Combating deforestation and forest degradation

Dealing with deforestation and forest degradation cannot wait until 2020.

Reverse the loss of forest cover worldwide through sustainable forest management, including protection, restoration, afforestation and reforestation, and increase efforts to prevent forest degradation

The challenges of the alarming rate of deforestation and forest degradation remain serious.

(g) Perverse subsidies and their impact on deforestation and forest degradation

Despite substantial progress in the formulation and implementation of national forest policies, deforestation and forest degradation continue at an alarming rate.

While forest biodiversity continues to decline as a result of deforestation, forest degradation and associated fragmentation of forest habitats, strong efforts are now being made to reverse this trend by restoring the forest functions in degraded forest landscapes.

On the other hand, inappropriate allocation of roles and responsibilities in forest management can result in negative impacts on people's livelihoods and contribute to deforestation and forest degradation.

Address underlying causes of deforestation and forest degradation, including the need for the readjustment of financial flows and the reduction of consumption.

Measures taken to combat deforestation and forest degradation include the development and implementation of national forest programmes (and similar frameworks), management guidelines, financial encouragement, removal of perverse incentives for deforestation and public information campaigns.

however remaining deeply concerned, despite progress made, over deforestation and forest degradation in many regions, as well as the trade in illegally harvested wood and non wood forest products, including wildlife,

Some point out, however, that deforestation and forest degradation continue to occur and that an effective legally binding agreement will improve international governance of forests.

Despite some positive trends, there remains a need for continued action to combat deforestation and forest degradation in many countries. Underlying causes of deforestation are complex and varied.

As a follow up to these regional and global events, 14 national workshops, to address the underlying causes of deforestation and forest degradation, were organized in all continents.

One such initiative is the REDD framework (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation), an effort to create financial value for the carbon stored in rainforests.

The REDD partnership (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation), an effort to create financial value for the carbon stored in forests, is the prime example here.

We have the means already in our hands, through a structure, through a mechanism, called REDD Plus a scheme for the reduced emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

Forests and terrestrial ecosystems Forest management and conservation were seen by several Parties as important to protect watersheds, combat land degradation and desertification, preserve species and sequester carbon.

For example, during 1997 and 1998, together with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), several Governments and local communities organized seven regional workshops on the problematique of underlying causes of deforestation and forest degradation.

In addition, there should be emphasis on another key area of concern for the sector, besides deforestation and forest degradation, namely, the lack of recognition of indigenous peoples and communities that live in and depend on forests.

Forest operations and the forest industry provide employment and income to millions of workers and forest dwellers.

The forest ecosystem and forest resources

C. Greater recognition of sustainable forest management and forest products trade

Non governmental organizations are also deeply concerned about the lack of action taken by key actors, including Governments, intergovernmental organizations, and the private sector, among others, to curb the deforestation and forest degradation currently occurring at an alarming rate.

A forest may consist either of closed forest formations where trees of various storeys and undergrowth cover a high proportion of the ground or open forest.

LADA Dryland Degradation Assessment Project

Certain projects currently in progress in countries or pilot areas are endeavouring to produce vulnerability maps of degradation or the risk of land degradation.

In complementary development of forest production a multi purposeful interest of sustainable forest development is sought.

Promote genuine community based forest management that empowers forest peoples.

Theft, extortion, destruction, degradation and damage

Stronger coordination of forest policies

Implementation of national forest programmes. The proposals for action have effectively shaped the national forest programmes and their equivalents in many countries, and these national forest programmes have become national institutional frameworks for achieving sustainable forest management.

For decentralization of the forest sector to fulfill its objectives to control deforestation and environmental degradation, it is necessary to establish a better balance of power between the State and other stakeholders, empowering local organizations and increasing capacity for local management regimes in communities and municipalities.18

Forest fiscal reform provides opportunities to increase revenues generated from forest resources.

Meanwhile, the economic consequences of environmental degradation can be severe.

Enhance forest based economic, social and environmental benefits, including by improving the livelihoods of forest dependent people

The Viphya Forest to the south of the city is the largest man made forest in Africa.

Out of the total area of Bosnia and Herzegovina (5,113,000 hectares), forests and forest land account for 53 per cent (2,700,770 hectares or 0.71 hectares of forest and forest land per capita).

FIELD Financial Information Engine on Land Degradation

Reaffirming the special needs and requirements of countries with fragile forest ecosystems, including those of low forest cover countries,

However, they are likely to differ in forest rich and forest poor countries.

Sustainable forest management

Sustainable forest management

It is unacceptable that this fruitless dialogue, currently regarding the merits or otherwise of a legally binding instrument without further specification of the nature of such an instrument, should continue to divert attention from actions and activities that could tackle the root causes and effects of deforestation and forest degradation.

We also have to confront the serious degradation of the environment.