Context:

• India participated in the 19th  session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) held in New York. During the session, India underlined the country's significant progress in forest conservation and sustainable forest management, which has resulted in a steady increase in forest area over the last fifteen years. Globally, India ranked third in average annual net gain in forest area between 2010 and 2020.

Important Point

Objective of 19th session:

• The aim is to achieve consensus on a high-level political commitment to forest conservation with specific actions for the effective implementation of the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests (UNSPF) by UNTF and its stakeholders.

UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2017-2030:

• It provides a global framework for actions at all levels to sustainably manage all types of forests and trees outside forests and halt deforestation and forest degradation.
• It also provides a framework for forest-related contributions to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement adopted under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification etc.
• It serves as a reference for the forest-related work of the UN system and for fostering enhanced coherence, collaboration and synergies among UN bodies and partners.

 India's important initiatives

• India also highlighted the creation of the International Big Cat Alliance, another important step aimed at protecting and conserving the seven big cat species across the world through collaborative international efforts.
• India also shared the launch of the ‘Green Credit Program’, designed to incentivize institutions for tree plantation and restoration of degraded forest lands, which aims to further strengthen climate action initiatives.
• Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India in partnership with Integrated Rural Fire Management Agency, Portugal, Korea Forest Service and International Tropical Timber Organization hosted the event 'Principles and Strategies for Landscape Integrated Fire Management through Collaborative Governance’.

Declaration

• The UNFF 19 culminated in a declaration to take urgent and accelerated actions to halt deforestation and forest degradation and to prevent land degradation, including the implementation of the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests and the achievement of the Global Forest Goals.

Important Fact for Exam

About United Nations Forum on Forests:

• Established: 2000 (by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations)
• Headquarters: New York, United States
• Membership of the Forum is universal and includes all Member States and specialized agencies of the United Nations.
• India is a founding member of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF).