Calling on world leaders to boost forest protection as they prepare for the COP-30 climate summit in Belem, Brazil, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) said: Carbon storage in forests has increased by 11 percent since 1990..
“The message is clear: what we have achieved over the last three decades is now at serious risk due to the climate emergency. We cannot afford to lose the most powerful natural defense on the planet.”said UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molcean.
Amid a growing number of wildfires and droughts around the world linked to warmer temperatures, drier conditions and pest infestations, Ms Molclean said the world’s forests are at risk of being damaged and overexploited beyond repair.
“The international community, especially the leaders gathered in Belém, must recognize that protecting forests is no longer an environmental issue: it is a cornerstone of global carbon security.” insisted the head of ECE.
In Europe, North America, the Caucasus and Central Asia (the region covered by UNECE) there are more than 1.76 billion hectares of forests. This represents more than 40 percent of the global total and covers three biomes: boreal, temperate and subtropical.
And although forests in the UNECE region have expanded by an impressive 60 million hectares – with the greatest growth in Central Asia and Europe – this is not the case worldwide, where around 10.9 million hectares of forests are lost annually.
Increasing danger of forest fires
In 2021, a staggering 12.6 million hectares were burned, “comparable to an area of Greece.” said Paola Deda, Director of the UNECE Forests, Lands and Housing Division. Estimates also indicate that 73,000,000 hectares are affected by insects and diseases, a figure comparable to the area of Spain and Portugal combined.
“If these trends continue, forests that have been a vital carbon sink could become a source of emissions, undermining global climate goals.” Ms. Deda told reporters in Geneva.
Ongoing forest protection measures supported by ECE Member States include actions to address “acid rain” across central Europe, which has historically devastated forests, depleted freshwater fish stocks and threatened entire ecosystems across the Northern Hemisphere.
Carbon clock ticks
These and other measures have contributed to doubling the Areas designated for the conservation of biodiversity and the protection of soil and water. since 1990. Today, more than 300 million hectares of forests – roughly the size of Italy – benefit from legal protection.
But the impacts of climate change “are accelerating the destruction of forests, threatening to reverse decades of ecological progress,” warns UNECE in a new report published once every five years. Particularly noteworthy:
- Mass destruction from fires, plagues and droughts. In 2021 alone, forest fires devastated 12.6 million hectares in the region. Damage caused by insects, diseases and other factors affected 73 million hectares in 2019 and this trend has persisted.
- Carbon sink investment: Data from several countries indicates that forest expansion and growth is slowing. Experts fear that catastrophic wildfires in particular could transform forests into a source of carbon emissions. seriously undermining the world’s ability to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, the 2015 international agreement to limit global warming.
- Irreversible damage: Prolonged drought and heat are pushing forest ecosystems to the limit. Combined with slowing growth, forest-related progress will be impossible to achieve. Sustainable Development Goals – deadline 2030 – without major political changes, says the UN agency.
- The boreal forests surrounding the Arctic are key to climate action: These green expanses They contain about 32 percent of the world’s terrestrial carbon reserves, significantly impacting atmospheric carbon levels. They are highly sensitive to climate impacts, including rising temperatures, thawing permafrost and forest fires, which will require concerted policy responses to counter them, UNECE says.
Policy prescription
Ahead of the climate summit in Belem, the UN commission calls for greater support for forest protection strategies, including improved fire prevention, pest management, large-scale restoration efforts and a reassessment of priorities to ensure forests continue to provide their vital environmental, social and economic benefits.
“The largest forest country in the world is not Brazil, it is Russia, so this is our first message,” Ms Deda said, adding that although the UN climate conference was being held in the southern hemisphere, the forests of the northern hemisphere are of “crucial importance when it comes to climate”.
