UNFF18: Sustainable forest management takes centre stage

Source: The post is based on the article “UNFF18: Sustainable forest management takes centre stage” published in Down To Earth on 16th May 2023

What is the News?

The eighteenth session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF18) was held in New York recently.

What is the United Nations Forum on Forests(UNFF)?

The United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) is a high-level intergovernmental policy forum.

It was established in 2000 by the UN Economic and Social Council. 

Objective: To promote the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests and to strengthen long-term political commitment to this end.

Membership: The Forum has universal membership, and is composed of all Member States of the United Nations and specialized agencies.

Headquarters: New York, USA

What are the key highlights from the eighteenth session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF18)?

Practice Sustainable Forest Management(SFM) in Tropical Regions: Experts have underscored the significance of practising SFM in tropical regions. With the surge in bioenergy consumption since 2013, there has been a mounting strain on forests, making the need for sustainable sourcing of tropical timber even more crucial.

India: It presented a case of a UNFF country-led initiative on long-term SFM and expressed concerns regarding wildfires and the limitations of current forest certification schemes.

Saudi Arabia: It highlighted the importance of preventing forest fires and urban expansion encroaching on forested areas.

Suriname: Suriname, claiming to be the most forested and carbon-negative country, shared its experiences of economic pressures impacting its green cover and environmental policies.

Congo and the Dominican Republic: These countries stressed their commitment to forest conservation measures and called for strategies to reduce pressures on natural forests while improving livelihoods, given their heavy reliance on fuelwood.