Global Forest Goals Report 2021:
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The Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations has released the Global Forest Goals Report 2021.
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It is the first evaluation of the global status of implementing the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2030.
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Purpose: The report provides an overview of progress towards achieving the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2030. The plan has six Global Forest Goals and 26 associated targets for forests.
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Data: The report draws upon data from 52 voluntary national reports and 19 voluntary national contributions. Together they represent 75% of forests in the world.
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Findings:
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The report finds that the world is making progress in key areas such as increasing global forest area through afforestation and restoration.
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However, the Covid-19 pandemic has aggravated the challenges faced by countries in managing their forests.
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Forests have been a lifeline for millions of people during the pandemic. Some of the most vulnerable segments of society depend on forests for their most essential subsistence needs. This has increased pressures on forest systems.
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United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2017-2030 (UNSPF):
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The first-ever UN Strategic Plan for Forests was adopted at a special session of the UN Forum on Forests held in 2017.
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The plan contains a set of six Global Forest Goals and 26 associated targets to be reached by 2030. All these are voluntary in nature and universally applicable.
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It also includes a target to increase forest area by 3% worldwide by 2030. This is an increase of 120 million hectares, an area over twice the size of France.
The Six Global Forest Goals are:
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Goal 1: Reverse the loss of forest cover worldwide. This is by adopting sustainable forest management, including protection, restoration, afforestation and reforestation.
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Goal 2: Enhance forest-based economic, social and environmental benefits. This includes improving the livelihoods of forest-dependent people.
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Goal 3: Increase significantly the area of protected forests worldwide and other areas of sustainably managed forests.
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Goal 4: Mobilize significantly increased, new and additional financial resources from all sources. This is for the implementation of sustainable forest management and strengthening scientific and technical cooperation and partnerships.
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Goal 5: Promote governance frameworks to implement sustainable forest management.
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Goal 6: Enhance cooperation, coordination, coherence and synergies on forest-related issues at all levels.