Forests cover one-third of the Earth's land mass, serving as critical pillars for both environmental health and human well-being.
These ecosystems are not only the home to over half of the world’s terrestrial species but also play a pivotal role in combating climate change through their natural processes of carbon sequestration. Known as forest mitigation, this process is essential in reducing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, thus averting more extreme global temperature rises.
Climate mitigation potential of forests
Recognizing forests' role in achieving a sustainable future is crucial, especially in the context of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. This goal is unattainable without significant contributions from forests, which can be realized through ending deforestation and enhancing forest management and reforestation efforts.
The mitigation potential of forests, estimated between 4.1 and 6.5 GtCO2e by 2030, highlights their indispensable role in meeting international climate goals. Forest conservation, sustainable management and restoration practices offer a cost-effective means of climate mitigation, potentially accounting for up to 30% of the available mitigation measures over the next decade.
Benefits of forest: beyond carbon storage
Forests provide a multitude of benefits that are crucial for the health of our planet and the well-being of its inhabitants. Beyond their critical role in carbon storage, forests serve as vital shields against extreme weather conditions, such as storms and floods. They are essential in supplying drinking water to nearly half of the world’s largest cities, highlighting their significance in our daily lives. Forests also offer invaluable resources and protection for communities that rely on them for their livelihoods and security.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is at the forefront of efforts to ensure that forests around the globe are preserved and managed sustainably. These efforts aim to secure a healthier future for both people and the environment, acknowledging the profound connection between human well-being and the natural world.
Urgent action is needed now more than ever
Despite these benefits, the world faces the challenge of ongoing deforestation, which is a major contributor to as much as 21% of total greenhouse gas emissions attributed to the agriculture, forestry and other land use sector. The impact of deforestation is profound, undermining climate resilience efforts and threatening the livelihoods of forest-dwelling communities. The primary drivers of tropical deforestation include the production of commodities like palm oil, beef, soy, and timber, which necessitates a shift towards decoupling commodity production from forest loss.
Addressing this challenge requires a multifaceted approach, as outlined by UNEP, focusing on enhancing knowledge, creating enabling conditions, and securing finance for forest protection and sustainable management. The UN-REDD Programme, the UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration, and other initiatives play vital roles in this effort.
Additionally, recent efforts by tropical forest countries, underpinned by international frameworks and funding mechanisms, have started to yield credible and beneficial mitigation outcomes. Yet, to fully unleash forests' mitigation potential and contribute to Paris commitments and biodiversity targets, a coherent planning and financing pathway is essential. This need becomes even more pressing as we approach key milestones such as COP30, aiming for significant progress in forest conservation and climate action by 2030.
Investing in forests not only addresses climate change and biodiversity loss but also offers substantial economic returns and job creation opportunities. By prioritizing forests in global political agendas, we can ensure a sustainable future for all.
The potential gains are enormous: By investing $30 billion in fighting deforestation, we can earn a return of $2.5 trillion in saved products and services. Targeted investments in forestry can also generate up to millions of jobs.
We catalyse and support such investments by generating knowledge on the socioeconomic value of forest ecosystem services; promoting cross-sectoral awareness; supporting planning and policy reforms; and developing capacity in developing countries.
Many leaders have already glimpsed the potential for renewable energy and nature-based assets. But for the world to see a true transformation in forest management, forests need to become a universal political priority.
Learn more about the state of forests here.
Learn more about the importance of forests here.
