A Call for Action for Dryland Forests (UNFF20 Side Event).
The 20th session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF20) presents a pivotal opportunity to tackle the critical issues surrounding land degradation, particularly in dryland areas, which cover about 41% of the Earth's land surface and are home to approximately 2.5 billion people, about 25 percent of the global population. Over 50 percent of these populations rely on agriculture for their livelihoods, primarily producing staples like millet, sorghum, and various pulses. However, agricultural productivity in drylands is hindered by challenges such as low soil fertility, high evaporation rates, and erratic rainfall patterns. The competition for limited land resources between the agricultural and forestry sectors further complicates this issue, often leading to conflicts over land use priorities.
In December 2024, during the UNCCD COP16, the Bureau of UNFF20, in response to a proposal from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, decided that "dryland forests" would be discussed under the agenda item of "emerging issues." This decision aligns with the findings from the side event titled "Significance of Dryland Forests for Achieving Land Degradation Neutrality, Combating Biodiversity Loss and Climate Change," which underscored the significant socio-economic and environmental roles of dryland forests. According to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), around 1.5 billion hectares of drylands are at risk of desertification due to unsustainable agricultural practices. Additionally, drylands contain 1.1 billion hectares of forests, representing 27 percent of the world's forest area. The biodiversity of drylands, characterized by species highly specialized to extreme conditions, serves as the foundation for diverse livelihoods and essential ecosystem services.
It is a panel discussion covering the following Objectives:
* Raise awareness on efforts being made at the global, regional, and national levels to address challenges that dryland forest landscapes face.
* Provide an opportunity for dialogue and exchange with the UNFF Members to consider the importance of dryland forests and leveraging opportunities with regards to on-going interventions.
Expected outcomes:
* Increased awareness of
(i) The significance of dryland forests in achieving multiple environmental and socio-economic goals, working towards land degradation neutrality.
(ii) exemplified leveraging opportunities with regard to on-going initiatives, including knowledge hubs and good practices at the global, regional, and national level.
Comments
Post a Comment