The Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) has issued a joint call to action for the world to prioritize forests towards 2030. Recognizing forests’ critical role in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the CPF emphasizes their contribution to sustainable agri-food systems, climate change mitigation, biodiversity preservation, and combating desertification. Urgent action is necessary to meet international targets, including a 3% increase in global forest area by 2030, crucial for carbon stock preservation, landscape restoration, and resilient ecosystems. The CPF’s call focuses on four key areas: strengthening policies and governance, improving data accessibility and decision-making tools, enhancing finance and investment, and increasing communication and awareness efforts.
Facts/Terms for UPSC Prelims
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A set of global goals adopted by the United Nations to address various social, economic, and environmental challenges, aiming for a more sustainable and equitable future.
- Carbon Stock Preservation: Efforts to maintain and increase the storage of carbon in forests and ecosystems, crucial for mitigating climate change.
- Landscape Restoration: The process of restoring degraded or deforested landscapes to their natural or productive states, enhancing their ecological and socioeconomic functions.
- Biodiversity Loss: The decline in the variety and abundance of species in a given ecosystem, often linked to habitat destruction and human activities.
- Desertification: The process by which fertile land becomes desert due to factors like drought, deforestation, and unsustainable land use.
- Data Accessibility and Decision-Making Tools: Refers to improving the availability of forest-related data and tools for informed decision-making in forest management.
- Communication and Awareness: Efforts to inform and engage the public and stakeholders about the importance of forests and the need for their protection and sustainable management.