It is my pleasure to join you to celebrate the 2021 International Day of Forests. The establishment, 20 years ago, of the UN Forum on Forests was a momentous development. The adoption of the first United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2030 was another landmark moment. Today, even as we grapple with the COVID pandemic, Global Forest Goals outlined in the Plan are even more vital to ensure that recovery from the crisis does not exacerbate the loss of biodiversity and natural ecosystems and jeopardize the implementation of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The world’s forests are fast retreating. As the COVID crisis takes its toll on the most vulnerable segments of our society, and incomes and livelihoods decline, the dependence of millions, especially in the rural communities, on forests and forest products, like fuel-wood, will continue to grow. We must take urgent action to stop deforestation and forest degradation and provide alternatives to rural populations dependent on wood-burning, through renewable energy installation and job creation in rural areas. 2. Simultaneously, we must prioritize restoring forests, through long-term reforestation plans. Degraded land can be made productive again. The benefits of restoring forest landscapes offer direct long-term benefits for local communities. My country, Pakistan, has embarked on an Eco-system restoration plan through its national agencies. Pakistan’s Prime Minister has launched a campaign to plant 10 billion trees over the next three years. This will also create employment and job opportunities for unskilled labor, especially women, and provide fruit and other income-enhancing products. This is a critical component of Pakistan’s COVID response and recovery plan. We need to stop thinking in silos; actions towards reforestation and climate adaptation should be incorporated into national poverty alleviation programs. The United Nations can help member states to plan and initiate such actions, especially by utilizing the Resident Coordinators and UNDP Resident Representatives in over 130 developing countries, to develop integrated and holistic reforestation plans. The potential of science, technology and innovation must be mobilized for this purpose also. Technologies, such as remote sensing, efficient water management, and the GIS technology for data collection, can be powerful tools in reforestation and climate adaptation. Drone technologies are being used to survey and map forests, and even plant trees in remote inaccessible areas. To make all of this possible, finance is the key. Governments should be encouraged to invest in reforestation and other nature-based solutions. 3. Forest restoration offers a cheap and efficient way for local communities to build their natural capital, improve their environment and ultimately support peoples’ livelihoods and wellbeing. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. But we will need to address the debt and liquidity crisis that currently severely restricts the capacity of most developing countries to attract money for reforestation and nature-based solutions. One option is debt swaps for nature. The issuance of green bonds is another approach. Finally, it is worth propagating, the message that financing forest preservation and restoration presents a huge opportunity. Forests offer one of the most cost-effective means for tackling climate change – as carbon sinks and as the means to regulate rainfall, absorb pollutants, safeguard watersheds, and prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases such as COVID-19. The theme of this year’s International Day of Forests captures this sentiment – forest restoration is a path to recovery for people everywhere and for the future health and preservation of our planet. It is up to all of us to mobilize the political will to transform our vision into reality.
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