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Forests cover one-third of our planet's land. They provide raw materials, maintain biodiversity, protect land and water resources, affect our climate and provide us with fresh air.
Deforestation continues at an alarmingly high rate, but there is good news. The Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005 (FRA 2005) constitutes the most comprehensive assessment of forests and forestry to date. It covers 229 countries and territories. FRA 2005 says that at the global level, the world's forest resources appear to be doing fine, but the assessment includes both positive and negative trends.
Some of the negatives include these: deforestation is not slowing down globally; the area of primary forest is decreasing by about 6 million hectares each year; in some regions, the area affected by fires, insects and diseases is increasing; the areas of wood removal is also growing; and the level of employment in forest management and conservation is decreasing.
The good news is that forests are increasingly being conserved and managed. When forests are managed well, they contribute significantly to local and national economies and to the well being of current and future generations.
Some countries have effected excessive deforestation, and as a result, they have suffered the consequences. An example is Haiti. One-third of the country was deforested. And when the recent hurricane hit the country, it inflicted a heavy damage.
There are signs of hope however. A number of countries are at the forefront in the preservation of forests. The Brazilian government has pledged to end deforestation by 2015. By that time, more trees would be planted than cut. This objective would be achieved through an aggressive program of restoring native forests, cracking down on illegal logging, providing incentives to improve energy efficiency and encouraging energy renewal and energy sources.
At the global level, the "Billion Tree Campaign" was launched in 2007 to challenge governments, business, local communities and individuals to plant a billion trees in the year and to raise awareness about climate change and environmental protection. By December that year, the goal was achieved. The executive director of the UN Environment Program could not contain his enthusiasm.
"I am delighted to say that an initiative to catalyze the pledging and the planting of one billion trees has been achieved and indeed surpassed," he said. "It is a further sign of breathtaking momentum witnessed this year on the challenge for this generation--climate change", he added. "Citizens after citizens, community after community and country after country have proved the doubters wrong and demonstrated an abiding truth in 2007, namely that given a focus and the chance to act, millions if not billions of people around the world want an end to pollution and environmental deterioration and have rolled up their sleeves and got their hands dirty to prove the point."
There is hope for humanity.
Dr. Abbadi was former Director of Political Affairs at the United Nations. He is a journalist and writes from Hillsdale.
