6 June 2011 | Ethan Nechin
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Food and agriculture, Forestry and wood products

 

UNEP, in accordance with the World Environment Day (WED), has released a report stating that by increasing world GDP by only 0.034 per cent ($40 billion), global deforestation rates could be halved by 2030.

Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director said: "WED 2011 (5 June) comes precisely 12 months before the Rio+20 meeting where the world will come together to try and forge a new and more decisive response to the sustainable development challenge of the 21st century."

"The Green Economy initiative has identified forestry as one of the ten central sectors capable of propelling a transition to a low carbon, resource efficient, employment-generating future, if backed by investment and forward-looking policies," he added.

The report says that deforestation does not only have an overwhelming affect on the environment, the wildlife and communities, but also to the world economy, especially in those countries whose economical backbone is agriculture.

UNEP's Green Economy Report, which was launched last February, identified forest preservation as one of ten key sectors which with endorsing the right policies and investment, would have a major impact on reducing carbon footprint, tackle climate change and promote biodiversity in the most effected areas.

WED 2011 was held with in accordance the UN International Year of Forests, promoting ideas of conservation and biodiversity.

The synthesis report said that even though deforestation rates are in decline, they are still alarmingly high. It argues a need for a strategic restructure in forest policy as pressure is likely to worsen with increasing population, rising incomes and a shift towards meat based diets.

The report gives examples of how investing in forests can reap benefits and help economic development in communities, especially in developing countries.

For example, the restoration of natural mangrove forests in Vietnam costing $1.1m has resulted in annual saving of $7.3m in sea dyke maintenance.

The report argues for a rethink of how strategies for energy efficiency sustainable development and moving to a low carbon economy will boost job opportunities and will create a growth as a part of green technology initiatives. It says: “Forests that are managed and invested in as an asset class and are important factors of production.”

The report stresses the importance of international collaboration in terms of policy. It says policy will no doubt apply differently across countries, but the international community in collaboration with the UN should strive for a broad range of financial, regulatory and technical measures to “encourage a transition towards a green economy.”

 

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