International Forests and Climate Campaign Gets Moving Again

UN Climate Change negotiations kicked off this month in the wake of last December’s disappointing Copenhagen meeting. The Wilderness Society was in attendance keeping up the pressure for urgent protection of the world’s forests as important carbon stores, and for this to be a priority in negotiations this year.

Our prominent role with the international Ecosystems Climate Alliance (ECA) saw us promoting our campaign in an exhibit next to the climate skeptics in the meeting venue. There was enough hot air wafting our way to warm yet another planet! (See images below).

We managed to get strong focus on the problem of developed countries like Australia ignoring logging emissions, including publication of a graphic image of a burning forestry coupe in Tasmania in a daily newsletter for delegates.

The Wilderness Society also attended London meetings about how Australia, Norway, France and other donor countries will work up a partnership with developing countries to finance a fast start to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. We helped initiate a statement from 40 environment and rights groups warning these governments that indigenous peoples dwelling in these forests must be included from the outset in the planning, decision-making and delivery.

This important statement says "Forest dwellers like indigenous peoples have a right to full and effective participation, in accordance with international human rights norms and principles”. There is compelling evidence that deforestation rates are lower and forest restoration improves with the involvement of indigenous peoples, civil societies and local communities.

In recognition of the skills and influence The Wilderness Society has brought to the international arena, our representative Peg Putt was also included in a high level strategy meeting of the Climate Action Network, which has a membership of over 500 environment groups worldwide. Planning how to take the international climate campaign forward around the globe is vital work, and will have an important influence at home in Australia.

Further reading

'Indonesian Forests gain some respite from accelerating palm oil conversion. ECA and TWS short sharp campaign at forefront to stop forest definition rorts.'

Govt drops designating plantations as forests
The Jakarta Post   |   14 April 2010
The forestry ministry dropped its controversial initiative to classify oil palm plantations as forests after strong protests from environmental activists on fears that it would speed up deforestation. More >>