Discussions on integrated policies on sustainable forest management (SFM) and energy to meet the United Nations-mandated Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) took centre stage of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF18).
Key Points On United Nations Forum on Forests
- They discussed the contributions of SFM to energy, livelihoods and the SDGs.
- The increased use of bioenergy since 2013 has added pressure on forests.
- Over five billion people across the world benefit from non-timber forest products, of which forest ecosystems provide 55 per cent of renewable energy requirements.
- Over two billion people cook food, while 33 million are directly employed in the forestry sector.
- Industrially harvested trees that become wood residue contribute to a significant source of bioenergy.
- Forests have the potential for reducing five gigatonnes of emissions.
- Suriname, claiming to be the most forested and carbon-negative country, shared its experience of how economic pressure has impacted its green cover and environmental policies.
Commitments At United Nations Forum on Forests
- During the session, Saudi Arabia stressed on the need to prevent forest fires and urban expansion that encroaches on forests.
- Sharing concerns on wildfires and the problems associated with current forest certification schemes, India presented a case of a UNFF country-led initiative on long-term SFM.
- Suriname, claiming to be the most forested and carbon-negative country, shared its experience of how economic pressure has impacted its green cover and environmental policies.
- The country committed to 23 per cent of net energy from renewable sources by 2025 and is going carbon neutral by 2060.
- Congo and the Dominican Republic called for strategies to reduce pressures on natural forests and simultaneously improve livelihoods as it has a heavy dependency on fuelwood.
- Countries such as Zhimin and Satkuru suggested replacing plastic sticks with residues of compacted bamboo or sawdust to produce briquettes and pellets.
- China claimed to have generated 41.32 gigawatts of power through wood biomass which would enable it to achieve carbon neutrality before 2030.
- Australia mentioned that some species rely on fire for germination and shared information on mechanical fuel load reduction trials. The country emphasised the need to make wood residue markets financially feasible.
About United Nations Forum on Forests
Functions Of United Nations Forum on Forests
- To facilitate implementation of forest-related agreements and foster a common understanding on sustainable forest management.
- To provide for continued policy development and dialogue among Governments, international organizations etc
- To enhance cooperation as well as policy and programme coordination on forest-related issues.
- To foster international cooperation.
- To monitor, assess and report on progress of the above functions and objectives.
- To strengthen political commitment to the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests.
Global Forest Goals
- The UN Strategic Plan for Forest (2017 – 2030) has adopted a set of six Global Forest Goals and 26 associated targets to be reached by 2030, which are voluntary and universal.
- Goal 1: Reverse the loss of forest cover worldwide through sustainable forest management
- Goal 2: Enhance forest-based economic, social and environmental benefits, including by improving the livelihoods of forest-dependent people
- Goal 3: Increase significantly the area of protected forests worldwide and other areas of sustainably managed forests
- Goal 4: Mobilize significantly increased, new and additional financial resources from all sources for the implementation of sustainable forest management and strengthen scientific and technical cooperation and partnerships
- Goal 5: Promote governance frameworks to implement sustainable forest management, , and enhance the contribution of forests to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
- Goal 6: Enhance cooperation, coordination, coherence and synergies on forest-related issues at all levels
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