By Elishya Perera
(CU)_Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland called on member countries to boost sustainable land use management, on the road to the United Nations Climate Change Conference, which will be held in Glasgow in November.
Marking the International Day of Forests on Sunday (21 March), the Secretary-General highlighted the significance of natural assets in sustaining life on the planet.
“From the vast boreal woods of Canada to the rich primary forests of Papua New Guinea, the Commonwealth covers nearly a quarter of all forest land in the world – an estimated 900 million hectares,” she said. “They are essential sources of food, air and water, sustaining complex natural ecosystems, and supporting the livelihoods of millions of people, including around 90 per cent of those living in extreme poverty.”
Scotland noted that with global forests absorbing a net 7.6 billion metric tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, they play a vital role in mitigating the impacts of climate change, although these forests are at the risk of being degraded, mainly owing to unsustainable land use by humans.
She warned that small and other vulnerable states will struggle the most with the consequences if collective and robust action is not taken.
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is scheduled to be held in Kigali in June, during which the leaders of the member states are expected to take decisive action on these issues, ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November.
The Secretary-General also said that the Commonwealth countries are working towards launching the Commonwealth Call to Action on Living Lands, which aim at reinforcing efforts to tackle the threefold challenge, which includes climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation.
She complimented “exemplary actions and pledges” made by many member states to date in order to restore their forests and manage them sustainably, including The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy, a network of forest conservation initiatives involving all 54 countries of the Commonwealth.
“We must continue working together to integrate wider sustainable land use management practices into national climate plans and mechanisms,” Scotland added. “Focus areas to be explored include climate resilient agriculture, soil and water conservation and management, sustainable green cover and biodiversity, and the active engagement of indigenous people.”
