Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, has urged world leaders to increase funding for forest conservation efforts to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.
Speaking at the Nineteenth Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF19) at the UN Headquarters in New York, the Minister emphasized the crucial role of forests in combating these crises. He called for a re-evaluation of forest financing options to stimulate investments towards achieving global goals on forests, climate change, and biodiversity.
The UNFF is a functional commission of the UN Economic and Social Council, established in 2000 to promote the management, conservation, and sustainable development of all types of forests. Comprising all UN Member States, the Forum meets annually to assess progress, adopt decisions, and make commitments towards achieving its goals.
The current session of the Forum, which began on May 6, 2024, is also conducting a mid-term review of the implementation of the International Arrangements on Forests.
On Thursday, 9th May, the Forum held its High-Level Ministerial Segment and forest partnership dialogue on the theme, “Forest-based solutions to the triple planetary crises: A focus on people, science and technology.”
During his address at the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF19), Mr. Jinapor expressed concern over the ongoing destruction of global forests despite the increasing awareness of environmental challenges and the potential of forests to address them.
Citing data from the World Resources Institute, Jinapor highlighted that tropical primary forest loss in 2023 alone amounted to 3.7 million hectares, resulting in 2.4 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. He emphasized that an annual investment of $393 billion is needed to protect the world’s forests.
Jinapor urged global leaders to take urgent and collaborative action to safeguard forests, which are vital for the planet and the 1.6 billion people who rely on them for survival. He noted that Ghana, under President Akufo-Addo’s leadership, has implemented various initiatives to protect and conserve forests, such as the Ghana Forest Plantation Strategy, the Green Ghana Project, and the Ghana REDD+ Strategy.
Highlighting the challenges faced by developing countries, which host 45% of global forests, Jinapor emphasized Ghana’s commitment to sustainable forest management despite financial constraints. He criticized developed countries for failing to fulfill their pledges to support developing countries in forest conservation.
“Why should the price of carbon in Europe, for example, be different from Africa, or in the Americas be different from Asia?”, the Minister quizzed.
Mr. Jinapor also highlighted the inconsistency in carbon pricing as a sign of the lack of commitment, questioning why the price of carbon varies between regions.
He emphasized the need for a comprehensive program to incentivize local communities dependent on forests to preserve these vital resources, acknowledging that the benefits of forest conservation extend far beyond the immediate gains for these communities.
The Forum, scheduled to conclude on Saturday, May 11, 2024, will finalize a Declaration and resolutions aimed at advancing sustainable forest management practices.