Forest Caucus ReportA Newsletter of the Canadian Environmental Network Forest Caucus
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Forestry Congress We challenge governments and industry participating in the 12th World Forestry Congress to leave Québec City with a clear action plan for environmental protection and social justice in the world’s forests. Despite optimistic statements made by government and industry, current global trends in forestry are marked by increases in unsustainable forest harvesting, continued and serious net losses in biodiversity, inadequate recognition of the rights of Indigenous Peoples and other marginalized forest communities, and continued forest degradation and loss contributing to climate change. The majority of countries in the world have agreed to abide by several international agreements to conserve and utilize their forest resources in an equitable and sustainable manner. However, these countries have failed to meet the goals of these agreements. Few countries have comprehensive action plans to implement the provisions of these agreements, and plans that has been developed are, for the most part, not being put into effect. What these commitments lack are measurable targets, binding timelines, objective evaluation systems and requirements for community-based decision-making. Because these measures are not in place, we are losing opportunities to conserve and sustain crucial forest ecosystems. In addition, the rights of Indigenous Peoples and those of other forest dependant communities are being undermined. The following NGOs call on Governments to implement commitments already made under existing international agreements, including the forest principles and commitments to Indigenous Peoples in Agenda 21 and the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity signed at the Earth Summit in 1992, the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests, the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Yukon Conservation Society |