Forests cover 31% of the world’s land-area, harbour immense levels of biodiversity, and provide highly valuable ecosystem services (ES). In 2020, half of the world’s forests had a management plan, mostly for wood products. Yet, forest management is still mostly focused on maximizing for a single objective (e.g. timber) and protecting it from a single disturbance (e.g. fire). Consequently, forest biodiversity continues to decline globally and forests and their ES are threatened by current and future environmental changes. Scientists, practitioners, and decision-makers have called for better knowledge exchange, co-production of research, and co-management with communities, and for a shift towards management of multiple ES and disturbances. Also, Indigenous and local knowledge has been grossly underrepresented in forest management globally despite its relevance to guide management actions. These challenges existing in the science, policy and action interface are well-identified. We now need to identify and learn from existing and potential solutions that can shift societies towards more holistic forest management. We will feature a panel of leaders at bridging science and management, complemented by presentations of useful tools and case studies for those seeking more effective solutions that promote biodiversity. This hybrid format will stimulate debate between presenters and the audience, and a discussion of how and which biodiversity indicators can be used by practitioners and how to manage biodiversity values along with economic and socio-cultural values, community safety and Indigenous-led forest management. We will strive to have a diverse and inclusive set of speakers representing the Indigenous, local community, scientific, managerial, and decision/policy spheres.