Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Forestry

Recently, the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released a report, titled 'Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Forestry'.

Key Highlights: The world’s forests provide habitats for about 80% of amphibian species, 75% of bird species and 68% of mammal species. In addition, about 60% of all vascular plants occur in tropical forests.

• Deforestation: Deforestation continues at an alarming rate of 10 million hectares per year (mainly for agricultural expansion), especially in lower income tropical countries.
• Illegal Forest Activities: Illegal timber harvesting is estimated to account for 15–30% of global timber production.
• Insufficient Capacity: Developing countries struggle to enforce forest and biodiversity regulations.
• Lack of Participation: Lack of Indigenous Peoples and local community participation.
• Low Conservation Profile: Low profile of conservation outside protected areas.
• Weak Governance: Weak governance and law enforcement are the biggest stumbling blocks to biodiversity conservation in protected areas.

Global Efforts: The role of forests in maintaining biodiversity is explicitly recognised by the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2017–2030.

• In 2019, FAO adopted the Strategy on Mainstreaming Biodiversity across Agricultural Sectors.