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State of the World’s Forests 2022 report

2022 MAY 5

Preliminary   > Environment and Ecology   >   Biodiversity   >   Reports and indices

Why in news?

  • State of the World’s Forests 2022 report released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

About State of the World’s Forests:

  • The report is published bi-annually and is widely regarded as one of the most important stock takes on forest ecosystems.

Key Findings of the SOFO 2022:

  • The world has lost 10.34% of its total forest area in the last 30 years (between 1990 and 2020) due to deforestation.
  • Though the rate of deforestation was declining, 10 million hectare area of forests were lost every year between 2015 and 2020. This poses severe risks for the 68% of mammal species, 75% of bird species, and 80% of amphibian species that inhabit forests.
  • Forest biodiversity remains under threat from deforestation and forest degradation.
  • The report stated that 30% of new diseases, reported since 1960, can be attributed to deforestation and land-use change.
  • Deforestation, particularly in the tropics, has been associated with an increase in infectious diseases such as dengue fever and malaria.
  • India and China could emerge as the biggest hotspots for new zoonotic viral diseases over the next few decades if human pressure on forests continues to increase. Due to increasing human-wildlife interactions, infectious diseases can easily spread to humans.

Suggestions:

  • The 2022 edition of SOFO explores the potential of three forest pathways for achieving green recovery and tackling multidimensional planetary crises, including climate change and biodiversity loss.
    • Halting deforestation and maintaining forests
    • Restoring degraded lands and expanding agroforestry
    • Sustainably using forests and building green value chains.

About FAO:

  • FAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.
  • World Food Day is celebrated every year on 16th October to mark the anniversary of the founding of the FAO in 1945.
  • It is one of the UN food aid organisations based in Rome (Italy). Its sister bodies are the World Food Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
  • Initiatives Taken by FAO:
    • Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS).
    • Monitors the Desert Locust situation throughout the world.
    • The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) is the body responsible for all matters regarding the implementation of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme.
    • The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
  • Flagship Publications:
    • The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA)
    • The State of the World's Forests (SOFO)
    • The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI)
    • The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA)
    • The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets (SOCO)
    • World Food Price Index

PRACTICE QUESTION

State of the World’s Forests report is released by:

(a) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

(b) United Nations Environment Programme

(c) International Union of Forest Research Organizations

(d) International Union for Conservation of Nature

Answer