The tenth session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF10) convened a multi-stakeholder dialogue that examined sustainable forest management (SFM), financing, the implementation of the non-legally binding instrument on all types of forests, and the achievement of the four global objectives on forests.
10 April 2013: The tenth session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF10) convened a multi-stakeholder dialogue that examined sustainable forest management (SFM), financing, the implementation of the non-legally binding instrument on all types of forests, and the achievement of the four global objectives on forests.
Participants emphasized the role of women in forest management, the need to encourage youth employment in SFM, and the importance of recognizing the knowledge, tenure and use rights of forest-dwelling indigenous peoples. Participants also considered the importance of building awareness of the multiple values of forests across sectors, including among urban populations, and the potential of timber and forest product markets to contribute to SFM.
The dialogue also emphasized the need to look at forests within the framework of all aspects of sustainable development, not just economic development, and to strengthen the focus on low forest cover countries (LFCC). Additional suggested actions included: the establishment of a fund for community and family forestry and a programme of work on youth in the UNFF work plan; and increased capacity building for forest workers.
The dialogue also heard presentations on country-led initiatives in support of the work of the UNFF. These included: a seminar on ‘challenges of SFM: integrating environmental, social and economic values of forests,’ co-convened by the Governments of Japan and Indonesia; a conference on the contribution of forests to a green economy, co-chaired by the Governments of Brazil and Germany with support from Finland; a conference on ‘a pathway to a green economy in the context of sustainable development: focus on the role of markets and the promotion of SFM,’ co-convened by the Governments of Netherlands and Viet Nam; and a conference on ‘forests in a green economy for countries in Eastern Europe, Northern and Central Asia,’ convened by the Government of Ukraine.
The major groups include: children and youth; NGOs; indigenous peoples; scientific and technical communities; women; farmers and small forest landowners; and forest workers and major trade unions. [UNFF Press Release] [ECOSOC Press Release] [IISD RS Coverage of UNFF10]