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International Symposium on Forest and Landscape Restoration in Northeast Asia
2013-10-13
International Symposium on Forest and Landscape Restoration
in Northeast Asia
(14-16 October 2013, Beijing)
I. Background
In the space of a few centuries, humankind has removed more than half the Earth's original forest cover. In 21 century, every year, around 13 million hectares of forest are lost – an area the size of Greece. The world's biodiversity and climate, and the livelihoods of billions of people, are under serious threat. Globally, however, people have started to restore their degraded forest landscapes, creating many new opportunities. The scale of this opportunity is immense: according to the Global Partnership on Forest and Landscape Restoration (GPFLR), more than 800 million hectares of the world's deforested and degraded landscapes have potential for restoration, a process that would help reduce poverty, improve food security, reduce climate change and conserve biodiversity. The Conference of Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) also outlined the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and a set of 20 Aichi Targets. Aichi Targets 5, 11 and 15 describe area-based global targets to reduce the loss of natural habitats, improve protected area networks, and improve ecosystem resilience through conservation and restoration.
The Northeast Asia (NEA) region in particular, remains with its strong relevance to Forest and Landscape Restoration (FLR) given its rising forest rehabilitation efforts and demands. For instance, China has obtained the highest net gain in forest area between 2005 and 2010 (FRA 2010). On the contrary, DPRK and Mongolia have experienced a net loss in forest area during the same period (FRA 2010).
There have been several broader reforestation initiatives and programs (at both national and regional levels) encompassing sustainable livelihoods and ecological integrity, which try to transcend the primary benefits of afforestation and reforestation. However, the existing initiatives do not provide sufficient opportunities to promote wider engagement and collaboration at a regional level. Therefore, strengthening forest resources management and enhancing its contribution to sustainable livelihoods through FLR should be better understood and practiced in the NEA region.
Indeed, the objective of FLR is to establish landscapes that can fulfil the needs of both people and the environment. It is not necessarily to return the landscape to its original state. FLR shifts the emphasis away from simply maximizing tree cover, towards re-establishing ecosystem functions at the landscape scale. In September 2011, ministers and other leaders at a conference in Bonn, Germany launched the Bonn Challenge, setting a target of restoring at least 150 million hectares of degraded land by 2020. Many institutions dealing with FLR have since engaged in serious discussions on how, in practical terms, this target can be achieved.
In this light, it is important to raise awareness and develop capacity among the regional on FLR. Providing opportunities for sharing ideas, information and knowledge, and encouraging regional participation and cooperation would also be beneficial. It would further allow the region to establish a common vision to work together towards achieving the “Bonn Challenge” and beyond.
II. Key Objectives
1) To share best practices of national programmes/projects and appropriate FLR technologies to promote forest and landscape restoration/rehabilitation in the region
2) To explore how forest restoration/rehabilitation in the Northeast Asia region can contribute to sustainable livelihoods and to global forest and landscape restoration initiatives (e.g. Bonn Challenge)
3) To raise awareness on FLR and its importance in the region
III. Date and Venue
1) Date:14-16 October 2013
2) Venue: 930 Room, Mingde Main Building, Renmin University of China
IV. Organization
The symposium will be co-organized and hosted by Renmin University of China and FAO, and cosponsored by State Forestry Administration, Climate Change Centre.
V. Contact
Any questions related to the workshop , please feel free to contact at:
TU Chengyue
tuchengyue@qq.com
(+86) 188-1319-9481
in Northeast Asia
(14-16 October 2013, Beijing)
I. Background
In the space of a few centuries, humankind has removed more than half the Earth's original forest cover. In 21 century, every year, around 13 million hectares of forest are lost – an area the size of Greece. The world's biodiversity and climate, and the livelihoods of billions of people, are under serious threat. Globally, however, people have started to restore their degraded forest landscapes, creating many new opportunities. The scale of this opportunity is immense: according to the Global Partnership on Forest and Landscape Restoration (GPFLR), more than 800 million hectares of the world's deforested and degraded landscapes have potential for restoration, a process that would help reduce poverty, improve food security, reduce climate change and conserve biodiversity. The Conference of Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) also outlined the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and a set of 20 Aichi Targets. Aichi Targets 5, 11 and 15 describe area-based global targets to reduce the loss of natural habitats, improve protected area networks, and improve ecosystem resilience through conservation and restoration.
The Northeast Asia (NEA) region in particular, remains with its strong relevance to Forest and Landscape Restoration (FLR) given its rising forest rehabilitation efforts and demands. For instance, China has obtained the highest net gain in forest area between 2005 and 2010 (FRA 2010). On the contrary, DPRK and Mongolia have experienced a net loss in forest area during the same period (FRA 2010).
There have been several broader reforestation initiatives and programs (at both national and regional levels) encompassing sustainable livelihoods and ecological integrity, which try to transcend the primary benefits of afforestation and reforestation. However, the existing initiatives do not provide sufficient opportunities to promote wider engagement and collaboration at a regional level. Therefore, strengthening forest resources management and enhancing its contribution to sustainable livelihoods through FLR should be better understood and practiced in the NEA region.
Indeed, the objective of FLR is to establish landscapes that can fulfil the needs of both people and the environment. It is not necessarily to return the landscape to its original state. FLR shifts the emphasis away from simply maximizing tree cover, towards re-establishing ecosystem functions at the landscape scale. In September 2011, ministers and other leaders at a conference in Bonn, Germany launched the Bonn Challenge, setting a target of restoring at least 150 million hectares of degraded land by 2020. Many institutions dealing with FLR have since engaged in serious discussions on how, in practical terms, this target can be achieved.
In this light, it is important to raise awareness and develop capacity among the regional on FLR. Providing opportunities for sharing ideas, information and knowledge, and encouraging regional participation and cooperation would also be beneficial. It would further allow the region to establish a common vision to work together towards achieving the “Bonn Challenge” and beyond.
II. Key Objectives
1) To share best practices of national programmes/projects and appropriate FLR technologies to promote forest and landscape restoration/rehabilitation in the region
2) To explore how forest restoration/rehabilitation in the Northeast Asia region can contribute to sustainable livelihoods and to global forest and landscape restoration initiatives (e.g. Bonn Challenge)
3) To raise awareness on FLR and its importance in the region
III. Date and Venue
1) Date:14-16 October 2013
2) Venue: 930 Room, Mingde Main Building, Renmin University of China
IV. Organization
The symposium will be co-organized and hosted by Renmin University of China and FAO, and cosponsored by State Forestry Administration, Climate Change Centre.
V. Contact
Any questions related to the workshop , please feel free to contact at:
TU Chengyue
tuchengyue@qq.com
(+86) 188-1319-9481
