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Forests
for Life (1996) is a policy publication articulating
the joint position of IUCN and WWF regarding the challenges and
appropriate responses to forestry issues. It summarises the problems
facing forests, how these came about and why forests are important.
Suggested responses to the crisis facing global forests is outlined.
The Forest for Life vision was reaffirmed in the year 2000
as,
| '…a world with more
extensive, more diverse and higher quality forest landscapes.
These will meet human needs and aspirations fairly, while conserving
biological diversity and fulfilling the ecosystem functions
necessary for all life on earth'. |
Forests for Life describes the various ways
in which forests and forest-dependent people are threatened by a
decline in the goods and services forests provide, loss of wildlife
habitat, and reduced biodiversity. The challenge is seen as halting
and reversing the loss and degradation of forests and woodlands
worldwide through a series of objectives and principles. These are
described below.
Objectives:
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Establish a network of ecologically representative, socially
beneficial and effectively managed forest protected areas.
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Achieve environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and
economically viable management of forests outside protected
areas.
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Develop and implement environmentally appropriate and socially
beneficial programmes to restore deforested and degraded forest
landscapes.
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Protect forests from pollution and global warming by reducing
polluting emissions and managing forests for resilience to climate
change.
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Ensure that political and commercial decisions taken in other
sectors safeguard forest resources and result in a fair distribution
of associated costs and benefits.
Forest conservation should be based on three key principles:
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Ecological integrity: Maintaining the diversity and quality
of ecosystems, and enhancing their capacity to adapt to change
and provide for the needs of future generations.
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Human well-being: Ensuring that all people have a role in shaping
decisions that affect their ability to meet their needs, safeguard
their livelihoods and realize their full potential.
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Landscape approach: Engaging key stakeholders to balance land
management decisions at a scale that optimizes delivery of essential
forest goods and services.
The Forests
for Life (441 kb) vision calls on a wide variety of
stakeholders to help achieve the vision outlined.
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