By Daniel Frimpong
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu. Jinapor, has urged global leaders to enhance investment in forest financing to combat the triple planetary emergency of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity decline.
During the 19th Gathering of the United Nations Forum on Forest (UNFF19) at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York, the minister emphasized the ability of forest to address the triple planetary crises, necessitating a critical review of forest financing strategies to catalyze investment endeavors in line with globally agreed objectives on Forest , climate change, and biodiversity.
The United Nations Forum on Forest (UNFF) functions as a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), established in 2000 to advocate for the management, conservation, and sustainable growth of all types of woodlands, bolstering long-term political dedication to this aim.
Constituted by all UN member nations, the forum convenes annually to evaluate progress, adopt resolutions, and make commitments toward fulfilling the forum’s objective.
The 19th session of the forum, commencing on May 6, 2024, also undertakes a midterm assessment of the execution of the International Arrangements on Forest .
During the High-Level Ministerial Segment and forest partnership dialogue themed “Forest -driven Solutions to the Triple Planetary Crises: Emphasizing People, Science, and Technology,” Mr Jinapor deplored the persistent depletion of global forest , notwithstanding enhanced global awareness and comprehension of environmental predicaments and the potential of forest to mitigate these issues.
Quoting the World Resources Institute, tropical primary forest loss in 2023 alone reached 3.7 million hectares and contributed to 2.4 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
An estimated $393 billion annually is needed to safeguard the world’s forest .
Citing these figures, Mr Jinapor stressed the imperative for global leaders to take immediate, concerted, and cooperative measures to preserve the world’s woodlands, the planet, and the subsistence and livelihoods of 1.6 billion people reliant on Forest resources.
He highlighted Ghana’s efforts under President Akufo-Addo’s leadership in forest protection and conservation, including the Ghana Forest Plantation Strategy, the Green Ghana Project, and the Ghana REDD+ Strategy.
Mr Jinapor pointed out that developing nations, hosting approximately 45 percent of global forest , confront significant challenges in preservation and conservation, especially financial constraints.
He underscored Ghana’s allocation of its limited resources to sustainable woodland management due to the government’s emphasis on the nation’s forest .
The minister lamented the persistent failure of developed nations to fulfill their commitments to assist developing nations in sustainable forest management.
He criticized the inconsistency in carbon pricing, questioning why carbon prices vary between regions.
He advocated for a comprehensive scheme to incentivize local communities dependent on Forest to conserve these resources.
The forum, concluding today, will endorse a declaration and several resolutions to advance sustainable woodland management.