Forests play a crucial role in sustaining life on Earth, making their protection and restoration a priority in climate negotiations

Global initiatives increasingly encourage tree planting and reforestation, given the vital role of trees in absorbing and sequestering large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO₂). Through photosynthesis, trees absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere, convert it into oxygen and organic matter, and store the organic carbon. The importance of forests has long been recognized in climate discussions, and they will once again be a focal point at COP29.

Why Forests?

Several compelling reasons underscore the need for prioritizing forests in climate agendas:

1. Essential for Life
   Forests are indispensable ecosystems, providing habitats for over 80% of the world's biodiversity. They cover around 31% of the Earth’s land surface, making them a vital life-support system on the planet.

2. Vital for Human Livelihoods
   Forests are essential to more than 1.6 billion people globally for their livelihoods and annual income. Nearly a third of the world’s population, particularly in Africa, still relies on wood fuel for daily needs such as cooking and heating. Forests also offer essential resources for food, medicine, and income, especially for communities closely connected to nature.

3. A Healthier Planet and Healthier People
   Green spaces, including forests, provide clean air and water, contributing to lower risks of disease outbreaks associated with deforestation. Humans also benefit from medicinal resources extracted from forests.

4. A Path to Sustainability
   Forests are vital for achieving sustainability goals. Properly managing forests to protect biodiversity and meet human needs aligns with sustainable development objectives, benefitting the planet and humanity.

At COP29

Each year, approximately 10 million hectares of forests are lost, a loss with significant environmental consequences. Recognizing this, climate conferences dedicate focused discussions to forest conservation and restoration. At COP29, specific sessions will address landscape restoration and biodiversity, providing a platform for forest-focused discussions and outcomes:

1. Adaptation
   Forests are among the ecosystems most impacted by climate change and human activity. COP29 aims to introduce actionable strategies that can help forests adapt to these changes, restoring their capacity to absorb greenhouse gases.

2. Funding
   Known as the “Finance COP,” COP29 is expected to enhance funding for forest conservation and reforestation efforts, supporting initiatives that help forests recover and thrive.

3. Collaboration
   Bringing together 198 signatories to the UNFCCC, COP29 facilitates discussions on various technologies and practices to preserve forests. This provides an invaluable platform for international cooperation, knowledge exchange, and the sharing of science-based strategies to support forest health.

Although COP29 will address a wide range of issues, forests remain a long-standing priority due to their indispensable role in maintaining ecological balance. Human activities contributing to global warming have left forests vulnerable to fires and the depletion of precious resources. COP29 represents an essential opportunity to reinforce the protection and rehabilitation of forests for a more balanced and sustainable future.