India Hosts Meeting of the United Nations Forum on Forests

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The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is set to host a Country-Led Initiative (CLI) event during the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) from October 26 to 28, 2023. This event will take place at the Forest Research Institute (FRI) in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. It signifies an important initiative related to environmental and forest conservation efforts.

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About the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF)

The United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) plays a pivotal role in advocating for the management, conservation, and sustainable development of various types of forests. India holds the distinction of being one of the founding members of UNFF. The UN General Assembly has approved the first-ever UN Strategic Plan for Forests, covering the period from 2017 to 2030. This strategic plan serves as a comprehensive global framework for initiatives at all levels aimed at achieving sustainable management of all forms of forests, including trees outside forests, and addressing the issues of deforestation and forest degradation. It underscores the global commitment to protecting and enhancing our forest resources.

About the Country-Led Initiative (CLI)

The Country-Led Initiative (CLI) event’s main objective is to actively participate in the UNFF discussions related to the implementation of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) and the UN Strategic Plan for Forests (UNSPF). It also strives to promote the exchange of best practices among UNFF member states for the effective implementation of SFM and UNSPF. The CLI will focus on thematic areas such as forest fires and forest certification. This event will bring together experts from UNFF member countries, UN organizations, regional and sub-regional partners, and major groups to engage in in-depth discussions on these critical thematic issues.

Meeting

The formal meeting is scheduled to begin on October 26, 2023. The program encompasses two days of discussions and knowledge sharing on the focal themes of forest fires and forest certification, along with a one-day field trip. These discussions on the thematic areas of forest fires and forest certification are designed to facilitate the exchange of best practices in these domains. The aim is to contribute to global efforts in advancing the achievement of the Global Forest Goals outlined in the UN Strategic Plan for Forests (UNSPF).

Reasons Behind This Event

In recent times, the world has witnessed a disturbing surge in the scale and duration of wildfires, which has had profound repercussions on biodiversity, ecosystem services, human well-being, livelihoods, and national economies. Forested areas, in particular, have been severely impacted, with approximately 100 million hectares, equivalent to 3% of the world’s forest area, affected by fires annually. The severity of these fires has been underscored by numerous high-profile incidents, resulting in poor air quality, substantial loss of human lives, wildlife, ecosystem services, and property. This includes devastating wildfire events in the northern hemisphere during the summer. India is not immune to this trend, as changing climatic conditions have led to an increased occurrence of forest fires, making them a recurring phenomenon.

Forest Certification

The matter of forest certification has garnered increasing global attention in recent years. The total forest area covered by certification has expanded by 35% (equivalent to 120 million hectares) since 2010. Notably, between 2020 and 2021, the certified forest area grew by 27 million hectares. However, developing countries still encounter several challenges related to the certification process. These challenges encompass the high costs associated with certification, difficulties in audits and compliance, limited access for forest owners in remote regions, and a lack of capacity due to the complexity of various certification standards. The discussions related to forest certification are expected to enhance the policy landscape in developing countries concerning this critical issue.

The UN Forest Instrument

The UN Forest Instrument has adopted various policy measures to promote sustainable forest management. It encourages the use of voluntary instruments like voluntary certification systems or other appropriate mechanisms in a transparent manner. However, there are differing views on these measures. Some countries perceive the certification requirements as potential trade challenges or market barriers for their forest products. In contrast, other countries view forest certification as an effective tool for ensuring sustainable forest management and preventing forest degradation or deforestation.

Another noteworthy concern is the dominance of a select few certifying bodies in consumer markets, often overshadowing other certification schemes. This disparity in recognition can create imbalances in the global market for certified forest products.

Participants

The upcoming meeting will provide a platform for discussions on these critical topics. It will bring together more than 80 delegates from over 40 countries and involve the participation of 20 international organizations, both in person and online. The goal of the meeting is to develop actionable frameworks and recommendations for the effective management of forest fires and forest certification, with a focus on achieving Sustainable Forest Management. These outcomes will be considered for further discussions at the 19th session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF), scheduled to take place at the UN Headquarters in New York in May 2024.

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