United Nations Forum on Forests

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Context:

India participated in the 19th Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF), held at the UN Headquarters in New York from May 6th to 10th May 2024.

Details:

During the session, India highlighted the Country’s significant advancements in forest conservation and sustainable forest management which led to a consistent increase in forest cover over the past fifteen years.
India shared the high priority the Country provides towards biodiversity and wildlife conservation, having expanded the network of protected areas to over a thousand wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, tiger reserves, biosphere reserves, and other wildlife habitats.
The recent celebrations marking 50 years of Project Tiger and 30 years of Project Elephant underscore India’s commitment to species conservation and habitat protection.
India also highlighted the creation of the International Big Cat Alliance, another important step aimed at protecting and conserve the seven big cat species around the world through collaborative international efforts.
India also shared the introduction of the ‘Green Credit Program’, designed to incentivize entities to take up tree plantation and restoration of degraded forest lands, which aims to further strengthen climate action initiatives.
The Ministry also hosted a side event on ‘Principles and Strategies for Landscape Integrated Fire Management through Collaborative Governance’ in partnership with the Agency for Integrated Rural Fire Management, Portugal, the Korea Forest Service, and the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) at the UNFF 19 at New York.
The recommendations from the previous UNFF session hled in Dehradun in 2023 was presented by India during UNFF 19.

Outcome:

The UNFF 19 made a declaration to take urgent and accelerated actions to halt deforestation and forest degradation and to prevent land degradation, including the implementation of the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests and the achievement of the Global Forest Goals.

The United Nations Forum on Forests

The United Nations Forum on Forests is a high-level intergovernmental policy forum. The forum includes all United Nations member states and permanent observers, the UNFF Secretariat, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests, Regional Organizations and Processes, and Major Groups.

Founded: 18 October 2000

Headquarters: New York, USA

Parent organization: United Nations Economic and Social Council

Principal functions

●To facilitate the implementation of forest-related agreements and foster a common understanding of sustainable forest management;

●To provide for continued policy development and dialogue among Governments, and international organizations, including major groups, as identified in Agenda 21 as well as to address forest issues and emerging areas of concern in a holistic, comprehensive, and integrated manner,

●To enhance cooperation as well as policy and program coordination on forest-related issues

●To foster international cooperation and

●To monitor, assess, and report on the progress of the above functions and objectives

●To strengthen political commitment to the management, conservation, and sustainable development of all types of forests.

Source:

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2020347

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Consider the following statements regarding the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF):

1) It operates under the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and reports to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

2) The UNFF Secretariat is based in New York City, USA, and oversees the implementation of international agreements related to forestry.

3) UNFF sessions are held annually, providing a platform for member states, international organizations, and stakeholders to discuss forest-related issues and share best practices.

4) The UNFF is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the Non-Legally Binding Instrument on All Types of Forests (NLBI), adopted in 2007 to enhance sustainable forest management worldwide.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

A.Only one

B.Only two

C.Only Three

D.All four

Answer: B)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct:

The United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) was established by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 2000. It operates as a subsidiary body of ECOSOC, which means it falls under the jurisdiction of ECOSOC and reports to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on its activities and progress. The UNFF serves as the primary global intergovernmental forum for discussing and addressing forest-related issues, policies, and initiatives.

Statement 2 is incorrect:

The UNFF is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The Secretariat is responsible for providing administrative support to the UNFF and facilitating the implementation of decisions taken by the Forum. While the UN headquarters is located in New York City, the Secretariat of specific UN bodies may be located in different cities around the world.

Statement 3t is incorrect:

UNFF sessions are held biennially, not annually. These sessions bring together member states, international organizations, stakeholders, and representatives from civil society to discuss various aspects of forest management, conservation, and sustainable development. During these sessions, participants exchange experiences, share best practices, and negotiate agreements aimed at promoting the sustainable management of forests worldwide.

Statement 4 is correct:

The UNFF plays a crucial role in coordinating the implementation of the Non-Legally Binding Instrument on All Types of Forests (NLBI). This instrument was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2007 with the aim of promoting the sustainable management of all types of forests and enhancing international cooperation in this regard. The UNFF works with member states, international organizations, and other stakeholders to facilitate the implementation of the NLBI and monitor progress towards its objectives.