Forestry Investment News
CIFOR calls for focus on forests
08/08/2012
Ahead of the introduction of UN goals to promote sustainable development, the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) is calling for forests to take greater prominence in policymakers' decisions.
Louis Verchot, director of the Forests and Environment Programme at CIFOR, explained that in recent years a lot of the focus on forests has centred around their role in offsetting greenhouse gases.
However, Mr Verchot noted that forests have various other important roles to play. He added that a loss of biodiversity and carbon storage capacity is a significant problem, which is set to increase as coastal waters rise: “Less land will be available for production, and less land will be available to support the fisheries and other activities important to people living inland who seasonally use these areas.”
Speaking with other scientists at a CIFOR conference on forests at Rio+20, Mr Verchot stated: “The days of forests for the sake of forests are over.”
Efforts by companies such as Greenwood Management can contribute to national efforts to reduce the destruction of forests and land. Meanwhile, responsibility is shifting from central government to local authorities to help protect areas of land that people rely of for their livelihood.
Louis Verchot, director of the Forests and Environment Programme at CIFOR, explained that in recent years a lot of the focus on forests has centred around their role in offsetting greenhouse gases.
However, Mr Verchot noted that forests have various other important roles to play. He added that a loss of biodiversity and carbon storage capacity is a significant problem, which is set to increase as coastal waters rise: “Less land will be available for production, and less land will be available to support the fisheries and other activities important to people living inland who seasonally use these areas.”
Speaking with other scientists at a CIFOR conference on forests at Rio+20, Mr Verchot stated: “The days of forests for the sake of forests are over.”
Efforts by companies such as Greenwood Management can contribute to national efforts to reduce the destruction of forests and land. Meanwhile, responsibility is shifting from central government to local authorities to help protect areas of land that people rely of for their livelihood.
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