Excellencies,Distinguished Participants,Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am pleased to deliver remarks at this important webinar, after an engaging dialogue among heads of forestry on the impacts of COVID-19.
As the multi-layered impacts of the global pandemic continue to unfold, we are yet to see its full extent. But we know that this pandemic will almost certainly exacerbate global poverty for the first time since the 1990s. Recent analysis by UN DESA indicates that loss of jobs and income as a result of the pandemic will likely push around 34 million more people into extreme poverty in 2020. In the worst-case scenario, 160 million more could face extreme poverty by 2030.
In the wake of the pandemic, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has referred to COVID-19 as an unprecedented wake-up call to build back better. In this regard, UN DESA continues to closely monitor and help Member States navigate the informed policy choices ahead. Among other response measures, we have produced over 20 policy briefs and convened a series of webinars on the socioeconomic impacts of the pandemic.
As the world responds to this crisis, there is a unique opportunity to align the recovery towards greater sustainability and a greener, more inclusive economy, particularly through forests and other ecosystems. Indeed, if the aspiration for a green COVID-19 recovery is to materialize, healthy forests must be prioritized.
We are all aware of the importance of forests and trees in our survival and health. Sustainably managed forests can play a vital role in lifting millions out of poverty. And in building resilient economies that can withstand pandemics, biodiversity loss and climate change.
Forests also provide income and livelihoods for rural populations, particularly for indigenous peoples and other forest-dependent communities. And they provide a natural buffer against transmission of zoonoses and thereby reducing the risk of future pandemics.
To support public health, the forestry sector is among the key industries to produce essential products and services. Indeed, they are at the forefront of human health, animal health and environmental health. Thus it is essential to ensure that forests continue to play a central role in supporting the One Health approach. For this to happen, governments, the UN system and other partners must take decisive action to build forest-based solutions into their COVID-19 responses.
Excellencies,
To realize our vision enshrined in the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2030, we must use this opportunity to accelerate action to:tackle the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation;find a balance between economic growth, social progress and environmental sustainability; andimprove governance so as to deliver on the promise of a greener future.
To ensure such action, we must be alert to the risk of reduced investments in forest management in the short term due to focus on the health and economic crises. In this regard, we need to ensure that sustainable forest management strategies are integrated into green recovery and stimulus packages. These should build on the inter-linkages between forestry and other sectors – especially health, agriculture, employment creation and environment – in order to attract investment in sustainable forest management.
And efforts are needed to strengthen the capacity of countries to mobilize resources and unlock private finance – through mechanisms such as green bonds, guarantees and encouraging zero-deforestation commitments.
If we attain the Global Forest Goals of the strategic plan by 2030, we will have reversed the loss of forests and increased them by 3 per cent globally. This would be the equivalent of 120 million hectares of forests. By 2030, we will also have sustainably managed all types of forests and trees across countries and regions. This would mean eradicating extreme poverty for all forest-dependent people, and maximizing their contributions to the SDGs, the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, and the Paris Agreement.
Moving forward, implementing solutions at sufficient scale can only be made possible with the mobilization of expertise, technologies and financial resources at a scale. This will require sustained political will and public support.
In this regard, I am pleased to share that UNFF is advancing its work to finalize the draft resolution of UNFF15, through a series of virtual consultations over the last three months. Once adopted, the resolution will provide guidance for the work to be undertaken by countries, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests and its member organizations, as well as other partners. These will include activities to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on forests for consideration at UNFF16 in 2021.
Distinguished Participants,
In closing, I wish to emphasize that DESA remains strongly committed to supporting recovery efforts from the current global crisis. And – in partnership with Member States, UN entities, business and civil society stakeholders – in the acceleration of the implementation of the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2030, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Thank you.
I am pleased to deliver remarks at this important webinar, after an engaging dialogue among heads of forestry on the impacts of COVID-19.
As the multi-layered impacts of the global pandemic continue to unfold, we are yet to see its full extent. But we know that this pandemic will almost certainly exacerbate global poverty for the first time since the 1990s. Recent analysis by UN DESA indicates that loss of jobs and income as a result of the pandemic will likely push around 34 million more people into extreme poverty in 2020. In the worst-case scenario, 160 million more could face extreme poverty by 2030.
In the wake of the pandemic, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has referred to COVID-19 as an unprecedented wake-up call to build back better. In this regard, UN DESA continues to closely monitor and help Member States navigate the informed policy choices ahead. Among other response measures, we have produced over 20 policy briefs and convened a series of webinars on the socioeconomic impacts of the pandemic.
As the world responds to this crisis, there is a unique opportunity to align the recovery towards greater sustainability and a greener, more inclusive economy, particularly through forests and other ecosystems. Indeed, if the aspiration for a green COVID-19 recovery is to materialize, healthy forests must be prioritized.
We are all aware of the importance of forests and trees in our survival and health. Sustainably managed forests can play a vital role in lifting millions out of poverty. And in building resilient economies that can withstand pandemics, biodiversity loss and climate change.
Forests also provide income and livelihoods for rural populations, particularly for indigenous peoples and other forest-dependent communities. And they provide a natural buffer against transmission of zoonoses and thereby reducing the risk of future pandemics.
To support public health, the forestry sector is among the key industries to produce essential products and services. Indeed, they are at the forefront of human health, animal health and environmental health. Thus it is essential to ensure that forests continue to play a central role in supporting the One Health approach. For this to happen, governments, the UN system and other partners must take decisive action to build forest-based solutions into their COVID-19 responses.
Excellencies,
To realize our vision enshrined in the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2030, we must use this opportunity to accelerate action to:tackle the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation;find a balance between economic growth, social progress and environmental sustainability; andimprove governance so as to deliver on the promise of a greener future.
To ensure such action, we must be alert to the risk of reduced investments in forest management in the short term due to focus on the health and economic crises. In this regard, we need to ensure that sustainable forest management strategies are integrated into green recovery and stimulus packages. These should build on the inter-linkages between forestry and other sectors – especially health, agriculture, employment creation and environment – in order to attract investment in sustainable forest management.
And efforts are needed to strengthen the capacity of countries to mobilize resources and unlock private finance – through mechanisms such as green bonds, guarantees and encouraging zero-deforestation commitments.
If we attain the Global Forest Goals of the strategic plan by 2030, we will have reversed the loss of forests and increased them by 3 per cent globally. This would be the equivalent of 120 million hectares of forests. By 2030, we will also have sustainably managed all types of forests and trees across countries and regions. This would mean eradicating extreme poverty for all forest-dependent people, and maximizing their contributions to the SDGs, the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, and the Paris Agreement.
Moving forward, implementing solutions at sufficient scale can only be made possible with the mobilization of expertise, technologies and financial resources at a scale. This will require sustained political will and public support.
In this regard, I am pleased to share that UNFF is advancing its work to finalize the draft resolution of UNFF15, through a series of virtual consultations over the last three months. Once adopted, the resolution will provide guidance for the work to be undertaken by countries, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests and its member organizations, as well as other partners. These will include activities to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on forests for consideration at UNFF16 in 2021.
Distinguished Participants,
In closing, I wish to emphasize that DESA remains strongly committed to supporting recovery efforts from the current global crisis. And – in partnership with Member States, UN entities, business and civil society stakeholders – in the acceleration of the implementation of the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2030, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Thank you.
File date:
Monday, June 22, 2020