Istanbul welcomes int’l forestry summit

ISTANBUL

A view from Istanbul’s Bosphorus is seen in this file photo. The largest city in Turkey itself is at the heart of the official foresty plans. DAILY NEWS photo, Emrah GÜREL

Turkey is ready to host the 10th leg of the United Nations Forum on Forests, a U.N. initiative launched in 2000 to promote the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests while strengthening political commitment in the field.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is scheduled to welcome the prominent guests of the landmark organization today, which is co-chaired by Turkish Forestry and Water Affairs Minister Veysel Eroğlu and Ecuadorian Environment Minister Mario Ruales Carranza.

The U.N.’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) president, Néstor Osorio, Undersecretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Wu Hongbo, Undersecretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs and UNFF Director Jan McAlpine are also set to make the opening speeches at the event, which will last until April 19.

The Turkish ministry will also present a short film to participants to outline forestry in the county. Eroğlu will also represent Turkey during a ministerial-level, round-table discussion on the second day of the event.

A total of 197 countries, which includes non-U.N. members the Cook Islands, the Vatican City, Niue and Palestine, will be represented by ministers and delegations during the discussion focusing on “Forests and Economic Development.”

The Turkish ministry will share its new projects and present activities abroad, which are essentially carried out with the support of TİKA.

UNFF works for four main goals

Reverse the loss of forest cover worldwide by applying sustainable forest management (SFM), including the protection, restoration, afforestation and reforestation, and increase efforts to prevent forest degradation;

Enhance forest-based economic, social and environmental benefits, including by improving the
livelihoods of forest-dependent people;

Significantly increase the area of sustainably managed forests, including protected forests, and
increase the proportion of forest products derived from sustainably managed forests; and

Reverse the decline in official development assistance for sustainable forest management and mobilize significantly increased new and additional financial resources from all sources for the implementation of SFM.