We at Active Remedy Ltd are very sad to see that there is no mention of the water cycle and it’s dependency upon mixed forests within this report, given how many research papers and conferences the FAO has been part of since the 1990’s, which highlight the critical relationship between them. According to recent FAO Forest Resources Assessment, almost 40% of forests in the UNECE region are designated for water soil and water protection – and a significant 54 million hectares of them are managed and protected exclusively for the water purification.
“Forests and sustainable management of forests are core aspects of SDG15 and its targets. Forests are also explicitly addressed in the SDG6 target 6.6 on water and are crucial to achieving many of the other SDGs and associated targets. This includes poverty eradication (SDG1), food security and nutrition (SDG2), health (SDG3), gender equality (SDG5), sustainable energy (SDG7), sustainable economic growth (SDG8), infrastructure and innovation (SDG9), sustainable consumption and production (SDG12), climate change (SDG13), peaceful and inclusive societies, justice, accountable institutions (SDG16), and means of implementation (SDG17). “(FAO, COFO/2016/5.1, May 2016)
“Governments recognized the vital interdependence between forests and water when they adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Target 15.1 stresses the need to conserve and restore both freshwater and forest ecosystems and target 6.6 calls for protecting and restoring water-related ecosystems, including forests.” (UNECE International Day of Forests Event Geneva, 21/3/16)
“The Water Convention also has a Protocol on Water and Health, which recognizes that by protecting water ecosystems, we protect the health and well-being of our citizens. Therefore, the Protocol requires its Parties to set targets across the whole water cycle. These targets have a strong focus on prevention, where forests can play a significant role.” (UNECE International Day of Forests Event Geneva, 21/3/16)
“Therefore, protecting our forest resources has significant implications for availability of water, and our access to it. And in fact, using forests to clean water is often cheaper than treating water in plants, even if the water needs to be transported further. A study found that for every 10% increase in forest cover in the source watershed, treatment costs decreased by approximately 20%. We all have the right to accessible, affordable water. Protecting our forests can help us ensure this right.” (UNECE International Day of Forests Event Geneva, 21/3/16
Today we celebrate healthy forests and clean waters. These celebrations should remind us how much we need both, and that one cannot exist without the other. (UNECE International Day of Forests Event Geneva, 21/3/16
We hope that you will revise and add this as we imagine it has been an oversight on your part
Stella Jou