The stakes are high at COP 9 to agree on actions for the conservation and sustainable use of forests. Forests are home to an estimated two thirds of all terrestrial species and are, therefore, a key ecosystem to reach the 2010 target. Forest related topics to be addressed at COP-9 include new and emerging issues, such as the biodiversity benefits arising from the efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD). This mechanism will open new opportunities for business to become involved in carbon offsetting through forest conservation. Another COP-9 forest debate will revolve around the potential impacts of genetically modified trees. And the impacts of bioenergy production on forest ecosystems will be addressed as well. These and other pertinent issues will be discussed as part of the review of the CBD forest programme of work, which has been operational since 2002 and is due for in-depth review at COP-9. The programme of work contains 130 activities to improve the conservation and sustainable use of forest biodiversity, as well as the equitable sharing of its benefits. Despite many activities implemented by countries, and by business, the loss of forest biodiversity continues at an alarming rate. At a recent SBSTTA, countries listed priority issues to be addressed more urgently in future. These include the role of forest biodiversity in climate change mitigation and adaptation; the establishment of forest protected area networks; illegal logging and land conversion; habitat fragmentation; forest fires; and invasive alien species.

Recommendations on Forest Biodiversity are listed in COP-9 document: UNEP/CBD/COP/9/3.

Contact Tim Christophersen, Environmental Affairs Officer for forest biodiversity for more information.