Environmental case for forest during Climate Summit in Copenhagen

December 13, 2009 by timbercommunity

The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen has put forests and the consequences of different forest management practices higher on the global political agenda than ever before, for good reason.
Abstract Welcome letter from Troels Lund Poulsen
Minister for the Environment, Denmark
"Whilst forests and other land ecosystems currently capture and store more than a quarter of the world’s carbon emissions, deforestation and forest degradation simultaneously contributes up to 17–20% of global CO2 emissions. Evidently, major contributions to fighting climate change could be achieved through improved forest management and land use practices.
Forests themselves are vulnerable ecosystems that may be impacted significantly by climate change, and are indeed far more than carbon stores. They harbour two-thirds of all land-based biodiversity, and generate critical ecosystem goods and services such as water, food, medicine, fuel and income from more than 5000 commercial forest products. Forests sustain the cultural and spiritual
identity of billions of people, foremost among them indigenous peoples and local communities. If sustainably managed, forests have the potential to provide for all these benefits, including their positive contributions to the global carbon balance.
New mechanisms for addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation may provide new opportunities, as well as new challenges for forests and forest management practices. It is crucial that we understand the complex interactions between forests, people, climate and ecosystem services – and know how to respond.

Forest Day 3 brings together forest policy makers, leading thinkers, scientists and a range of other stakeholders to discuss the most urgent and important challenges and opportunities for global forestry in the context of climate change. I am proud to present the programme you now hold in your hands. It is the result of joint and remarkable contributions from several organisations and individuals,
led by CIFOR and co-hosted by partners from the Collaborative Partnership on Forests."