Speaking in regard to the eleventh meeting of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF11), UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said, “To build a sustainable, climate-resilient future for all, we must invest in our world's forests. That will take political commitment at the highest levels, smart policies, effective law enforcement, innovative partnerships and funding.”
An article on the website of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) reports on the forum running from 4-15 May 2015 in New York. Participants discussed the role of forests in providing water, energy, carbon sequestration and as a source of livelihoods, and linkages with the post-2015 development agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Major issues addressed include the mainstreaming of forests across sectors, the need for greater coordination between sectors, strengthened forest governance and law enforcement, greater participation of indigenous peoples and local communities, and more financing for sustainable forest management.
The need to build a stronger science-policy interface was emphasized during a joint statement from the World Agroforestry Centre, Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO). The organizations also called for expansion of existing initiatives and partnerships on SFM science and policy including those established through the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) and its members.
Read the full story: UNFF11 Discusses Implementation, Finance and Partnerships
Find out more about the UN Forum on Forests 11th Session
