- The World Forestry Congress is a recurring event held every six years. The most recent congress, organized by the Republic of Korea in collaboration with FAO, marked the second time the event took place in Asia.
- The inaugural Congress in Asia was hosted by Indonesia in 1978.
- Throughout its history, the Congress has served as a platform for inclusive discussions addressing key challenges and charting the future path for the forestry sector.
- 2022 Theme: Building a Green, Healthy, and Resilient Future
- The current edition of the World Forestry Congress, held in 2022, has adopted the theme “Building a Green, Healthy, and Resilient Future.”
OBJECTIVE:
- The primary aim of the Congress is to foster a new vision – a transformative mindset and approach – for the future of forests and forestry within the context of sustainable development at various levels.
- Recognizing that investing in forests and forestry translates to an investment in people and their livelihoods, particularly benefitting the rural poor, youth, and women, this initiative aims to contribute to sustainable development and the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals by the year 2030.
SEOUL DECLARATION
- The Seoul Declaration was officially endorsed during the XV World Forestry Congress convened in Seoul, South Korea.
- This significant proclamation garnered the support and signatures of 141 participating countries.
- Preceding this, the State of the World’s Forests 2022 (SOFO 2022) was unveiled by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
HIGHLIGHTS OF SEOUL DECLARATION:
1. Shared Responsibility:
- Emphasizes the need for shared and integrated responsibility for forests across various institutions, sectors, and stakeholders.
- Recognizes the transcendent nature of forests, playing a vital role in global biodiversity, carbon cycles, water cycles, and energy cycles.
2. Investment in Forest:
- Urges a threefold increase in global investment in forest and landscape restoration by 2030 to meet international commitments and targets for restoring degraded land.
3. Circular Bioeconomy and Climate Neutrality:
- Highlights the importance of transitioning towards a circular bioeconomy and achieving climate neutrality.
- Calls for innovative green financing mechanisms to enhance investment in forest conservation, restoration, and sustainable use.
- Recognizes sustainably produced wood as a renewable, recyclable, and versatile material.
4. Prevention of Future Pandemics:
- Stresses the maintenance of healthy and productive forests as a preventive measure against future pandemics.
- Acknowledges the essential benefits of forests for human physical and mental health.
5. Innovative Technologies and Mechanisms:
- Urges the continued development and utilization of emerging innovative technologies and mechanisms to facilitate evidence-based decision-making related to forests and landscapes.
Other Highlights of the XV World Forestry Congress:
1. AFFIRM Mechanism (Assuring the Future of Forests with Integrated Risk Management):
Aims to develop integrated risk management plans as examples for countries, enhancing their ability to conduct disturbance risk assessments and understand forest hazards and risks better.
2. SAFE Initiative (Sustaining an Abundance of Forest Ecosystems):
Focuses on sustaining the abundance of forest ecosystems, contributing to long-term ecological health.
3. Platform for REDD+ Capacity Building:
- Supports REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) activities, providing guidance for sustainable forest management and conservation to reduce emissions in developing countries.
These initiatives underscore the commitment to global collaboration, sustainable forest management, and addressing challenges related to climate change and biodiversity.
FAQs ON WORLD FORESTRY CONGRESS
1-What is the World Forestry Congress?
A: The World Forestry Congress is a recurring event held every six years, providing a platform for inclusive discussions on key challenges and the future of the forestry sector.
2-When and where was the most recent World Forestry Congress held?
A: The recent congress, themed “Building a Green, Healthy, and Resilient Future,” was held in 2022 and organized by the Republic of Korea in collaboration with FAO. It marked the second time the event took place in Asia.
3-What is the objective of the World Forestry Congress?
A: The Congress aims to foster a new vision for the future of forests and forestry, emphasizing sustainable development at all levels. It recognizes that investing in forests is an investment in people, benefiting the rural poor, youth, and women, contributing to sustainable development and the achievement of the SDGs by 2030.
4-What is the Seoul Declaration?
A: The Seoul Declaration is a significant proclamation endorsed during the XV World Forestry Congress in Seoul, South Korea, receiving support from 141 participating countries.
5-What are the key points emphasized in the Seoul Declaration?
- Shared Responsibility: Emphasizes shared responsibility for forests across institutions, sectors, and stakeholders.
- Investment in Forest: Urges a threefold increase in global investment in forest and landscape restoration by 2030.
- Circular Bioeconomy and Climate Neutrality: Highlights transitioning to a circular bioeconomy and achieving climate neutrality.
- Prevention of Future Pandemics: Stresses maintaining healthy forests as a preventive measure against future pandemics.
- Innovative Technologies: Urges the development and use of innovative technologies for evidence-based decision-making.
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