Sustainable Societies

Forests

Rapid forest loss is a pressing issue for the world, as forests are integral to air quality, scientific advancement, energy supplies, and more. The fundamental causes of forest area loss are unsound forest utilization, population growth, poverty, forest fires, agricultural expansion, illegal logging and trade, and the ownership and distribution of land. Forests are disappearing most rapidly in Africa and Latin America, leaving unfertile and eroded land. As demand for energy, paper and other products increases, developing technologies, energy source alternatives, recycling and reuse must be employed to stave off further destruction. Many unresolved issues remain concerning the fair and equitable sharing of benefits and property rights, from genetic resources to traditional forest-related knowledge. Efforts to enhance forest utilization and improve the management of forest resources are central issues to be addressed by the global community in order to conserve forest areas and forest-related products.