Forests and climateBMZ activities for climate change mitigation through international forest policy

BACKGROUND

Forests are the "lungs of the Earth". They protect the diversity of life on our planet and have a key influence on the global climate.

→ Forests produce oxygen and act as carbon sinks. After oceans, forests and soils are the largest carbon sinks on Earth.

And forests are home to numerous plant and animal species. They are also a direct source of livelihood for more than 1.6 billion people.

→ Forests provide food and income. High-quality foodstuffs such as game, fish, fruit, nuts and mushrooms supplement the foods provided by agriculture.

→ About one third of the world's people depend on fuel wood or charcoal for cooking and heating.

→ Forests have a cultural and often even spiritual significance, especially for indigenous people.

Yet in spite of these vital functions of forests, their destruction continues worldwide, especially in the tropical regions.

→ According to Global Forest Watch, an inter-nationally recognised independent source, nearly 16 million hectares of forest were lost in tropical areas in 2017, especially in Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Indonesia. About 80 per cent of deforestation is caused by forest being converted into agricultural land.

→ The stored carbon is released when forests are cut down or burned down. This accounts for about 11 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

In the 2015 Paris Agreement, 195 countries adopt-ed the goal of limiting the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 degrees Celsius, and to 1.5 degrees if possible. However, we will only be able to reach this target if we stop forest loss as quickly as possible.

KEY ACTIONS AND INITIATIVES

Germany is committed to achieving the target of the 2014 New York Declaration on Forests: to end the loss of natural forests by 2030 and to restore 350 million hectares of forest.

→ Together with Norway and the UK, Germany is providing five billion US dollars for related activities for the period from 2015 to 2020. Functions of forests for the global climate

Forests and climate 2

→ For decades now, the BMZ has been working for the conservation of forests and their sustainable management. At present, the Ministry supports more than 200 forest projects in 38 countries, of which about 80 are in Africa.

→ The total portfolio of BMZ activities for the pro-tection, sustainable use and restoration of tropical forests and for deforestation-free supply chains comprises more than two billion euros.

Specifically, the BMZ assists its partner countries in three areas of intervention:

1. FOREST CONSERVATION

In all three major tropical forest regions of the world, the BMZ supports its partner countries in designating protected areas and introducing participatory management systems for them, thus contributing not only to biodiversity conserva-tion but also towards strengthening local and in-digenous people's incomes and rights.

Financial support is provided to governments and communities that depend on forests for their liveli-hoods through REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) if they prevent deforestation and thus reduce carbon emissions.

→ In Colombia, Brazil and Ecuador, the REDD Early Movers Programme has been able to help save 58 million tonnes of carbon emissions to date, which is equivalent to the annual per capita emissions of nearly 6 million Germans.

2. RESTORING FORESTS

Forest landscape restoration (FLR) is more than reforestation. Depending on the context, what is needed may be the natural regeneration of forest landscapes, sustainable forest management and agroforestry, or the restoration of gallery forests and mangroves. FLR fosters food security, the crea-tion of jobs, and carbon sequestration in trees and soils.

→ In the area of FLR, the BMZ is particularly active on the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initia-tive (AFR100). The aim of the initiative is to re-store up to 100 million hectares of deforested and degraded landscapes by 2030. 28 African nations have committed themselves to these goals.

3. DEFORESTATION-FREE SUPPLY CHAINS

Internationally growing demand for agricultural products such as palm oil, soya, beef and cocoa is leading to the expansion of cultivation areas at the expense of forests.

→ In cooperation with enterprises, the BMZ is work-ing for transparent and traceable supply chains from the field all the way to consumers. Suitable responses include buying agricultural commodities that are certified to comply with certain sustaina-bility standards (RSPO, Pro Terra, RTRS, ISCC+, FSC etc.) and establishing and using digital traceability systems.

→ Germany is a member of the Tropical Forest Alli-ance (TFA), a global partnership of governments, the private sector and civil society. Numerous companies have committed themselves to deforestation-free supply chains. TFA is helping them to implement their commitments.

Home in the Brazilian Amazon region © GIZ/Ute Sonntag