Revised National Forest Policy discussion

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Context:

• India shared its revised National Forest Policy during the 19th United Nations Forum on Forests held in New York, United States.

Details:

• The forum discussion was centered around forest fires and developing the Model Forest Act.
• These discussions were part of broader considerations on the UN's strategic plan for forests 2017-2030 and activities supporting thematic priorities for 2023-24.
• Delegates engaged in discussions concerning combating forest fires and the development of a Model Forest Act.

Global Forest Goals:

• The discussions emphasized the importance of achieving global forest goals, which involve enhancing forest-based economic, social, and environmental benefits.
• Key goals included significantly increasing the area of protected forests, mobilizing financial resources, and promoting governance frameworks for sustainable forest management.
• Additional attention was given to enhancing cooperation, coordination, and synergies as cross-cutting goals.

Revised National Forest Policy Recommendations by India:

• Integrated Approach to Forest Fire Management:
  • India recommended adopting an integrated approach to forest fire prevention and management, along with post-fire landscape restoration through policy interventions.
  • Highlighting its experience with technology adoption, including remote sensing for near-real-time fire monitoring, online geoportals for forest fire reporting, and ecosystem-based approaches for restoration, India suggested to apply the same at a global scale.
• Global Standards for Forest Certification:
  • India proposed the creation of universally accepted global standards for forest certification and emphasized the need to evaluate current certification programs against these standards.
• Community Involvement and Impact of Forest Fires:
  • India noted the growing role of communities in addressing forest fires and highlighted the significant impacts of forest fires on biodiversity, ecosystem services, economies, livelihoods, and human well-being.
  • It stressed the need for comprehensive long-term strategies for prevention and restoration due to the increased frequency and intensity of forest fires.
• Operationalization of the Global Fire Management Hub:
  • India proposed the operationalization of the Global Fire Management Hub by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and FAO, aiming to create a platform for sharing knowledge and experience in mitigating forest fires.

Must read articles:

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/forest-conservation-amendment-bill-2023

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1944373#:~:text=The%20Ministry%20has%20also%20implemented,%2D20%20to%202021%2D22.

Source:

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/forests/combating-forest-fires-in-focus-on-day-1-of-un-forum-india-shares-revised-national-forest-policy-96027

PRACTICE QUESTION Q. "Evaluate the key principles, objectives, and implementation challenges of the National Forest Policy in India."( 250 words)