COVID-19 has increased Challenges for Countries to Manage Forests : UN Report

According to ‘The Global Forests Goals Report 2021’ released by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), COVID-19 has increased the challenges for Countries to manage forests.

• The most vulnerable segments of society, especially the rural poor and indigenous people have turned towards forests for meeting  their essential livelihood needs due to the economic hardships caused by COVID-19. This has caused stress on the Forest Ecosystem.
• The report states that Climate change and Biodiversity crisis are the biggest threats to forests ecosystems besides the pandemic.

Global Forests Goals Report 2021

• The Global Forests Goals Report 2021 is an inaugural report.
• It presents an overview of progress achieved by Countries on 6 Global Forest Goals and their 26 associated targets under the  United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2017-2030.

United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests

The UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2017-30  was adopted in 2017.

• It aims to promote sustainable forest management & enhancing the contribution of forests & trees to the 2030 Sustainable Development goals.
• The 1st Global Forest Goal in the plan aims to increase forest area by 3% by 2030.
• Under the plan, 26 countries have set objectives for increasing forest area.
• India has committed to add 200, 00 Hectares of Forests and Tree Cover per year.

Report on Biodiversity by IPBES

• The Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem services of Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) had highlighted that 1 Million species were at risk of extinction and 100 Million hectares of tropical forest were lost from 1980-2000.

UNESCO Public Survey Report

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) has released ‘The World in 2030 – Public Survey Report’. The Global survey was carried out by UNESCO during May-September, 2020.

• The Survey  aimed  to  provide  a  platform for citizens around the globe to offer their insights on the world’s most pressing challenges
• It garnered responses of more than 15, 000 people, in which 57% of them were under 35 years of age & 35% under 25.
• Around 67% of the people chose Climate change and loss of biodiversity as the biggest challenges facing earth, followed by Violence  and conflict, discrmination and inequality, and lack of food, water and housing.
• They chose Education as the top solution for every single challenge facing the earth.

Recent Related News:

i.July 25, 2020, According to Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) 2020 brought out by FAO, India reported 0.38% annual gain in forest every year during 2010-2020. It was ranked 3rd among top 10 countries that have gained in forest areas.

About  United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA)

Under-Secretary-General (USG) – Liu Zhenmin
Headquarters – New York, USA