Posted on September, 11 2015

Durban, South Africa – The XIV World Forestry Congress concluded today. This is a statement from Rod Taylor, Director, WWF Global Forest Programme, on the Congress and the resulting “Durban Declaration”.
 
“WWF welcomes the Durban Declaration coming out of the World Forestry Congress. The Congress showcased numerous examples of the role forests can play as a solution to climate change and in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
 
Forestry as a sector is coming out of its “wooden box” into the wider landscape – mixing more with farming and responding more directly to the diverse aspirations of people, from local communities to urban consumers.
 
As we head into the UN Climate Change talks in Paris, all parties need to make sure the new climate deal creates incentives for the actions needed to reduce forest loss and degradation rates to near zero by 2020.
 
From responsible forest management to tenure reform, a host of solutions are needed to conserve forests and deliver on their full potential as a solution for people and climate. The common message coming out of the WWF “Forests for Life” campaign was collaboration – the solutions are complex but never before has there been so much readiness among people and organizations of all stripes to work together to implement these solutions.”

For further information, contact:
Huma Khan, Communications Manager, WWF Global Forest Programme, 1 202 203 8432, huma.khan@wwfus.org