CBD CoP16 Forest and Water Day
Remarks by CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero
25 October 2024, Cali, Colombia
Esteemed participants,
It is a privilege to provide the closing remarks for this Forest and Water Day segment as Vice-Chair of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests or CPF. We have heard rich discussions that have reaffirmed the central role forests and water play in addressing the interlinked challenges of biodiversity loss, climate change, sustainable development, and human rights. The insights shared in today’s sessions reflect not only the importance of forests but also the complexity and urgency of our task.
- In Session 1, from Cali to Belem, we heard the inspirational keynote reminding us again of the importance of indigenous knowledge by Chief Juan Carlos and explored the essential links between forests and water systems (“Earth’s blood or heart and lungs”). We also heard about the importance of monitoring, interconnectivity, and personal ethics with the excellent high-level interventions from Tajikistan, UNFF, Ramsar, the United Kingdom, Colombia, and Brazil. I was especially pleased to hear the UK highlight the disparity between those who bear the costs of conserving forests and those who benefit from those forests. What we heard in this session makes us recognize the tremendous value of forests as without healthy forests, our water resources, our biodiversity, really, our own lives and livelihoods are at risk.
- In Session 2 “a human rights-based approach to conserving forest landscapes, the excellent speakers highlighted the need for social inclusion, the indisputable need for full participation and representation of youth, women and indigenous peoples for achieving long-lasting conservation outcomes, the contributions that can be made by various groups to biodiversity conservation, the need for land tenure and access to finance, and, finally, the enormous challenges, some of these of an extreme nature, that human rights defenders often experience in some countries when standing up for their rights.
- In Session 3 on Forest in a changing climate, we were reminded that biodiversity and climate are inextricably linked. Biodiversity is a safeguard for the resilience of our forests, particularly in the face of climate change. We heard about several forest programmes for monitoring and reporting, with increasing engagement of indigenous peoples with peer-to-peer learning and development of tools and guidance and communities of practice initiatives. We heard some interesting cases studies from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Papua New Guinea, and Brazil, with a clear call for inclusion and consciousness of the needs of indigenous peoples both for forest conservation and land rights for their sustainable development, how innovative technologies enables them to conduct inventories and assessments, and national efforts to reduce deforestation.
- In this last session on Sustainable Forest-Based Economies, we heard about the new EU deforestation regulation and support tools for implementation; FAO described their WHISP deforestation risk assessment tool that can be used by smallholders and businesses and a geolocation tool for farmers to keep their markets viable given the new EU regulation. There were case studies from Brazil, Colombia and Canada highlighting the role of the private sector for sustainable forest management and production, including existing regulations, standards and forest management planning. A point was made about providing for the increasing timber needs of the world in a sustainable manner, ensuring also social and economic benefits. The discussions demonstrated how sustainable forest management can be a driver of both biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation, with its opportunities and challenges, and a careful balance between conservation and the development needs of countries must be considered.
Allow me to reflect briefly on the launch of “The Forest Factor,” a major initiative of the CPF. This initiative represents a significant step forward in our efforts to integrate forest conservation and sustainable use into biodiversity strategies globally. The Forest Factor will support countries in achieving the Global Forest Goals, particularly as they work to implement the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
With its focus on practical solutions and evidence-based approaches, “The Forest Factor” showcases how sustainable forest management is crucial to help countries conserve, restore, and sustainably use their forests while contributing to global biodiversity targets. It is through initiatives like these that we, as CPF, can drive the transformation needed to safeguard forests for future generations.
Today’s discussions have made one thing clear: forests are not just a part of the solution—they are the foundation of it. Whether through protecting biodiversity, mitigating climate change, supporting livelihoods, or upholding human rights, forests are essential to achieving the sustainable and equitable future we all seek.
The strength of the CPF, as highlighted today in the presentations by several of its members, such as the FAO, the ITTO, and the CBD, also in collaboration with other partners, lies in its ability to unite diverse organizations around a common goal: to ensure the sustainable management, conservation, and restoration of the world’s forests. I want to reaffirm the collective commitment of the CPF to support countries in meeting their national and global forest-related objectives. CPF’s work aligns closely with the Framework, helping nations translate international commitments into concrete action on the ground.
As we close this Forest and Water Day session on Securing Forest Biodiversity for Nature, Climate and People, I encourage all of us to carry forward the momentum built today. Working collaboratively, we can ensure that the protection and sustainable management of forests remain central to our collective efforts in achieving the goals set out in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. It is clear to me that collaboration is more critical than ever!
Thank you for your presence!