over the past decade, highlighting the importance of new efforts to reduce deforestation, promote transparency, and engage citizens in land use decisions which will affect them. The report’s unique group of authors was initially brought together by an informal network called MegaFlorestais, which meets annually to discuss pressing trends in forest governance, and which held its 11th annual event in China in April 2016.