Hægir á skógareyðingu í heiminum

Alheimsráðstefna um skóga hafin í Durban í Suður-Afríku

Frá árinu 1990 hafa skógar eyðst á svæði sem samanlagt er á stærð við Suður-Afríku, um það bil tólf sinnum flatarmál Íslands. Ný skýrsla Sameinuðu þjóðanna um ástand skóga heimsins hefur verið kynnt á heimsráðstefnu um skóga sem hófst í Durban í Suður-Afríku í gær. Hægt hefur á skógareyðingunni undanfarin ár en betur má ef duga skal.

Heimsráðstefnan um skóga, World Forestry Forum, er haldin nú haldin í fjórtánda sinn á vegum FAO, matvæla- og landbúnaðarstofnunar Sameinuðu þjóðanna og gestgjafalandsins, Suður-Afríku. Þetta er stærsta skógaráðstefna sem haldin er í heiminum. Hún er haldin á sex ára fresti og hana sækja sérfræðingar, fagfólk, embættisfólk, stjórnmálafólk og áhugafólk hvaðanæva úr heiminum. Ráðstefnan er nú í fyrsta sinn haldin í Afríku og markmið hennar að þessu sinni er m.a. að vekja athygli á mikilvægi skógræktar og skógarnytja í sjálfbærri þróun í heiminum, efla skilning fólks á þeim ógnum sem steðja að skógum heims, benda á lausnir, miðla þekkingu og tryggja að tekið sé á brýnustu úrlausnarefnunum. Ráðstefnan er líka vettvangur fyrir háa sem lága til að koma málefnum sínum á framfæri.

Árið 2015 er talið geta skipt sköpum um framtíð skóga jarðarinnar. Þjóðir heims búa sig nú undir að innleiða sameiginleg markmið um sjálfbæra þróun (Sustainable Development Goals) og undir lok ársins verður haldin í París loftslagsráðstefnan sem kölluð hefur verið mikilvægasti fundur mannkynssögunnar. Við setningarathöfn heimsráðstefnunnar í Durban í gær var kynnt ný skýrsla Sameinuðu þjóðanna um ástand skóganna í heiminum, 2015 Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA2015).Skýrsla sem þessi kemur út á fimm ára fresti á vegum FAO og þar er farið yfir hvernig skógar heimsins hafa þróast undanfarinn aldarfjórðung, hvernig nýtingu þeirra er háttað, hversu sjálfbær hún er og þess háttar.

Helst þykir sæta tíðindum í skýrslunni að á síðustu árum hefur hægt nokkuð á skógareyðingu í heiminum. José Graziano da Silva, forstjóri FAO, sagði við kynninguna í gær að þetta væri vissulega jákvætt en þó ekki nóg. Herða þyrfti á þessari þróun. Frá árinu 1990 hefðu samanlagt eyðst í heiminum skógar á svæði sem væri álíka stórt og Suður-Afríka. Það samsvarar tólfföldu flatarmáli Íslands.

Skógareyðingin mest í Brasilíu og Indónesíu

Undanfarin fimm ár hefur mesta skógareyðingin verið í Brasilíu og Indónesíu að því er fram kemur í skýrslu FAO. Hér má sjá þau tíu lönd í heiminum þar sem mest hefur tapast af skóglendi frá árinu 2010.

1. Brasilía 984.000

   Indónesía 684.000

   Myanmar 546.000

   Nígería 410.000

   Tansanía 372.000

   Paragvæ 325.000

   Simbabve 312.000

   Austur-Kongó 311.000

   Argentína 297.000

   Venesúela 289.000

   .

(Heimild: FAO FRA 2015)

at the XIV World Forestry Congress. Updated every five years, the report shows how forests have changed over the last 25 years, the state of sustainable forest management, and other trends. This is a statement from Rod Taylor, Director, WWF Global Forest Programme, reacting to the report:

“FRA2015 confirms the huge loss of tropical forests over the last 25 years. WWF's analysis shows that this trend will continue with future losses concentrated in 11 ‘deforestation fronts', unless bold and urgent action is taken to address the drivers of deforestation. Without such action, up to 170 million hectares – the size of Germany, France, Spain and Portugal combined – will be wiped out in just 20 years.

There's no silver bullet to halt forest loss and degradation. A suite of solutions – ranging from expanded protected areas to more sustainable consumption patterns – are needed to ensure that forests survive the ‘land squeeze' creating by the rush to supply humanity's growing demand for food, energy and materials.

For example, WWF's analysis shows that the amount of wood we take from forests and plantations each year may need to triple by 2050. According to FRA2015, plantations are expanding and supplying an increasing proportion of the world's wood. In the right place and managed sustainably, tree plantations can reduce the pressure to bring natural forest areas into production.

There is also potential to regain lost forest cover through mosaics of new plantations, natural forest restoration and responsible farming. Expansion of plantations should be focused on degraded land, while safeguarding the rights and livelihoods of indigenous peoples and local communities.

We call on world forestry leaders to join WWF's Forests for Life campaign at the World Forestry Congress and back innovative solutions to tackle deforestation and forest degradation. We all know that no one organization can tackle the momentous task of forest conservation alone. Let's join together to ensure that we sustain forests for life.”        

The world's forests face a "decisive year" as nations prepare to adopt the Sustainable Development Goals and gather for key climate talks. In a UN report on forests, senior official Jose Graziano da Silva called slowing deforestation rates "positive". But he added that "this positive trend needs strengthening" as the report showed that an area the size of South Africa had been lost since 1990. The report was published at the World Forestry Congress in South Africa. Nations report the greatest annual forest loss (2010-2015) 1. Brazil 984,000 2. Indonesia 684,000 3. Myanmar 546,000 4. Nigeria 410,000 5. Tanzania 372,000 6. Paraguay 325,000 7. Zimbabwe 312,000 8. DR Congo 311,000 9. Argentina 297,000 10. Venezuela 289,000 (Unit: hectares) (Source: FAO FRA 2015) "The contribution of forests to the wellbeing of humankind are extraordinarily vast and far-reach," said Mr Graziano da Silva, director-general of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). "Forests play a fundamental role in combating rural poverty, ensuring food security and providing decent livelihoods." He added that forests were also key components in the natural world's ability to provide environmental services, such as clean air and water, biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. The UN's Global Forest Resource Assessment 2015, compiled and published by the FAO, reports that an estimated 129 millions hectares of of forest (an area almost equivalent in size to South Africa) has been lost since 1990. The assessment, which covered 234 countries and territories, reported the biggest losses of forest cover occurring in Africa, South America and South-East Asia. However, globally, the study said that the net annual rate of forest loss had slowed from 0.18% in the early 1990s to 0.08% during the period between 2010 and 2015. While the area of natural forests (which account for an estimate 93% of the globe's forest cover) continued to decrease, the planted forest area had seen an increase, the report observed. FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment Team leader Kenneth MacDicken said: "The management of forests has improved dramatically over the past 25 years. "This includes planning, knowledge sharing, legislation, policies - a whole range of important steps that countries have implemented or are implementing," he added. Asia dominate the list of the top 10 nations that have reported the greatest forest area gain between 2010 and 2015, however there are honourable mentions for the US and France. Biodiversity concerns Forests are also hotspots for biodiversity, providing a home for half of the world's terrestrial species of animals, plants and insects. Despite recent progress in increasing the area offered conservation protection status, the FAO warned that the threat to biodiversity continued. Mr Graziano da Silva cautioned: "We will not succeed in reducing the impact of climate change and promoting sustainable development if he do not preserve our forests and sustainably use the many resources they offer us."