February 2009: The UN Forum on Forests (UNFF) Secretariat has posted additional documents in preparation for its eighth session, which will convene from 20 April-1 May 2009, in New York, US. These include discussion papers submitted by the Major Groups, and advance unedited reports on, inter alia: forests and climate change; forest degradation and desertification; and recommendations for forests in a changing environment.

The report on forests and climate change (E/CN.18/2009/4) recognizes that climate change poses a very serious threat to forests globally as well as to millions of people who depend on forests for their livelihoods. The report examines the impact of climate change on forests and sustainable forest management, addresses the roles that forests can play in mitigating and adapting to climate change, and identifies possible actions on the part of the Forum to this end. The report further finds that the reduction of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD), and sustainable management and conservation of forests can contribute significantly to mitigating climate change.
The authors underline that any UNFCCC decision on issues regarding REDD creates a new potential funding source for the sustainable management and conservation of forests in a post-2012 regime. They recommend that consideration be given to closer cooperation between the UNFF and UNFCCC, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification on the role of forests in mitigating and adapting to climate change. [UNFF8 Documents] [Report on Forests and Climate Change]