News

Pre-COFO event spotlights experiences of young mountain foresters

05.07.2024

Mountain forest experts from across the world gathered online on 27 June 2024 for the event "Mountain Forests Masterclass: Insights from the Field". The session brought together young professionals to explore innovative strategies and spur a dialogue around sustainable development.

Ahead of the 27th session of the Committee on Forestry (COFO 27) and the 9th World Forest Week (WFW 2024), this masterclass offered a platform for young experts to discuss topics ranging from restoring mountain ecosystems to implementing inclusive forest policies. Co-organized by the Mountain Partnership Mountain Youth Hub (MYH) and the COFO Youth Task Force, participants heard about projects from five MYH founding members working to make mountain forests more sustainable and resilient.

The masterclass's first speaker, Sergio Esteban Lozano-Baez, seed specialist from Colombia, emphasized the crucial role of seed quality and genetic diversity in forest restoration projects. He noted that while common restoration indicators often overlook genetic diversity, it is essential for ensuring long-term success. Genetic diversity contributes to species richness, high adaptive capacity, and increased forest resilience.

Following, Marggiori Pancorbo Olivero, forest and environment specialist at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Peru office, highlighted an ecosystem-based approach to disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR) implemented in the Peruvian Andes from 2020 to 2024 within the framework of the FAO project "Enhancing community resilience to climate change in mountain watersheds". Eco-DRR is a nature-based solution to social, economic and climate challenges that enhances resilience and reduces communities' vulnerabilities. The project's participatory approach resulted in increased water availability, innovative propagation methods, and improved management of grasslands and pastures.

Complementing, Karem Del Castillo Velázquez, climate risk and project management specialist at FAO, provided further insights into the same Eco-DRR project as implemented in the Philippines. She stressed that innovation is not solely based on technology but also involves social changes and novel problem solving. This pilot project led to diversified livelihoods, more resilient agroforestry practices, and the expansion of the local coffee market.

Rocío Melina García, PhD candidate, forest engineer and doctoral fellow at the National Scientific and Technical Council of Argentina, presented a case study on sustainable land use in Patagonia. It evaluated the sustainability of various land uses in protected mountain forests using 38 sustainability indicators. The findings revealed that conservation and formal tourism are the most sustainable land uses, leading to more resilient futures than informal tourism or urban development.

The final speaker, Ritikaa Gupta, registered professional forester at the Ontario Professional Foresters Association, underscored the importance of integrating mountain ecosystems into policy and education. She explained that mountain forests impact lowlands through ecosystem services, biodiversity preservation, and critical commodity production. Ritikaa identified a policy gap between forests and mountains and stressed the need for comprehensive forest management policies that recognize this connection.

In closing, Julie Cheek, communication specialist at the Mountain Partnership Secretariat, emphasized that "involving young professionals in innovative solutions, from planting the seed to policy implementation, is vital to ensure lasting change for today and tomorrow. Mountains are at the forefront of the climate crisis, and as we have seen today, need to be at the centre of solutions."

The Mountain Youth Hub is a platform dedicated to empowering and mobilizing youth across mountainous regions worldwide. It was established with a Youth Call to Action for the Five Years of Action for the Development of Mountain Regions by a group of young delegates attending the Mountain Partnership's IPROMO 2023 summer course.

COFO 27 and WFW 2024 are being held in Rome, Italy from 22 to 26 July under the theme "Accelerating forest solutions through innovation." This event was held as part of a series organized by the COFO Youth Task Force to highlight the achievements of young professionals in the forest sector, held before and during COFO 27 and WFW 2024.

Watch the event recording