16th session of the UN Forum on Forests – High-Level Round Table
by Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
26/04/2021
Video Message by FAO Director-General Dr QU Dongyu
16th session of the UN Forum on Forests – High-Level Round Table
26 April 2021
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
1. Healthy forests are key to “building back better”.
2. At a time of unprecedented climate, health and economic crises, forests offer hope to heal people, environment and economy.
3. They provide energy, food security and income, and function as safety nets in emergencies for many millions of people.
4. Forests store carbon, provide clean water, and are home to most of the Earth’s terrestrial biodiversity.
5. Yet, deforestation and forest degradation continue to have a devastating impact on the environment and on people’s lives.
6. FAO's Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020 tells us that the world is losing 10 million hectares of forest each year through deforestation. Mostly due to the expansion of agriculture.
7. In addition, land degradation affects almost 2 billion hectares, an area larger than South America.
8. The result is greater amounts of climate-warming gases, and an irreversible loss of biodiversity – ultimately impacting people’s lives.
9. As we respond to the crises that beset our planet, forests must play a major role.
10. Fortunately, solutions are at hand.
11. Increasing agricultural production to feed a growing population and halting deforestation are not mutually exclusive.
12. FAO is committed to transforming agri-food systems and advancing the UN Secretary-General’s initiative on “Turning the Tide on Deforestation”.
13. Increasing investments in forests through stimulus packages can contribute to economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic while providing millions of green jobs.
14. FAO’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery Programme harnesses science, technology, data, human enterprise and creativity to build back better.
15. Forests and their restoration are integral to this holistic programme.
16. We need to work together withall stakeholders, including governments, the private sector, local communities, women, youth, as well as the Indigenous Peoples who manage about 28 percent of the world’s land surface.
17. Mobilizing global partnerships is also vital.
18. For example, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests, which FAO chairs.
19. A partnership that brings together 15 international organizations and works to support countries in protecting, restoring and sustainably managing their forests.
20. And FAO co-leads - together with UNEP - the implementation of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration which will generate momentum to restore the world’s forests and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
21. Our generation must be the one that halts deforestation, biodiversity loss and climate change.
22. Let’s make it happen, and achieve Better Nutrition, Better Production, a Better Environment and a Better Life.
23. I wish you all a productive and inspirational meeting.
24. Thank you.