Despite their universal and holistic ambition, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their targets are shaping up to be too compartmentalised to deliver the integrated approach required. In this crunch year of global agreements, we identify two opportunities for giving the SDGs the best chance of success: through integrated implementation and integrated indicators. Focusing on forests — a theme underpinning many of the SDGs — we first outline a practical, ten-step approach to SDG implementation based on ‘SDG modules’, which cuts across the relevant goals. This inclusive and adaptable approach would remove the barriers blocking the potential of forests to contribute fully to sustainable development. It could guide integrated national SDG implementation and align intergovernmental frameworks. We also propose three categories of indicators for a more innovative and integrated monitoring and review system.