World’s forests under threat from economic and environmental crises

Rice Terraces System in Southern Mountainous and Hilly Areas, China

Progress in protecting the world’s forests—and the people who rely on them—is at risk due to the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the escalating climate and biodiversity crises ...

To recover better from COVID-19, we must invest in… forests

Dilma Montero Guallani, 59, is a volunteer in the remote community of Pekín, in the Bolivian Amazon, where she provides early malaria diagnosis and treatment.

As COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc on our economies and societies, the United Nations today called for the inclusion of forest financing in efforts to recover from the pandemic.

Supporting healthy forests, vital for green recovery from COVID-19

Photo credit - Riccardo Gangale, International Forest Photo Contest|Photo credit - Riccardo Gangale, International Forest Photo Contest
As countries continue to battle the far-reaching impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Nations today called for the inclusion of sustainable forest-based actions in COVID-19 recovery programmes and policies.

“Historically, forests have served as a safety net in times of crisis,” says Alexander Trepelkov, Officer-in-Charge of the United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat.  “This has been particularly true for rural populations, indigenous peoples and other forest-dependent communities,” he added.

A large proportion of the rural poor, some 40 per cent, live in forest a

Turn around deforestation in 2020, the ‘Nature Super Year’, says Guterres

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On the International Day of Forests, which falls on Saturday, UN chief António Guterres is calling for 2020, which has been referred to as a “nature super year”, to be the year that the world turns the tide on deforestation and forestry loss.


This year’s

Forests – a lifeline for people and planet

Mita Sen
We all rely on forests. They generate the oxygen we breathe, provide water to quench our thirst and livelihoods to some 1.6 billion people worldwide. They play a critical role for a healthy climate, and ultimately, for our survival. Yet, they continue to be under threat.

Ensuring the ‘lungs of the planet’ keep us alive: 5 things you need to know about forests and the UN

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Forests are vitally important for sustaining life on Earth, and play a major role in the fight against climate change. With the 2019 session of the United Nations Forum on Forests wrapping up on Friday in New York, we delve deeper into the subject, and find out what the UN is doing to safeguard and protect them.

1.

Forests play vital role in empowering people, promoting economic growth and combating climate change

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It is estimated that 1.6 billion people, or 25 per cent of the human population, depend on forests for subsistence, livelihood, employment and income generation. Forests provide ecosystem services, such as timber, food, fuel, fodder, non-wood products and shelter – which are essential for human well-being. At the same time, they contribute to soil and water conservation, carbon storage and clean air.

Education critical to ensure future of forests, and reverse their destruction

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The UN drew attention to the vital role that forests play in addressing some of the world’s greatest environmental challenges on Thursday, and the importance of tackling the issues that threaten them, such as deforestation, and land degradation.

Marking the 2019 International Day of Forests, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) launched new forestry education initiatives aimed at raising awareness amongst young people about their sustainable use and conservation, and some of the m

International Day highlights forests’ role in education for sustainable development

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Throughout human history, forests and trees have been connected to learning, wisdom and enlightenment.  Forests and trees have served as outdoor classrooms, providing healthy learning-locations for outdoor-education and fostering environmental stewardship in children from an early age.

Forests are among the world’s most productive renewable natural resources, providing sustainable paths to development as a key driver of economic growth while providing livelihoods for hundreds of millions of people, particularly in rural areas.