Highlights and images for 3 May 2022

As XV WFC entered its second day of events, participants delved deeper into a broad spectrum of forest-related issues.

In the morning, a ministerial forum addressed how to increase financing for forest conservation and management.

Later on, a high-level roundtable was held on the Peace Forest Initiative, which promotes transboundary environmental cooperation between countries, particularly those in fragile and conflict-affected regions.

During a lunchtime side event, the FAO released key findings from the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020, considered to be the most updated, consistent and reliable land use statistics currently available. 

In the afternoon, participants took part in the second plenary session of the Congress, on “Forests for a healthy, prosperous and peaceful world,” moderated by journalist and broadcaster Henry Bonsu.

In the morning and afternoon, participants met in six parallel sessions, to continue discussions on the six sub-themes of the Congress.

Under Sub-theme 1, participants explored ways to enable and scale-up finance to halt deforestation, and looked at how to address the role that agricultural commodities play.

Under Sub-theme 2, the role of sustainable forest management in meeting post-2020 biodiversity commitments was discussed. Later, participants shared lessons learned regarding successful forest restoration practices and programmes, and discussed how to fulfill the objectives of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration by 2030.

Under Sub-theme 3, participants discussed opportunities and challenges in the forest sector for  promoting green jobs while achieving sustainability, and ways in which innovation can be facilitated.

Under Sub-theme 4, participants learned about the many ways in which forests contribute to human health, including providing medicines, and therapeutic and healing properties. Later, participants discussed how to ensure that forests continue to secure livelihoods for rural communities, including equitable rights, access, and tenure.

Under Sub-theme 5, participants engaged in a two-part session looking at innovations and emerging trends in forest monitoring, including remote sensing technologies and field-based forest assessments, and the benefit these can have for communities and forest-dependent people.

Under Sub-theme 6, participants looked at how forest management affects water, and in turn, the ability to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Later, participants engaged in a panel-led discussion on challenges faced by local communities and Indigenous Peoples in acting as custodians and managers of forests.

Broad-ranging discussions on diverse forestry-related topics are set to continue on Wednesday.