The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recently released the State of the World’s Forests 2022 report, outlining the condition of global forests and their role in sustainable development. The release coincides with the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change’s publication of the India State of Forest Report-2021. These reports come in the wake of the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use, where 140 countries pledged to eliminate forest loss by 2030.
About the State of the World’s Forests Report
The State of the World’s Forests report is published bi-annually and is a significant resource for understanding forest ecosystems. The 2022 edition emphasizes three key methods for achieving green recovery and addressing planetary issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss: stopping deforestation, restoring degraded lands and agroforestry, and using forests sustainably while building green value chains.
Key Findings from the Report
From 1990 to 2020, the world lost 420 million hectares of forests due to deforestation. Despite this alarming loss, forests still cover a significant 4.06 billion ha of the earth’s geographical area. The report asserts that the annual global consumption of all natural resources is expected to double by 2060 due to population growth and increased affluence. It also reveals that more than half of the world Gross Domestic Product (GDP) depends moderately or highly on ecosystem services, which include services provided by forests.
Impacts of Forest Loss
Deforestation has far-reaching impacts, including the rise of infectious diseases, increased poverty, and overutilization of natural resources. Approximately 15% of 250 emerging infectious diseases are linked to forests, and 30% of new diseases since 1960 can be attributed to deforestation and land-use-change. The report also highlights the social costs of forest loss; it predicts that nearly 124 million more people could fall into extreme poverty after Covid-19, due to increased dependence on wood-based fuel sources.
Recommendations from the Report
The report calls for forest conservation, restoration, and agroforestry as viable strategies to prevent future pandemics and boost biodiversity. It also suggests that sustainable supply chains incorporating forest products could aid in sustainable development. To support these initiatives, the report estimates a three-fold increase in funding by 2030 and emphasizes the importance of supporting local producer organizations and protecting land tenure rights.
About the FAO
FAO is a specialized United Nations agency that leads international efforts to combat hunger. Founded in 1945, its headquarters is in Rome, Italy and it operates alongside sister bodies the World Food Programme and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). FAO undertakes various initiatives such as the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) and it monitors the Desert Locust situation worldwide. They release key publications including The State of the World’s Forests (SOFO), The State of the World Fisheries and Agriculture (SOFIA), and The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI).
The New York Declaration on Forests and Role of India
The ‘New York Declaration on Forests’ came to light at the United Nations Climate Summit in 2014. It sets a global timeline to end the loss of forests and has been endorsed by governments, big companies, and indigenous communities. India, however, was not one of the signatories at its inception.
