The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change hosts a United Nations Forum on Forests meeting to discuss critical issues of forest fires and certification, aiming for sustainable forest management.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is set to organize a Country-Led Initiative (CLI) event as a part of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) at the Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun, Uttarakhand from 26-28 October, 2023.
India, a founding member of UNFF, continues its commitment to the promotion of sustainable forest management. The UN General Assembly’s adoption of the first-ever UN Strategic Plan for Forests for 2017-2030 underscores the global effort to combat deforestation and forest degradation.
The CLI aims to contribute significantly to the discussions of UNFF regarding the implementation of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) and the UN Strategic Plan for Forests (UNSPF). It also seeks to facilitate the exchange of best practices among UNFF member States. The central themes of forest fires and forest certification will be the focal points of the discussions.
The formal meeting, commencing on October 26, 2023, will span two days of deliberations on forest fires and forest certification, along with a one-day field trip. The discussions will center on sharing best practices in these areas to advance the Global Forest Goals of the UNSPF.
In recent years, the global increase in wildfires has had severe consequences on biodiversity, ecosystems, human well-being, livelihoods, and economies. Approximately 3% of the world’s forest area, equivalent to 100 million hectares, is affected by fires annually. India, too, grapples with this growing challenge due to changing climate patterns.
The issue of forest certification has garnered increased global attention. The certified forest area has grown by 35% (or 120 million ha) since 2010, with an additional 27 million hectares certified between 2020 and 2021. Developing countries face hurdles in this process, including high certification costs, compliance challenges, and limited access for forest owners in remote regions.
The meeting will see discussions on the policy measures taken by the UN Forest Instrument to promote sustainable forest management. This includes the implementation of voluntary certification systems, which some countries perceive as potential trade challenges. The meeting will also address concerns regarding the recognition of certification from select certifying bodies.
The gathering will witness participation from over 80 delegates representing more than 40 countries and 20 international organizations, both in-person and online. The outcomes of this meeting are anticipated to result in actionable frameworks and recommendations for forest fire and certification management, to be further discussed at the 19th session of UNFF in New York in May 2024.
