Statement on “Climate Change and Forestry in 21st Century”
Ministers responsible for Forestry of the Coordination Mechanism for Cooperation in Forestry Between China and the Central and Eastern European Countries (the Coordination Mechanism) have adopted a Statement “Climate Change and Forestry in 21st Century” in which they underline the role of forests for human population and in the adaptation and mitigation efforts to combat climate change.
The ministers met at the 2nd High Level meeting of the Coordination Mechanism for Cooperation in Forestry between China and CEE Countries to discuss the future of the cooperation within the Coordination Mechanism and have adopted a statement on forests and Climate Change and the role of the Coordination Mechanism in these efforts.
In the statement the ministers recognize the efforts of the international community in its efforts to recognize forests as the key component for the sustainable development of the future and as the crucial factor in climate change mitigation and adaptation and call on the international community to allocate these issues due attention and resources.
The ministers also recognize the role of the Coordination Mechanism and similar international initiatives as key components in the climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts and pledge to work with the international community and within the Coordination Mechanism to:
- Promote sustainable and multifunctional forest management;
- Advocate conservation of forests and forest genetic resources,
- Acknowledge the importance of forests and wetlands in wildlife habitat conservation;
- Support the green economy industries that respect forest conservation principles; and
- Develop sustainable management of natural resources as an opportunity for people’s greater social inclusion.
To these end the Ministers support the China and CEEC’s joint research programmes in the field of sustainable forest management and in particular in connection with the climate change challenges, mitigation strategies and adaptation to decrease the vulnerability of our forests and forest-depending people.
The ministers urged the national and international stakeholders to increase and speed up their efforts on forests and climate change mitigation and adaptation activities by promoting strong cross-sectoral collaboration with a wide range of partners and stakeholders, including national forests departments (commissions, services), non-governmental organizations, academics, international organizations, and others.
And the ministers recommend that all 16+1 members to take full advantage of the Coordination Mechanism for Cooperation in Forestry between China and CEE Countries to strengthen communication and collaboration in forestry and to support China and CEE Countries to promote information exchanges, activities coordination and pragmatic cooperation.
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