The resolution paves the path for strengthening the International Arrangement on Forests, says UNFF19 Chair
UNFF19 Chair Maniratanga Zephyrin during the adoption of the resolution with consensus. Photo: Screenshot of video shared by Permanent Mission of Burundi to UN / X (Twitter) The delegates at the 19th United Nations Forum for Forests (UNFF) on May 9, 2024 discussed the draft on the significance of forests in fighting climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation, but failed to finalise the text.
The declaration, once adopted, will enshrine specific future actions to be taked by UNFF and its stakeholders towards protection and preservation of forests of the world.
Deforestation is a crime against nature and betrayal of humanity’s future, UNFF19 Chair Zephyrin Maniratanga (Burundi) said during the High-Level Segment discussion.
The recent report International Forest Governance For the Future: From Criticism To Alternatives released on May 9 showed that between 2010 and 2023, the rate of deforestation has reduced from 13 million hectares to 10 million hectares per year.
Qu Dongyu, director general of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), stated that some progress has been achieved since the UN Strategic Plan on Forests was adopted. But he stressed that the members have only six years left to increase the forest cover by 3 per cent by 2023.
During the roundtable on Forest-based Solutions to the Triple Planetary Crises: A Focus on People, Science, Technology and Finance, the delegate from Sweden emphasised the need for sustainable management and consumption and building of forest communities to decrease forest fragmentation.
Delegates also stressed the need to put scientific effort, strengthen international cooperation and halt the unsustainable consumption patterns.
In a press statement, Laurent Tchagba, Minister of Water and Forests, Ivory Coast, pointed out that the reduction of forest cover from 16 million hectares of forest cover in the country in 1900 to 2.97 million hectares by 2021 forced the government to adopt a new forest policy to reverse this trend.
Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, minister of environment and climate change, Qatar, highlighted the reforestation efforts taken by the country of planting 10 million trees including the water recycling efforts and preservation of Qatar’s coastline and coral reefs.
Eve Bazaiba, minister of environment and sustainable development, Democratic Republic of Congo, informed that the 27 per cent of its territory already consists of protected forest area, which offers protection against extreme climate and meteorological events. There is an urgent need to introduce agroforestry, she added.
Among other nations sharing food practices, Barna Tanczos, minister of environment, water and forests in Romania mentioned that fundings worth $745 million to support small forest owners and another $46 million investment for improving monitoring of forest dynamics have been raised.
The delegates also spoke to the need to use technology in supervising forests and adopting innovative mechanisms.
Paraguay shared its initiative of monitoring forest cover to ensure economic decision-making, while India tabled its significant increase in forest cover in the past 10 years through scientific approach.
Thailand also outlined about increasing its forest cover and green spaces by 7.2 million hectares.
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