Sustainable forest management
Forests provide a number of goods and services which are essential for civilizations and crucial for economic development. They offer access to water, agricultural productivity, energy, soil conservation and flood control. Forests are also home to at least 80 per cent of terrestrial biodiversity, and are a major carbon sink for regulating global climate. Over 1.6 billion people worldwide depend on forest resources for their livelihoods and many rely on forests for food, shelter and water.
Sustainable forest management provides great opportunities for adapting to climate change by increasing the resilience of people and ecosystems. Forests are a major mitigation option over the next 30 to 40 years and can play a key role in the necessary transition towards a low-carbon economy.
Currently, deforestation accounts for 35 per cent of carbon emissions in developing countries and 65 per cent in least developed countries. In order to stabilize the current CO2 level of 433 ppm at a targeted 445-490 ppm, forests will need to form a central part of any global climate change deal.
The Bali decision of the UNFCCC in 2007 to develop a road map towards constructively engaging forests in the climate change regime and the provisions of the Copenhagen Accord on REDD+ are major steps towards recognizing the role of sustainable forest management in fighting climate change, in particular through reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.
In 2007 the UN General Assembly adopted the Non-Legally Binding Instrument on All Types of Forests (forest instrument), which provides a comprehensive framework to achieve sustainable forest management through achieving four Global Objectives on Forests (GOFs): reducing deforestation and forest degradation; enhancing forest-based economic, social and environmental benefits, increasing the area of forests under sustainable management; and enhancing financing for sustainable forest management.
Financing sustainable forest management is crucial to combat climate change. Current funding for sustainable forest management is far short of what is needed. In 2009 the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF) adopted a landmark resolution on financing for sustainable forest management which called for creation of a Facilitative Process to assist countries in reversing a 20-year decline in forest financing by identifying obstacles, gaps and opportunities. The resolution also established a four year political process to devise sustainable forest management financing strategies.
DESA’s UN Forum on Forests Secretariat, in addition to supporting the work of the UNFF, provides co-ordinated support for policy implementation and co-ordination on sustainable forest management through a number of activities including through analytical studies and enhancing co-operation as well as policy and programme coordination on forest-related issues.
Dialogue, research, analysis
- April 2009
- Forests in a changing environment, 8th session of the United Nations Forum on Forests
- May 2008
- Agriculture, rural development, land, drought, desertification, and Africa, 16th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development
- April 2007
- United Nations non-legally binding instrument on all types of forests
Case studies 2006
La Bahia de la Habana y sus cuencas tributarias: alivio de su contaminacion, resultados y
- Summary:
- Institucionalidad: Para revertir el deterioro ambiental y mejorar el entorno de la bahia, el Gobierno cubano creo el Grupo de Trabajo Estatal para el Saneamiento, Conservacion y Desarrollo de la Bahia... Learn more
Cuencas Hidrograficas: Organizacion Del Trabajo Y Resultados Concretos En Cuba
- Summary:
- Impactos: Reduccion de la contaminacion en las cuencas hidrograficas en Cuba. Mejoramiento de la calidad de vida de la poblacion, con esfuerzos considerables en inversiones para el acceso de la ... Learn more
Afforestation for biofuel
- Summary:
- This afforestation project focuses on three tree species that provide seeds for biofuels and maintain soil water retention. The communities involved donated land and planted trees that produce oil-ri... Learn more
Adaptation and Mitigation Policies and Measures
- Summary:
- A Vulnerability, Adaptation and Mitigation Assessment study was carried out in 1995 with funding from the United States Government under the United States Country Studies programme. It looked at the s... Learn more
Partnerships
Mediaterre - Global information system on sustainable development
- Lead Partner:
- International Center of Resources and Innovation for the Sustainable Development-CIRIDD (former Association Agora 21) - Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (IEPF - Institut de la Francophonie Numérique - Unité Jeunesse)
- Geographical Scope:
- Global
- Summary:
- The aim of the project is to create an information and discussion platform for sustainable development that is accessible to the various groups concerned (States and public administrations, local governments and international bodies, associations, the economic sector, scientists and the academic community, and ordinary citizens) by facilitating exchanges and integration of the available data on a ... Learn more
Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), The
- Lead Partner:
- The EOLSS Publishers Ltd. - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), EOLSS Joint Committee
- Geographical Scope:
- Global
- Summary:
- The Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), the world biggest web-based archive as transdisciplinary knowledge base of sustainable development. It is, in fact, a global partnership among thousands of scholars aimed at creating an integrated knowledge base in support of sustainable development efforts. Thus, the EOLSS Project is a project in support of all other projects related to sustainab... Learn more
Partnership for Water Education & Research (PoWER)
- Lead Partner:
- UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education
- Geographical Scope:
- Global
- Summary:
- The mission of the Partnership for Water Education and Research (PoWER) is to combine the strengths of all partners and enhance the capacity of each partner in order jointly to: Deliver capable professionals in the water and environment sectors. Find innovative solutions for water and environmental challenges. Build up the capacity of institutions and communities with respect to better ... Learn more
Coalition for Rainforest Nations
- Lead Partner:
- Geographical Scope:
- Global
- Summary:
- The objective is ambitious forested tropical countries collaborating to reconcile forest stewardship with economic development: facilitating new and improved revenue streams in order to underpin community-driven environmentally sustainable economic growth. The Rainforest Coalition will facilitate substantive change within existing international frameworks, national regulations, and corporate ... Learn more
My Community, Our Earth (MyCOE) - Geographic Learning for Sustainable Development
- Lead Partner:
- Association of American Geographers
- Geographical Scope:
- Global
- Summary:
- The general goal of My Community, Our Earth -- Geographic Learning for Sustainable Development is to build geographically literate generations able to use this knowledge in their everyday lives to bring about true sustainable development. In particular, the Program seeks to provide students and international leaders with the opportunity to discover and address real issues in their communities and... Learn more
Southern Caucus of NGOs for Sustainable Development Five Multi Regional Partnership and Policy Centers
- Lead Partner:
- Southern Caucus Of NGOs For Sustainable Development
- Geographical Scope:
- Global
- Summary:
- THE PARTNERSHIP SHALL: 1. Establish Five Multi Regional Centers to assist in recruitment, mobilization and development of human resources and strengthen Southern Major Group NGO Institutions on Local, National and Regional Levels and increase their Capacity to participate in and contribute to the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation Locally, Nationally and Regionally. 2 Seek resources... Learn more
Congo Basin Forest Partnership
- Lead Partner:
- Government of United States of America - U.S. Department of State - Government of United States of America - U.S. Department of State
- Geographical Scope:
- Sub-regional Central Africa- Congo Basin
- Summary:
- The Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP) aims to promote the sustainable management of the Congo Basins' forests and wildlife by improving communication, cooperation, and collaboration among all the partners. It does not intend to create new institutions, but through the partnership forum and transparency and information sharing to assist partners and their associates to work better. Principal ... Learn more
ECOLEX - a global partnership for information on environmental law
- Lead Partner:
- The World Conservation Union (IUCN)
- Geographical Scope:
- Global
- Summary:
- There is high demand for information on environmental law. Various Governing Council decisions of UNEP recognise the need to make this information available and accessible, a task now included in the Montevideo Programme, adopted by UNEP/GC in 2001 and endorsed thereafter by UN/GA. Linguistic barriers must be overcome. The information is fragmented and changing constantly as new laws are being dra... Learn more
