[The area of primary forests has been reduced by +80 million hectares worldwide] Restoration as an opportunity to save forests

The rate of deforestation between 2015 and 2020 is estimated at 10 million hectares per year, up from 16 million hectares per year in the 1990s. The area of primary forests worldwide has decreased by more than 80 million hectares since 1990. More than 100 million hectares of forests are being affected by forest fires, pests, diseases, invasive species, droughts and adverse weather events (State of the World’s Forests: http://www.fao.org/3/ca8642es/CA8642ES.pdf).

The United Nations Forum on Forests, which promotes sustainable forest management in accordance with Agenda 2030, Agenda 21, the Rio Declaration, the forest principles, the Global Objectives on Forests and the United Nations Instrument on Forests, was held on 26 April.

One of the forum’s sessions was «Restoration of Mountain Forests: a path towards the recovery and resilience of mountain countries and communities». Kaspar Schmidt, Programme Advisor of Helvetas Peru and member of the Andean Forests Programme, presented the progress made through the Andean Forests Programme in five key thematic areas for reducing or reversing deforestation, valuing the role of forests and achieving the goals set for 2030.

  1. Andean forests provide ecosystem services, facilitate local livelihoods and promote climate resilience in the Andes.
  2. Youth, women and forests: role and strategic contribution. In line with SDG #5, the programme seeks to highlight and enhance initiatives in which women are empowered in response to the quest for efficient, fair and equitable management of natural resources, ensuring conditions for new generations; and to establish the foundation for formulating a synthesis document that addresses gender aspects in the management and conservation of Andean forests.
  3. Importance and role of the Andean forest. The traditional knowledge of local communities, the ecosystem services provided by Andean forests, the use that people make of forest biodiversity for their livelihoods and their social and spiritual values are poorly reflected in current policy design and in public development programmes and private projects.
  4. From knowledge to action. Bridging the gap between the benefit of Andean forests and the communities that live in them, by linking the programme with other initiatives working on the same issue.
  5. Andean forests and sustainable private investment opportunities. The practical experience of Peru, Ecuador and Colombia demonstrates the feasibility of innovative financing mechanisms involving private sector investment partners in performance-based payments for ecosystem services, restoration of degraded Andean forests and forest conservation plans.

Beatriz Fuentealba from INAIGEM presented activities in Peru for conserving and restoring mountain forests, supported by governance platforms such as the Andean Mountain Initiative and the Mountain Partnership.

The Andean Forests Programme is part of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation’s Global Programme on Climate Change and Environment. This is now in its second phase, and will expand collaboration to replicate and scale up good practices in the restoration of Andean mountain forests by linking and combining existing experience and knowledge in the region and public and private investment opportunities in this area. It is implemented by the Helvetas – Condesan consortium.

Source: Andean Forests

Links of interest:
Factsheet Andean Forests Programme
Web Andean Forests Programme

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