The Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) has issued a joint statement highlighting the need to halt the destruction of the world’s forests. The CPF is made up of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UN agencies, four conventions, and other organizations.

Meanwhile, the CPF released the statement on the sidelines of the 16^th Session of the UN Forum on Forests at UN Headquarters. It outlines the impacts of deforestation as well as the opportunities and actions required to reverse it.

Mette Løyche Wilkie, Chair of the CPF said “forests are a source of sustainable livelihoods, prosperity, and resilience”. According to him, “it is incumbent upon all of us in the forest sector to work together to halt deforestation”. He explained that this will help “increase the world’s forest area”.

10 million hectares continue to be lost each year

The FAO indicated that deforestation and forest degradation continue at alarming rates and are increasing in Africa. Since 1990, an estimated 420 million hectares of forest have been lost through deforestation globally. Estimates show that 10 million hectares continue to be lost each year.

According to Lord Zac Goldsmith, there is a magic in protecting and restoring the diversity, and abundance of life on earth.

“In doing so we are also tackling hunger, poverty, pollution, and of course climate change. It is impossible to tackle any of these issues properly without helping nature recover”.
Rt Hon. Lord Zac Goldsmith, Minister for Pacific and the Environment, United Kingdom

Impacts of COVID-19 on forest resources

Meanwhile, deforestation and other land-use activities account for 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions. According to Wilkie, “we will not meet our climate goals without meeting our forest goals”.

Furthermore, the CPF statement outlines how the COVID-19 pandemic has placed additional pressure on forest resources. As a result, it may result in a significant increase in deforestation. The statement indicates that healthy forests are essential to building back better. Also, they are key in decreasing the risk of future zoonotic diseases.

The CPF sets out the challenges and the opportunities involved in halting deforestation. It notes that it needs action beyond the forest sector. This includes transforming agriculture and food systems to address the main driver of deforestation; the conversion of forests to agricultural land.

“Feeding a growing world population and halting or even reversing deforestation are not mutually exclusive. We can achieve both through a range of actions”.
Wilkie

According to him, this includes more balanced land-use planning, and sustainable intensification of agriculture. Others are restoring the productivity of degraded agricultural lands, and stepping up public and private sector commitments to zero deforestation. The last but the last is reducing food loss and waste.

Quadruple planetary emergency

Meanwhile, there is a lag in implementation despite making important public and private commitments to halting deforestation. It calls for the need to strengthen implementation of the commitments. Progress on legal timber production and trade and strong forest governance is equally critical.

Also, the CPF statement indicates that ending deforestation is essential to confront the “quadruple planetary emergency“. This includes climate crisis, a nature crisis, an inequality crisis, and a global health crisis.

UN Climate Conference

Moreover, the statement aims to build momentum for forests ahead of the upcoming launch of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration on World Environment Day. It will also build momentum towards the UN Climate Conference (COP 26) in Glasgow later this year.

The CPF’s mission is to promote sustainable management of all types of forests. It also aims at strengthening long-term political commitment. The Partnership is the driving force for the implementation of the international forest agenda. As it provides technical and policy guidance and spearheading a coherent effort to meet global forest goals.