Forests are crucial for sustainable development and human well-being, but approximately 13 million hectares continue to be lost each year, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. The UN and others are working globally to address deforestation by creating incentives for emission reductions from forests and eliminating deforestation in supply chains. A key goal is advancing commitments through the New York Declaration on Forests to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation through conservation and restoration of forests.

1. The Issue
Forests and the services they offer society are crucial to sustainable development and human well-being. While many efforts to slow or halt deforestation have been successful, approximately 13 million hectares of forests continue to be lost each year, contributing up to 20 per cent of annual global greenhouse gas emissions. The clearing of land linked to the development of agricultural commodities is a key factor behind deforestation. At the same time, about 2 billion hectares of degraded forests and other lands – all around the globe – need to be restored. Actions to combat deforestation and speed up the restoration of degraded lands will contribute to economic growth, poverty reduction and greater food security as well as help communities adapt to climate change and secure the rights and livelihoods of indigenous peoples and local communities.
Action Plan
The United Nations, civil society organizations, indigenous peoples and the private sector are working together in a global effort to address deforestation and expand the restoration of forests. These efforts include a public-private partnership to eliminate deforestation within the agricultural commodity supply chains, and the creation of strong incentives to reward emission reductions from tropical forests countries.
...approximately
13 million hectares of forests continue to be lost each year
Action Area: FORESTS
Damar Forests of Indonesia – UN Photo/Eva Fendiaspara

2. For more information on contributing to this Action Area contact:
Charles McNeill
Senior Policy Advisor, Environment and Energy Group
United Nations Development Programme
charles.mcneill@undp.org
Tracy Raczek
UN Secretary-General’s Climate Change Support Team
Office of the Assistant Secretary- General for Strategic Planning
razcek@un.org
One vital goal for the Summit is to advance commitments made by all relevant partners – including developing and developed countries and financial institutions – to REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, including through conservation, the sustainable management of forests and the enhancement of forest carbon stocks). Tropical forest countries are being urged to present priority actions for deforestation and forest restoration in their statements at the Summit, even if these actions are conditional on international support. Advanced economies are being urged to include financial incentives for REDD+ in their post- 2020 climate change commitments, which could inform and catalyse action on REDD+ policy decisions and financing in 2015.agricultural productivity and incomes, strengthening the resilience of food systems and farmers’ livelihoods and curbing the emission of greenhouse gases related to agriculture. The alliance is a voluntary coalition of a broad range of stakeholders: governments, food producers, farmers, scientists, civil society, multilateral organizations and the private sector.
Deliverables
The New York Declaration on Forests
The New York Declaration on Forests lays out high-level goals to address deforestation and promote restoration and will be endorsed by countries, companies, indigenous peoples and civil society organizations. The Declaration will remain open for signing after the Summit up until the twenty-first session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in December 2015 in Paris. An accompanying “Action Agenda” will specify distinct actions that countries, companies, indigenous peoples and civil society can voluntarily take to achieve the initiative’s ambitions.
Implementation Commitments
The Declaration will be accompanied by the announcement of a number of significant, concrete and tangible implementation commitments by countries, multilateral institutions, subnational jurisdictions, companies, financial institutions, CSOs and IPs.
Find out more at:
www.un.org/climatechange/summit