Introduction to Global Forestry Issues

Dr. Hosny El-Lakany,

FRST 100, September 2014

Global Forestry Perspectives 1. Why forests are of global concerns?

2. State of the World’s Forests.

3. International Forestry Debate: Actors and

Forums.

4. Emerging international issues

Forests are of global concern

Sovereign rights of countries to control their natural resources including forests, but forestry issues are trans-boundary:

1. forest dwellers, especially indigenous people usually move across national borders;

2. emission of GHG’s, initiated locally but effects locally, nationally, and internationally; adaptation and mitigation of climate change are global challenges;

3. watersheds cross boarders, sometimes upstream located in one country while downstream in another;

Forests are of global concern, cont.

5. ecosystems and biodiversity cross boarders; 6. forest fires, pests and diseases frequently cross boarders; 7. globalized timber and non-timber forest products sourcing, processing and trade; 8. forest education and employment are becoming increasingly international.

State of world’s forests 2012

•Forests cover 4.1 billion hectares, •31 % of total land area,

World’s forests

>90% of forest area naturally regenerated. 36 % of total forest area Primary forests of native species with no significant

human activities.

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Deforestation 2000-2010 • Around 13 million hectares of forest converted to

other uses each year. (e.g. agriculture), or lost to natural causes (e.g. fire and insects)

• Net loss in forest area about 7 million ha/year.

Vancouver Island: 31,000 Km2. =3.1 Mil. ha

Annual global deforestation >4 times area of Van. Island

Rate of deforestation decreasing, but is still high.

Conversion to Agriculture

Unsustainable logging

Fire wood

Afforestation, reforestation and natural expansion of forests in some countries reduced net loss of forest

area at the global level.

International Forestry Debate Sustainable Forest Management

1. Forests and Climate Change, 2. Illegal forest activities/Forest law enforcement, 3. Land Tenure, (Indigenous Peoples), 4. Food Security and Poverty Reduction, 5. Restoration of degraded forests, 6. Carbon Markets, 7. Financing Sustainable Forest Management, 8. Landscape Approach to Forest Management, 9. Forest Convention (?), Post 2015 “Arrangements”.

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Examples of International Organizations participating in

Forestry Issues – UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

Rome, Italy – UN Forum on Forests , N Y – World Bank, Washington, DC – Center for International Forest Research

(CIFOR), Indonesia – UNFCCC (Convention on Climate Change) – NGO’s (WWF, Green Peace, etc) – Civil Society (Private Industry, Private forest

owners, Scientific Community, Indigenous People, Youth, Women),