In a call for world leaders to strengthen forest protection as they prepare for the COP-30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) noted that carbon storage in forests has increased by 11 percent since 1990.
“The message is clear: what we have achieved over the past three decades is now seriously threatened by the climate emergency. We cannot afford to lose the most powerful natural defense on the planetsaid UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molcean.
Amid a growing number of global wildfires and droughts linked to warmer temperatures, drier conditions and pest infestations, Ms Molclean argued that the world’s forests were at risk of being damaged and overexploited beyond repair.
“The international community, and especially the leaders gathered in Belém, must recognize that protecting forests is no longer an environmental issue: it is the cornerstone of global carbon security. » insisted the head of the EEC.
In Europe, North America, the Caucasus and Central Asia – the region covered by UNECE – there are more than 1.76 billion hectares of forest. This represents more than 40 percent of the global total encompassing three biomes: boreal, temperate and subtropical.
And although forests in the UNECE region have expanded by a staggering 60 million hectares – with the greatest growth in Central Asia and Europe – this is not the case globally, where an estimated 10.9 million hectares of forests are lost every year.
Growing risk of forest fires
In 2021, an astonishing 12.6 million hectares burned, “comparable to an area of Greece”. said Paola Deda, Director of the UNECE Forestry, Land and Housing Division. Estimates further indicate that 73,000,000 hectares are affected by insects and diseases, which is comparable to the area of Spain and Portugal combined.
“If these trends continue, forests that have been a vital carbon sink could become a source of emissions, undermining global climate goals. » Ms Deda told reporters in Geneva.
Ongoing forest protection measures supported by UNECE member states include measures to combat « acid rain » across Central Europe, which has historically devastated forests, depleted freshwater fish populations and threatened entire ecosystems in the Northern Hemisphere.
Carbon ticking clock
These and other measures helped double designated areas for biodiversity conservation and soil and water protection since 1990. Today, more than 300 million hectares – approximately the size of Italy – of forests benefit from legal protection.
But the impacts of climate change are “accelerating the destruction of forests, threatening to wipe out decades of ecological progress,” warns the UNECE in a press release. new report published once every five years. He emphasizes in particular:
- Mass destruction from fires, pests and drought. In 2021 alone, wildfires burned 12.6 million hectares in the region. Damage from insects, diseases and other factors affected 73 million hectares in 2019 and this trend persists.
- Carbon sink reversal: Data from several countries indicate that the expansion and growth of forests is slowing. Experts fear that catastrophic wildfires, in particular, could turn forests into a source of carbon emissions, seriously undermining the world’s ability to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, the 2015 international agreement to limit global warming.
- Irreversible damage: Prolonged drought and heat are pushing forest ecosystems to their limits. Add slowing growth to the mix and it will be impossible to meet forest targets. Sustainable Development Goals – deadline 2030 – without reinforced political changes, according to the United Nations agency.
- The boreal forests surrounding the Arctic are essential for climate action: These green expanses contain about 32 percent of global terrestrial carbon stocks, having a significant impact on atmospheric carbon levels. They are very sensitive to climate impacts, including rising temperatures, thawing permafrost and wildfires, which will require concerted policy responses to address them, according to the UNECE.
Policy prescription
On the eve of the Belem climate summit, the UN commission is calling for more support for forest protection strategies that include better fire prevention, pest control, large-scale restoration efforts and a reassessment of priorities to ensure forests continue to provide their vital environmental, social and economic benefits.
“The largest forest country in the world is not Brazil, it’s Russia, so that’s our first message,” Ms. Deda said, adding that although the United Nations climate conference was taking place in the southern hemisphere, forests in the northern hemisphere were “critically important when it comes to climate.”
Publicado anteriormente en Almouwatin.
