SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt – New research, auspiced by the FAO Advisory Committee on Sustainable Forest-Based Industries (ACSFI) and the International Council of Forest and Paper Associations (ICFPA) and launched at the World Climate Conference (COP27) in Egypt, recommends ‘a call to action’ for countries to take nationally determined approaches to growing their sustainable forest industries, thereby addressing an emerging global timber and wood fibre supply gap as the world pivots to climate friendly fibre supplies.
by Dalberg has been presented to a live and on-line audience in the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Pavilion at COP27.
Dalberg Advisors Principal Mokena Makeka said the report clarified the challenges the world must meet as it pivots away from fossil-fuels, “If the world doesn’t move to encourage growth in sustainable forest industries through climate policy, we will witness greater problems in the years and decades ahead, problems like increased illegal logging and deforestation activity in places where governance controls are most challenging.
“Individual countries must however develop the best policies to suit them. One country might be best suited to growing more sustainable plantations. Another to enhancing productivity of small holders. And in another it might mean a careful increase in natural forest management.”
Chair of the ACSFI, Ross Hampton said, “Half the dry weight of timber is carbon. Forest products in all shapes and forms are the best friend that climate mitigation has. The Dalberg research concludes that with global demand increasing at an astonishing rate off the back of urban growth, it’s critical we grow timber and fibre sustainably across the world to meet growing demand in the decades ahead.
Jori Ringman, President of the ICFPA said, “The consumers are making a conscious choice and turning to fibre-based materials. And we must do this to prevent runaway climate change. We need to focus equal attention on ensuring supplies of fibre are secured from sustainably managed forests, done to world’s best environmental standards. In the global north however, we are seeing a regulatory pressure to reduce fibre supplies. This report demands that we all consider what effect this might have in places which already struggle to prevent illegal harvest.”
Speakers at the event discussed the report, the benefits of growing forest-based economies and the balance required with biodiversity and community needs.
Speakers included:
- Prof Lee White – Gabon Minister for Water, Forests, the Sea and Environment
- Hon Jenny McAllister – Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Australia
- Jose Carlos da Fonseca Junior – Executive Director of IBA, Brazil
- Kersti Berge – Director of Energy and Climate Change, Scottish Government
- Regan Pairojmahakij – Senior Program Officer at the Centre for People and Forests
- Michael Barbara – New Forests, Director of Business Development
- Ranjila Singh – Climate Change and International Cooperation Division, Fiji Ministry
- Agustin Rosello Hinrichs – President, International Forestry Students Association
- Dr Amy Duchelle – Team Leader Climate Change and Resilience, FAO
