19th Session of United Nations Forum on Forest | 21 May 2024

Source: PIB

Why in News?

Recently, India participated in the 19^th Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) at the UN Headquarters in New York.

• India highlighted its significant advancements in forest conservation and sustainable forest management, leading to a consistent increase in forest cover over the past fifteen years.

What were the Key Takeaways from UNFF19?

• India presented its revised National Forest Policy emphasising forest fire prevention and management through recommendations and technological solutions.
  • According to UNFF, about 100 million hectares of forest or 3% of world’s total forest area are affected by fires each year.
  • India proposes operationalising the Global Fire Management Hub, a collaborative effort by the UNEP and the FAO to share knowledge and experiences in mitigating forest fires.
• India suggests establishing universally accepted standards like Model Forests Act for forest certification programs for consistent and responsible forest management practices worldwide.
• The forum reviewed the UN's strategic plan for forests (2017-2030) and progress made in achieving global forest goals like enhancing forests' economic, social, and environmental benefits and securing finances.
• A UN report highlighted concerns about “Climatisation” of forests, driven by market-oriented approaches for carbon sequestration, reducing forests ecological and social values roles to mere carbon sinks.
• Indonesia presented its Forest and Other Land Use Net Sink 2030 strategy, and Malaysia committed to keeping at least 50% of its territory under tree cover.

What were India’s Highlighted Initiatives in Forest Management at UNFF19?

• India highlighted its success in using technology to manage forest fires.
  • Examples include real-time fire monitoring via remote sensing, online fire reporting through web portals, and utilising ecological methods for restoration.
    • Based on the forest inventory records, 54.40% of forests in India are exposed to occasional fires, 7.49% to moderately frequent fires and 2.40% to high incidence levels.
• Globally, India ranks third in the net gain of average annual forest area between 2010 and 2020.
• India completed its 50 years of Project Tiger and 30 years of Project Elephant, demonstrating its commitment to species conservation and habitat protection.
• India introduced the 'Green Credit Program' to incentivise tree plantation and restoration of degraded forest lands to strengthen climate action initiatives.
• In 2023, India hosted the country-led Initiative under UNFF at Dehradun, attended by representatives from 40 countries and 20 international organisations, focusing on forest fire management and forest certification.

What are the Key Facts About the Indian Forest Policy?

• The National Forest Policy, 1894 (Colonial Focus):
  • The policy prioritised timber production and custodial management.
  • Forest classification was introduced, with emphasis on protecting commercially valuable areas.
• The National Forest Policy, 1952 (National Needs):
  • Policy focused on national priorities like land-use management and environmental protection.
  • Emphasised securing resources like timber, pasture, and fuelwood for national development.
• The National Forest Policy, 1988 (Ecological Security):
  • Prioritised environmental stability, biodiversity conservation, and soil and water security.
  • Advocated for large-scale afforestation and social forestry programs.
• Draft National Forest Policy, 2018 (Contemporary Challenges):
  • Proposed revisions to address modern issues like climate change and human-wildlife conflict.
  • Focuses on mitigating climate change and promoting public-private partnerships for forest restoration.

Conclusion

India's participation at UNFF19 showcased its success in forest conservation and sustainable management. India proposed a comprehensive national forest policy with technological solutions and called for international collaboration through a knowledge-sharing platform. While the High-Level Declaration remains under discussion, UNFF19 emphasised crucial steps towards achieving global forest goals.