No meetings were scheduled for Day 7 of the COP 18, so, for some at least, today was a day of rest: an opportunity to recharge batteries in preparation for the busy week ahead. Attention therefore turned to side events, in particular Forest Day.
Forest Day, in its 6th year, is a platform for discussions centered on the relationship between forests and climate change. The most up-to-date knowledge and expertise is presented in order to guide the debate at one of the most influential global events on forests.
Global forest cover between 2000 and 2010 decreased annually by 32 million acres (an area equivalent in size to England). This is an ugly statistic. Forests are an important factor for mitigation and adaptation efforts, with respect to climate change. However, maintenance of forest land conflicts with rural development and food security in many of the poorest countries. As a result, forests are often depleted to clear land for food production and to create incomes for loggers.
It was this conflict between forestry, food supply and rural development that led Peter Holmgren, Director General of the Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) to exclaim “it is time to look at new ways of solving old problems…Forest and forestry must be looked at through the lenses of agriculture, food security and broader sustainable development. It is time for forestry to come out of the forest and contribute more broadly.”
This point of view was echoed by the Senior Adviser to Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative, Andreas Tveteraas who added: “The challenge is to do both forest conservation and increased food production…No doubt if a government has to choose between them, then the forest will always lose.”
A proposed solution to the problem is landscape approach. “A landscape approach is going to be essential to meet the growing need for food without invading forests” said Mary Barton-dock, Director of Climate Policy and Finance at the World Bank.
So Day 7 was a day for the forest. It was a day of rest for many too. But next week will see the arrival of high profile individuals from across the world and it is set to be a busy one!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FI7R41Bd_zI#!
CarbonHorizons 