The United Nations (UN) has advocated increased public finance to protect forests in the world.
Antonio Gutteres, the Secretary-General of the UN made this call on Monday at the opening of the 15th World Forestry Congress (WFC) in Seoul, South Korea.
The increase in the finance, he said should include through source based payments and dearth for environment swaps, to achieve deforestation free world.
Gutteres, who spoke through his deputy, Amina Mohammed, also called for lining the budget and policy for forestry commitment among the global communities.
He regretted that about 4.7 billion hectares of forest was being lost annually to deforestation and environmental degradation in the last decade.
The UN chief called for concerted efforts towards achieving deforestation free supply chains.
“Since the last congress in 2015, recognition of the critical role forest of all types play in meeting the sustainable development goals and achieving the past agreements has gained much attention.
“The recent classical degradation on forest and land use has further underlined key transforms to actions needed to save all forest and advance the 2030 agenda.
“This congress takes place right over the latest report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change which warns that the world is dangerously close to an irreversible topping point for the forestry sector, for the health of people and for the planet.
“This supports resilient livelihood, biodiversity consideration, sustainable economy and climate mitigation and adaptation.
“Forest remain under threat and in the last decade alone, the world has lost 4.7 billion hectares a year.
“We must specially recognise and act on the value of forest, hence the theme of congress, Building a Green, Healthy and Resilient Future with Forest.
“We need all stakeholders to come up with ideas and commitment that can be put into action,” he said.
Gutteres explained that forest could also be protected by expanding indigenous governance for forest incorporating the perspectives of youth and women as well as using the latest scientific evidence and catchy head technology.
“I look forward to the outcome of this congress, feeding into climate change and biodiversity negotiation and other policies fora.
‘Together, I believe we can build a green, healthy and resilient future by realising the true value of forest,” the UN scribe concluded.
In her remark, Princess Sasma Ali, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and Goodwill Ambassador of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) canvassed for a diversified approach to achieve high rate success in building a green, healthy and resilient future with forest.
Ali noted that 30 percent of the world forest had been cleared with another 20 per cent degraded.
She said it would require dedicated political will and development of policy measures to reverse the tide.
The FAO ambassador also called for a mobilisation of required financing in addition to engaging all stakeholders to achieve the target.
“Accordingly, there is no need to engage all stakeholders more importantly indigenous people and local communities’ members for they possess the knowledge and the custody of this ecosystem coupled with scientific experts who can monitor the system.
Qu Dongyu, Director-General, FAO, however, acknowledged some progress in reforestation particularly in Asia including countries like Korea z Japan and India.
Dongyu noted that the congress was an opportunity to make further commitment towards achieving the 2030 deforestation free world in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).