Forests ‘essential’ for the future
Forests ‘essential’ for the future, UN
agriculture chief spells out in new
report
Time is
running out for the world’s forests, warns a new report by
the United Nations agriculture agency, urging governments to
foster an all-inclusive approach to benefit both trees and
those who rely on
them.
Halting
deforestation, managing forests sustainably, restoring
degraded forests and adding to worldwide tree cover all
require actions to avoid potentially damaging consequences
for the planet and its people, according to the State of the
World’s Forests 2018, referred to as SOFO 2018.
Forests and trees contribute more to human livelihoods than most people know – playing crucial roles in food security, drinking water, renewable energy and rural economies.
Moreover, they provide income for some 20 per cent of rural households in developing countries as well as cooking and heating fuel for one-in-three people globally.
“Forests are critical to livelihoods”
said José Graziano da Silva, Director-General of the Food and
Agriculture Organization(FAO).
“Healthy and
productive forests are essential to sustainable agriculture
and we have proof of the significance of forests and trees
for the quality of water, for contributing to the energy
needs of the future, and for designing sustainable, healthy
cities,” he added.
This year’s report documents the importance of forests for the 2030 Agenda – ranging from tackling climate change to conserving biodiversity, reducing inequalities and improving urban habitats.
“Trees and forests contribute to achieving multiple targets across the 2030 Agenda and need to be incorporated into strategies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals,” said Eva Mueller, FAO Forestry Director.
This year’s report
documents just how essential forests are for the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) – ranging from tackling climate
change to assuring drinking water and improving urban
habitats.
SOFO 2018 emphasizes the
importance of clear legal frameworks on forest tenure
rights; applauds the growing trend in local governance; and
calls for effective partnerships to pursue sustainable
goals.
Given that deforestation is the second leading cause of climate change, the report calls corporate responsibility for zero deforestation “key.”
Looking
ahead
While there is
much work to be done, the publication points to numerous
examples that indicate growing awareness and a gradual
increase in sustainable practices to preserve the world’s
forests.
For example, more than half of paper is recycled today and by constructing wood panels from discarded materials, production has grown four-times faster than fresh timber requirements over the past two decades.
What’s more, one-in-five people globally count on non-wood forest products for food, income and nutritional diversity – the mainstays of human life – generating more than $88 billion in income, according to SOFO 2018.
While many of the world’s major watersheds have lost tree cover, the report notes a worldwide increase over the past 25 years in forest areas now managed for soil and water conservation.
Further underscoring their value, wood fuel accounts for as much of the world’s renewable energy supply as solar, hydroelectric and wind power, and forests contain the equivalent of 142 billion tons of oil – roughly 10 times the annual global primary energy consumption.
SOFO 2018 has been released prior to the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, which will begin on 9 July in New York.