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Scientists, conservationists call for more inclusive efforts to save forests


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A group convened by one of the world’s leading scientific institutions has issued a call for greater protection of primary forests and more inclusive approaches to conservation.



Last month the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco brought together 167 scientists, educators, civil society leaders, artists, and interested members of the public at the Forest Solutions Summit to discuss approaches for bolstering protection and wiser management of global forests. The one-day event featured dozens of speakers from around the world, ranging from an Ethiopian conservationist to a high school teacher from Minnesota.



Presenters and participants shared a variety of ideas for protecting forests, including encouraging individuals to adopt personal zero deforestation commitments to encourage adoption of zero deforestation policies in the corporate sector, strengthening protections for old-growth forests and forest-dependent communities, greater emphasis on “bottom-up” conservation and involving local communities in conservation efforts, and leveraging new technologies to study and monitors forests and wildlife. Speakers explored concepts like the U.N. Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) program, defaunation, ‘bioliteracy’, agricultural intensification, and sustainable livelihoods.



“The Forest Solutions Summit spurred conversation and cross-pollination among the forest research and conservation community—an important step in bringing organizations together (whether their mission is to protect forests, or wildlife, or people) to reach solutions that empower local people to protect their lands,” said the California Academy of Sciences in a statement. “Deforestation is entwined with global greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration. Yet many summit participants stressed the importance of local solutions: addressing the food and water resource needs, now and into the future, and empowering local and indigenous peoples as stewards of their forests.”




The California Academy of Sciences. Courtesy of the Academy.



Some of the speaker highlights from the event included:

After a consultative process, the group come up with a consensus statement urging “individuals, industry, NGOs, foundations, and governments to halt the destruction of primary forests, sustainably manage all forest ecosystems, and support the people who live in and rely on these valuable global resources.” The entire statement is reproduced below.




The Forest Solutions Summit. Photo by Allison Hanes of Amazon Watch.




A Consensus Statement on Global Forest Conservation



The international forest science community calls upon individuals, industry, NGOs, foundations, and governments to halt the destruction of primary forests, sustainably manage all forest ecosystems, and support the people who live in and rely on these valuable global resources.



On January 22, 2015, the California Academy of Sciences hosted a Forest Solutions Summit that brought together 167 scientists, students, and educators to address growing concerns about the state of the world’s forests and forest-dwelling communities. Throughout this event, a diverse group of speakers presented new discoveries and innovative approaches to ensuring the long-term future of the world’s forests. A consistent theme connecting the day’s presentations and discussions was the need to better understand the roles that forests play in human health, both for indigenous local people and for all people who utilize their ecosystem services.



Two immediate outcomes of the Summit were the creation of a Bay Area network of forest scientists and a commitment from the Academy to continue highlighting the most pressing forest conservation issues and innovative solutions for solving these problems. In addition, Summit participants suggested the following set of actions for individuals and institutions to promote the greatest positive change in global forest conservation. Summit participants and organizers are urged to test these suggestions in their own lives and institutions and share their successes with everyone in the network.



Individuals

Institutions (Industry, NGOs, Foundations, and Governments)



Educate stakeholders

Promote solutions

Celebrate Leaders




Full disclosure: I was the moderator for this event.




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