3 May 2024 - Forests cover nearly one-third of all land on Earth. They sustain us in numerous ways and are critical in global efforts to address the triple planetary crisis. Ahead of the UN Forum on Forests and the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) this month, we asked UN DESA¡¯s Peter Gondo about the Forum, the role of forests in small islands and why we need healthy forests for our survival.
Can you tell us more about this year¡¯s UN Forum on Forests and what outcomes we can expect?
¡°Sustainable forest management is an integral part of the 2030 Agenda, which recognizes forests are critical for life on land. The UN Forum on Forests is the only intergovernmental body within the UN system that deals with all aspects of forests and has universal membership. The Forum¡¯s annual sessions take stock of the implementation of the UN Strategic Plan for Forests and its six Global Forest Goals and identify policy measures needed to accelerate progress towards sustainable forest management worldwide.
The year¡¯s nineteenth session (UNFF19) will be held from 6 to 10 May, with a High-Level Segment on 9 May. This is a milestone meeting at which the Forum will undertake its midterm review of the International Arrangement on Forests. By assessing progress made and identifying gaps, the midterm review will chart the course towards 2030 ¨C to ensure the achievement of the Global Forest Goals and accelerate progress towards the . The key outcomes will be a High-Level Segment declaration and an omnibus resolution, which will include the outcome of the midterm review and the Quadrennial Programme of Work of the Forum for 2025-2028.¡±
One of the sessions will focus on forest-based solutions to the triple planetary crisis. Can you describe what some of these solutions are?
¡°Forests play a pivotal role in addressing the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. When forests are healthy and well managed, they provide a myriad of ecosystem services, from regulating climate and providing habitat for 80% of terrestrial biodiversity, to cleaning and filtering our air and water and providing livelihoods and food security. Investments in forest-based solutions offer a cost-effective way to generate multiple biodiversity and social benefits. The triple planetary crisis is interconnected, and forests offer integrated solutions to address all three of the crises. For example, forest landscape restoration has countless benefits from reducing CO2 emissions and land degradation to increasing agricultural productivity and habitat for biodiversity.¡±
Later in May, the world will gather for the SIDS4 Conference. Can you share with our readers why forests are important for SIDS and how UN DESA is supporting efforts towards forest management in SIDS?
¡°Forests and trees are extremely important for the well-being of SIDS. They play a critical role in the availability and quantity of freshwater, in coastal protection (from waves caused by extreme weather such as hurricanes), in the conservation of biological diversity, in particular endemic species and genetic variability, and economic development through trade in wood and non-wood forest products.
The Global Forest Financing Facilitation Network, managed by UNFFS in UN DESA, has supported several SIDS in strengthening their capacity for sustainable forest management. This has included support in designing national forest programmes and national forest financing strategies aligned to national sustainable development frameworks, as well as strengthening the capacity of national experts in accessing forest financing from multi-lateral and other sources. To date, the Network has supported Jamaica, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia and is currently working with Suriname and will commence support to Comoros soon.¡±
For more information:
UN Forum on Forests (6-10 May)