Forests play a critical role in the fight against climate change because they absorb huge amounts of carbon. The planet’s forests are under serious threat from climate change Climate and Environment
Decades of efforts to protect forests, which serve as a critical natural barrier against rising carbon dioxide, are under threat from the accelerating climate crisis. This was stated by experts from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
Due to an increase in the number of forest fires and droughts caused by higher temperatures, decreased humidity and pest invasions, a critical situation has developed.
1.76 billion hectares of forest are under threat
In the countries of UNECE – Europe, North America, the Caucasus and Central Asia – there are more than 1.76 billion hectares of forests, representing more than 40 percent of the world’s forest cover.
Although the total forest area in the region has grown by 60 million hectares (the largest increase is recorded in Europe and Central Asia), the world as a whole is experiencing the opposite trend – about 10.9 million hectares of forest are disappearing every year.
Fires and pests: scale disasters
In 2021, forest fires destroyed 12.6 million hectares of forest – an area comparable to the territory of Greece, UNECE representative Paola Deda said. Another 73 million hectares of forests, roughly the size of Spain and Portugal combined, are affected by insects and disease.
“If these trends continue, forests, which today serve as a powerful carbon sink, could become a source of emissions, threatening global climate change goals,” – warned Grandfather.
Forest protection
With the support of UNECE member states, forest protection programs continue, including action against acid rain in Central Europe, which previously caused serious damage to ecosystems. Since 1990, the area allocated for biodiversity conservation and soil and water protection has doubled. Today, more than 300 million hectares of forests (about the size of the whole of Italy) are under legal protection.
But UNECE warns that the impact of climate change is accelerating forest destruction, threatening to reverse decades of environmental progress.
UNECE also notes a special role boreal forests. The forests surrounding the Arctic contain about 32 percent of all terrestrial carbon stocks. They are negatively affected by thawing permafrost and rising temperatures. Their protection requires coordinated international policy.
Climate Summit in Brazil
Ahead of the COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, UNECE has called on world leaders to strengthen forest conservation measures that include fire prevention, pest control and large-scale reforestation. percent.
“The largest forested country in the world is not Brazil, but Russia, Paola Deda recalled. crucial for the planet’s climate.”
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“Everything we have achieved in the last three decades, is now under serious threat due to the climate crisis. We cannot afford to lose the planet’s most powerful natural defense,” said UNECE Executive Secretary Tatyana Molchan. According to her, the world’s forests could suffer such severe damage that it will be impossible to restore them. “The international community – especially the leaders who will gather in Belene, – must understand: forest protection is no longer just an environmental issue, it is the basis of global carbon security,” – stressed the head of the UNECE.