Natural resources must be ‘part of the solution’ in the fight against deforestation – Global issues
The Global Forest Resource Assessment Remote Sensing Survey However, he warned that from cattle grazing in South America to the expansion of arable land in Asia, Earth’s rainforests still face an enormous threat.
“This survey is important, not only because of the new numbers it gives us, but also for what it tells us about Trends in forest area and causes of deforestationis also the important ability it gives us to keep track of how things are evolving,” FAO Deputy General Manager, Maria Helena Semedo.
Losses halved
Annual deforestation fell by about 29% – from 11 million hectares a year between 2000 and 2010, to 7.8 million hectares between 2010 and 2018, the survey said.
Moreover, The loss of forest area has been reduced by more than half during the survey period – from 6.8 million hectares annually in the period 2000-2010 to 3.1 million hectares per year from 2010 to 2018.
By region, The highest levels of deforestation between 2000 and 2018 occurred in South America (68 million hectares of forest cleared), followed by Africa (49 million hectares)..
This happened despite slower rates of deforestation in South America and South and Southeast Asia between 2000 and 2018.
“Unsustainable agricultural development and other land uses continue to place great pressure on our forests, especially in many of the poorest countries“Mrs. Semedo explained.
Unsustainable development
Meanwhile, between 2000 and 2018, damage caused by rainforests accounted for more than 90% of all global deforestation.
And while that equates to 157 million hectares – roughly the size of Western Europe – annual deforestation in the tropics has slowed dramatically from 10.1 million hectares per year between 2000-2010 to remaining seven million hectares per year from 2010 to 2018.
“There are win-win solutions that we can and must scale up to, to feed the world without destroying our forests,” the FAO official said.
Promote deforestation
The expansion of arable land is the main cause of deforestationresponsible for nearly half of global deforestation, followed by livestock grazing, which accounts for 38.5%.
Between 2000 and 2018, oil palm cultivation alone accounted for 7% of all global deforestation.
While the survey found that the tropics of Central America were most seriously threatened by land-use conversion, similar phenomena were detected in the tropical dry forests and shrublands of the United States. area.
However, the small number of samples in these ecoregions means that further investigation is needed to confirm these findings.
Click on solutions in nature
The 15th World Forestry Congress (WFC) opened on Monday, in Seoul, South Korea, as well as online.
Opening the event, Ms. Semedo speak that “no matter what crisis we face – pandemics, conflict, climate change – and [their] leading to economic recession and food insecurity, we must see our forests and natural resources as part of the solution and integrate them into restoration plans and strategies. ”
ThePartnership on Forests (CPF)declares that protecting forests helps tackle climate change, increase food security, conserve biodiversity, and accelerate efforts to create a world free of poverty.
Forest status
By main topic Building a green, healthy and resilient future with forestsleaders from FAO, World Bank, and youth and indigenous representatives participated in the discussion
In addition to launching surveys, being part ofForest Resource Assessment 2020FAO on Monday launched its flagship State of the World’s Forests Report 2022.
The report highlights three mutually supportive paths to stopping deforestation and maintaining forests; restore infertile lands and expand afforestation; and ensure a sustainable value chain.
Other key findings include the need to secure tenure; provide incentives and remove incentives for forest conservation; and the urgency of resolving the conflict between forest conservation and other development needs.
