Revised National Forest Policy discussion

9th May, 2024 Environment

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Context:

India shared its revised National Forest Policy during the 19th United Nations Forum on Forests held in New York, United States.

Details:

The forum discussion was centered around forest fires and developing the Model Forest Act.
These discussions were part of broader considerations on the UN's strategic plan for forests 2017-2030 and activities supporting thematic priorities for 2023-24.
Delegates engaged in discussions concerning combating forest fires and the development of a Model Forest Act.

Global Forest Goals:

The discussions emphasized the importance of achieving global forest goals, which involve enhancing forest-based economic, social, and environmental benefits.
Key goals included significantly increasing the area of protected forests, mobilizing financial resources, and promoting governance frameworks for sustainable forest management.
Additional attention was given to enhancing cooperation, coordination, and synergies as cross-cutting goals.

Revised National Forest Policy Recommendations by India:

Integrated Approach to Forest Fire Management:
- India recommended adopting an integrated approach to forest fire prevention and management, along with post-fire landscape restoration through policy interventions.
- Highlighting its experience with technology adoption, including remote sensing for near-real-time fire monitoring, online geoportals for forest fire reporting, and ecosystem-based approaches for restoration, India suggested to apply the same at a global scale.
Global Standards for Forest Certification:
- India proposed the creation of universally accepted global standards for forest certification and emphasized the need to evaluate current certification programs against these standards.
Community Involvement and Impact of Forest Fires:
- India noted the growing role of communities in addressing forest fires and highlighted the significant impacts of forest fires on biodiversity, ecosystem services, economies, livelihoods, and human well-being.
- It stressed the need for comprehensive long-term strategies for prevention and restoration due to the increased frequency and intensity of forest fires.
Operationalization of the Global Fire Management Hub:
- India proposed the operationalization of the Global Fire Management Hub by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and FAO, aiming to create a platform for sharing knowledge and experience in mitigating forest fires.