Experts urge a new global pact at COP16 to safeguard boreal and temperate forests

Experts urge a new global pact at COP16 to safeguard boreal and temperate forests

Sub: Geo

Sec: Economic Geography

Urgent Call for Focus on Northern Forests:

• During the 16th Conference of Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Cali, Colombia, experts highlighted the critical importance of the world’s Northern forests for biodiversity, indigenous rights, and climate change mitigation.

Key Roles of Northern Forests:

• Forest Coverage: Northern forests, particularly in boreal and temperate regions of Europe, North America, and Russia, comprise around 30% of global forest cover.
• Carbon Sinks: These forests play a crucial role in absorbing atmospheric CO₂, helping mitigate climate change.
• Protection Gap: Currently, only 10% of Northern forests are protected, falling short of the global target of 18%. This leaves them vulnerable to unsustainable practices like industrial logging.

Disparities in Forest Conservation Efforts:

• Tropical forests receive significant attention and funding compared to Northern forests, which are often overlooked despite their ecological importance.
• This disparity reflects a historical focus on economic development in the Global North, leading to insufficient protective measures for Northern forests.

Main Threats to Northern Forests:

• Industrial Logging:
  • Habitat Degradation: Clear-cutting practices disrupt ecosystems, reduce biodiversity, and create homogeneous plantations, which are less resilient.
  • Carbon Emissions: Logging turns these vital carbon sinks into carbon sources, undermining climate goals. Since 1976, logging has affected over 35.54 million acres of boreal forests.
  • Old-Growth Forest Loss: In Sweden, between 2003 and 2019, 20% of forests cleared were old-growth, raising sustainability concerns.