UNFF20/21 Thematic priorities

Reverse the loss of forest cover worldwide through sustainable forest management, including protection, restoration, afforestation and reforestation, and increase efforts to prevent forest degradation and contribute to the global effort of addressing climate change.

State of Progress

GFG1 calls for reversing the loss of forest cover through sustainable forest management. According to the FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) 2020, some regions—namely Asia, Europe and Oceania—were on track to achieve GFG1, while Africa and South America are still losing forest area, though at a slower rate.

Countries provided examples of new actions helping increase forest resources:

• China: Forest management was listed as an independent chapter in the new Forest Law, mandating reasonable plans and afforestation efforts.
• Jamaica: Amended its Forest Policy, emphasizing transparency, accountability, best science, and participatory approaches.
• Ghana: Forestry Development Master Plan 2016–2036 set targets to increase forest cover and halt deforestation, employing 45,000 youth under the Afforestation Programme.

Despite progress, recent reports indicate that deforestation continues in several regions. For example, the world lost at least 5.4 million hectares of forests in 2023, with higher estimates at 6.4 million hectares. Agriculture remains the main driver, responsible for nearly 90% of global deforestation.

Challenges

• Climate Change: Forest fires, floods, droughts, pests, and diseases undermine efforts.
• Competition with Other Land Uses: Agriculture, urbanisation, and mining often outweigh forest protection.
• Poor Implementation: Policies exist but are not always enforced.
• Fragmentation: Multiple overlapping international goals risk duplication and reduced focus.

Suggestions

• Strengthen implementation of national legislation and mobilize resources for sustainable forest management.
• Address threats and unsustainable economic practices driving deforestation.
• Improve international coordination to reduce fragmentation.
• Promote revenue streams that depend on standing forests and eliminate harmful subsidies.

Increase significantly the area of protected forests worldwide and other areas of sustainably managed forests, as well as the proportion of forest products from sustainably managed forests.

State of Progress

Protected forest areas increased globally, with approximately 21% of global forest area under some form of legal protection. Certification of sustainably managed forests has also grown, though concentrated in Europe and North America.

Examples of national initiatives include:

• Liberia: Engaging local communities in protected area management.
• Japan: Introducing a more effective protected forest classification system.
• Austria: Combining private forest management with public investment for conservation.

Challenges

• Lack of resources and trained staff.
• Ineffective protection and weak land-use planning.
• Growing global demand for timber products.

Suggestions

• Involve civil society in land use planning, certification, and monitoring.
• Develop sustainable finance mechanisms for long-term forest protection.
• Expand certification, especially in developing countries.

Promote governance frameworks to implement sustainable forest management, including through the United Nations forest instrument, and enhance the contribution of forests to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

State of Progress

Many countries report integrating forests into national development strategies, improving governance, and adopting supply-chain sustainability measures. Notable examples include Canada’s FSDS strategy and Nepal’s integration of forests into SDG planning. Brazil also reported a 50% drop in deforestation between 2022 and 2023 due to stronger enforcement.

Challenges

• Forests undervalued in national economies, leading to low prioritization.
• Weak governance and limited capacity for monitoring illegal logging.

Suggestions

• Strengthen legal frameworks and institutional capacities.
• Promote participatory governance with local communities.
• Enhance cross-sector strategies addressing agriculture, mining, and infrastructure drivers.
• Expand demand-side regulations and traceability systems globally.