Governments worldwide are being urged to place forest conservation at the heart of political agendas as forest loss accelerates and threatens global climate stability. This call to action emerged from a major gathering of over 3,000 participants from 145 countries during a Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) event convened by the Centre for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) in Bonn, Germany, and online on April 24-25.
The event, aimed at shaping the next decade of forest action in the lead-up to UN Climate COP30, highlighted the urgent need for transformative policies. Robert Nasi, CIFOR-ICRAF’s director of science, emphasized that halting deforestation and restoring 350 million hectares of tropical forests could create 100,000 jobs and generate $170 billion annually in ecosystem services.
“A radical shift away from our current economic model is essential,” said Nasi. “We need a just transition to an economy that properly values nature.”
A key topic was the UN’s REDD+ initiative, which pays Global South countries to reduce emissions by avoiding deforestation. CIFOR-ICRAF released findings from a 15-year study, revealing improvements in forest monitoring, with 100 countries rated “good” to “very good” in 2020, up from 55 in 2005. However, concerns remain over data integrity and weak reference levels.
Despite its flaws, REDD+ is still seen as vital. “We’ve learned that paying countries to keep forests standing is more complex than anticipated,” said CIFOR-ICRAF senior adviser Christopher Martius.
Experts also warned of cascading global consequences if forest loss continues. Martius noted the Amazon generates rain vital for agriculture in the U.S., Argentina, and Brazil. WWF’s Hermine Kleyman cautioned that with 17-18% of the Amazon already lost, the tipping point of 20-25% is dangerously close.
Artificial intelligence is emerging as a powerful tool against deforestation. Fred Stolle of the World Resources Institute highlighted AI’s potential in democratizing data access, allowing users to quickly analyze tree cover loss anywhere in the world.
Experts called for nations to integrate ambitious forest targets into climate strategies, aligning mitigation with adaptation goals to protect biodiversity, secure livelihoods, and preserve critical ecosystems.
